 Mayor Ebert and his assistant Gene are spoofs of film critics Roger  Ebert and his late partner Gene Siskel. This is in response to the  duo giving negative reviews to Emmerich and Devlins earlier films  _Stargate (1994)_ (qv) and _Independence Day (1996)_ (qv). When  mayor Ebert is introduced he holds up two thumbs, the mark given by  Siskel and Ebert to movies they like the most. Mayor Eberts  campaign slogan is "Thumbs Up For New York!". And when Gene  disapproves of Mayor Eberts latest platform (of exploiting the  Godzilla disaster for his own benefit) he gives him a thumbs down.  When the actual Siskel and Ebert reviewed the film on their show, it  received two thumbs down and Gene Siskel commented on being spoofed  in the film; he said it was "petty".