Bratzi Party!!!

When it comes to making original films, few directors can compare to Kevin Smith.  He makes movies with his friends, writes his own material and does not care who likes it or who does not.  Yoga Hosers is one of the most outrageous comedies I have ever seen and, while there are some issues with it, I personally loved it.

Yoga Hosers is the story of two teenage yoga students who team up with a legendary detective to fight an evil organization of Nazi bratwursts.  With this film, it definitely feels like Kevin Smith is making movies for himself and his audience, and less for critics.  You cannot help but be intrigued at what he has created from his imagination.  The adult-themed humor is at an all-time high, and you can definitely tell that this movie is not for children, or for people who are easily offended.  Yet, for all its comedic glory, there are a couple of minor problems with the film.  For one, Lily-Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith both play girls named Colleen, and you never know which Colleen is which. Secondly, it is never actually clear that both Colleens work for Colleen C's dad, nor is it clear which Colleen Tony Hales' character is supposed to be the father of.  Other than these extremely minor issues, Yoga Hosers is a balls-to-the-wall comedy that will cause your jaw to drop to the floor before it is even over.

Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp play Colleen McKenzie and Colleen Collette, respectively.  Their comedic banter is flawless, and it drives the entire film.  The two play off of each other so well, while also bringing their own unique presence to the film.  There is one scene, specifically, where they get their cellular phones taken away from them, that had me in stitches because it was so perfectly executed.  When you have two actresses that are the daughters of such talented people as Kevin Smith and Johnny Depp, it is only natural to assume that they would inherit that talent, and trust me when I say that they do not disappoint.

Kevin Smith is the director of Yoga Hosers.  There are several things that Smith does exceedingly well with this film.  First, the fact that this film is partly historical fiction makes it all the more enjoyable.  Also, this movie is partly a commentary on how much of an impact social media has on our daily lives.  Again, I go back to the scene where the Colleen girls get their phones taken away from them.  The girls' reaction represents one of the main problems with todays' youth, and their reliance on technology.  I also love the yoga sequences in the film because it represents how overly serious some people can be about exercise.  The standout sequence of the film is the Bratzi fight near the end.  This is one of the most hilarious action sequences I have ever seen.  At this point in his career, Kevin Smith is clearly making movies because it is fun, and he delivers originality in spades with this film.

I have said this plenty of times before: in an age of franchises, remakes and reboots, it is always nice to see some original films, and you cannot get more original than Kevin Smith.  Whether it is his brand of humor, his dialogue or just his concept ideas, the man is a creative force.  If you are a fan of Kevin Smiths' movies, I highly recommend that you pick up Yoga Hosers.

Bad Times In The Great White North

I always love it when filmmakers I admire and respect go outside their comfort zone and try new things.  The movie Tusk is a great example of that.  I remember seeing this film in theaters, and being in complete awe of the fact that Kevin Smith, who is mostly known for doing raunchy comedies, had crafted a solid horror flick.

Tusk is the story of a podcaster who mysteriously goes missing in Manitoba, Canada.  This film reminds me of the horror movies from the 1970's and 80's.  There is so much tension, and you are genuinely creeped out by the films' antagonist so much that you will be looking over your shoulder to see if he is there.  I also love that, right off the bat, we are not only introduced to Wallace Bryton (Justin Long) and Teddy Craft (Haley Joel Osment), but we also see what they do for a living and how quirky their sense of humor is.  That quirkiness is echoed by the horrors that Wallace endures throughout the film.  I also enjoy the fact that there is very little music in the film, and that when you do hear it, it is more ambient noise than actual music.  This adds to the genuine fear that you feel while watching this film.

While Kevin Smith does show that he can make a solid horror film, there are a few problems I have with the film.  At one point in the film, Wallace calls his girlfriend Ally Leon (Genesis Rodriguez) and Teddy from inside Howard Howes' home to let them know what has happened to him.  Later, we see Ally and Teddy looking for Wallace on the side of the road with a flashlight.  This seems silly to me.  It is clear that Wallace is trapped in Howes' home, so why would he be on the side of the road??  Also, some of the flashback sequences have different dialogue from when they actually happened in the film.  I am sorry, but this is Continuity 101 that you learn in film school!!  I also feel that Wallace turns "Full Walrus" a tad too quickly for my taste.  I feel that there needed to be more character development for this to be believable.  Other than these issues, Kevin Smith shows that he knows how to breathe new life into a genre that has gotten far too generic.

