Roger Ebert, legendary reviewer of such films as The Piano and Freddy Got Fingered, recently released his review of the new motion picture Jarhead. Critics often say that Ebert is past his prime as a reviewer, and while I must admit he is no longer the powerhouse who wrote the genre-defining Apocalypse Now review in 1979, this fine review shows he still has what it takes.

The review starts out strong, with an insight that applies not only to the movie, and to each of us, but recursively comments on the review itself. "It tells [a soldier's story] with the urgency and pointlessness that all men's stories have, because if something has happened to us, then it is important to us no matter how indifferent the world may be." We see from the beginning that this review is important to Ebert, for this review is Ebert's, and therefore it is Ebert.

Several paragraphs of plot synopsis follow. Through Ebert's trained eyes, we see the movie as it was meant to be seen. As he describes the progression of the story, you feel almost that you are there with him, maybe sharing a large popcorn, or brushing his heavy hand off your thigh. When he describes the film as "uncanny in its effect" you can really sense how uncanny this movie must be.

Mention is given to the movie being based upon the book of the same name � a real-life account of one Marine's experience in Desert Shield/Storm. Ebert does a superb job of relating how Jake Gyllenhaal-the lead actor in the film-does such a great job of bringing the character from the book to life.

Ebert's comparison of the film to Goodbye to all That is quite reminiscent of his comparison of last year's Miracle to The Company. Throughout his career, Ebert has shown time and time again his ability to draw parallels between two seemingly disparate films to create powerful connections in his readers' minds. This review illustrates plainly that he has not lost that touch.

The three and a half star rating he gives the film shows his ability to reward a movie without gushing on like a schoolgirl about it. Although there are several positive statements made throughout the review, he manages to stay well clear of spilling any histrionic blurbs. His reservation may be a throwback to a bygone era, but it is refreshing.

Ebert's best work may very well be behind him, but the Jarhead review hints that we can look forward to many more years of solid thoughtful critique from him.

A minor technical note: My review is based on the online Jarhead review available at http://rogerebert.suntimes.com. I am aware that many review buffs feel that the only way to truly experience a great review is in print, but I find this view needlessly nostalgic. There is no essential difference between the two versions, save that the online version is less likely to stain your hands. Enjoy whichever version you like, or even both.

Final rating: