Kevin Smith Question - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

LemJe · 12-08-2002, 04:46 AM

So far the only Kevin Smith movie I have seen is Clerks. I bought it blind after reading some post here. I eventually want to get all of the movies but I was wondering if it really mattered if you watched them in any paticular order. I know they are called a trilogy but from what I understand they are not really interlaced so much that you wont understand one without seeing the other.

I was also wondering which versions are the best

I have Clerks Collectors Series already

As far as I know there is only one version of Mallrats

Is the Criterion Version of Chasing Amy the only one there is?

There are 2 versions of Dogma. Am I right in assuming that the Special Edition is the best one to get?

And is there only one version of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back?

mtcarmel00 · 12-08-2002, 04:54 AM

You can watch them all in order if you want, but I don't think it hurts too much to watch them out of order, except maybe Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. And as to the discs:

There's one Chasing Amy, one Mallrats, two Dogmas (go with the Special Edition) and one Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

Sycowulf · 12-08-2002, 04:56 AM

Quote:

I eventually want to get all of the movies but I was wondering if it really mattered if you watched them in any paticular order.

They are all their own stories, and in all honesty the continuity is kinda messed up, but you will notice small happenings/jokes on almost all of them except for Dogma (I dont think that had any refrences). In any event each movie can totally stand on its own without any prior knowledge.

Quote:

As far as I know there is only one version of Mallrats

Correct

Quote:

Is the Criterion Version of Chasing Amy the only one there is?

Also Correct

Quote:

There are 2 versions of Dogma. Am I right in assuming that the Special Edition is the best one to get?

Once again dead on the money

Quote:

And is there only one version of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back?

Yep

Fightguard · 12-08-2002, 05:54 AM

I'll have to recommend that you watch J&SB last...it has a number of inside jokes/references to the prior 4 movies that you wouldn't get unless you've seen them beforehand.

IKEA_boy · 12-08-2002, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fightguard
I'll have to recommend that you watch J&SB last...it has a number of inside jokes/references to the prior 4 movies that you wouldn't get unless you've seen them beforehand.

In fact, I would even rent J&SB first, after watching all the others. IMHO, if it weren't so damn cheap when I bought it I wouldn't have even bothered. It's a movie I'll probably never watch again. (Although the DVD has more extras (that are enjoyable) than most any disc I've seen.)

brian · 12-08-2002, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sycowulf
happenings/jokes on almost all of them except for Dogma (I dont think that had any refrences).

Spoiler (Highlight or Triple Click to Read):
Wasn't Grant Hicks a news reporter? I thought that was quite funny. And I remember the guns saleperson was Randal Graves from clerks.

Flash Ahhh · 12-08-2002, 07:08 AM

I'd watch them in this order.

Clerks
Mallrats
Chasing Amy
Dogma
Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back.

My order of favorite ones are: (Favorite to least favorite)

Chasing Amy
Clerks
Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back
Mallrats
Dogma

If you were gonna pass on Dogma, you could do so without loosing the Jersey Theme Smith has going on.

Chasing Amy does make references to events that are mentioned in Clerks and Mallrats.

FYI: Even though Clerks came out before Mallrats, the events of Mallrats supposedly take place before Clerks.

You can watch Clerks: The Animated Series anytime after seeing Clerks.

And there are little tie-in's for all the movies I feel.

-Flash

Sycowulf · 12-08-2002, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Wasn't Grant Hicks a news reporter? I thought that was quite funny. And I remember the guns saleperson was Randal Graves from clerks.

Grant Hicks was a reporter in Dogma, but the character that is closest to him is either Dante Hicks or Gill Hicks from Clerks or Mallrats respectively... And the guy who plays randall is the gun salesman but I dont think its the same character.... I dunno about that one tho

DooGieHowie · 12-08-2002, 04:07 PM

it wasn't the same character just the same guy. SMith uses almost all of the same people in his movies

SolidSnakeASS · 12-08-2002, 05:28 PM

I'd watch them all and ignore Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back. It only ruins the other ones.

theta · 12-08-2002, 06:25 PM

"Clerks" and "Mallrats" are pretty much straightforward comedies, although they are smarter than people maintain (Dante is named Dante for a reason, and you'll notice there are nine title cards.)

"Chasing Amy" is quite funny, but it's much more concerned with being a relationship/coming-of-age drama (there's no question that Holden grows up quite a bit by the end of the movie.)