Michael Parks is truly disturbing as Howard Howe.  Howe is such a layered character, and it is because of these layers that you believe he has gone completely insane.  At first, it seems like Howe is out to punish people for things that they take for granted.  However, we later learn that when he was rescued by the walrus, it had a profound effect on him and he needs that character back in his life no matter what the stakes are.  Parks' greatest moments are in his two monologue scenes.  The way he delivers his lines keeps you glued to the screen because you are just not sure whether he is going to pounce on Wallace mid-speech or just keep talking.  Parks is absolutely horrifying, and will have you looking over your shoulder throughout the film.

Justin Long plays Wallace Bryton.  Bryton represents the kind of person who has let success go their head, which makes what happens to him all the more satisfying.  Bryton loves being successful, and even shows contempt for the person he once was.  The scene where Bryton is bragging about his success to Ally is where you realize that you hate this character not only because of the fresh dialogue, but because of the way Justin Long plays the character.  He is brilliant in the role, and also displays wonderful comedic chops at the expense of Canada.

Haley Joel Osment and Genesis Rodriguez play Teddy Craft and Ally Leon, respectively.  Under typical circumstances, these would be the characters that attempt to find out what happened to the main character, and see if he is still alive.  However, Kevin Smith wrote a beautiful angle between these characters that adds something to, not only their relationship, but their relationship with Wallace as well.  The banter between Osment and Rodriguez is genuine and hilarious, and you ultimately see how the relationship their characters have is affected by what happens to Wallace.  These are good performances, particularly by Osment, that help carry the film.

Kevin Smith is the director of Tusk.  As I mentioned before, this film hearkens back to the glory days of horror movies.  I have been openly critical about the current generation of horror films because I feel that they rely to heavily on gore and jump scares.  There is gore, and there are jump scares in this film, but it is used sparingly and in places that you would not expect, much like the horror films of old.  I also love that Smith uses classical music in the torture scenes.  Howe is someone who sees what he is doing as art, and having beautiful music play in the background adds something to both his character and the film as a whole.  Also, I am sick and twisted and I find something glorious about body torture in horror films.  I personally find that classical music adds to the glorification of blood splattering all over the walls.  One of the other issues I have with this film has to do with the final sequence of the film.  The issue I have with it has to do with how film fans interpret the movie.  The final scene takes place at an exotic animal shelter where Wallace is staying.  If you look at this film as a horror movie, which is the way I look at it, this sequence feels entirely out of place and it does not match the tone of the rest of the film.  However, if you look at this film as a dark comedy, this sequence will make you chuckle.  It is all in how you interpret the movie.

It is nice to see Kevin Smith continually think outside the box, and make films that are outside of his comfort zone.  I think horror filmmakers today could learn much from watching this film.  If you are in the mood for something fresh and original from one of the industrys'  top independent directors, look no further than Tusk.

Learning What Matters

Jersey Girl is a movie that I had not seen until recently.  I have always been a fan of Kevin Smith as a director, and I also think Ben Affleck is a sorely under-rated and under-appreciated actor, so I was very much looking forward to watching it.  I cannot express how pleasantly shocked I was to discover how much heart this movie has.  This film is absolutely delightful.

Jersey Girl is the story of a publicist whos' life gets turned upside-down after a personal tragedy.  This film shows us that Kevin Smith is not just a filmmaker who makes raunchy comedies.  He can tell stories with real heart and emotion.   Personally, as much as I love his comedies, I wish he did more films like this.  This film also sends a profound message to anyone that feels conflicted about whether or not they are doing a good job with balancing their career with their personal life.  It does not matter how important your career is to you.  It does not matter how important your personal goals are to you.  What matters is being there for your family, and if you cannot do that, then you need to do something about it.  It is this overall theme of the film that had a strong affect on me, as it is something that I struggle with every day.  Thank you, Kevin Smith, for giving me a cinematic boot up the ass.  I just have one minor issue with the film.  There is a scene where Ollie goes off on Gertie, and then Bart ridicules him for it.  I would have liked to see a scene between Ollie and Maya take place after this where they argue about his behavior, and then she leaves.  I think this would have added more depth to their relationship.  Other than that, I adore this film.

