To know the origin of "Snoochie-Boochies," you
must spend
An Evening with Kevin Smith. The Jersey-bred
auteur of low-budget comedy proves equally adept as an uncensored raconteur, regaling five college audiences--his most devoted demographic--in this two-disc compilation of lively Q&A. Sporting his trademark slacker garb, Smith occasionally bites the loyal, sometimes moronic hands that feed him (as a result, audience participation is drop-dead hilarious), but he's arguably the most publicly and personally honest filmmaker to survive the insanity of Hollywood. His best stories lift the veil of show-biz decorum, describing absurd meetings with studio executives over his ill-fated screenplay
Superman Lives; razzing the artsy pretensions of director Tim Burton; or exposing Prince (who hired him to direct a never-completed documentary) as a self-absorbed Jesus freak. These attacks aren't baseless; Smith's too smartly good-natured to provoke without purpose, and with an onstage visit by Jason Mewes ("Jay" to Smith's "Silent Bob"), this ribald, sharply assembled
Evening compares favorably to Richard Pryor with its outrageous blend of comedy and candor.
--Jeff Shannon
An Evening with Kevin Smith is a no-holds-barred Q&A with one of Hollywood's most gifted filmmakers. Infamous for picking apart the pop culture landscape with films such as Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, the New Jersey native has become a veritable icon of independent film. Smith gives us a new lens to examine spirituality, sexuality and human relationships. Get up close and - at times - very personal, with the man everyone has been waiting to hear from - SILENT BOB SPEAKS!
1 Who is John Q. Public?
I read a lot of reviews on Amazon.com, as I am always curious about what other people think. Invariably, the reviewer "John Q. Public" comes up with his two cents. Does this man like anything? His comments are routinely negative and rarely on point. For this item, he is discussing Kevin Smith's script for Superman. I'm not trying to buy that here. On the review for Sin City, the movie, he dismisses it because Frank Miller is a "drunk". What does that matter?
I'm glad we live in America with the freedom of speech, even though it does mean we have to wade through pointless dreck from someone who clearly did not get enough attention...ever.
2 A Must for any Smith Fan
This DVD is what it says it is -- an evening with Kevin Smith answering questions from college audiences. Within these answers are some hilarious stories about everyone from Kevin Smith regulars (Jason Mewes, Ben Affleck, etc.) to other celebrities (Prince, Jon Peters, Tim Burton, etc.). There's also obviously a good amount of background on all of Smith's movies up until "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back." It's a good look inside Smith as not only a film-maker, but also a person. There aren't any extras on the DVD, except for a few trailers. If you're a hardcore fan, worth the $25. If you're a casual fan, good to rent from Netflix or plop down $10-15 on a used copy.
3 Very funny
Kevin talks about a range of topics in this set, including doing a doc for Prince, meeting Jay, the likelyhood of "Jay and Silent Bob" ever being in a movie again, how he met his wife, and yes, the aforementioned Superman script. I doubt that "John Q. Public" (if that is his REAL name) watched this set, as he would've known the story behind the script. "John" would know that anything "unSuperman" about the script came not from Kevin, but from another source (the story behind it is great... in fact, all of them are, probably from his dilivery). As for not listening to other people's viewpoints, or insulting those who have different viewpoints than him, perhaps if "John" had watched the set, he would've seen a discussion Kevin had with one female questioner (who happened to be a lesbian), conserning "Chasing Amy". Maybe he would've seen what Kevin was trying to say about what closeminded people actually say about themselves.
Over-all, this set is very funny. I was laughing through pretty much the whole thing (though the few parts where people would come up and ask if he and Jay wanted to go smoke got a bit tiresome (but I'm sure it's much more tiresome for him, cuz I bet he gets it all the time)). The stories he told were great ones; I was totally eager for him to tell another long story every time he got done with one. I epecially loved the one about Prince (which is pretty much the last thing in the set). He said he did this whole doc for Prince about what people thought about one of his CDs. He worked on it for like a week, and the thing will never see the light of day. To put that much work into something and have it shot down like that has got to be disappointing.
This is worth getting (yes, it will be more enjoyable to fans). You'll laugh all the way through, and end up watching it several times.
4 Smith Speaks Out
`An Evening With Kevin Smith' is the latest of director Kevin Smith's works. Smith is a renowned Indie filmmaker and New Jersey native made famous by his independent film, `Clerks.' Smith speaks out at several college campuses in a Question and Answer format on many topics of interest to college students from his five films and religion, to sex and sexual preference.
Covering two discs and almost four hours, `Evening' will have even non-fans of Smith rolling on the floor with laughter. It is a nonstop express train to comedy-ville that actually delivers what it promises. Smith's frankness and humor allows him to touch on the touchy subjects of religion, sex, and sexual preference without being overly offensive.
Being a fan of Smith and his work I immediately purchased this DVD as soon as possible. However, that sounds easier than the actual process since I had to find a store that heard of it and also had it in stock. In the end I found it in the Special Interest section at Best Buy for $22.99, a bargain as most double discs run at a higher price than that.
True fans who have seen all of his films will enjoy `Evening' more than the average viewer and will not be offended by the plethora of `dick and fart jokes' that Smith's comedy is normally based on. Fan will be depressed near the end of the second disc when they reach scene #39 where Smith discusses the future of Jay and Silent Bob.
The tomfoolery of such films as `Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back' continues and even goes up a notch with the inclusion of actor Jason Mewes and producer Scott Mosier (via telephone) and of the student audience. Smith takes the time to make several phone calls on student's behalf and even attempts to get a student their job back after losing it in order to attend the performance.
Despite all the positives going for `Evening' it is not for everyone. People who are easily offended, don't enjoy `dick and fart jokes' or disliked Smith's films will want to avoid this DVD at all costs.
