Favorite kevin smith film

[Guest 5_moves_of_doom]

[Marvin the Martian form on]

 

Greetings humans!

 

[Marvin the Martian form off]

 

I myself am a huge Kevin Smith film, and what started as a single movie, that then became a trilogy, that then became a 5-part, loosely related, very crude "Jersey" series, has spread worldwide gaining many fans. Anyway, the question is, which Smith film do you enjoy the most? Out of Dogma, Chasing Amy, Mallrats, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and Clerks, which one is the best? If you hate Kevin Smith, then either don't reply, or just say why you hate him so much.

 

 

Anyhoo, you only have to name your favorite, but here's the order in which I like them.

 

1.) JSBSB: This is a pretty funny Cheech/Chong dumb humor movie alone, but keeps you on the floor laughin throughout the whole thing if you have a wide knowledge of Hollywood/comics/other Smith movies and can get all the little inside jokes here and there.

2.) Clerks: Not as slapstick as some of the other movies, but still fricken funny, and if some parts aren't funny, then they're at least interesting.

 

3.) Dogma: For me, all the way through a great movie, but doesn't place in the top two simply because I'm a Christian and despite the disclaimer at the beginning, can't help but feel a TAD bit guilty laughing during this movie. Overlall everyone played their parts perfectly in this movie.

 

4.) Mallrats: Despite most hating this movie, I love it. Brody is probably my favorite non-J+SB character out of the Smith films, and this movie portrays Jay and his hetero life mate Silent Bob in a more slapstick fashion then any other movie in the series. And I love me my slapstick.

 

5.) Like Clerks, a little more serious than the other movies, but maybe a little TOO serious. Plus the whole plot is kinda wacked out, and Jay and Silent Bob have the shortest part in this movie than any other that they've appeared in (not counting Scream 3.) Silent Bob also lacks is usual pattented "silent quality.

 

Anywayz, please reply, I'm really interested in other's opinions of Smith's work.

[Guest razazteca]

you forgot movie 3 Chasing Amy, which is a love triangle of the comic book guys and the Lesbian Amy, this movie was a serious drama about the one who got away.

 

Dogma and Clerks are tied as my favorite Kevin Smith movie, both movies had multiple sub plots to make the movie just as entertaining as the 1st viewing.

 

Clerks - was Kevin Smith day job movie

Mallrats - movie about his friends

Chasing Amy - movie about Miss Right who got away

Dogma - obvious religion movie

Jay & Bob - time to get payed, cha ching

[Guest]

1. Dogma

2. Mallrats

3. Clerks

4. Chasing Amy

5. Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back

[Guest 5_moves_of_doom]

you forgot movie 3 Chasing Amy, which is a love triangle of the comic book guys and the Lesbian Amy, this movie was a serious drama about the one who got away.

I saw it, in fact, i listed it as #5, I just forgot to put in the title.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Dogma is definitely my favorite.  It's amazingly well-written, and pulls off the juxtaposition (ooh! fancy word!) of crude dick and fart jokes with some pretty heavy religious (some would say anti-religious) theories flawlessly.  When asked what my favorite movie is, I usually reply Dogma.

 

Chasing Amy, Kevin Smith's other "serious" Jersey Trilogy film, would have to go for #2 for many of the same reasons, except replace religious with relationship.  It's actually a very unique relationship (at least compared to the teen romantic drivel I'm used to watching because of my sister) and some of the scenes are down-right heartwarming and/or sad.

 

The comedies all rank at third.  Some sub-plots and incidents of Clerks were really memorable, but on the whole I didn't find it that funny, and actually liked the subsequent short-lived cartoon series better.  Mallrats and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back still have funny moments but aren't exactly great overall, but I think I'm just spoiled because of the serious elements of Chasing Amy and Dogma and how well they play into the comedic parts such that when watching the films that are totally comedic I'm still looking for the serious elements and come away disappointed when I don't find them.

[Guest 5_moves_of_doom]

Dogma is definitely my favorite.  It's amazingly well-written, and pulls off the juxtaposition (ooh! fancy word!) of crude dick and fart jokes with some pretty heavy religious (some would say anti-religious) theories flawlessly.  When asked what my favorite movie is, I usually reply Dogma.

 

Chasing Amy, Kevin Smith's other "serious" Jersey Trilogy film, would have to go for #2 for many of the same reasons, except replace religious with relationship.  It's actually a very unique relationship (at least compared to the teen romantic drivel I'm used to watching because of my sister) and some of the scenes are down-right heartwarming and/or sad.

