Due to the schedule, Kevin only had time for a brief Q&A after the screening, we’re told, so we’re going to focus this story on the reviews from the fest itself. In some instances, we were sent some exclusives, which we’ll run in full, in others, where reviews are available on other websites, we’ll pick some select quotes, with links to the full review. As always, we’ll warn where spoilers are coming, for those of you (like us) who are trying to remain as fresh as possible when walking into the theater next month.

It’s important to note, by the way, we’re not being selective and picking out the “good” ones. They are all good. A few come from notoriously tough to please reviewers at Austin-based “Aint It Cool News” as well, so these aren’t softballs. We’ve yet to see a negative from anyone, anywhere. So here we go, in no particular order:

EXCLUSIVE: “Zack & Miri Early Review”, George Efta (NO SPOILERS)

I can’t give a number/star rating on this film (IE-3 out of 4 stars, ect) because I missed 25% of it…because the audience’s reaction was so strong, their laughter, applause, cheers and gasps drowned out the dialogue.

Suffice to say, I really enjoyed the film. It’s anywhere between a 8 and 10 out of 10 right now and when I’m able to re-watch it when it’s released on Oct. 31st, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it even more.

The dialogue is spot on all throughout with great performances from everyone. The stand-out for me is Elizabeth Banks (Miri). She was wonderful and didn’t miss a beat in her layered performance. She plays everything from drunk, to nervous, to angry, to jealous to frustrated to embarrassed to happy to sad and everything in-between. Her chemistry with Seth (Zack) was great from their first scene and their relationship is both real and very touching.

Seth is back in another great role/performance. There is one scene that stands out in this flick…an excited monologue in the coffee house where he works as he explains his plans for the movie he and his friends are going to shoot…wonderful, funny, emotional stuff.

The supporting cast are all wonderful and interesting. Craig Robinson (as has been said before) is the heart of the film, with my favorite line, my favorite supporting character story (he and his wife, as well as his responsibilities as “producer”) and a very strong performance. Ricky Mabe has the least to do, but gets in a few laughs with his partner in the film (both the film and the film within the film) Traci Lords. Jason Mewes (Jay as he’s know to Smith’s legions) is wonderful here with more to do, more to say and a different way of saying it than any other flick he’s done.

The visuals are also on display here with some beautiful locations, lighting and costumes, as well as great set designs. The camera moves here, but not in a over active way: we get crane shots, some slow motions, some POV footage…the flick looks great. Smith and Co. have done a great job of capturing the feel of the film in a visual way which really complements the script.

Speaking of the script…the story is a lot of fun. The “let’s put on a show” mentality mixed with a group of people who’ve found something to elevate themselves mixed with a very sweet love story is tough not to love. There are a few twists and turns story wise (and a LOT of visual surprises I won’t spoil here) and when the credits roled, I felt pretty good (if a little frustrated that I missed so much because of so much laughter).

Anything negative to say? Not really…the film is very much a snow-ball type story where things start off nice and easy and build wonderfully as it goes on. There is a pre-credits tag to the film that is both a lot of laughs and a little more insight into what’s happened to the characters when the story ends…

So, lots of jokes and lots of small characters (Justin Long is very funny as a one scene character) and core of supporting players to move the story of Zack and Miri along…definitely give the film a which when you can (heck give it two watches) and be sure to tell your friends about it. Compared along this years comedies, “Zack and Miri” is near the head of the pack, if not in the lead with more surprises, more laughs and real, relatable characters at the center. One of Smith’s best films and one of the best of the year.

“Quint watches Zack and Miri Make A Porno!!!” – Aint It Cool News (VERY MINOR SPOILERS)

“…He [Robinson] is funny as hell in this movie and helps make it one of Kevin Smith’s career best. It has the heart, it has the raw talent of some of the best comedians working today and it takes the comedy and the world seriously. I love the cartoony slapstick comedy stuff Smith puts out just as much as the next View Askewniverse fanboy, but when you get a movie with some true heart and well-realized characters along with your tit and shit jokes everybody leaves happy.”

“Zack And Miri Make A Porno – The Geekscape Review” (SOME SPOILERS)

“In the age of free internet porn, this concept seems a bit ludicrous but Smith actually manages to make it credible. They only want to make enough money to pay off their bills and figure they can sell to their old classmates thinking that anyone would pay to see someone they went to school with naked. The world of porn is pretty ripe for comedy (it’s basically one step removed from being comedy anyways) and Smith definitely takes advantage of this and creates some hilarious bits out of it.”

“The Beef takes in […] ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO at Fantastic Fest!!!” (NO SPOILERS)

“…Without question Kevin Smith’s most accomplished film to date. Without question. Take the hilarity of your favorite Kevin Smith film, mix it with the sensitivities he displayed in JERSEY GIRL, and throw in a shitload of language and nudity to ensure that it never plays on TNT. The film is all of this, and more. Kevin Smith really has made the ultimate date movie.”

While we’ve only seen a few of the professional critics review this one so far, the important part are the viewing public. So if what we see above is any indication of how the movie will be received next month, we’ve got a feeling that Kevin, the cast, the crew, and the Weinstein Co. are all going to have a very happy Fall 2008.

First up, Fantastic Fest’s official blogsite runs video of a fun anecdone that Kevin presented prior the movie at the fest. Watch Kevin enter the screening, listen to some fan reaction and see the press line.

There’s also a video of a few moment from the Q&A with Kevin and Scott from after the show. THIS HAS SPOILERS! Kevin discusses the NC-17 scenes and the Mewes performance.

Want more video? Yep, they also took video of the Air Sex competition that took place after the film.

Wetwired have posted a page that’s a running blog of the event. It features some photos from before and after the show, some brief thoughts on the film and the event, and a few minor spoilers.

And finally, a few Flickr pages featuring pics from the fest, and of course of Kevin on the scene, can be viewed at the official Fantastic Fest Flickr page as well as the FF Opening Night Party page. Enjoy multimedia!

As you’d expect, the trailer for Kevin Smith’s Zack and Miri Make a Porno explains the movie’s premise: Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) become adult-movie stars when they can’t pay the rent. What you might not anticipate is the trailer’s extreme lewdness: Justin Long name-checking a gay porn film called Glen and Garry Suck Ross’ Meaty Cock or Rogen’s declaring that he’d be happy to watch “a tape of Rosie O’Donnell getting fucking stupid.” Vivid descriptions of male genitalia and Rosie O’Donnell in flagrante delicto—these are the glories of the red-band trailer.

It’s quite a good article, very well-written with tons of great examples from today and the past. Worth your valuable clicking time.

“…It’s one of the greatest crime dramas out there. And when Kevin Smith lovingly compared it to Godfather II, it was before I had seen the movie and I thought, “Okay, this is jumping the shark. Kevin Smith, if I see him, I want to punch in the mouth. Because he has taken the hype machine and he’s cranked it up to 11 via Spinal Tap.” And I was unhappy with [his] statement.

Now that I’ve sat through the movie, I want to French kiss Kevin Smith. He f–king nailed it. And this movie, The Dark Knight, it deserves the money its making. It’s epic, it’s classic, Heath Ledger would be amazing whether it was a posthumous performance, whatever. He’s awesome in it. I. Love. This. Movie. “