For the rest of us, the DVD is a great addition to our personal film collections and is a must have for any Smith fan. The DVD has some superb editing; features bonus trailers, is subtitled in English, French, and Spanish, and is in wide screen format. I highly recommend this and can't wait for the release of Smith's next film, `Jersey Girl'.
5 highly entertaining and enlightening
I bought this for my husband, as a birthday present. He is a huge Kevin Smith fan, so I figured it'd be perfect for him. I was pleasantly surprised by it, though. It was very funny. If you are a Kevin Smith fan, or just a movie fan, I'd definitely recommend it.
6 Surprisingly insightful commentary by an up and comer!
I was not a Kevin Smith Devotee, as most of his fans are. I think he's a good director, and he has cranked out some great movies. He does know how to write a good script as well.
So, I was pleasantly surprised when I viewed this to find out really insightful and wise Kevin Smith is. This documentary is a collection of snippets from a variety of college lectures he's done, but it doesn't feel choppy. Smith clearly understands the film business and it's culture better than most people whove been in the industry for decades. He fully admits exploiting it for what it's worth, but also manages to sidestep the pitfalls associated with ascent in Hollywood. It's a truly eye-opening look into the world of modern day filmmaking and celebrity.
I would also like to recommend this based on the fact that Smith is one of the best story tellers our society has. He really has a gift for just starting a story, leaving no stone unturned, and just engaging you into what he's relating. His story about writing the script for Superman will have you in tears. Another good one is his encounter with Prince. Smith has an easy-going, self-depricating style that's combined with a smart guy who LOVES the heck outta movies.
This is definitely a good documentary that non-Kevin Smith fans will enjoy and get something from. If you are a Kevin Smith fan...who are you kidding: You already own this!
7 The Greatest dvd entertainer of all time.
For people who tell it like it is. Kevin Smith is one of the greatest speakers of our time. There is no P.C. babble restrictions here. An Evening with Kevin Smith is a fantastic stand-up, door opener that allows people to get a taste of Kevin as he tells some stories and answers questions to the history of his movies, family, friends, likes and dislikes. A must see, non-bubblegum ride into the View Askew world.
8 He was not fit to write Superman....
I have read the draft of the Superman script that he wrote and oh, he was so wrong to do it. He treated Superman like some horney teenager, even Tim Burton who later passed on the project and can be strange as well, even he said "No, I am not doing this." All Smith does is insult people who do not agree with him. He has no class, he has no room for patience for other people's viewpoints, and he's just a sleeze. As for me, I'm going to watch a Tim Burton movie now.
9 Hours of Laughter - LITERALLY
He had me rolling in the aisles. I feel like I have been friends with him forever. I was always a big fan of his movies, now I am just a big fan.
10 Funy Funny Funny
I liked this spotlight on Kevin Smith. There are some things that I didn't like about it. Lets start with the positive first ....... This is a very open and far spread interview (from his fans)with Kevin Smith which made a very funny and personal film. This also had some very witty views on his films (coming from Kevin and the fans that ask the questions). Everything that would be expected from Kevin and everything that wouldn't be expected. The story telling was simply great. I could not stop laughing !!!!!!!
The negative is the editing job on this was horrid. It drove me nuts!!!! They skipped from college to college with no segways.The audio and camera work was even kind of shotty in places but not enough to kill the mood. I think that Sony/Columbia could have found a better team to put this together. It seemed that J.M. Kenny was way over his head with this project or just didn't know what what to do as far as directing. The last thing is that they left the ending of the first DVD open. What happened after being asked to leave the stage? They never go back to that on the second DVD.
It is worth the money but you may want to watch a few of his films first to understand what is being talked about(in some places). It is truely a must have for a View Askew fan.
11 Brilliant good fun, a side to Smith before unseen!
Smith shows off his intellect and comedic sides in this set, certainly a night well spent. I watched the dvds one at a time, waiting between the two. After the first one I didnt think it could get any better, but disc two doesnt dissapoint! An excellent set, hilarious from start to finish, well worth the money!
12 Better at standup than directing
I found Kevin incredibly funny in these shows. I class him from a directing point of view much like Quentin Tarantino, great dialogue but not necessarly a great director. However, this is far superior to his movies. Very quick and lots of entertaining stories, the whole thing had me in stitches. I have watched most of kevin's movies since watching this and have found them to be somewhat of a disapointment. However this series of lectures/spoken word shows gives you an hilarious insight into the movie industry and hollywood in general. Well worth the money IMHO.
13 Wished the DVD had no ending!!
Received the DVD as a Christmas gift, by far the best gift you could give to anyone that enjoyed Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, or Jay and Silent Bob SB. This four hour two-disc collection of college visits includes hilarious celebrity stories, behind the scenes insight along with some great student body interaction. You can tell Kevin Smith is a regular guy like you and I, and he conveys that down to earth personality in this great collection. Without much fanfare this disc would be easy to pass on at your local electronics store or Amazon, but this is a must for all Smith fans!!
14 AWESOME! TOTALLY AWESOME
If you're like me and you own the collections of the movies and cartoons that Kevin Smith & Jason Mewes have done, this is a needed addition. When I first saw it on the shelves at the store, I wondered. When I came home and listened and watched the first 30 minutes of it, I was hooked. I have watched this set of DVDs almost as many times as I saw the first StarWars, and that was 65 times! Way to go KEVIN! Thanks again for a great DVD. Now, if you can do this again next year, or actually do the space adventure you mentioned (sitting on a rocket, someone said lunch...) that would be great. Jay & Silent Bob in Space! Best regards, Michael Murdock
15 a MUST OWN for the View Askew Fan
This is absolutely priceless. Kevin Smith candidly telling some HYSTERICAL stories from his movies, personal life, friends, and family. Considering the company involved, this is gold. The segments with Jason Mewes alone are worth the price. But these are not the high points even! The stories about Prince and Superman had me on the floor.