 

The comedies all rank at third.  Some sub-plots and incidents of Clerks were really memorable, but on the whole I didn't find it that funny, and actually liked the subsequent short-lived cartoon series better.  Mallrats and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back still have funny moments but aren't exactly great overall, but I think I'm just spoiled because of the serious elements of Chasing Amy and Dogma and how well they play into the comedic parts such that when watching the films that are totally comedic I'm still looking for the serious elements and come away disappointed when I don't find them.

Dogma was a drama? To me, besides the part where Bethany found out she was Jesus' relative, there really aren't any serious scenes in the movie. Personally, I think Clerks was more of a drama, well, not a drama, just less slapsticky than Mallrats/JSBSB/some scenes in Dogma.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

I wouldn't call Dogma a full-fledged drama, but it's a lot more serious and a lot deeper than the other films in the "Jersey trilogy" (that lasted five movies).  Maybe I'm just not looking at the scenes right... I need to turn the director's commentary back on! Oh wait, that's not going to help me find any hidden insights

[Guest Big McLargeHuge]

1. Dogma

2. J&SB Strike Back

3. Clerks

4. Mallrats

5. Clerks: The Animated Series.

6. Chasing Amy: Haven't seen it, but I'm sure it's good.

 

I also just want to point that the Mallrats DVD commentary is hilarious and had me rolling. That is all.

[Guest Black Lushus]

you considered Dogma a more serious movie? seemed like a total fantasy comedy to me...

[Guest imajackoff?]

Wasnt there a thread like this last month??

 

Anyways...

 

1. Chasing Amy

2. Clerks

3. Dogma

4. Mallrats

5. JSBSB

[Guest converge241]

been done before, but always a goodie.

 

Mallrats is not about his friends. He and Universal wanted a fast Times at Ridgemont High for the 90's.

 

In order (and im including the animated series as a sixth movie)

 

1) Clerks

not the "best Movie" of the lot but will always be my favorite.

2) Chasing Amy

teh one i think is the best written and acted of the bunch and the one i saw most in the theaters

3) Jay and Silent Bos Strike Back

4) Clerks Uncensored

5) Mallrats

6) Dogma - hey one of ems gotta be last. I love the ideas and performances, just drags in some parts.

 

awaiting to add $ell out to the list

[Guest Human Fly]

I'm a huge Smith fan so the order in which they are in is going to be tough. I've never turned down a chance to catch a Smith flick, and his skits on the Tonight Show are great. I'm going to include the cartoon DVD as well in my rankings.

 

1. Clerks

2. Clerks: Uncensored

3. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

4. Chasing Amy

5. Dogma

6. Mallrats

[Guest Youth N Asia]

1: TIE Clerks/Mallrats...a year ago it would have been Mallrats hands down...but the more I see Clerks the more I really like it.

 

3: Chasing Amy

 

4: Dogma

 

5: JSBSB Just came off lame...it was consistantly funny...but for me there was no one big laugh...plus I don't like when people make jokes and then look into the camera, they did that way too much.

[Guest cabbageboy]

Here is my ranking, mostly based on how much I like them and how much I actually WATCH them:

 

1.  Mallrats.  Yes, you heard correctly.  This is the one I just flat out like watching.  It gets awful reviews and I'm not sure why.  Some of the dialogue sounds strange in its needless complexity (a common gripe I have with Smith movies), but it is the most fun.  It also isn't out to make a big statement or piss off someone....just a fun silly movie.

 

2.  Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.  I watch this one the most because my brother loves the DVD I bought, but there are some things that drop it a notch below Mallrats in my enjoyment.  One, the already mentioned look at the camera stuff that is done 3 times in the movie.  Two, the mind numbing amount of queer jokes in the movie.  However, the first time I watched it I was almost gasping for air I was laughing so hard.  

 

3.  Dogma.  This might actually be Smith's most successful movie in my view.  There are some logic lapses (how can God be a white woman if Jesus was supposed to be black?) but it at least attempts some to tackle a serious issue, and also lets J and SB run wild.  

 

4.  Clerks.  This one goes lower mainly due to it being crudely made.  Also this is the epitome of Smith's movies having overly intellectual dialogue.  I mean, really now.  No one actually talks the way Dante and Randal do in an everyday conversation.  That said, I do laugh my ass off at the Berserker song.

 

5.  Chasing Amy.  This movie has some real good scenes in it (the opening scene at the comic show, Jason Lee and Joey Lauren Adams swapping sex injury stories) but sort of like in Clerks people bust out into speeches that don't sound the way people actually talk.  Add that to distasteful subject matter and a slightly bummer ending and it is my least favorite.