Ben Affleck plays Ollie Trinke.  What makes this movie so remarkable is Ollie's character arc in the film.  Ollie starts out as being quite an unlikeable guy and then, through a series of life lessons thanks to his father Bart (George Carlin) and his friend Maya (Liv Tyler), realizes his mistakes and learns from them.  This is a staggering performance by Affleck who serviceably displays a wide range of emotions.  The scene where Ollie tells his baby daughter Gertie (Raquel Castro) that he misses his wife (Jennifer Lopez) is quite well-acted.  He also has great chemistry with Carlin and Tyler, which adds to the enjoyment of the film.  To anyone who does not think Ben Affleck is a good actor, I encourage you to watch some of Kevin Smiths' films.

Liv Tyler plays Maya.  I love Tylers' performance so much because she displays a wit and a sense of humor that we have not seen in previous films.  Her banter with Affleck adds levity to the film, but she is also a crucial character to the story.  I actually like that, at the end of the movie, we are not sure if Maya and Ollie get together.  I think that would have been incredibly cliche.  This is such a charming performance by Tyler.  I think every man should have a friend like Maya in their lives.

In a show-stealing performance, George Carlin plays Bart Trinke.  Bart is a man who has, naturally, been through it all in his life.  While he is always there to support his son, he is also not afraid to give him tough love and openly criticize him of his behavior.  Carlin chews up every scene and every bit of dialogue, as only he can.  This is one of those performances that really makes you miss him because it feels so genuine.

Jason Biggs plays Arthur Brickman.  While Biggs appearance in the film is brief, the character of Arthur is an important one.  Arthur is always there for Ollie in his time of need, and he is also the guy who sees potential in Ollie.  Even though Ollie has been somewhat of a jerk in the past, Arthur is always there to lend a helpful hand.  I like the fact that Biggs goes against type with this role, and quite honestly I would like to see him do more dramatic work.  Again, this is a character that resonated with me because there have been a number of people in my life that hung around with me even though I was not the most popular guy.  The character of Arthur helped me realize that it is those kinds of people that you want to keep around.

Kevin Smith is the director of Jersey Girl.  I love that a majority of this story takes place at Barts' home outside of the city because it shows that Smith can tell a good story in a tight-knit space.  Do not get me wrong, the rest of the film is quite enjoyable, but there is something special about these scenes that hearken back to Smiths' early days of making movies.  There is also a scene towards the beginning of the movie that shows that the ending of one life is also the beginning of another.  This is quite an emotional and powerful scene, and it shows that Smith understands the depths of human emotion.  Each character and their role is also clearly defined, and that is due to Smiths' wonderful writing.  It is a shame that Smith does not get more credit for his dramatic work because I think he is brilliant.

I have quite a hard time deciding what my personal favorite Kevin Smith film is.  I know that I would put Jersey Girl right up there with Chasing Amy.  So, I would say that if you enjoyed that film you will most likely enjoy this one.

The Gang's All Here

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was the first Kevin Smith film I ever saw.  This movie is hilarious and extremely profane, with enough pop culture references to make even a modest nerd go completely bonkers.  This may not be Kevin Smiths' best movie, but it is absolutely unforgettable.

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is the story of Jay and Silent Bob who decide to stop the movie Bluntman and Chronic from being made.  The movie is based off of comic book characters that, in turn, are based on them.  However, they did not get any of the profits.  While this is an irreverent comedy, there is actually a love story between Jay (Jason Mewes) and Justice (Shannon Elizabeth) that is well put together, and ends up being the heart and soul of the entire film.  I also enjoy this film because Jay and Silent Bob step out of their comfort zone of chilling at the Quick Stop, go on a road trip together, and get entangled in all sorts of adventures along the way.  Of course, the highlight of the film is when Jay and Silent Bob get into a bongsaber battle with Mark Hamill.  We all know how much of a nerd Kevin Smith is, and this scene reaches the highest peaks of geek mountain.  All in all, Jay and Silent Bob is pure uncensored fun that is, arguably, Kevin Smiths' most popular film.

