Kevin Smith praises Revenge of the Sith

[Robin2099]

Well, since theres several of us Star Wars fans who are incredibly excited about Revenge of the Sith I figured that I'd mention this. Kevin Smith wrote a review on his web page praising it and saying it was just as good as Empire but darker, and the closest in feel to the original trilogy. Here's the review but note there are Spoilers in the review, some are big and some aren't. Personally, nothing I read in the review(and I'm trying to avoid spoilers) really made me feel like it ruined a major part. http://www.viewaskew.com/news/sith/

Edit by Bird Boy: Language, as always on anything relating to Kevin Smith. Just a fair warning.

[GregX]

I like Kevin a lot, and respect him. But this is like Limbaugh writing a review of the Bush administration.

We'll see. I want this one to not suck.

[NozeNuggets]

Question: How much did George Lucas pay him to say those things?

[Artimus Gigan]

Question: How much did George Lucas pay him to say those things?We really have no solid proof on if it's going to suck or not. This one could actualy be satisfying. I mean it's all about vader going crazy

EDITED by Blue Falcon

[ManicWebb]

Isn't Kevin Smith the guy who tore into George Lucas and Phantom Menace in his short-lived animated Clerks TV series? I'd say if he thinks this movie is as good as Empire (although that's setting the bar very high), then it must at least be better than Phantom Menace.

And I'm sorry if I just added to the number of complaints about Phantom Menace, but I honestly didn't like that movie for reasons that have nothing to do with me being a Star Wars fan...

[ClockStomper]

He does have motive to cater to Lucas, as he is being put in charge of the SW television project.

[Hades]

Hold up, he gives a great review for Ep III, and you guys think he was paid for it? Hello, people do like the prequel trilogy. Sure, I may not think it is better than the original, but I do know people that enjoy the prequel trilogy a lot more than the original one.

[Zero-V]

God, how idiotic are Lucas bashers to create a conspiracy theory out of an opinion?

[DarkAngel]

Isn't Kevin Smith the guy who tore into George Lucas and Phantom Menace in his short-lived animated Clerks TV series? Actually, I'd say that was all good-natured, because his response to TPM was actually quite positive:

http://www.viewaskew.com/press/menace.html

And, he liked AOTC also:

http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&obj_id=35442&this_cat=Movies

[Noukon]

What I've seen really, really impressed me, and I've seen more than most (can't really talk about it, unfortunately). Episode III won't be on par with the original trilogy; it will be unique within the series. But in a very good way.

[Jade_GL]

Smith is a huge Star Wars fan (not a secret with all the references in his movies, writings, etc) but he has also dug into Lucas quite a bit, especially in the 4th episode of the Clerks animated series. Randall points out continuity errors and makes Lucas give him his 8 dollars back, it's really qute funny. :)

So, I think it's genuine, seeing as how Smith usually seems to call a spade a spade, and if something stinks, he will usually bash it or make fun of it quite a bit.

So yeah, stop with the conspiracy theories. The guy just digs the movie. If I write a positive review, am I in George Lucas' pocket? No, it's just an opinion. Everyone has one, and some get them read by more people than others.

And the movie looks awesome, and the Lego Star Wars game has me pumped for it, since I kind of know what's going to happen. But it looks awesome. And that's coming from someone who was ambivilent about the first two prequels.

[Simpler Simon]

Having read the novelization, I'm glad that Smith confirms certain scenes of coolness in the movie, and that it wasn't just Stover elaborating on a thin script.

Own the naysayers, this movie will.

[TimTwoFace]

Even though I'm not a big Star Wars fan - hell, I like to condemn it every chance I get - but this movie looks like one I'll actually like. And I didn't need Kevin Smith to influence me, either. :)

I didn't read it all, though, because I want some surprises, after all.

-Tim

[James]

Well Smith is encouraging. To be horribly snippy, I would have been surprised if this wasn't a half decent movie as it has all the elements which would make it hard to mess up. The first two were a little more difficult. First one you had a kid - always a hard task to make work, and the second was romance, given it requires a fine balance between script, characters and chemistry - all were a little dodgy. Tragedy, war and aggression can almost write themselves being far stronger and less subtle, so I would say this is the one of the three I expected him to do best.

Nevertheless, it could be messed up - like with any story, nothing is easy. If this one comes out excellent, kudos on Lucas and his crew. I have higher hopes hearing positiveness via Smith than the exciting rants from fandom. Give fandom a 5 minute trailer and they are happy to base an entire film's quality on that snippet.

This is sounding more encouraging!

