Do people really like Kevin Smith?

[afronaut]

I think Kevin Smith fans need someone to tell them that it's not Clerks, Chasing Amy, or Mallrats that embody the true essence of Kevin Smith. No, the one Kevin Smith film where his true essence shines through more brightly than in any other work of his is Jersey Girl. And that essence is shitty fucking movies.

Clerks and Chasing Amy stay afloat on a couple of freak X factors that keep them from being total trash. And Mallrats, well. Mallrats is just a stupid movie and aspires to be not much else, so it's kind of exempt from criticism. Dogma had the possibility to be an interesting movie, if someone else had directed it and if Kevin Smith had someone go behind him and fix his hamfisted writing. Like, seriously. I don't know what people see in that "famous Kevin Smith dialogue". One minute he's trying too hard to make his sound all hip and witty and philosophical about inane things. He tries so hard to make his characters dialogue sound so breezily tossed off and witty it's almost impossible to believe his characters as real people because every word that comes out of their mouths is so blaringly obvious that someone wrote it, and tried too hard. The other times his dialogue is just stupid and clumsy, literally telling you what the message of point of the whole movie is. God forbid you use subtlety and some artistry in your writing, you fat fucking bastard. Honestly, some scenes in Dogma fall just short of the characters saying "AUDIENCE, THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF THE MOVIE. RELIGION IS BLAH BLAH BLAH ETC ETC." Not that I disagree with the message or anything. I just disagree with his anti-directing and botched attempts at writing.

Unfortunately he has Jay and Silent Bob, so his movies are pretty much guaranteed an audience and cult following. A cult following consisting of stupid teens, burnout potheads, and a select few indie pricks who think he's still hip for some reason. Maybe some of you are leftovers from when he made movies that didn't totally suck, and you're just waiting for him to make a not completely worthless and horrible movie again. You guys are ok. Kevin Smith was never that good though, so you still have questionable taste.

So fuck you, Kevin Smith. I hate your facial hair, I hate your man tits, I hate you. But most of all, I hate your movies.

Ok, maybe that was a little harsh. I don't hate you personally, per se. You seem like a nice enough guy. I do hate all those other things about you though. Actually, I guess I don't really mind your man tits, either. In fact, I kind of like them.

P.S. I think you're a bad actor, too.

[The Notorious LOL]

Clerks was funny, beyond that hes whatever.

[tracky]

I enjoy his movies, but not enough to watch them again. Except, of course, Clerks. Can't front on that.

[DandyFop]

I love Clerks. But his other stuff is pretty meh.

[GreenEarthAl]

I don't watch a lot of movies. But I do feel like todays audiences actually need you to literally tell them what the point is. All too often these art directors go the opposite way and make a point so sublime that no one gets it and they think everyone is so stupid because they don't get some oblique point that's only really clear in the head of the director. I've seen several of his movies, once each, and he at least seems to have tried to do something interesting. He made one really good low budget movie to kick things off. Then you get stuck working within the constraints of Hollywood.

[DandyFop]

afro, after reading your review, actually, you are exactly right. I cringe at "kevin smith" dialogue. Clerks seemed to be the only film where the actors could believably pull it off for some reason...also it was very toned down in the "someone wrote what I am saying" sense.

But he loves Degrassi. So he rules.

[Qdrop]

Afro hit it out da park, yo....


well put.
i agree completely.

[Nuzzolese]

I agree. His characters aren't characters, they're tools for the script, and it's obvious.

[Bitchamachacha]

I used to be a KS fan, but since I watched Jersey Girl and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, I've kind of lost repect for him.

Though I adored Clerks and Mallrats, because of the ha-ha- factor, (Chasing Amy never really floored me), I will admit to loving Dogma the most.

I mean, Buddy Christ! That shit is funny, no matter what you think of KS.

And Salma Hayek is fucking hot.

[abcdefz]

Kevin Smith's work is terminally marred by smugness, really amateur directing, and enough cleverness to know that he's just really fucking lazy. Like: putting the energy into actually doing well is beneath him or something.

Dogma is probably the best thing he does, and that just barely passes.

[miss soul fire]

He's overrated. That's all.

[Nuzzolese]

Ugh, what I said sounded really obnoxious. I just don't like him, never really did. His fame seems to be coming to an end anyway.

[Kid Presentable]

I used to love his films when all I did was smoke weed, but now I'm just left with the memories of some throwaway quotes and time better spent knifing my own innards.

[hpdrifter]

I judge movies like that these days on whether or not they make me laugh. I used to be kind of high and mighty about movies but have found a soft spot for stuff like Just Friends. Kevin Smith movies have always been that for me. They make me laugh. Yes the dialogue is clunky, yes the characters and story lines are pretty worthless, but it makes me laugh.

[Nuzzolese]

They don't even make me laugh. I never did have a sense of humor.

[Kid Presentable]

They don't even make me laugh. I never did have a sense of humor.

I could see you slamming your fists down on the table during our interaction. Like my only being able to communicate in a series of sentences so contrived was just tearing your mind apart. And you'd look at me like I was chewing with my mouth open, and then I'd start coughing because I swallowed some steak wrong, and went the kind of red that makes you move beyond pity, and in to flat out hatred of me.