[Guest 5_moves_of_doom]

That said, I do laugh my ass off at the Berserker song.

You know, I never really did get why that stupid extended scene was funny AT ALL. Right when the song started, I laughed at how stupid it was, but then he kept singing....and I stopped laughing.

[Guest]

1. Clerks- The original.  One of the best dialogues ever, especially in a Smith movie.  Of course no one talks like that in real life, but that's the idea; they're saying what we're thinking.  You appreciate it alot more when you watch the commentary on the dvd and realize how little money they had to make the movie.  Smith used alot of his friends and family as side characters (moreso than his other films).

 

2. JSBSB- Smith said it best- it's the muppet movie on acid.  You can't really appreciate it unless you've seen all his films and get all the inside jokes.  Plus their are scenes I can watch over and over and still laugh my ass off (Jay's freestyles in particular).

 

3. Dogma- great movie that anyone can enjoy.  Some parts are really intriguing, and others are just really funny, creating a really good balance between a comedy and serious film.

 

4.  Chasing Amy- I really enjoyed it the first time I saw it, but it gets harder to watch after multiple viewings.  Not enough truly funny scenes like in his other films (although Koey London telling his story outside the Quick-Stop is hilarious). Still very original.  A love story that only Smith could do.

 

5.  Mallrats- Although very funny, this movie is actually a very disorganised mess.  while Brody's dialogue practically saves the film, Jeremy London is horrible in his role as T.S., and the whole movie falls apart at the end with the game show.  They also go with too much of a happy ending when they tie up all the character's loose ends.

[Guest Karnage]

What about the Clerks cartoon? That was hilarious!

[Guest packwingfn]

1. Clerks - Defnitely Clerks is #1, all the way...It was such a funny movie that I could watch it amillion times and not get sick of it, literally and all of my favorite quotes are from that movie, all from my hero, Randall. If it wasnt for Clerks tho, there would be no Mallrats, Dogma or Chasing Amy

 

2.Mallrats - Great Movie, Great Comedy, Good Stuff, First Smith film that I saw and thought it was great that it made me buy every Smith film on DVD. Jason Mewes was defnitely the best in this film

 

3.Chasing Amy - Found it really good, and thats all I need to say

 

4.Dogma - I liked dogma cus alot of the stuff in this movie is what I agreed with as Iam a cathlic and had alot of the same feelings that whats her name did. Chris rock ruled!

 

5.Jay and Silent Bob- ah kinda boring but a good way to end the series, Sad to see it go tho I want a Clerks 2!!!!

[Guest cabbageboy]

About the Berserker song, it's just one of those scenes which for whatever reason cracks me up.  Of course there is Olaf singing it, but then there are Jay's hilarious asides (that's fucked up man, that's fucking funny dude, etc).  Just everything in it.  To top it off I love the stoner guy saying "that's beautiful man."

 

It's funny but I thought the ending of Mallrats was awesome for the same reasons that someone criticized it.  In fact I dare say Truth or Date is the best scene Smith has ever done.  It's funny, it wraps up the film, reunites the two couples, involves Jay and Silent Bob as well as sail boat dude, and sends Ben Affleck to prison to get fucked in the ass.  Jeremy London is certainly overshadowed by Jason Lee, but he didn't disgust me or anything.

[Guest 5_moves_of_doom]

I have to agree with whomever mentioned it, whoever played T.S. sucked ass. I personally couldn't stand him, he was just too corny. And also, I hate comedy movies where the main character/2nd main character doesn't have ONE single funny line in the ENTIRE fricken movie, AKA T.S.

[Guest razazteca]

favorite extra scene from Jay & Bob Strike Back has to be the Fat Albert scene.  Jay behind the turntables and Bob singing the Fat Albert theme song.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

favorite extra scene from Jay & Bob Strike Back has to be the Fat Albert scene.  Jay behind the turntables and Bob singing the Fat Albert theme song.

That's not from J&SBSB, that's a deleted scene from Dogma.  It's one of 100 minutes of deleted/extended scenes (!).  Nobody can say Kevin Smith doesn't know what to put on a DVD

[Guest Youth N Asia]

The deleted Fat Alber scene in Dogma was the funniest thing in the movie...that would have gone against Smith's little "one/two line(s) for Silent Bob" deal though.

 

Jeremy London sucked hard in Mallrats...if you watch the DVD with commentary (Smith, Mewes, Lee, Mosier) they rip on London a lot...good stuff.