[DarkAngel]

I have higher hopes hearing positiveness via Smith than the exciting rants from fandom. That's great to hear, but how much credence are you going to give the "positiveness" Smith directed toward the first two?

[Buddy Lee]

My thoughts exactly, Dark Angel. I like Kevin Smith. I like his movies, even "Mallrats". But, he doesn't exactly scream credibility with his review of "Episode III". I will go and see the movie with perhaps the lowest expectations I have had for a Star Wars film.

[Hades]

That's great to hear, but how much credence are you going to give the "positiveness" Smith directed toward the first two?Hello, you did read my post right? Just because you did not like the first two does not mean everyone didn't.

No offense to anyone in specific, but as one user on Bottalk says, "The only ones that moan about the PT are those rabid fanboys who think anything that is not the original trilogy sucks because it does not have the piss poor acting from Hamil and Fisher in it.

[Zero-V]

My thoughts exactly, Dark Angel. I like Kevin Smith. I like his movies, even "Mallrats". But, he doesn't exactly scream credibility with his review of "Episode III". .YOU HAV'NT EVEN SEEN THE FILM YET

Seriously, you have no right to judge ANYTHING until you see the finished product, hell you just made a grade A hypocrite out of yourself by announcing you're going to see the movie despite just challenging the credibility of someone who actually is reviewing the movie CONSTRUCTIVLY, all whilst you moan about "low expectations" yet paying moiney to see it anyway, you either want to see it or you don't, choose wisley.

Phantom Menace is a bad movie, but it DOES have positives that Smith looked on, he's a fan of Star Wars, and not the kind of poser that thinks just because they watch an incomplete trilogy Lucas was forced into producing, that puts them above all other Star Wars fans who possess the one attribute you people will NEVER have: DIVERSITY.

[DarkAngel]

Hello, you did read my post right? Just because you did not like the first two does not mean everyone didn't.

No offense to anyone in specific, but as one user on Bottalk says, "The only ones that moan about the PT are those rabid fanboys who think anything that is not the original trilogy sucks because it does not have the piss poor acting from Hamil and Fisher in it.Whoa, easy. I don't think you guys are understanding me. I liked the prequels a lot. I wasn't taking a shot at Smith's credibility. I was just wondering whether, since SJJ's willing to be openminded about Smith's opinion on epIII, he'd also be as openminded about Smith's thoughts on the first two, which differ greatly from SJJ's take on them.

Respecting his thoughts on epIII is great, but shouldn't that same respect be given to his thoughts on the first two. That's all I'm saying. In my opinion, he is credible and that credibility should extend to all the movies, not just this one. I'm with you on this one, Hades. I've enjoyed the prequels and have been eagerly anticipating ROTS.

[James]

Whoa, easy. I don't think you guys are understanding me. I liked the prequels a lot. I wasn't taking a shot at Smith's credibility. I was just wondering whether, since SJJ's willing to be openminded about Smith's opinion on epIII, he'd also be as openminded about Smith's thoughts on the first two, which differ greatly from SJJ's take on them.

Respecting his thoughts on epIII is great, but shouldn't that same respect be given to his thoughts on the first two. That's all I'm saying. In my opinion, he is credible and that credibility should extend to all the movies, not just this one. I'm with you on this one, Hades. I've enjoyed the prequels and have been eagerly anticipating ROTS.
Well to be honest, I thought Smith was always slightly funky on the PM and ATOC, if he wasn't then his opinion on ROTS - without seeing his arguments in context to all three after I've seen all three - mean diddly squat then. I have a lot of respect for Kevin Smith - particuarly his written work, however I'm not saying I was thunderously impressed with all he's done.

Don't get me wrong, he's not my godlike idol and if he critically liked the first two then his opinion on this one does indeed mean less to me. TPM and ATOC were watchable, but as far as film craft goes, I thought they were seriously underpar in relation to the writing and casting.

[DarkAngel]

Don't get me wrong, he's not my godlike idol and if he critically liked the first two then his opinion on this one does indeed mean less to me. TPM and ATOC were watchable, but as far as film craft goes, I thought they were seriously underpar in relation to the writing and casting. Smith had some problems with TPM, but he said he went in with low expectations and didn't have as much of a problem with it as most seemed to. He said he'd give it 3 or 3.5 stars out of 4 (or using a letter scale a B+ or A-). His mentality with AOTC might have been same. I don't know, since I haven't seen his review online anywhere, but the link I provided above is to an article about it and it seems like he liked it as well, possibly more than TPM.

But his praise for epIII does seem far more resounding. With the first two, he did note problems, whereas I didn't get a sense of that with ROTS.

[kaine23]

Score one for Kevin Smith and NJ!!