"Dogma" is side-splittingly funny, but it's also a pretty thoughtful consideration of faith in the modern world.

"Jay and Silent Bob", on the other hand, is just outright "Airplane!"-style idiot humor for the most part, but it's a step up from "American Pie"-type crap in that it realizes more than just bodily functions can be funny and the dialogue is a LOT better. It does stand alone, though; I saw it having only seen "Clerks" and "Dogma" and I laughed until my face hurt.
Ironically, it's a love-it-or-hate-it proposition...and Smith's most profitable movie to date.

MooglePorn · 12-08-2002, 09:21 PM

Clerks - Fun smart comedy about the society I was a part of for a while.

Mallrats - Not really a great movie by any means but it's full of funny shit and Jason Lee kicks ass.

Chasing Amy - Brilliant film with great dialogue, great acting, great music, great everything IMO. I love this flick.

Dogma - Fun movie with lots of great jokes, not as good or funny as Clerks though...

J&SB Strike Back - Silly little thing that is mainly one big in-joke for fans of the other four. A "send-off" for J&SB, meant to feel like a comic book (and does). Worst of them all but still worth seeing.

I'd rate them from favorite to least:

1. Chasing Amy
2. Clerks
3. Dogma
4. Mallrats
5. J&SB

manigrasso · 12-08-2002, 09:50 PM

LemJe,

It's probably no big deal what order you watch them. Even what few inside jokes there are in any of the movies won't kill you if you didn't see the preceding movie, though it'll make a small difference. But really, why not just rent them all in order, see what you like, then buy when appropriate? Hell, you might be able to just borrow them off of a friend...

Meanwhile, to accept Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back, ponder this...

After the huge success of Jaws and the relative-but-still-respectable success of Jaws 2, the Producers of these movies, Zanuck & Brown, told Universal they wanted to work with National Lampoon and make the next sequel a parody: Jaws 3, People 0. They figured there was no way you could make another sequel to Jaws without inadvertently becoming parody, no matter how hard anyone would try otherwise, so why not intentionally make it a parody. Universal wouldn't even consider it, and made...Jaws 3-D, one of the shittitest movies ever put on God's Green Earth, until it was knocked off its perch by...Jaws: The Revenge. And these two sequels were both so bad, they almost resembled...yes, parody.

Seems to me, Kevin knew he couldn't do much else with these 2 characters, despite a commendable fan base who would see Jay & Silent Bob light farts for two hours. Moogle said the movie was meant to be a send off for fans of Smith's other movies. I'd revise that and say, really, it was for fans of the characters, not the movies in which they appeared. The people who bought J&SB t-shirts & action figures & the Bluntman & Chronic comic books referenced in Chasing Amy...the people who already saw these characters deal with all manner of didiculous situations outside of saving the world in Dogma. I'm not saying this perspective would make you enjoy this movie any more, but I figured, it couldn't hurt.

StinkPalm · 12-08-2002, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by IKEA_boy
In fact, I would even rent J&SB first, after watching all the others. IMHO, if it weren't so damn cheap when I bought it I wouldn't have even bothered. It's a movie I'll probably never watch again. (Although the DVD has more extras (that are enjoyable) than most any disc I've seen.)

actually it still is quite cheap!
Best Buy sells it for $14.99

MooglePorn · 12-08-2002, 10:25 PM

Quote:

The people who bought J&SB t-shirts & action figures & the Bluntman & Chronic comic books referenced in Chasing Amy...

I own those comics! Not the figures though...

Icon769 · 12-09-2002, 07:46 AM

I have the comics too. Also, JASBSB is loosly based on Chasing Dogma book. It's basically the story that starts after the end of chasing Amy and ends when Dogma begins. Some of the stuff in the film was changed, but basically it's the Chasing Dogma comic. The diner scene with the Jay and Silent Bob's "adopted son" is almost word for word from the comic I think.

I'm still waiting for the comic book sequel to Mallrats. Mallrats: Die Hard at the Mall, (think that was it's title). Haven't heard anything about it for a while though so maybe Smith changed his mind. He is going to be busy with Amazing Spider-Man after all.

NekoFever · 12-09-2002, 04:10 PM

Definitely watch J&SBSB last because otherwise there will be characters, jokes, and other stuff that make reference to the other movies that you just won't get unless you've seen the other movies.

