In an e-mail to The Associated Press on Monday, Ebert said Disney-ABC Domestic Television had decided to take the show "in a new direction" and he won't be associated with it.

In a statement, Ebert said, "The show was a wonderful experience," and added that he and Siskel's widow, Marlene Iglitzen, retain the trademark to the phrase, "Two thumbs up." [...]

His announcement came a day after Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper said he was leaving the nationally syndicated "At the Movies With Ebert & Roeper."

"Several months ago, Disney offered to extend my contract, which expires at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season," Roeper said. "I opted to wait. Much transpired after that behind the scenes, but an agreement was never reached, and we are all moving on."

Whatever Disney's "new direction" entailed—we're picturing the large-breasted Roeper Girls spinning a giant Thumb-O-Tron, which miraculously pointed to "TWO WAY, WAY, WAY UP!!!" every time a Disney release was up for review—we're dreading it. It's time to bring in the big guns, and re-animate Gene Siskel via the magic of XBox 360's RAW 2008 for some old-school Sneak Previews smackdowns like the ones we savored weekly in our youth.

• Ebert and Roeper leaving 'Ebert & Roeper' [CNN/AP]

I believe that movie criticism is not an elitist ability that only scholars can claim. There should be no need for movie history in determining a movie's worth. That is like saying that relatively this movie is awful, but if these others had not come along, it would be great. - Michael Walsh, Alpharetta, Ga.

I stopped listening to critics because too frequently they are criticizing the actor, not the film. For instance, "The Hammer" is one of the best movies I've ever seen, but many critics said the movie was awful because they seemed to dislike Adam Carolla. The opposite can be said of a Will Farrell [sic] movie (no offense to Will, but they're not all Old School). - Tim, Seattle, Wa.

I lost my attraction to movie critics, when it seems there was a glut. Online, magazines, local papers, everywhere you looked. And most of these were no better than my own opinion...which I trust much more than theirs anyway. - Chet, Avondale, Ariz.

We sensed Adam Carolla might eventually symbolize the tipping point in the enduring battle between critics and the hoi polloi — but in only his first starring role? The culture is indeed accelerating faster than we can keep up. In any case, our ambulance is gassed up for our next foray to the front lines, which should be ... this afternoon? Next hour? We hope not, but when even Chet from Avondale has lost his attraction, we know the clock is ticking.

• Readers say, No need for movie critics [MSNBC]

Amid firings, buyouts and retirements at dailies and weeklies around the country, Ansen is the first critic from a national publication to land in the execution chamber. But to hear him tell it, the afterlife could be a good thing:

"It was a good deal," he said. "They didn't want me to leave, which put me in a nice bargaining position. They may have been shocked at how many people took the offer." ...

Ansen looks forward to writing books, teaching, and "not going out to screenings every night," he said. "I want to watch DVDs of movies I might actually like and read a book or two. Face it, a lot of movies are not that interesting to write about these days."

We sympathize with Ansen over his grueling life of film criticism, and indeed, his unwavering spirit of inquisitiveness and imagination will be sorely missed once he winds things down at the end of the year. We don't know how he lasted as long as he did, especially through the lackluster cinematic crop that was 2007; God knows we would have given up on this racket a long time ago.

• Ansen to Leave Newsweek After 30 Years [Thompson on Hollywood]