I don't want to give away any of the jokes or anything. But it is Kevin Smith doing stand up...it is everything you could ask for as a View Askew fan!
16 An Evening with Kevin Smith
I don't really have a definite opinion about Kevin Smith. He's a terrible director and a decent writer who is capable of creating some pretty good flicks ("Dogma" and "Chasing Amy") as well as some of the worst pieces of cinematic crap ever ("Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and "Mallrats"). I don't take him seriously one way or the other (unlike David Gordon Green who accuses him of "creating a Special Olympics for film," or the legions of his loyal followers who worship him), but I do appreciate his ability to write original, entertaining dialogues. Based on this DVD, he's quite a good storyteller too. He's witty, articulate, funny and full of interesting stories. I loved the behind-the-scene stories about his meeting with the studio execs, or run-ins with other celebs (such as Prince and Tim Burton), but rest of the stuff just fell flat. I guess the majority of his immature fans like to hear about the first time he had sex with his wife, or Jason Mewes' amateur sex tape, but I sure didn't find it even remotely interesting or funny. I would've enjoyed this a lot more had the Q&A focused on more on the film industry and cut out all the frat boy stuff.
17 Kevin at his best!
Kevin Smith is in his element explaining the New Jersey Chronicles. He tackles and answers hard questions like Cousin Walter stories, the "lost" Superman Lives script, and problems with movies today. Lots of interesting information for the fans out there. Excellent DVD, nice easter eggs on it too!
18 Kevin is Brilliant!
I've never liked Jay & Silent Bob stikes back kind of films; any thing to do with the same genre, I beleived it was just beer inspired poor written films made by braindead highschool drop-outs.
Flipping through the movie network one afternoon, I found this show and watched to kill some time whilst working at the desk.
In four hours, a really down to earth, friendly, intelegent writer/director/actor named Kevin amuses all watching with hillarious tales of film making and every other encounter he has had related to life and movie business. He takes time to answer every diverse question asked by the audience, in which he answers them with time and great laughs. The best part is he has this great habbit of digressing all the time when answering audience members - which is so interesting, you'll discover things you never knew or thought you needed to know. Like what it was like working for Prince (The Artist Formally Known as Prince) - he describes every freakish habbit that arrose by Prince when working on a documentory with him.
To the detractors whom were grossed out by the penis jokes; you may want to remove that rod for just a short time and actually enjoy this show.
I'm hooked on his films now - totally changed my opinion of him and his films. And I recommend "Dogma" if you get the chance to rent or buy.
19 A Movie to be Avoided by Grownups
Evidently Smith, who shot the acclaimed movie Clerks on roughly the same amount of money I make in a year and had it blow the roof off everything, recently went on a speaking tour of several American colleges and universities for protracted Q&A sessions. If you're profoundly enamored of Smith's movies, this selection of the best questions will probably be right up your street. If you're even entertained by the movies, as I am, you'll probably see enough to hold your interest, and there are some interesting nuggets regarding filmmaking and filmmakers that will have broad audience appeal.
However, for all but the most dedicated fans, what you're looking at here frequently descends into a lengthy parade of penis and fart jokes, trivial personal anecdotes, and rambling stories that only the most dedicated fans will be able to keep up with for any length of time.
I'm sure the story of the first time he made love to his wife is profoundly interesting to Smith and his fans. Ditto the story of his brief personal feud with Tim Burton or how Jason Mewes came up with his catch lines like "Snoogens." But I'm an adult now, and calibrating penis stories or investigating the etymology of a baby-talk word just goes right past me like a shot.
Dedicated View Askew fans will probably find more than enough material in this to keep them coming back. I find an adolescent appeal to the worst juvenalia that keeps cropping up on college campuses. I should have saved those three hours out of my life for something more constructive.
20 A must have for any Askew-niverse fan
This 2 disc DVD compiles nearly four hours worth of footage from Kevin Smith's (director of Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, and the upcoming Jersey Girl) Q&A tour in various colleges across America. Smith's stories range from his tales of his first meetings with a teenage Jason Mewes (who, as if most of you don't know, plays Jay in Smith's first five films) to his first meeting with View Askew partner Scott Mosier, and to his painfully funny encounter with a then USA Today interviewer who would eventually become his wife. Smith also tells some tales about his misadventures inside the insanity of Hollywood; including the story behind his ill-fated screenplay for the canned Superman Reborn film and the money grubbing producers behind it. Audience participation during the Q&A is almost as equally hilarious; including one fan who lost his job just to be there and Kevin calling the kid's boss on his cell phone to try to smooth it over. My only gripes about this package are that there are really no extras on the DVD besides some bonus trailers for Columbia films, and some other extras would have been more than welcome. Also, I remember on the Dogma commentary Smith commented on never wanting to work with actress Linda Fiorentino again. I for one would have loved to hear Smith give more insight on why, but oh well. All in all, An Evening With Kevin Smith is a must have for any and all fans of the View Askew-niverse.
21 Just what I expected
An evening with Kevin Smith is just what I wanted. It's simple, vulgar, funny, and still possesses some insight into life and the man that is Kevin Smith. Just as Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back required you to have seen Smith's previous movies to understand its jokes, "An Evening" gives you the background on all his movies that will make you appreciate them more.
22 Waste of Money
Kevin Smith is one of the best writers in show business today - from comics to films he has achieved great things. That's why this DVD is such a disapointment. If you take out all of the unfunny and crude penis jokes your basically left with no value for money. I was hoping for an insight to the mans' great writing skills. Nothing. Jason Mewes makes an appearance and only adds vulgarity.
23 Waste of Money
Kevin Smith is one of the best writers in show business today - from comics to films he has achieved great things. That's why this DVD is such a disapointment. If you take out all of the unfunny and crude penis jokes your basically left with no value for money. I was hoping for an insight to the mans' great writing skills. Nothing. Jason Mewes makes an appearance and only adds vulgarity.
