I love animals. I like documentaries. I respect Mr Ebert. Thus I bought Gates of Heaven when I saw it on his "10 BEST" list. Reading all the glowing reviews here, calling this "one of the best American movies ever", "breaking down and crying afterwards" etc, I suppose I am shallow, as I thought this was a boring, D-A-T-E-D, incoherent, S-L-O-W mishmash dotted here and there with some colourful characters and poignant images. I say "dated" because what seemed "wacky" and "bizarre" to people then, now feels like a bad mockumentry. I'd rather watch "BEST IN SHOW" , thank you very much. Just to put my view into perspective - I was deeply moved by the "UP series" (7-UP, etc), also on Mr Ebert's "10 BEST" list. I absolutely agree with his assessment and thank him for introducing me to those films. THIS one is at times charming, but on the whole very disappointing.