 

His character sucked though...I don't know if anyone could have made it funny...less annoying, yes...funny, no sir.

[Guest J*ingus]

Okay, in order of preference:

 

1. Clerks.  Still easily my favorite Smith film, one of those rare movies that I simply never get tired of watching.  I think this was his most heartfelt one, and the low budget b&w film was actually enhanced by the crappy camerawork that haunts all his movies.  

 

2. Dogma.  The best ensemble cast by far, and an interesting look at what Smith considers to be "serious" issues.  Some damn hilarious moments, too.  I loved watching God attempt a handstand, only to fall on her ass.  

 

3. Chasing Amy.  A decent film, but I don't get all the raves about how great it is.  Affleck has never been a great leading man, and Joey Lauren Adams's damn screeching harpy voice completely ruins her part for me.  I did like the ending however, and seem to be a minority of one in that department.  

 

4. Mallrats.  Jeremy London, Claire Forlani, and Shannon Doherty all turned in pretty weak lead performances, and the grossout humor was way over the top at times.  

 

5. Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back.  Smith should've just filmed himself jerking off onto the lens; it would've gotten the same effect, and would've been a lot cheaper.  A few funny moments here & there, especially once they finally get to Hollywood, but dear god do you have to sit through a lot of utter shit to get there.  The Charlie's Angles ripoff?  The monkey?  The animal control guy?  Chris Rock?  The nauseating idea that anyone, much less a supermodel, could fall in love with Jay?  Come on, Kev.  

 

And I take it that Clerks: Uncensored is the cartoon?  Haven't seen it yet, but definitely plan to.

[Guest cabbageboy]

In regards to Mallrats, I think most of the bashing of the acting comes from the fact that Jason Lee blows everyone else off the screen.  I mean, without him I can't see Jeremy London, Claire Forlani, or Shannen Doherty getting ripped so much.  I must wonder, if Smith and Mosier rag on London so much on the DVD, why even cast him to begin with?  Was it a studio decision?

 

I was wondering though, are Brodie and Randal related?  In Clerks Randal tells about his cousin Walter who died trying to suck his own dick.  In Mallrats Brodie tells about his cousin Walter who got cats stuck in his ass, etc.

[Guest converge241]

Yes Smith confirmed they are cousins or something of that nature. they are related.

 

Much in the way of the Hicks cousins, Dante, Gil , and the reporter from Dogma.

 

A Mallrats related question:

Has anybody seen the "clean"version of Mallrats?

by that i mean usually when a movie is shown on ABC or TBS or whatever they just edit, overdub or bleep out stuff, but Smith and the studio wanted the movie to be so much like "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" that they filmed totlally different scenes to make a really different movie..

[Guest Youth N Asia]

The ABC version of Mallrats is a riot...

 

Any time a character curses they don't just dub over the word...they redub the whole sentence.

 

JAY: "All it took was a fat chronic blunt."

TV JAY: "All it too was a fast karate punch."

 

Every other sentence of Jay was in a completly different voice, kinda funny yo a die hard fan.

 

They also did an extreme closeup on either TS or Brody's face at the foodcort in order to avoid showing a Coke advertisement.

 

But they did actually show a few clips that weren't in the movie at all (but you can see them on the DVD).

 

And finally...they took out the first part of the "like in the back of a voltswagon" deal...and when it was said later it made no sense.

 

Plus tons more edits I can't think of right now.

[Guest cabbageboy]

Mallrats was actually on FX not too long ago and I watched a few minutes of the Truth or Date stuff.  God it sucked.  After the "if we were making whoopee?" question Jason Lee just answers "What's whoopee?" and that is it.  No "you mean like fucking?" which makes it funny.  Also no smacking the ass in the making noise part.

 

Jay said "Are you watching this STUFF man, it's MESSED up!"  

 

Just awful.

[Guest Ripper]

Chasing Amy is the best acted, directed and written movie smith has done in my opinion.  Jay and BOB were in the movie all of 10 minutes and stole the film.  And I like the fact they were more like real people other than caractures in this movie.  

 

Jay: Yeah, but that ain't nothin like us at all, runnin around all slap-sticky and shit saying....what't that shit he got us sayin?

 

Bob: um....Snoochie Boochies.

 

Jay: Soochie Boochies...Who da fuck talks like that; that is fuckin baby talk.!!

 

That line is the shiot!!

[Guest goodhelmet]

i can't decide between mallrats or chasing amy.