CCKyle · 12-09-2002, 08:53 PM

Despite what others have said on here, you need to watch the movies in order to enjoy them to their fullest. You won't understand some of the jokes in Chasing Amy if you haven't seen Mallrats first. And you certainly won't understand J&SBSB if you haven't seen all the other flicks before it.

Nyarlathotep · 12-09-2002, 09:53 PM

I agree with CCKyle. I think they should definitely be watched in order..

12-08-2002, 04:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
LemJe Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA	Kevin Smith Question So far the only Kevin Smith movie I have seen is Clerks. I bought it blind after reading some post here. I eventually want to get all of the movies but I was wondering if it really mattered if you watched them in any paticular order. I know they are called a trilogy but from what I understand they are not really interlaced so much that you wont understand one without seeing the other. I was also wondering which versions are the best I have Clerks Collectors Series already As far as I know there is only one version of Mallrats Is the Criterion Version of Chasing Amy the only one there is? There are 2 versions of Dogma. Am I right in assuming that the Special Edition is the best one to get? And is there only one version of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back? __________________ Get busy living......or get busy dying. My Little Collection

12-08-2002, 04:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
mtcarmel00 Wholesome. Actor. Get used to it. Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Diego, California	You can watch them all in order if you want, but I don't think it hurts too much to watch them out of order, except maybe Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. And as to the discs: There's one Chasing Amy, one Mallrats, two Dogmas (go with the Special Edition) and one Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back __________________ "That could have been your head David." *Clarksville Monkees All-Time Record: 27-27-1* My Photos My DVDs My Blog

12-08-2002, 07:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
Flash Ahhh Moderator Emeritus Well Worth the Double Dip! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: 8.4 Miles from the newest Hooters Restaurant	I'd watch them in this order. Clerks Mallrats Chasing Amy Dogma Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back. My order of favorite ones are: (Favorite to least favorite) Chasing Amy Clerks Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back Mallrats Dogma If you were gonna pass on Dogma, you could do so without loosing the Jersey Theme Smith has going on. Chasing Amy does make references to events that are mentioned in Clerks and Mallrats. FYI: Even though Clerks came out before Mallrats, the events of Mallrats supposedly take place before Clerks. You can watch Clerks: The Animated Series anytime after seeing Clerks. And there are little tie-in's for all the movies I feel. -Flash __________________ Flash - Moderator Emeritus - Savior of the Universe Criterion (krî´tir´èæn) Greek [kritËreon], *Noun.* (circa 1622) - Definitiveness. Set standard. Principle, rule or test upon which value or decision can be based. Characterization in which all others are judged.

12-08-2002, 06:25 PM	#11 (permalink)
theta Cheap Cerebral Paralysis Join Date: May 2002 Location: In aintnosin's basement	It IS a little more complicated than that... "Clerks" and "Mallrats" are pretty much straightforward comedies, although they are smarter than people maintain (Dante is named Dante for a reason, and you'll notice there are nine title cards.) "Chasing Amy" is quite funny, but it's much more concerned with being a relationship/coming-of-age drama (there's no question that Holden grows up quite a bit by the end of the movie.) "Dogma" is side-splittingly funny, but it's also a pretty thoughtful consideration of faith in the modern world. "Jay and Silent Bob", on the other hand, is just outright "Airplane!"-style idiot humor for the most part, but it's a step up from "American Pie"-type crap in that it realizes more than just bodily functions can be funny and the dialogue is a LOT better. It does stand alone, though; I saw it having only seen "Clerks" and "Dogma" and I laughed until my face hurt. Ironically, it's a love-it-or-hate-it proposition...and Smith's most profitable movie to date. __________________ "I need bling, I tell you, BLING!!!" --Palmerlime Theta's discs, 300 mark crossed, 400 here we come!