Kevin Smith is the director of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.  One of the great things that Smith does with this film, as I mentioned before, is the love story.  There is a small, and hilarious, heist sequence about halfway through the film that serves as the catalyst for the beginning of Jay and Justices' relationship.  This sequence could have easily taken away from the main plot of the film.  However,  because of the way the sequence is structured, it actually fits quite well within the story as a whole.  I also love that this film pokes fun at Smiths' other films, as well as some of the actors' careers.  Kevin Smith movies were never meant to be for critics, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is living proof of that.

When Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was released, it was the culmination of Kevin Smiths' entire career.  Quite honestly, it still feels like that to this day.  If you are a fan of Kevin Smith, you should definitely check this film out.

A Cinematic Bullshit Session

Clerks is a film that oozes the era in which it was released.  Anybody that grew up in the 90's can identify with the movie in one way or another.  In my opinion, that is what makes this movie so good.

Clerks is a film that tells the story of a day in the lives of two convenience store clerks.  What makes the movie so remarkable is that there is not a linear story or dramatic character arcs.  This film shows and describes to us what working in this line of work can be like.  It also shows that going into work on what was supposed to be your day off can turn out to be the craziest day of your life. The jokes are well-timed throughout the film, and the payoff for each one of them is incredibly gratifying.  Finally, in a genius "small world" moment, we see that a couple of guests actually know Dante and have an unexpected and detailed past with him.

Brian O' Halloran and Jeff Anderson play Dante Hicks and Randal Graves, respectively.  The best part about this movie are the bullshit sessions between Brian and Jeff.  Anybody who grew up in the 90's and watches Clerks knows that these B.S. sessions that happen at work are an everyday occurrence for people who do not want to be there.  Also, as I mentioned before, even the topics of discussion are relatable.

There are two female characters in the film and, ironically enough, both seem perfect for Dante.  Marilyn Ghigliotti plays Veronica.  Veronica is a woman who is perfectly happy with where Dante is in his life, and does not really expect or want him to change.  The conversations that she and Dante have are genuine, and that is due to the genuine performance of Ghigliotti.  She brings a "girl next door" vibe to her character that leaves you wanting Dante to end up with her.

Lisa Spoonauer plays Caitlin Bree.  What makes the scenes between Dante and Caitlin so special is that you know that they have a past history.  In their scenes together, you can see that they almost pick up right where they left off.  Spoonauer is solid at conveying this aspect of her character, right down to her body language.  Caitlin is the girl that always has Dante's back, and it is because of Spoonauers' performance that you believe this.

Kevin Smith is the director of Clerks.  What drives the story of Clerks is the relationship between Dante and Randal, and that is mirrored in Smiths' directing.  Virtually every shot in the convenience store is a 2-shot with Dante and Randal talking to each other.  It is because of the direction that you care about these guys right up until the end of the film.  Smith may not be the greatest filmmaker in the world, but he knows how to craft a good character piece.

Clerks is one of the best directorial debuts in modern cinema.  It has relatable themes, and it firmly established the kind of filmmaker Kevin Smith would come to be known as.  If you are a fan of great dialogue and characters, I highly suggest checking this movie out.

 

Law Enforcement Incoherence

Cop Out is a movie that, given the talent involved, you would think would be a complete riot.  As much as I am a fan of the director and the actors, this film completely falls apart.  I am one of those film fans that believes you have to appreciate the bad with the good, but Cop Out is a tough pill to swallow.

Cop Out is the story of a police officer who recruits his partner to help track down a robber who stole his rare baseball card.  The police officer then intends to use the money he got for the card to pay for his daughters' wedding.  I will not beat around the bush with this: I hate this movie.  The story is mundane and dull, and the comedy falls flat on its face.  Perhaps if Kevin Smith had written the script in addition to directing, the film would have been better.

Bruce Willis plays Jimmy, the police officer who owns the baseball card.  Personally, I find Bruce Willis to be the best part of this entire film.  The thing is, what makes it so great is that it is just Bruce Willis being Bruce Willis.  In this movie, Willis is more of a character actor than anything else, which is actually quite enjoyable to see.  I can honestly say that if he was not in the movie, the film would be completely unwatchable.

Tracy Morgan plays Paul.  I have never been a Tracy Morgan fan, and this movie further cements my feelings.  You would think that an actor who is supposed to be the "comic relief" would actually be funny, but Morgan is horrendous.  Saying variations of the word "No" (ex. "Hell no", "Shit no", "Fuck no") repeatedly is not funny.

