I used to take stock in reviews, until I realized movies are a deeply personal experience, and the only opinion that really matters to me anymore is my own. š
With Roger Ebertās passing, I donāt think thereās anyone left with any real clout to pass judgement on a film. Even the studios are starting to use Rotten Tomatoes scores in their ads.
I agree with you about Ebert. His writing, to me, made me love movies as much as anything else. I have come to find though in his absence there are several other critics I really trust. Mick LaSalle being one of them. Ebert even praised Lasalle (and his unique ratings system) on occasions.