Kevin Smith

A subforum to discuss film culture and criticism.
Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
lord_clyde
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:22 am
Location: Ogden, UT

#1 Post by lord_clyde » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:04 pm

patrick wrote:The fact that anyone in film school worships Kevin Smith is cause for alarm (and according to my sister, there are plenty of people who think he's some sort of brilliant chronicler of human relationships - but I guess that's something to discuss on a Kevin Smith thread).
At least Kevin Smith doesn't think of himself as "brilliant". When I met him he seemed very down to earth and grateful that he has his job. One fan told him how wonderful his camera work in Chasing Amy was, and he promptly told him to go rent Citizen Kane.

That said, he is also a shameless self promoter and merchandise whore who has ridden seven movies worth of Star Wars references to the bank.

patrick
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:15 pm
Location: Philadelphia

#2 Post by patrick » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:20 pm

Agreed, his An Evening With Kevin Smith DVDs are better than any of his recent films. However, while his self-effacement is welcome and somewhat charming, I wonder why if he thinks his films are just passable why he doesn't try to improve his own work. There's certainly a place for what he does, but he's been in the same holding pattern for how long now?

scalesojustice
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:25 am
Contact:

#3 Post by scalesojustice » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:25 pm

The more time goes on, the less i'm interested in Kevin Smith. Thus recently forgetting all about him when he was mentioned in a conversation. Yes, i've gotten to the "oh that guy" point.

however, for whatever reason, i stumbled across his blog (once again saying to myself "it's that guy again). And i must say that his 9 part blog entry of Jason Mewes' drug addiction is extremely compelling.

if Smith is one thing, it's honest. and i hold honesty in filmmaking at the top of the list of important artistic virtues.

Unfortunately, smith is only that one thing, so i find his movies rather boring.
Last edited by scalesojustice on Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
exte
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 4:27 pm
Location: NJ

#4 Post by exte » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:25 pm

Yesterday Smith announced his next comedy: Zack and Miri Make a Porno

User avatar
domino harvey
Dot Com Dom
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm

#5 Post by domino harvey » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:29 pm

I can't believe you guys fall for his faux self-effacing, he's not being modest or honest, he's creating a shield to protect himself from criticism. "Oh you don't like my movie? Neither do I!" WINK WINK

User avatar
Belmondo
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:19 am
Location: Cape Cod

#6 Post by Belmondo » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:46 pm

Another talented guy who is wasting his talent on movies whose apparent goal is to win the coveted "most swear words per scene" award. Oops...I thought this was the Tarantino thread...might as well be.

patrick
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:15 pm
Location: Philadelphia

#7 Post by patrick » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:52 pm

Are there any Smith fans on here who can explain how his fans feel about Smith's tendency towards blatant merchandising and repackaging of his material? I suppose it's kind of like how Star Wars fans complain about Lucas being a greedy bastard but still eat it all up. I've heard rumors that Smith wants to do a new Chasing Amy DVD, but I'm guessing that that means it'll be pulled from Criterion since I doubt they're going to see the need for a second disc of fan convention interviews or whatever he wants to add. I guess in the end I can't fault him for what he does, since if his fans didn't want it they wouldn't buy it.

User avatar
lord_clyde
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:22 am
Location: Ogden, UT

#8 Post by lord_clyde » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:37 pm

patrick wrote:Are there any Smith fans on here who can explain how his fans feel about Smith's tendency towards blatant merchandising and repackaging of his material? I suppose it's kind of like how Star Wars fans complain about Lucas being a greedy bastard but still eat it all up. I've heard rumors that Smith wants to do a new Chasing Amy DVD, but I'm guessing that that means it'll be pulled from Criterion since I doubt they're going to see the need for a second disc of fan convention interviews or whatever he wants to add. I guess in the end I can't fault him for what he does, since if his fans didn't want it they wouldn't buy it.
As far as I can tell it's exactly like Star Wars nerds (which I am, and I have spend thousands of dollars on Star Wars crap) in that they obsess over the "ViewAskewniverse" and collect all the action figures and lunchboxes and what have you.
As for Chasing Amy, I think the criterion disc is fine and I didn't bite for the Mallrats X dvd (because I rented it and the extra scenes are SHIT). But as I understand it he didn't feel a need to revisit Mallrats, he just made the dvd for the fans since the studio was releasing a tenth anniversary with or without him.
As far as Smith's writing is concerned, he is a natural when it comes to writing comic books, as evidenced by an excellent run on Daredevil and a pretty good run on the Green Arrow.
Unfortunately, he is also a bit of a lazy comic writer (which I don't understand, he had time to write a Superman script that was never used) as he never followed up a strong first issue of Daredevil/Bullseye. I remember him joking that the two things someone always said to him when he would walk into a comic shop was 1: I am a huge fan & 2: Where the fuck is my Daredevil 2?
Anyways, I think Smith is afraid to try new things and I would love to see him try his hand at directing one of those comic book movies (Maybe Green Arrow?) or just stick to screenwriting for awhile.

patrick
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:15 pm
Location: Philadelphia

#9 Post by patrick » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:00 pm

As a comics reader (I probably spend as much or more money on comics per month as I do on movies), I really liked his Daredevil and Green Arrow runs, but that Spider-Man/Black Cat was a ridiculous attempt to address "serious" issues (child molestation and incest) in a completely inappropriate manner. Plus, like you said, he can't keep himself on schedule for shit.