Me and hpdrifter, well we'd have a larf.:D

[Nuzzolese]

I could see you slamming your fists down on the table during our interaction. Like my only being able to communicate in a series of sentences so contrived was just tearing your mind apart. And you'd look at me like I was chewing with my mouth open, and then I'd start coughing because I swallowed some steak wrong, and went the kind of red that makes you move beyond pity, and in to flat out hatred of me.

Me and hpdrifter, well we'd have a larf.:D

What makes you think I'd even sit at your table?

[adam_f]

Looking back, Jason Lee is the only reason I've enjoyed a Kevin Smith movie not named Dogma. I think Clerks is pretty worthless myself. Not just because Lee isn't in it, just because it's awful.

[Kid Presentable]

What makes you think I'd even sit at your table?
It would be your idea. Something to make you feel good. Primal Scream therapy.

[hpdrifter]

Looking back, Jason Lee is the only reason I've enjoyed a Kevin Smith movie not named Dogma. I think Clerks is pretty worthless myself. Not just because Lee isn't in it, just because it's awful.

He's really the funniest thing about those movies, to me.

(y) Jason Lee

[Kid Presentable]

You Jason Lee fans should watch his part in 'Video Days'. It's probably on youtube.

That's his talent.

[abcdefz]

Jason Lee is truly awesome in Almost Famous. That's one fearless performance. (y)

[mickill]

I've been bitching about Kevin Smith's contrived, stilted, overly "clever" dialogue for eons, both here on the bbmb and in much more important places. I don't wish death upon him or anything, and Mallrats made me laugh a few times. But his work generally sucks. And I've never known what the big deal about Clerks is.

But yeah, Jason Lee's cool.

[Nuzzolese]

fearless performance! That's great.

[Nuzzolese]

It would be your idea. Something to make you feel good. Primal Scream therapy.

feel free to continue your fantasy, but without the need to tell me about it

[Sarky Devotchka]

I've never seen Clerks, I hate Chasing Amy, Mallrats is meh, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is boring, and I've seen Dogma 3 times whilst high and I don't remember what it's about.

the first time I saw Dogma, I just kept analyzing the directing. It's like, camera one, camera two, camera one, camera two. He has the camera on the person talking, then switches to the next person talking, face centered in the frame, similar angle. My friend was like, "well, that's his style" and I said, "well, his style sucks".

also he's on jay leno all the time. enough said.

[Kid Presentable]

feel free to continue your fantasy, but without the need to tell me about it

Of course, how could I sit down with a princess without buying her a pony?

[abcdefz]

I will give Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back two props: The opening prologue is pretty funny, and the name "Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season" is nice.

*bites tongue*


mmmph merph mmumph

[Nuzzolese]

Of course, how could I sit down with a princess without buying her a pony?

Uhm, yeah. Some people say a cucumber tastes better pickled. Is this supposed to be a cute little dialogue we've got going? Count me out.

[Kid Presentable]

Uhm, yeah. Some people say a cucumber tastes better pickled.
lol.

You're never really full of self-doubt.

[Qdrop]

Kid,
nuzz really doesn't like you.

i can tell.

[Kid Presentable]

Kid,
nuzz really doesn't like you.

i can tell.

Yeah I know. Too bad.

[hpdrifter]

Yeah, all that and the dialogue about the internet was pretty funny.

And the bit with Gus Van Sant being a non director was pretty funny.

The rest of that movie did very little for me.

[cookiepuss]

yeah i really do like Kevin Smith. That's not say I like everything he's done, I didn't even bother to see Jersey Gril cause I knew it wouldn't interst me. But over all I think he's funny and I like him. Maybe I'm just easy to please.


I will say Kevin Smith's work is the reason I will never be able to see Ben Afleck as a sex symbol, leading man or anything other than a shitty actor. And for that I thank him.(y)

[Ace42X]

I like Kevin Smith's films. I don't find his dialogue forced, and I found a lot of the characters to be pretty well observed. But then, I don't hang around with monosyllabic dullards who take little to no interest in the world around them.

[synch]

I enjoy watching his movies and really enjoyed watching bits of "an evening with Kevin Smith". I think he's a funny guy that doesn't take himself too seriously and isn't afraid to make jokes at his own expense. Those are qualities I rate very highly.

Sorry about that.

[HotAndWet]

He bothers me, I thought he was lame before it became popular to think he was lame...so that makes me that much cooler than you.

[abcdefz]

no no no no no -- I was shaking my head sadly from the very beginning!

[cosmo105]

clerks is okay but the acting gets to me. chasing amy always gets me in the gullet. i still love dogma. mallrats brings back memories. i saw it a few years ago at an independent theater for some anniversary or something and the man himself introduced it and took a few questions from the rabid audience. it was great, everyone was saying every line along wth the film just like a rocky horror show.

he's really short.

i refuse to see jay & silent bob strike back.


mmm jason lee. "i'm a fucking demon!" damn straight you are, a sexy incubus

[Nuzzolese]

I like Kevin Smith's films. I don't find his dialogue forced, and I found a lot of the characters to be pretty well observed. But then, I don't hang around with monosyllabic dullards who take little to no interest in the world around them.

Maybe if you did, you'd have better taste in movies.

[Ace42X]

Maybe if you did, you'd have better taste in movies.

For better, read: facile.

[CrankItUp!]

Jason Mewes is a hilarious motherfucker ! (y)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CXkxf3T7cI&search=silent%20bob