Kevin Smith is the director of Cop Out.  The directing is quite bland, and most of the film lacks the energy of previous Kevin Smith films.  There are two action sequences in the film that are actually filmed very well, but other than that the film is incredibly monotonous.  It is always a shame when a director you like and admire turns in a bad movie, and this movie shows that even Kevin Smith can have a bad day at the office.

It is unfortunate that I own this garbage heap of a movie because I have no intention of ever watching it again.  The thing is, I am such a huge film fan that I do not intend to get rid of it either.  Maybe this film works for some people, but for me it does not.

A Boring Movie About An Awful Movie

For the past several years, I have heard how incredibly raunchy Zack and Miri Make a Porno is.  I have to admit that this is one of the contributing factors that made me want to see the film.  Unfortunately, I am sorry to say that I just sat through the 2-hour snooze-fest that is Zack and Miri Make a Porno.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno is the story of two people who decide to solve their financial problems by making a porn flick.  I have to admit that even though I am a huge fan of Kevin Smith, I hated this movie.  I am not going to beat around the bush with this.  This movie is awful.  It dragged along for two hours with some of the longest dialog scenes I have ever seen in a movie.  The romantic relationship that forms between Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri ( Elizabeth Banks) is so extremely predictable that I saw it coming five minutes into the movie.  I would also say that 99% of the funny moments in the movie come from everyone EXCEPT Seth Rogen.  With all that out of the way, there are a few minor redeeming qualities about this movie.  The crude humor is at an all-time-high, even for a Kevin Smith film.  There are also some quite good dramatic moments that actually resonate very well.  That is about it, though.

Seth Rogen plays Zack.  I am generally not a huge fan of Rogen at all, and this movie is a prime example.  Other than a couple of wonderful dramatic moments between him and Elizabeth Banks, Rogen is very weak and just downright boring.  The staleness of his acting is so present, it is a miracle I did not turn the movie off.

Elizabeth Banks plays Miri.  She is the best thing about this movie, quite honestly.  She is funny, but at the same time there is something very heartfelt about her performance.  Banks gives off a very "girl next door" quality in this movie, which is something I really enjoyed.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno is written and directed by Kevin Smith.  It is, in my opinion, his weakest film.  The countless dialog scenes drag on so slowly, and there is nothing about this movie that keeps you invested in the story or the characters.  The movie does have raunchy dialog, but that is about it.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno is one of the worst movies I have ever seen.  It is a miracle that I did not fall asleep while watching it.  If your time and money is precious to you, please do yourself a favor and skip this movie.

Let's Go To The Mall

Mallrats is a movie I had not heard of until I started following Kevin Smith’s work.  While this movie failed financially at the box office, it has since become a cult classic and a favorite among fans.  While I personally think it is Smith’s weakest film, I still enjoy the movie very much.

Mallrats is the story of two friends who go to the mall after their girlfriends break up with them.  One of the things I enjoy most about this movie is that it is a time-capsule movie.  Everything about Mallrats oozes the 90’s.  This movie is also special because it reminds you that at some point in your life it was cool to just go to the mall and chill.

Jason Lee plays Brodie and Shannon Doherty plays his girlfriend, Rene.  The character of Brodie is one that was ahead of his time back when Mallrats was released in 1995.  Brodie is a man who loves comics, however comic book readers were looked down upon in those days, unlike today when they are at the top of the pop culture totem pole.  He is also a lazy idiot who goes to the mall and worships it like a shrine, and has no clue that he has a great girl to call his own.  Jason Lee does not have to try too hard to play this character because he is essentially playing himself.  Rene wants a man who has ambition so she starts seeing this rich prick who owns a store at the mall.  However, she does feel bad for leaving Brodie because she really did love him.  Shannon Doherty is one of the best things about the movie.  You really believe every word she says to Brodie, and you also want her to find someone better than Brodie even though the two are made for each other.  I enjoy characters like that, and Doherty plays it perfectly.

Claire Forlani and Jeremy London play Brandi and T.S., respectively.  Their relationship is similar to Brodie and Rene’s.  T.S. is an asshole so Brandi breaks up with him, and it is only after some major soul-searching that T.S. realizes that Brandi is the one for him.  I like the fact that T.S. professes his love for Brandi on TRUTH OR DATE in front of complete strangers.  It takes guts to do something like that.