24 A Film OF Kevin Smith, not BY him - but just as entertaining
As soon as I popped An Evening With Kevin Smith into my DVD player, I felt right at home. Kevin appears on the menu screen immediately and starts acting (silently) about how long you're taking to choose something. So, before even starting the movie, I saw a character just like Silent Bob on the screen, and felt like this was familiar ground.
But then Kevin starts speaking. And speaking. And speaking. The movie, is essentially pieced together footage from a college tour Smith did, where he basically hosts a Q and A session. And, while it can't truly be considered stand up comedy, it's funnier than most comdeians will ever be.
So, the movie is about three hours of Smith answering fans questions, and topics switch from Jason Mewes' (Jay in the five Jersey flicks) sex life, to Kevin's involvement with a new Superman script, to his first sexual encounter with his wife, to Prince, (yes, the musician.) And I can gurantee that if you are in the least bit interested in Kevin's films, you'll be laughing so hard the three hours will blow by faster than you could possibly imagine.
Luckily, there's more to do once you've finished the movie. While the two-disc set isn't loaded with extra features, it does feature a number of hidden easter eggs, mostly of footage cut from the final film, and they're equally as entertaining as the rest of the movie.
So, once you've gotten over the initial shock of hearing "Silent Bob" speak at length, you should have a great deal of fun with this movie, and I believe it warrants at the nvery least a rental, if not a purchase.
25 What's a Nubian?
Ladies and Gents, if you own any of Kevin Smith's films, you must buy this set. Not only do you get an in depth insight into the origins behind all of his movies, you also get to see the tales of what goes on backstage, the hilarity of Hollywood, and the honesty of a director who isn't afraid to tell it like it is (You know he is, because oft times, he doesn't come out looking too good. Just see his comments on the director of Magnolia.)
With a guest appearance by Jason "Jay" Mewes, phone calls to Scott Mosier and a fan's father ("We think your son may be on the pot."), and hilarious tales at the expense of friend and actor Ben Affleck, this one may not be for the whole family, but you will be in stitches before it's over.
26 Greatest "Documentary" Comedy Ever!
Granted that is a pretty specific genre, but Kevin Smith spends around 4 hours tellings hilarious stories and sharing his life. Everone I know who has seen this loved it. Well worth watching several times and extremely funny from the first meeting with his wife, the creation of a never used superman script, and how to make a movie on credit cards. Rent it and you'll just need to end up buying it later.
27 Kicks ...!!!!!!!!
this is so totally awsome, it has kevin smith, the most hilarious moviemaker in the world doing basically stand up comedy Q's and A's about all his movies (clerks, mallrats,chasing amy,dogma,jay and silent bob strike back) and whats coming up! This DVD is well worth the money and much much more then that!
28 funny
It Kevin Smith doing his varition of stand up comedy. It's a great dvd.
29 this is funny
Yea sure its in the regular Smith style comedy, lost of D&F jokes or references to them, but it is funny if you like Smith, I don't see why you'd want to see this if you dont like his stuff. The first DVD is great I laughed though the whole damn thing, the second, gets a bit slower with longer anecdotes, but the punch lines are still funny and its worth watching. Some background on his works and a bit of personal stuff like how he met his wife, (oww), mostly D&F jokes...Great!
30 Only for hardcore Smith fanatics! If you're not, don't view!
I think Kevin Smith is my favorite directors of all time and this was an open chance to get some of my questions answered, like what Kevin's real opinion on religion is, and all kinds of other things. This is a great DVD set that spans over 3 hours and 50 minutes (including the two easter eggs that can be found in the main menus of the discs. On disc one if you click around and highlight the magnolia flower, click and listen to Kevin's origin on the Magnolia Fan name in "JASBSB" and on disc two click on another icon and you can hear more stuff. GET THIS DVD NOW!!!!
31 Funny, Hilarious, Endearing,What Other Nice Words Can I Use?
C'mon if you are a Kevin Fan in anyway shape or form you're going to get this. Why belabor the point. Its funny (DUH!!!!) and informative. This gives fuller stories of anecdotes Kevin has related on several talk shows, so there's another bonus. Watch this and wait in utter anticipation for Kevin to come to your college.
32 THE OUTRAGEOUS Q&A FROM KEVIN SMITH IS HERE!!
In "An Evening with Kevin Smith," the writer and director of "Clerks," "Mallrats," "Chasing Amy," "Dogma," and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" gives an interesting behind-the-scenes insight into movie making, as well as his outrageous views on pop culture.
The film is comprised of clips from seminars at universities across the country. In addition to a surprise appearance by his on-screen "hetero life-mate" Jason Mewes, Smith takes questions from the audience consisting of not only university students, but also fans of his movies. The huge size of the audience (some are in the thousands) is a testament to how large the cult following of Kevin Smith actually is.
Throughout "Evening" Smith gives the audience a laugh a minute, displaying his natural sense of humor that can be seen in all of his movies. Among the subjects covered are: how he chose Mewes for the part of Jay, and why Smith's character "Silent Bob" is silent? He also discusses how "hurtful" it was when he met his wife, and his appearance on the cover of the pot-legalization magazine "High Times."
On a more serious note, Smith talks about his controversial religious film "Dogma", and reveals, among other things, how many death threats he received because of it.
Probably the most fascinating parts of "Evening" are when Smith talks about some of the unusual movie projects he has been asked to contribute to. He reveals at great lengths the inside stories on: writing the script for a new "Superman" movie; and the documentary he filmed on pop star Prince that will probably never be seen. He says he did them because he is, in his own words, a "press whore."
Finally, he answers the question he gets from his fans probably more than any other: will there be another "Jay and Silent Bob" movie?
