Review wanted: Clerks SE
07-12-99, 12:15 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Matt . . .
You already may have read my take on this film. If you're under 50, you'll probably get a kick out of it. Lots of high ratings from the "critics" for modern day humor, language, and sex. It's a teenage high for many fans.
I couldn't take more than 15 minutes of it because I goofed by not reading all of Ebert's Two Thumbs Up review. It grossed my wife and I out with explicit sexual commentary by the "actors" in language that was too graphic for even Roger Ebert to repeat. (Yes, I am over 50). It is a film I would never leave to my grand kids as a legacy of any redeeming value, except for the quote “What NOT to do with your life!”
The film image was disappointing for me too. Shot in 16mm instead of 35mm, and in black & white. Quite grainy. But that was the “purpose” for this college class endeavor, which Disney, of all studios, seemed to agree to help distribute.
It retails for $39.99, which I think is way too high. (Someone wrote that pornographic films also “retail for $39.99” because they couldn’t make it in mass market prices.)
Nevertheless, it IS a hit amongst those where graphic sex language is no more a concern than paying a cheap telephone bill. And I certainly won’t argue over anyone’s pleasure for owning this film. They are certainly entitled to their own pleasure and humor. (So don't take my downer review too much to heart. I’m just an old fogy).
Jeremy
(The Rookie.)
</font
Hollywood, California
Circa 1982</font
You already may have read my take on this film. If you're under 50, you'll probably get a kick out of it. Lots of high ratings from the "critics" for modern day humor, language, and sex. It's a teenage high for many fans.
I couldn't take more than 15 minutes of it because I goofed by not reading all of Ebert's Two Thumbs Up review. It grossed my wife and I out with explicit sexual commentary by the "actors" in language that was too graphic for even Roger Ebert to repeat. (Yes, I am over 50). It is a film I would never leave to my grand kids as a legacy of any redeeming value, except for the quote “What NOT to do with your life!”
The film image was disappointing for me too. Shot in 16mm instead of 35mm, and in black & white. Quite grainy. But that was the “purpose” for this college class endeavor, which Disney, of all studios, seemed to agree to help distribute.
It retails for $39.99, which I think is way too high. (Someone wrote that pornographic films also “retail for $39.99” because they couldn’t make it in mass market prices.)
Nevertheless, it IS a hit amongst those where graphic sex language is no more a concern than paying a cheap telephone bill. And I certainly won’t argue over anyone’s pleasure for owning this film. They are certainly entitled to their own pleasure and humor. (So don't take my downer review too much to heart. I’m just an old fogy).
Jeremy
(The Rookie.)
</font
Hollywood, California
Circa 1982</font
07-12-99, 01:17 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: STREAMWOOD, IL USA
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the acting was bad, but the dialouges were great,
when i watched stepmom, there was a scene where the term
"snowballing" or "snowblowing" came up and it was never explained
what it meant...
julia roberts just said that see heard it from a movie...
see must be watching this one then
another great dialogue was about the construction of the death star in star wars
and the roof construction worker...
also gave an aleternate ending...
and a directors comentary...
this movie is not really for everybody...
i'd say rent it first before buying it...
------------------
BENTLY'S DVD LIST
when i watched stepmom, there was a scene where the term
"snowballing" or "snowblowing" came up and it was never explained
what it meant...
julia roberts just said that see heard it from a movie...
see must be watching this one then
another great dialogue was about the construction of the death star in star wars
and the roof construction worker...
also gave an aleternate ending...
and a directors comentary...
this movie is not really for everybody...
i'd say rent it first before buying it...
------------------
BENTLY'S DVD LIST
07-12-99, 01:20 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I must defend the perspective of youth across america. As a college student, both my friends and I all find this to be one of the funniest movies of this decade. I don't mean to offend anyone here, but, if you are a "good christian church going type" I don't think you'll like this movie. If you are into irreverance and aren't offended by foul language, and crude humor, then it may be for you.
If you've seen the film and were simply referring to the DVD, then buy it. It has commentary and deleted scenes. It is a worthy addition to your DVD collection (if you like the film, that is)..
------------------
-anywayz, My DVDs
If you've seen the film and were simply referring to the DVD, then buy it. It has commentary and deleted scenes. It is a worthy addition to your DVD collection (if you like the film, that is)..
------------------
-anywayz, My DVDs
07-12-99, 01:37 PM
#5
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,391
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is a fantastic movie--incredibly original and funny stuff. The dialogue is very, very good, and I actually thought the acting was ok. Some things in it may offend, such as the whole "snowballing" speech, but I honestly don't see what all the fuss is all about. I've seen 2 movies in the last week and a half that were much more obscene/offensive (South Park and American Pie).
JL, isn't Roger Ebert older than 50? He liked it.
The disc is kind of overpriced--the extras on the disc don't warrant the $40 price tag Buena Vista has slapped on it. The commentary and deleted scenes are pretty good, though. I got it from buy.com for only 9 bucks; I wouldn't pay more than 20 for it.
By the way, Miramax distributed the film, not Disney. Disney now owns Miramax, and handles all of their video releases.
I heard a rumor that Disney has refused to distribute Kevin Smith's latest film, Dogma, because it is too controverisal. Don't know if this is true, but I can't wait to see it.
[This message has been edited by The Zizz (edited 07-12-1999).]
JL, isn't Roger Ebert older than 50? He liked it.
The disc is kind of overpriced--the extras on the disc don't warrant the $40 price tag Buena Vista has slapped on it. The commentary and deleted scenes are pretty good, though. I got it from buy.com for only 9 bucks; I wouldn't pay more than 20 for it.
By the way, Miramax distributed the film, not Disney. Disney now owns Miramax, and handles all of their video releases.
I heard a rumor that Disney has refused to distribute Kevin Smith's latest film, Dogma, because it is too controverisal. Don't know if this is true, but I can't wait to see it.
[This message has been edited by The Zizz (edited 07-12-1999).]
07-12-99, 02:06 PM
#6
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 1999
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A bit of clarification: I've seen the movie, and I loved it (yes, I'm under 50. Yes, I have a sense of humor). This movie is a cheaply made, tasteless comedy. I don't think that criticizing the acting, the B&W, or the graininess is justified; you just have to accept that as part of the charm of a movie made for only 26 grand. You can criticize the obsessively gross and detailed sex talk; but if you do you are a sexually repressed, humorless prude (j/k!).
One other point, Zizz. Saying that this movie isn't a big deal compared to South Park and American Pie is like comparing Psycho to Scream. Scream is much more violent than Psycho, and current comedies are much more graphic than Clerks, but without the first one the others wouldn't have been made. Clerks was the first in a line of increasingly graphic (and increasingly popular) comedies, from Dumb and Dumber, to Something About Mary, to American Pie. I think that Clerks was actually a groundbreaking and revolutionary film, as much as Citizen Kane or Star Wars.
Finally, I think you guys answered my question anyway. The DVD is overpriced and unless I can find a deal I'll stick to my well-worn tape.
One other point, Zizz. Saying that this movie isn't a big deal compared to South Park and American Pie is like comparing Psycho to Scream. Scream is much more violent than Psycho, and current comedies are much more graphic than Clerks, but without the first one the others wouldn't have been made. Clerks was the first in a line of increasingly graphic (and increasingly popular) comedies, from Dumb and Dumber, to Something About Mary, to American Pie. I think that Clerks was actually a groundbreaking and revolutionary film, as much as Citizen Kane or Star Wars.
Finally, I think you guys answered my question anyway. The DVD is overpriced and unless I can find a deal I'll stick to my well-worn tape.
