Posted by Pseudo at spider-tr072.proxy.aol.com on June 25, 2001 at 23:58:33:
In Reply to: Kevin Smith is a mediocre filmmaker at best posted by benhoug on June 25, 2001 at 23:16:14:
This feels like a joemain post. All we need now is a plaid shirt, Michigan hat, and a middle finger.
It was indeed a joke for the movie, mocking certain posters more than the actual movie itself, in all probability. He didn't like it, and I didn't like it. Many people didn't like it, and many people did like it-- but neither had to do with Kevin Smith like it.
Just because he's a filmmaker, he can't be critical of other films like your average fan? That isn't fair...even makers of films have their favorites and least favorites, and they're entitled to that. I'm sure he holds a good amount of respect for Anderson, being a fellow person in the business, but it doesn't mean he has to love his work, just because he makes movies of his own.
Kevin is a good writer. Chasing Amy was above mediocre, and Clerks was almost there. Maybe Mallrats was mediocre, but Dogma was right below Clerks, as Chasing Amy is by leaps and bounds Kevin's best work.
Maybe I'll hate Jay and Silent Bob when it comes out. I'm not going to pretend to like something a filmmaker does, just because I particularly enjoyed something else they've done. I judge writers and directors on a film to film basis. All of Kevin's films have a different feeling and tone to them, so I judge them individually, like I will Jay and Bob. I'm not going to group them all together, because each movie Kevin does shows his creative progression and insight, so it wouldn't be fair.
One can find solace in the fact Ebert won't rip this movie an asshole like he did Rob Reiner's North.