In conclusion, if you're like me and you are a fan of Kevin Smith's five films, this video is well worth the price. Smith is just as entertaining answering questions as he is in his movies.
33 God Bless That Sweet Fat Man.
The Hometown Boy Who Made Good expands his magical sense of community over two jam packed discs( I'm still finding Easter Eggs). It's cool stuff, Smith shoots from the hip with college kids, bantering back and forth about his work and personal philosophies. If you like any of the Askew movies, this is just another one to see, own, love. In its own loose way it manages to be cinematic, or at least as visually ambitious as Clerks. Kevin moves the show along by bringing out long time co-hort Jason Mewes, and fills the gaps by calling friends and audience members employers.
I've seen reviews that call this self-absorbed, but what were you expecting? The man keeps an open on-line journal. I don't know that in 20 years his daughter will be happy that there's a detailed account of her parents first sexual encounter, but I found the story pretty funny. Like everything else he does, Kevin pulls you in by never playing it too cool, giving everybody a toe hold to find a common ground with him through his work and words. This is just the most personal his media has ever become.
It also lends itself to multiple viewings. I've watched Smith tell the story about trying to write Superman:Reborn a couple of times and I still laugh when he gets to the part about Jon Peters and the giant spider.
Pulling from a series of lectures cut into almost four hours (maybe more, seriously, if you buy it check all over the place for hidden footage) of video, the only criticism I have of this video is the audio in several of the halls was poor, Smith's mic is on the verge of feedback during the cuts from those shows. However, I remind myself the techs were probably kids on work study and that somehow makes the sound quality more legit in the Askiewneverse, where the kid pumping your gas today could be up for a Golden Globe next year. Naga-Nooch.
34 encouters close and closing
after watching the films of kevin smith you feel as though you have been initiated into the inner workings of smiths fictional new jersey. like if you slipped down to the ski-ball place on the pier you might well leave to have a drink with banky or maybe even God.
well after spending four hours listening to frank and amusing chit chat from the director himself you see that the disarming honesty of the films is as much as thier wit born directly from thier creator.
smith is like that articulate slaker we all knew between the ages of 18 and 24. the one that held evryone in his glib sway down at the 24 hour coffee shop. with witty observations unbelievable stories and well placed fart jokes.
this familiarity is comforting but also a little disconserting beacuse after viewing this dvd if i saw smith on the street i would go up to him like a complete idiot, put my arm around him and be like, "dude, hows mosier!"
and he would either screw with my delusion with some giggleingly feigned conversation or just mace me.
at any rate buy this. its a genuine experience.
35 ....
Anyone who watches this ridiculously self gratifying piece of nonsense has gone under the spell of Kevin Smith. Every other word is a curse and it is the basis for every laugh in this documentary. He doesn't reveal anything important nor does he talk much about himself. I rented this expecting something clever, or an insight into his creative process. Instead I got Kevin making fun of 100's of college students who revere him. He says it all when he bumped into P.T. Anderson after making a crude comment on Magnolia. Instead of returning the favor P.T. asked how he was doing. Don't waste your money on this...
36 Funny as hell!!
This is the funniest DVD I have ever seen. It gives you a much wider perspective on Kevin Smith, as well as the actors who work for them, and Prince as well. Yes, Prince. He has anecdotes that will give you a new perspective on a lot of stars!
37 An In-Depth Look at a Worthwhile Filmmaker...
Too often, interviews with show-biz types come across as dull, unexciting, and, on the whole, not worth watching. Many times, the interviewee will restrict his commentary to his work, make sure not to offend anyone, and basically end up saying nothing. However, since I'm a fervent fan of this Kevin Smith, I thought I'd give this video a go (I got this as a gift). These DVDs blew my low expectations completely away. Smith--wait, let's call him Kevin--comes across as a really personable character, and although he sweats bullets on stage, he's reasonably relaxed and down-to-earth. Kevin is detailed in his answers, outright hilarious, and shows that he is willing to talk about pretty much anything--just like in his movies.
In this interview, you'll find out what the fiercest killer in the animal kingdom is, why Chaka is mad, what's so great about $300 and a shirt, and the origin of "Snoochie Boochie". What more could a Kevin Smith fan want? Oh yeah, there's lots of cursing too--can't live without that...
These DVDs are worth owning, because you'll quickly want to show them to all of your friends, as I have done. Even if you don't think he's that funny for some reason, you'll finish this DVD set with a greater understanding of Kevin's career and his passion for his work. Be sure to go through all of the menus on each disc and play with the cursor a bit, as there is a smattering of hidden material, too. A must-have for any Kevin Smith fan.
38 NOT just for Kevin Smith fans!
There is little to add to the existing reviews, except this:
You need NOT be a Kevin Smith fan to enjoy this DVD. It helps to be familiar with Smith's films in order to fully appreciate 100 percent of the his Q&A and anecdotes. But the best and most entertaining portions of this show are the stories that have nothing to do with his films. Non-Smith fans will find a great portion of this DVD hilarious and highly entertaining. Anecdotes such as: the disastrous pairing of Smith with Jon Peters to do the Superman Lives movie; his snickering rip on Tim Burton; the so-weird-it-must-be-true story about filming the Prince documentary; his first sexual encounter with his wife; his use of the cell phone during the shows to call family and friends of audience members; the story about his participation in a religious group's protest of his own film.
It is quite a compliment to Smith's abilities as a raconteur that his stories are so entertaining, and yet if you or I tried to tell the same story (or describe the one that he told), we would be met with blank stares. Try it. Try retelling one of the stories from this DVD to your friends. It's just not the same.
I have seen every major comedy (in terms of box office and critical acclaim) during the past 30 years. None of them had me laughing out loud (in a room by myself) like An Evening with Kevin Smith did.