User avatar
Antoine Doinel
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:22 pm
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Contact:

#10 Post by Antoine Doinel » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:36 pm

Live in Pittsburgh? Be an extra on Zack and Miri Make a Porno.

User avatar
Fletch F. Fletch
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:54 pm
Location: Provo, Utah

#11 Post by Fletch F. Fletch » Thu Mar 06, 2008 2:16 pm

USA Today's handwringing about the film's title.

User avatar
Antoine Doinel
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:22 pm
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Contact:

#12 Post by Antoine Doinel » Thu Mar 06, 2008 2:31 pm

What a pointless article. It's non-issue as the film will pack in both Smith and Apatow fans in equal measure and the provocative title will only spur more teenage asses into the seats. If the studio is smart, they'll learn from Walk Hard and Semi-Pro and stay away from an R-rating and release the inevitable Unrated DVD.

User avatar
colinr0380
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:30 pm
Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, UK

#13 Post by colinr0380 » Thu Mar 06, 2008 2:54 pm

I hate to point these clips out but this Jimmy Kimmel skit has been sweded by the cast of the film.

I have not yet been able to manage to watch any of the three songs in their entirety! Please tell me if they become funny at any point.

User avatar
tavernier
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2005 7:18 pm

#14 Post by tavernier » Thu Mar 06, 2008 2:56 pm

Scariest part of that article:
star-on-the-rise Rogen

User avatar
Barmy
Joined: Mon May 16, 2005 3:59 pm

#15 Post by Barmy » Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:28 pm

Harry Knowles likes him, and that's good enough for me.

User avatar
miless
Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2006 9:45 pm

#16 Post by miless » Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:40 pm

colinr0380 wrote:I hate to point these clips out but this Jimmy Kimmel skit has been sweded by the cast of the film.

I have not yet been able to manage to watch any of the three songs in their entirety! Please tell me if they become funny at any point.
I think the funniest thing about that skit with Kevin Smith is that the directing credit goes to M. Night Shyamalan... other than that it's pretty turgid.

User avatar
domino harvey
Dot Com Dom
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm

Re: Film Criticism

#17 Post by domino harvey » Tue May 22, 2012 1:02 pm


User avatar
matrixschmatrix
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 11:26 pm

Re: Film Criticism

#18 Post by matrixschmatrix » Tue May 22, 2012 1:35 pm

So it's like a test screening audience, only they don't actually review the movie until it's already been released. Smart.

User avatar
Gregory
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:07 pm

Re: Film Criticism

#19 Post by Gregory » Tue May 22, 2012 2:04 pm

“[Malcolm’s] one of these nihilists. If it’s popular, he can’t stand it,” Smith said.

I'll bet $20 this is where he learned that word
SpoilerShow
Image

User avatar
mfunk9786
Under Chris' Protection
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:43 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA

Re: Film Criticism

#20 Post by mfunk9786 » Tue May 22, 2012 2:05 pm

on opening day, none of this early bullshit, ain’t doing it like those critics, doing it legit — and then just go down the street, sit down and have a gabfest, man.
Remember when Kevin Smith used to talk like a normal, intelligent human being?

Funny you post that, Gregory - Smith once told a pretty infamous story about going to see that film with some other people while filming Dogma and everyone hating it - Chris Rock booed and hissed at the screen over the end credits.

User avatar
domino harvey
Dot Com Dom
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm

Re: Film Criticism

#21 Post by domino harvey » Tue May 22, 2012 2:09 pm

Apparently he's selling it by sounding like a drunken sot who corners people at a party-- "And then we get 'em all in a fuckin' room, rite, and like we just like jam with our opinions and shit. Like you talk and I talk and she talks and like we're all there about it and shit"

User avatar
Andre Jurieu
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:38 pm
Location: Back in Milan (Ind.)

Re: Film Criticism

#22 Post by Andre Jurieu » Tue May 22, 2012 3:59 pm

mfunk9786 wrote:Remember when Kevin Smith used to talk like a normal, intelligent human being?
My memory of that would probably improve if you removed the term "intelligent".

User avatar
mfunk9786
Under Chris' Protection
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:43 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA

Re: Film Criticism

#23 Post by mfunk9786 » Tue May 22, 2012 4:04 pm

Why?

User avatar
Andre Jurieu
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:38 pm
Location: Back in Milan (Ind.)

Re: Film Criticism

#24 Post by Andre Jurieu » Tue May 22, 2012 4:14 pm

mfunk9786 wrote:Why?
Just some terrible humor on my part. Discard if you want.

User avatar
mfunk9786
Under Chris' Protection
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:43 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA

Re: Film Criticism

#25 Post by mfunk9786 » Tue May 22, 2012 4:20 pm

Sorry to be short, it's just the second time someone's implied that Kevin Smith isn't an intelligent person in this thread, and I'm just surprised that's even in question. Has made quite a few bad movies, sure. Annoying public personality, sure. But he's definitely a smart guy.

Post Reply