Mallrats is a cult classic in every sense of the word.  Again, while it failed financially at the box office it did prove that Kevin Smith can handle a multi-million dollar production.  If you are fan of Kevin Smith, you should definitely check this one out.

A Ridiculously Raunchy Sequel

Clerks 2 is a movie that suffers from what I like to call Sequel Identity Crisis (S.I.C.).  Sequel Identity Crisis is when a movie sequel gets compared to its predecessor too often, instead of being judged on its own merits.  As it stands, Clerks 2 is a movie that should be appreciated for its snappy dialogue, ridiculous scenarios, and originality that comes with every Kevin Smith movie.

Clerks 2 is the story of how Dante and Randal are ultimately planning their future. I absolutely loved this movie.  The great thing about Clerks 2 is that underneath all the donkey shows and ass-to-mouth jokes, this movie is really is really about the love and friendship that has formed between the characters.  I would easily that this movie is one of the greatest sequels ever made.

Brian O’ Halloran and Jeff Anderson are back as Dante and Randal.  Randal is offensive as ever, while Dante continues to attempt to keep him in check.  The “Lord of the Rings vs. Star Wars” debate is bound to drive any nerd crazy.  As unfiltered as Randal is, however, there is a beautiful moment of compassion from him when he tells Dante his true feelings about him. 

Also amongst the returning cast are fan-favorites Jay and Silent Bob, played by Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith.  Jay continues to be all about smoking weed and getting laid, while Silent Bob is the voice of reason.  It never ceases to amaze me how expressive Kevin Smith can be using just his face.

Rosario Dawson joins the returning cast as Becky.  She is just as foul-mouthed as Randal, and if Dante cannot put him in his place, she can and will.  It is hard not to fall in love with her, and the rooftop scene between her and Dante (followed by a great dance sequence) proves that.  Rosario Dawson really holds her own against the veterans of the cast.

I have always admired and respected Kevin Smith as a filmmaker.  He makes movies with his friends, which is incredibly inspiring.  You can tell that everyone had fun making this movie, and it is as equally as fun to watch it.

Clerks 2 may be one of my favorite movies ever.  It is great to see him do a sequel to the movie that put him on the map, and get everyone back to do it.  If you are not easily offended, or even if you are, I highly suggest picking this movie up.

Religious Destruction

I have always been a huge fan of Kevin Smith.  In an industry full of sequels, franchises and remakes, Kevin Smith always brings us something original.  Red State is a movie that is not only original, but it can be quite controversial as well.

Red State is the story of a group of teenagers who receive a party invitation, and then get thrust into the world of a fundamentalist group with an evil moral agenda.  I have to admit that the beginning of this movie made me feel very uneasy, and very offended.  This movie revolves around a group of religious extremists who have a very controversial moral agenda, and the beginning of the movie felt very preachy (literally and figuratively).  As I was watching “The Making of Red State” documentary, however, I realized that Kevin Smith’s point with this movie was to poke fun at these kind of people that exist in real life.  This explains why the performances are a little over the top at the start of the film, and honestly this makes me love the movie even more.

Michael Angarano and Kyle Gallner play Travis and Jarrod, respectively.  These boys are just a couple of teenagers who are looking to have a good time, and get caught up in the nightmare of the Five Points Trinity.  These two young actors effectively convey the shock and terror that they feel when they encounter this world, while at the same time acting like typical teenage boys.  You actually end up feeling a little bit of sympathy for them.

Michael Parks plays Pastor Abin Cooper, and Melissa Leo plays his daughter Sara.  These two are downright frightening as members of the Five Points Trinity.  Michael Parks in particular gives a very haunting performance, one that is easily compared to Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs.  Melissa Leo plays her character so convincingly that it is at times so annoying that you cannot wait to see her kick the bucket.

John Goodman plays Joseph Keenan, and in my opinion he steals the show.  I think Goodman is a very under-rated and under-appreciated actor.  He has turned in many stellar performances throughout his career.  He commands the screen like never before in this movie.  It is not your typical John Goodman character, and he flat-out crushes it.

There are still two Kevin Smith movies that I have not seen, but I truly believe that this is his best work.  There is an action sequence towards the end of the movie that is better than some full-length action movies I have seen.  Smith also uses the handheld camera very effectively because he really captures the horror of what is happening to these boys.  This is a movie that people will talk about, and rightfully so.  Bravo, Kevin Smith.