39 If you are a Kevin Smith Fan, this is a MUST HAVE
Never have I laughed so hard! Hearing several hours of the infamous "Silent Bob" speak about everything from meeting Jason, to a sex related injury, was worth the $$!! It is the top in my KS collection!!
40 CHAKA MAD! (:>)
Kevin Smith: CHAKA MAD?
0(+> : CHAKA REAL MAD
man, i loved the PRINCE story.
41 Great for the Kevin Smith fan
Fans of Kevin Smith have long known he does some of the most entertaining, informative commentaries you can get on a DVD. Well, look at this new two-disc set as being all commentary, and you won't be disappointed.
Last year, film crews followed Smith as he made a tour of several college campuses, conducting his now-famous Q&A lectures. Over the course of the two discs, Smith talks for two hours about his adventures in the film industry, his friendships, his marriage, his family -- you name it, he dishes the dirt. Have you ever wondered what happened to the script he wrote for a Superman movie some years ago? The story is here. Heard about the documentary he was going to make for Prince? It's here. Wonder how he met and fell in love with his wife? It's here too. And every minute of it is as entertaining as anything you've ever seen on DVD.
Smith doesn't try to hog the spotlight -- Jason "Jay" Mewes joins him at one point, and he frequently engages audience members in conversations that elevate them almost to the level of co-stars. Smith isn't worried about burning bridges, either -- he dishes the dirt on a few people, but it's a few people he clearly never wants to deal with again. (Now if we could just get everybody else in Hollywood to make DVDs where they badmouth Producer Jon Peters, the world of film would be a better place.)
As far as extras go... there's not much. (What did you expect, a commentary?) There are a few Easter Eggs spotlighting bonus moments from the tour. They're nice, but one wonders why they couldn't have just been included in the film itself. You get a few "bonus trailers" as well. My favorite "extra" though, such as it is, is the menus. Before you start the film on each disc, just watch the menus for a few minutes. They're hysterical.
All in all, a really good DVD for fans of Kevin Smith. The rest of you probably won't get it anyway -- but you should. Check out his movies, then come back and watch this.
42 rent it
There are a couple of hilarious stories here (particularly Smith's failed documentary with Prince and his run-ins with Jon Peters), but I wouldn't advise about actually buying this DVD. Unless you're a big Smith fan, you can only laugh at so many d--- jokes.
43 The only thing missing is dinner
My admiration of Kevin Smith borders on worship. His unspeakably witty, scathing dialogue that rocket-propels his movies along is among the best ever written. But the one thing that everyone will point out is that 99.99999 (off into infinity)% of this dialogue is never for him, although he's been in all of his own films. Well, that's cuz Kevin Smith is Silent Bob (as if you didn't already know that). But when Silent Bob does speak, you see every eye in the theater open a bit wider, every ear perk up a bit. From his heartfelt monologue in "Chasing Amy" to the nugget of hilarity he let loose on the train in "Dogma," Silent Bob, whether living up to his title or not, commands attention. That's why I was so excited for this DVD.
Silent Bob speaks. For three and a half hours.
I couldn't be happier. From beginning to end, the "Evening With Kevin Smith" DVD is a comic treasure. Visiting universities all over the country (Cornell, Clark, Indiana, Wyoming, Kent, etc.), Smith fields questions from all kinds of audience members about all aspects of his films. From the origin of the term "snoogans" and his friendship with Jason Mewes, all the way up to his first time with his wife and an unheard of Prince documentary, Silent Bob stands up and tells all. But sorry, folks, he doesn't dance.
As far as the best stuff on this DVD is concerned, look for Smith's story about his stint on Superman, the story of how he met his wife, and the entire Q&A at U of Wyoming, when he is joined by a special guest. This is just pure entertainment. Silent Bob does know how to talk, and he's as witty as he is intelligent. If you're a Kevin Smith fan, you have some buddies that are Smith fans, and a few hours to party and hang out, pick this up at your local video store, buy some beer and chips, then kick back and enjoy the musings of one of our most interesting filmmakers.
44 For every Kevin Smith fan!
Every true Kevin Smith fan should have this in their DVD collection. Not only is it a wonderful insight on the movies, his scripts, his experiences making them, but it's also hillariously funny, full of great anecdotes about filming and personal experiences. The perfect combination of seriousness with smart-... comments and jokes, just like his movies. Smith relates on a one-on-one level with his audience, making it personal and interesting the whole time. If you've ever wanted to get to know more about Kevin Smith and his work, this is the perfect dvd.
45 Hilarious and hugely entertaining
I'm a huge fan of Kevin's movies and have seen them all multiple times, but I haven't haunted the message boards on his website like some fans have, so I didn't know he had quite so many interesting stories. This DVD kept me laughing and completely entertained for the entire four hours. I was really sorry when it ended; I could've easily watched four more hours. As others have mentioned, this is good for both diehard and casual fans. The DVD actually has *nine* easter eggs; go on viewaskew.com for details.
46 Kevin smith fans can't live without
Here's your chance to hear Kevin speak. The only problem I have with this is that its 4 hours long, and funnier than hell. By the time you get throught it, you hafta watch it again to remember what was in the begining. Get this DVD, you won't regret it.
47 An Evening to Remember
"An Evening with Kevin Smith" reveals just about everything you ever wanted to know about the genius behind the films "Clerks," "Mallrats," "Chasing Amy," "Dogma," and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back." That's right, the really quiet guy actually has a lot to say, and it is all entertaining, insightful, interesting, and funny as hell. Coming from a guy who watches and listens to a lot of stand-up comedy, I was laughing pretty much non-stop.
Smith isn't trying to be funny... it just happens to turn out that way. His subtle and quiet tone makes it all the more entertaining and funny. Through the humor and sarcastic responses, there's nothing but honesty and sincerity about the filmmaking business that he is in.
