"The cinema is a machine that creates dreams."
Roger Ebert's quote, "The cinema is a machine that creates dreams," emphasizes the transformative power of film. It suggests that movies have the ability to transport viewers into imaginary worlds, allowing them to experience new realities and emotions beyond their own. This quote underscores the enchanting, dream-like quality of cinematic experiences, as they can evoke strong feelings, ignite imagination, and offer escapism from everyday life. In essence, cinema serves as a vehicle for dream creation and exploration.
"A great nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers."
This quote highlights that a country's true character is reflected not just by its outstanding individuals, but also by those it acknowledges, respects, and recalls. It suggests that a great nation not only nurtures exceptional people but also values and celebrates them, ensuring they are remembered for their contributions to society.
"The essence of all art is to have its appeal increase with knowledge."
This quote suggests that art's true value deepens as our understanding of it grows. The more we learn about a work of art, be it a painting, movie, book, or piece of music, the more we appreciate its nuances, themes, and underlying messages. Knowledge brings a richness to our experience of art, making it more rewarding and meaningful.
"I don't believe films are really about sexual love and romantic love—they're about friendly love, the love between friends."
Roger Ebert suggests that movies primarily portray the bond shared among friends rather than focusing on romantic or sexual love. This "friendly love" encompasses deep, meaningful connections formed through mutual understanding, trust, and camaraderie. It emphasizes the power of friendship as a universal theme in storytelling, transcending the boundaries of romance or passion, thus adding depth and complexity to films.
"A movie is never really good unless the camera is an eye in a head."
Roger Ebert's quote emphasizes the importance of cinematography, particularly the use of the camera, in filmmaking. The idea that the camera should function as an "eye in a head" means it should capture scenes as if through the perspective of a human observer, giving depth and emotion to what is being filmed. This approach encourages empathy from the audience, allowing them to feel as though they are experiencing the story firsthand rather than just watching it unfold. In other words, effective use of camera work enables films to become more immersive and engaging for viewers.
The idea that a book can advise a woman how to capture a man is touchingly naive. Books advising men how to capture a woman are far less common, perhaps because few men are willing to admit to such a difficulty. For both sexes, I recommend a good novel, offering scenarios you might learn from, if only because they reflect a lot of doubt.
- Roger Ebert
Parents and schools should place great emphasis on the idea that it is all right to be different. Racism and all the other 'isms' grow from primitive tribalism, the instinctive hostility against those of another tribe, race, religion, nationality, class or whatever. You are a lucky child if your parents taught you to accept diversity.
- Roger Ebert
There is a part of me that will forever want to be walking under autumn leaves, carrying a briefcase containing the works of Shakespeare and Yeats and a portable chess set. I will pass an old tree under which once on a summer night I lay on the grass with a fragrant young woman and we quoted e.e. cummings back and forth.
- Roger Ebert
Lebanon was at one time known as a nation that rose above sectarian hatred; Beirut was known as the Paris of the Middle East. All of that was blown apart by senseless religious wars, financed and exploited in part by those who sought power and wealth. If women had been in charge, would they have been more sensible? It's a theory.
- Roger Ebert
From a dramatic viewpoint, there are few professions that grant their members entry into other lives, high among them cops, doctors, clergymen, journalists and prostitutes. Perhaps that explains why they figure in so much television and cinema. Their lives are lived in the midst of human drama.
- Roger Ebert
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