12-08-2002, 09:50 PM	#13 (permalink)
manigrasso Forum Sage Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: NJ	LemJe, It's probably no big deal what order you watch them. Even what few inside jokes there are in any of the movies won't kill you if you didn't see the preceding movie, though it'll make a small difference. But really, why not just rent them all in order, see what you like, then buy when appropriate? Hell, you might be able to just borrow them off of a friend... Meanwhile, to accept Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back, ponder this... After the huge success of Jaws and the relative-but-still-respectable success of Jaws 2, the Producers of these movies, Zanuck & Brown, told Universal they wanted to work with National Lampoon and make the next sequel a parody: Jaws 3, People 0. They figured there was no way you could make another sequel to Jaws without inadvertently becoming parody, no matter how hard anyone would try otherwise, so why not intentionally make it a parody. Universal wouldn't even consider it, and made...Jaws 3-D, one of the shittitest movies ever put on God's Green Earth, until it was knocked off its perch by...Jaws: The Revenge. And these two sequels were both so bad, they almost resembled...yes, parody. Seems to me, Kevin knew he couldn't do much else with these 2 characters, despite a commendable fan base who would see Jay & Silent Bob light farts for two hours. Moogle said the movie was meant to be a send off for fans of Smith's other movies. I'd revise that and say, really, it was for fans of the characters, not the movies in which they appeared. The people who bought J&SB t-shirts & action figures & the Bluntman & Chronic comic books referenced in Chasing Amy...the people who already saw these characters deal with all manner of didiculous situations outside of saving the world in Dogma. I'm not saying this perspective would make you enjoy this movie any more, but I figured, it couldn't hurt. __________________ manigrasso I used to have a little cropped mustache and wear brown shirts with swastika armbands. Then I read about this guy named "Hitler." Man, was my face red! No wonder why Inga was the only girl who'd go to Prom with me!

12-08-2002, 05:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
Fightguard Actor Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Toronto	I'll have to recommend that you watch J&SB last...it has a number of inside jokes/references to the prior 4 movies that you wouldn't get unless you've seen them beforehand.

12-08-2002, 04:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
DooGieHowie Actor Join Date: Jun 2002	it wasn't the same character just the same guy. SMith uses almost all of the same people in his movies

12-08-2002, 05:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
SolidSnakeASS Actor Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Winterpeg, Manitobaugh, Canada	I'd watch them all and ignore Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back. It only ruins the other ones.

12-08-2002, 09:21 PM	#12 (permalink)
MooglePorn Actor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Philadelphia, PA	Clerks - Fun smart comedy about the society I was a part of for a while. Mallrats - Not really a great movie by any means but it's full of funny shit and Jason Lee kicks ass. Chasing Amy - Brilliant film with great dialogue, great acting, great music, great everything IMO. I love this flick. Dogma - Fun movie with lots of great jokes, not as good or funny as Clerks though... J&SB Strike Back - Silly little thing that is mainly one big in-joke for fans of the other four. A "send-off" for J&SB, meant to feel like a comic book (and does). Worst of them all but still worth seeing. I'd rate them from favorite to least: 1. Chasing Amy 2. Clerks 3. Dogma 4. Mallrats 5. J&SB

12-09-2002, 07:46 AM	#16 (permalink)
Icon769 Unique. Just like the other 768. Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Southern CA	I have the comics too. Also, JASBSB is loosly based on Chasing Dogma book. It's basically the story that starts after the end of chasing Amy and ends when Dogma begins. Some of the stuff in the film was changed, but basically it's the Chasing Dogma comic. The diner scene with the Jay and Silent Bob's "adopted son" is almost word for word from the comic I think. I'm still waiting for the comic book sequel to Mallrats. Mallrats: Die Hard at the Mall, (think that was it's title). Haven't heard anything about it for a while though so maybe Smith changed his mind. He is going to be busy with Amazing Spider-Man after all. __________________ Help me find Dr. Light! My Collection l Best & Worst Movies

12-09-2002, 04:10 PM	#17 (permalink)
NekoFever Supporting Actor Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bournemouth, UK	Definitely watch J&SBSB last because otherwise there will be characters, jokes, and other stuff that make reference to the other movies that you just won't get unless you've seen the other movies.

12-09-2002, 08:53 PM	#18 (permalink)
CCKyle Actor Join Date: May 2002 Location: St. Paul, Mn	Despite what others have said on here, you need to watch the movies in order to enjoy them to their fullest. You won't understand some of the jokes in Chasing Amy if you haven't seen Mallrats first. And you certainly won't understand J&SBSB if you haven't seen all the other flicks before it. __________________ Capital City Kyle My DVDs

12-09-2002, 09:53 PM	#19 (permalink)
Nyarlathotep Actor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: So. Cal.	I agree with CCKyle. I think they should definitely be watched in order.. __________________ The Crawling Chaos' DVDs and favorite movies.

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