With two disks, you get over 3 hours of Kevin Smith talking to various universities. As soon as the disks are over, you want to watch them again. I love all of Smith's movies, although I have to admit "Chasing Amy" is probably my least favorite (but I still think it's good), and watching this was not only funny and entertaining, but it was very informative. Smith isn't shy about answering the tough questions. (Some of them, he should be though. You'll know what I mean when you see it.)
He talks about everything. Some of the stuff he covers are what went on behind the shooting of his movies, his relationships with his actors and friends, critics who have bad-mouthed him, a really messed up director who's obsessed with friggen spiders, how he met his wife, his run in with Tim Burton (or not so much of a "run-in," more like a "press-in), Scott Mosier Stories, and much, much more.
The DVD set is really cool. To my surprise, the whole thing is WIDESCREEN. Always a major welcome, no matter what the content is. Since this is only Kevin Smith talking to universities, there's no need for special features galore, however there are some bonus trailers. The DVDs are also digitally mastered in audio and anamorphic video.
If you are a fan of Kevin Smith, then this is a must-have. Go and buy this right now! Trust me, you will not regret it for a second. Hey, I even recommend this for all of Smith's negative critics. Maybe they can take something positive from it all. I was really impressed. You'll laugh and learn at the same time. Now who often does that happen?
48 It is like two discs of commentary by Kevin Smith
This is an odd little DVD. It is not a movie, nor is it a documentary. As the title would suggest, it is simple An Evening With Kevin Smith / Or, several evenings as the case may be.
Kevin Smith is one of my favorite directors. This is not because he has the most skill or is a master of the craft, but rather because his movies are simply enjoyable to watch. With some directors, you can tell it is their work because of the camera work, or the lighting...but with Smith, you can close your eyes and tell that Smith wrote it. The language is distinctly his own and it always makes me laugh and even think a little. They are also highly quotable.
As a fan of DVD, I enjoy the special features that are often put on the releases. One of my favorite features is the option to have a commentary track run over the movie so i can listen to the director (or someone) speak about the movie. You learn little tid bits about the film and making it. Some directors are not that interesting on commentary tracks (Rob Reiner on When Harry Met Sally was quite dull), but the man who gives consistently good and funny commentary is Kevin Smith. Smith is the director of Clerks , Mallrats , Chasing Amy , Dogma , and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back . He had a short lived animated series Clerks Uncensored . He is currently filming Jersey Girl .
Over the past several years, Kevin Smith has had speaking engagements at colleges and universities. The DVD covers several of those appearances. That might not sound too interesting to own or to watch, but Smith is consistently funny and always interesting, no matter what he is talking about. The feature is set up as a Q&A format, so we see the audience participation and get the really dumb questions (which Smith makes obvious) as well as the good thoughtful one(s). This is very watchable, and very funny and highly recommended if you are a fan of Kevin Smith's work. If you're not, you may want to pass on this.
49 They have to be kidding....
Why would anyone spend hundereds of dollars on DVD equipment to do a movie where you spend an evening talking with this man who is both a low budget film maker, and an Internet geek? Apparently the same production company that made and distributes his movies, which are a complete waste of the 35 milimeter film they are on.
If you like vulger language and no taste, this is for you. But not me...The guy is no better then Howard Stern.
50 Quality entertainment that is constantly funny
Kevin Smith is the director behind five of my favorite movies. Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back were all created as a part of Kevin's "New Jersey Chronicles," in which each of the afformentioned movies had recurring characters from the previous films. Each film is laced with witty dialogue and even some serious messages mixed in.
On this DVD, Kevin talks about anything and everything ranging from the failed documentary with Prince to a soft-core porn involving Jason Mewes, who is known to all as Jay in the "New Jersey" movies. Kevin's most interesting topic was the controversey surrounding "Dogma." Kevin talks about the death threats he recieved, his Catholic up-bringing and about the time he picketted at his own movie. However, nothing is as amusing as the story behind his failed attempt to revive the Superman movie franchise. Kevin talks about his meetings with Warner Bros. executives and the producer at the time who had some unusual requests as to what he wanted included in the script.
All and all, if you are a fan of the Kevin Smith movies, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this DVD. If you have not seen any of Kevin's movies, you owe it to yourself to buy every single one of them and then to buy this.
51 Some Great Stories About The View Askewniverse
"An Evening with Kevin Smith" chronicles the college Q&A tour that the director of five "Jay and Silent Bob" films took in 2001. The DVD consists of 2 discs and contains almost 4 hours of vintage Smith discussing his life, his films and his comic book side career.
I enjoyed several of the stories that Kevin tells. In particular, I found his discussion about his experience in the development of the ill-fated "Superman Reborn" project to be very intersting. He spends almost 30 minutes discussing how he got involved with the project (his theory on why he was asked to work on it involves the dialogue that takes place in "Mallrats" about Superman's "prowess"). He explains his meetings with movie execs, particularly Jon Peters (producer of "Rainman), who he convincing portrays as a total goofball. He also explains how his role in the development of the film fell apart when it was decided that Tim Burton would be the director. Kevin leaves no doubt that there is no love lost between himself and Burton.
I also enjoyed his long (again about 30 minutes) discussion about another ill-fated experience as the director of a documentary about the artist now known as Prince. It's a fascinating discussion of what it is like to work with a man who lives in (as described by one of Prince's assistants), "Prince World". Kevin shows how he went from a giddy fan of Prince who was tickled to be asked to do the project to a non-fan who now could care less about Prince.
I do have some quibbles. Although he told the story with good humor, I really didn't care about the minute details of his first "romantic" experience with is wife Jen. I'd say about 20 minutes are dedicated to this that could have been used to descibe his thoughts on one of his movies. I'm not a prude (I've seen and enjoyed his movies, after all), but some things are better left unsaid (or at least left off the DVD).