The Wrath Of Religion

Let me preface this particular blog by saying that I am an atheist.  I do not believe in any deity or religious entity whatsoever.  However, I do respect the beliefs of others.  When it comes to religious films, I can be very picky.  As long as a movie is not too preachy, I can handle it.  Movies are art, and are meant to be taken as such.  As an atheist, I look at religious movies from an artistic standpoint.  Ok, now that I have that out of the way....

One of the fun things about doing this blog is talking about movies that I have heard about for years, but never actually seen.  Dogma is another one of those films.  I have always been a huge Kevin Smith fan, so six months ago when I watched it for the first time I could not have been more pleased.

Dogma is the story of two banished angels, Loki and Bartleby, who are trying to exploit a loophole so that they can reenter heaven.  It is arguably Kevin Smith's most popular movie.  This movie serves as a comedy that seems to be the result of years of Catholic upbringing being shoved down Kevin Smith's throat.  Dogma is not meant to be taken seriously, and I believe one might be offended if they do.

This movie has a stellar cast, most notably Alan Rickman as the Metatron.  It is amazing to see an actor of Rickman's caliber in a movie like this.  He brings such a wit and sense of humor to his role that is pleasantly surprising and downright hilarious.  The scene between him and Linda Fiorentino in the lake is actually quite moving.  For me personally, Alan Rickman steals the show.

Kevin Smith's writing in the movie is brilliant.  It just feels like he is venting for two hours.  Of course, if religion was shoved down my throat all my life I would be venting too.  There are many scenes that are quite well directed, such as the aforementioned lake scene.  I feel like Kevin Smith knew what Alan Rickman would bring to the movie, because all of his scenes seem to be directed the best.  Also, the scene where Bartleby and Loki massacre the people in the office building is very well done (and quite hilarious), and the ending scene in front of the church is just pure spectacle at its finest.

If you are religious and take your religion seriously, I would advise against watching this movie.  However, if you are not religious and/or appreciate the fact that this is just a movie, you will thoroughly enjoy it.  It has a great cast, a great story, and is an epic fantasy at its finest.

Chasing Greatness

Chasing Amy is one of those that totally and completely changed my life.  It changed the way I feel about how important writing is in regards to the film-making process.  It also told me that it is possible to have a very close friendship with a member of the opposite sex, and even though it will never ever be more than that, that can be a wonderful and beautiful thing.

It is the opinion of this blogger that Chasing Amy is Kevin Smith's best work.  Yet, anybody who has seen the film knows that it technically is a science fiction movie, as what happens in this movie could never ever happen in real life.  This movie is the story of how Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck) befriends Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams), and ultimately falls in love with her and the consequences that arise because of this.  

I think Ben Affleck has gotten considerably better and better over the years as an actor.  I think since he has started directing, he has become a better actor.  What makes him great in this film is that he really gets authentic dialogue to work with.  You really see a genuine performance come through in his performance that makes you feel for him.  His monologue when he is professing his love to Alyssa in his car is one of the most moving scenes I've ever witnessed in a film.

Jason Lee is another example of an actor who has gotten considerably better as an actor.  In the film, he plays Banky Edwards, Holden's best friend.  Lee is perfect at playing the best friend we all want to have: supportive, protective, and always giving advice even at the risk of ending his friendship with Holden.  Their friendship and success as artists are always foremost on his mind.

I have not seen Joey Lauren Adams in many films aside from this and The Waterboy.  Unfortunately, it seems that since Chasing Amy, she has gotten herself pigeonholed into the "girl next door" kind of roles.  That being said, I think she is great in this film.  She really feels like a genuine person and not just a character in a movie.  Their is pure, raw emotion in her presence that really makes her dialogue, along with Affleck's, feel genuine.

Over the past couple of years, I have become a huge fan of Kevin Smith.  Although I think his strengths lie more in his writing than his directing, there are a couple of scenes in Chasing Amy which are particularly well directed.  You always get something fresh and original with Kevin Smith, which is why he has such an enormous fan-base.

Personally, I could watch Chasing Amy over and over again countless times.  I think it truly deserves the recognition that it gets, despite its inconsistencies.  I cannot recommend this movie enough.