Archive for December 12th, 2006

DVD Verdict LOVES The Clerks II DVD!

December 12th @ 12:42 am | No Comments » | Scooped by Ali

  • The excellent DVD review website DVD Verdict sings high praises of the awesome Clerks II DVD. Check out a snippet or two to see what we mean:
…Even better, Smith taps into the universal memory maker known as music to deliver montages (and even a full-blown dance number) to remind us of the release, and the realities, of life’s surrounding soundtrack. When Dante goes after Becky, the director places The Smashing Pumpkins’ amazing “1979” in the background, letting Billy Corgan’s wistful lyrics about misspent youth lost paint the picture. The resonance of both the filmmaking and the sonic backdrop are just sensational. Even better, Becky tries to teach Dante to dance in preparation for his big betrothed day. As the Jackson 5’s sensationally celebratory “ABC” blasts out of Silent Bob’s boombox, Mooby’s suddenly becomes a stage for everyone to rejoice in the all-out spirit of life. Sure, it may seem cheesy and sort of fuddy-duddy-ish to take a 30-plus-year-old track and accent it with some “Thriller”-style choreography, but the more important moment is Dante’s response to Becky’s moves. Rosario Dawson, who seems to exude sex appeal from every pore, does a few sly solo moves, and as Smith pulls in on actor Brian O’Halloran’s face, we instantly recognize the significance of the moment. In essence, Smith is arguing for the simplification of life—a simple melody, a simple workday afternoon, a simple physical exchange between two smitten friends. It’s the main message of Clerks II, a lesson this director hopes we all learn.

Smith is finally maturing into the modern voice of a disaffected generation, a label he earned rather haphazardly a decade before. Clerks II takes a stand against the notion that personal happiness is a hindrance to social advancement, as if the two concepts were so mutually exclusive that they could never live happily in the same sentiment. As his own career has proved, one can stay true to his talents and still become bigger than his own individual ideology. Clerks II should be the movie that makes Kevin Smith more than just a known name in certain households. It’s a wonderful work of jokey genius.

Read the entire review over at their site.

Audio Interview: Zak Knutson

December 12th @ 12:42 am | No Comments » | Scooped by SilverLurker

  • The great RADIO ASKEW is back, and cooler than ever, with a brand new interview with the Sexy Stud himself, Zak Knutson of Chop Shop Entertainment. The interview ran so long that Will had to cut it into two parts — Part one of which is available now exclusively at Radio Askew. Part Two will be coming soon (in less than a week!). The interview’s a must-listen, as Zak’s very gracious and open with his answers, and Will as always provides some dynamic radio. It’s great to see Radio Askew back in action!

View Askew NewsBites™

December 12th @ 12:41 am | No Comments » | Scooped by Brett Murphy, Marisa Eytalis, Yvette, Justin McGill, Koko

83. Kevin Smith. This year the director spared audiences dogma and J. Lo and simply gave them what they wanted: more Clerks. Surprisingly, the results weren’t bad, even if we were forced to believe that Rosario Dawson would actually fall for Dante.
  • John Campea of TheMovieBlog.com is holding “Films For Food Festival” and one of the three films that will be screening there is Clerks II. It was voted by the public into the top 2 films they would like to see, along with the hilarious ‘Shaun of the Dead’.

The guys who do the Audio Edition are also big fans of Kevin. The event’s taking place on Saturday, January 20th, 2007 in Hamilton, Ontario (Canada). ALL proceeds from the festial go right to helping struggling families. The Good Shepherd Centre in Hamilton not only runs a busy food bank, but also an emergency family shelter. Every dollar raised does something good! Three great flicks, and for a great cause. If you’re in the area, it sure sounds like a great way to spend what’s likely to be a cold Saturday indoors!

  • Could this be a NEW Jeff Anderson fansite? The webmaster’s got video of the Clerks II DVD signing, photos, links, and more — It’s just getting started, but looks like a good groundwork is set for a nice spot to get your latest Anderson updates.
  • Bloody-Disgusting reports that none other than “Dogma”’s Alan Rickman has joined the cast of Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd, playing the role of Judge Turpin. Yet another strange connection with Jersey Girl’s main theme coming to movie form just a year or two after its release.
  • Dark Horizons reports: “Donnie Darko” helmer Richard Kelly has posted in his MySpace blog that they have finally locked picture on “Southland Tales”.

Set in a near-future post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, the film follows the criss-crossed destinies of an action film actor (The Rock) stricken with amnesia, an ex-porn star (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in the midst of reconverting, and twin brothers (Seann William Scott) whose destinies becomes confused with that of all mankind.

The current runtime on ‘Tales’ now stands at 137 mins, a full 27 minutes shorter than the “work-in-progress” version shown at Cannes. No word on how this affects Kevin’s role.