Obviously since these college stints were Q&A sessions, he can only answer what was asked by the crowd. However, I would have liked to have heard discussion on what it was like to work with Linda Fiorentino on "Dogma", who he has said was so difficult to work with that he will never do it again. If he could rip Prince and Jon Peters in an entertaining fashion, imagine the hatchet job he could have done on her.
I also didn't understand why it was decided to leave in questions asked by students who were obviously not coherent and just babbled without saying anything pertinent. Again, this time could have been spent showing Kevin answer decent questions. I did get a kick out of Kevin's attempt to try to sweet talk an employer of a student to let him get his job back (the student was fired for going to the Smith show instead of working).
Overall, pretty entertaining and a good addition for the Kevin Smith completest.
52 An Evening Well-Spent
This peek into the View Askewniverse and mind of Kevin Smith is one wild ride. If you find Smith's movies funny, you'll find yourself with side pains during this. Sure, there are few bonus features on the 2-disc set, but that's because all the bonus features were already included in the program itself. Whatever happened to the Superman script Kevin was working on? What's up with Magnolia Fan? Does Kevin think he's going to go to Hell for writing Dogma? Is Jason Mewes gay? All these questions and more (much more) are answered in this candid look at Q&A sessions from several different colleges with the master himself. Any Kevin Smith fan will thrill to the hilarious back stories shared about the creation of the five movies that have reshaped modern cinema. Also, be sure to watch the fun Kevin has with people who leave the Main Menu on for a prolonged period of time. It's nearly four hours of the best look into an artist's mind since Stephen King wrote "On Writing." Kevin, if you see this, thanks for the fun and for five of the best movies I've ever seen. Oh, and I need some money....you know what you can get for $5!
53 A must for die hards or causal fans.
Or even just gossip dishers, or anyone who wants to know exactly what is so wrong with Hollywood (the Superman story is the perfect example). Smith is a wonderful story teller and truly seems like "one of us" who just happens to have a film career (Kevin says that fact alone is why he believes in a God). The editing is well done overall, except fot two nitpicks: One story is obviously heavy edited to cut around some bad lighting or sound as there are many more cutaways than most of the stories, and while a few of the bits of Kevin indulging fans or just plain freaks in the crowd is fine, many more could have been cut away. They do add a more raw, "you are there" feeling, but overall they come across as flab on an otherwise lean production (how many times do you need to see fans lame attempts at trying to get Kevin to hang around with them after the show?). I'd rather most of those bits had been easter eggs, or as cut scenes elsewhere on the disc(s). Jason Mewes shows up briefly, and Scott Mosier descibes a recent purchase via phone. The menu design is really fun too. Finally, most of Kevin fans probably don't care, I don't, but for those that do... this DVD is unrated, but if rated would easily get a NC-17 (so plan accordingly and make sure your child or mother isn't around when you watch it!)
54 Another Hit
This DVD is worth the cost just to hear the Prince story.
Chake Mad! Chake Mad? Chake real mad!
55 totally excellent
kevin smith is the ultimate of filmmaking this especially it was so great it's worth the time mr. Smith i sallute you
56 Been there..heard it..it was great
I personally saw Mr. Smith at IU in Indiana when they filmed this last year..if his other performances where half as good as it was at IU YOU MUST BUY THIS DVD! Of course it is a must for Kevin Smith fans, but other causal fans and film fans will enjoy it as well. The stories and antics are nonstop...it was a great evening with Kevin Smith
57 4 hours of great Stories! A must buy
Each disc contains 2 hours (4 hours total) of straight Q&A between the students and Kevin. Kevin "whity satirical dialog" often leads into hilarious stories of his personal and professional experiences. His stories about Prince, Superman reborn, meeting his wife, meeting Jay for the first time, PTA, protesting Dogma, and Jay's porn career are classics. The editing did a good job of cutting out many of the questions that have been answered in Kevin's many interviews. Parts of these stories have been heard before but here they are presented with much more depth and detail.
The lack of dvd extras was a let down. And only 1 Easter egg found so far. Unlike Kevin's movies this disc may not lead repeat viewing for most viewers.
This DVD is a must for Kevin Smith fans.
58 4 hours of great stories! A Must Buy!
Each disc contains 2 hours (4 hours total) of straight Q&A between the students and Kevin. Kevin's "whity satirical dialog" often leads into hilarious stories of his personal and professional experiences. His stories about Prince, Superman reborn, meeting his wife, meeting Jay for the first time, PTA, protesting Dogma, and Jay's porn career are classics. The editing did a good job of cutting out many of the questions that have been answered in Kevin's many interviews. Parts of these stories have been heard before but here they are presented with much more depth and detail.
The lack of dvd extras was a let down. And only 1 Easter egg found so far. Unlike Kevin's movies this disc may not lead repeat viewing for most viewers.
This DVD is a must for Kevin Smith fans.
59 Kevin Delivers A 5 Star Performance
Kevin Smith has done it again. He has released another "can't miss" release. In "An Evening with Kevin Smith", Kevin, aka Silent Bob of Jay and Silent Bob fame, delivers a performance of the best moments from five question and answer sessions on a college tour he did. The DVD is cut very cleanly, and at times you can't even tell it is in different venues. During the 3 hour, yes, 3 hour DVD, Kevin addresses subjects such as where the character of Jay came from, how he succeeded when so many people said he would fail, his collaboration with Prince on a never seen documentary, and even on his first sexual experience with his then girlfriend, now wife, Jennifer. This DVD set is definitely worth the purchase to any follower of Kevin Smith, or to anyone who wants to get into the psyche of one of the most original, and often controversial, Writer/Director/Producer of the new millennium. This DVD definitely earned the FIVE STARS I gave it..... somewhere in the initial 10 minutes of viewing and carried it throughout. All I can say is "Thank you Kevin. Thank you for giving us all what others are too coward to approach."
