He called in and seemed really really tired. Some people asked him some questions that we all know the answer to, but this one guy asked about a Clerks:10th Anniversary special. And Kevin said it will happen. This time with the whole cast and the entire 4 hour documentary of Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. I got through and asked about the Mallrats comic and he said he hasn't even started writing it and it's at least going to be a year or two before it even comes out.

July 24, 2001

Looking Ahead

I've read some speculation about where the big 'Jay and Bob' push is, so let me put some of those fears to rest.

Comedy Central is running a special called 'Reel Comedy' featuring Jay and Silent Bob in about two weeks or so. Jay and I are doing a sit-down for that (as the characters) Thursday.

After that, we're doing that 'The Test' show for an all Jay and Silent Bob night on FX, featuring airings of 'Clerks' and 'Mallrats' (the cut editions, no doubt), and a pair of 'Son of the Beach' episodes with Mark in them, all wrapped up by pre-and-post commercial break intros with yours truly (that we're also taping on Thursday). This will all air closer to release.

On Wednesday, August 22nd (the day the flick opens), I'll be on the Stern show, in-studio. Very cool, and always very helpful.

Later that afternoon, both Jay and I will be on Total Request Live. Love this show or hate it, I'm sure I don't have to tell you how many people it reaches.

Throughout August, lots of the cast will be popping up on talk shows. I'll let you know who and when once the schedule is completed.

But I suspect the reason folks are feeling a lack of 'Jay and Silent Bob' are because you haven't seen any commercials yet. That's because the network ad buys (ie - commercials) start airing the last week in July. Two or three weeks out (from release) is usually how a movie is marketed (we had even less than that on 'Dogma'). It makes no sense to throw up spots prior to the opening of 'Planet of the Apes', as it's kind of a waste of money; this weekend, nobody wants to know from anything EXCEPT 'Planet of the Apes'.

The trailer was, indeed, on 'Scary Movie 2', but has also been on many 'Jurasic Park 3' prints. It'll be "chasing" at least half the run of the 'Apes' prints, and be attached to 'Rush Hour 2' for August 3rd. I imagine it'll get it's fair share of play on 'American Pie 2' as well.

Look for the poster to be up in some places this weekend, everywhere next weekend.

The press is responding incredibly well to the flick, so there will be a lot of print and TV media running when the flick opens, as well as the aforementioned commercial spots.

On the subject of those spots: like the theatrical trailer, it may not be your cup of tea. However, they're not made to preach to the choir. We're hoping you guys are all going, so there's no need to "sell" you on the flick. Who we've got to go after are folks that don't know/care what or who a 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back' is. And those folks have to be spoon-fed the stuff you've been hip to for the past seven years.

That being said, I've seen the TV spots. They're pretty funny (as funny as you can be on network television), quite effective in relating the story in thirty seconds, and best of all, testing huge. Major props go out to Josh Greenstein for the trailer and the TV spots, not to mention the poster. He's been working tirelessly on a campaign that's going to be aired so often and much, you'll wish you'd never heard of Jay and Silent Bob.

And Bob's backing us 100%. The P&A budget on this flick is pretty huge - far more than has ever been spent on any of our other flicks - and that's a vote of confidence from our fearless leader at Dimension.

Rest assured, kids - all is well. A big push for the flick IS coming. Dimension is sparing no quarter.

Which means that the burden's on our shoulders. If the movie doesn't work at the box office, it won't be because Dimension didn't sell the shit out of it; it'll be because Jay and Silent Bob struck back... and nobody really cared.

Let's all keep our fingers crossed for a healthy opening, and even more importantly, a nice, long run at the box office. I can think of no better way to send Jay and Silent Bob off into the sunset than with a fat bag of cash.

7:01 AM

Kevin takes a few seconds to introduce me to Ben Affleck. He's tall. Like 6-foot-4 tall. We slug down coffee at the massive free food tent, and Affleck pours through it like a college student. He says he's filming two other movies simultaneously, and will only be in L.A. for three days. He read his lines for the first time on the plane ride in this morning. Still, he's smiling, even though he's a little disappointed that they've run out of strawberry jam for his bagel. Whiny little pretty-boy actor.

7:36 AM

Scene one, take one. Despite the fact that he just learned the lines, Affleck delivers. And Jason Mewes ("Jay", duh) is a machine. He never misses a line. Some scenes are done in one take. Others, even though they look perfect, are filmed several times so there are multiples to choose from in editing. A simple Mewes saying, "C'mon, Silent Bob-We're going to Hollywood!" takes three tries, with Mewes using a different tone of voice each time.

July 24, 2001

Mysterio's also got a ton of pics of his own, along with a report on the session itself which appears over at AICN. There's also some text about the ADR (automated dialogue replacement) session, where some of the film's actors are re-recording some dialogue for the flick. Here's a small snippet:

For Mewes, ADR seems to come naturally to him. Actors are basically given the choice of headphones with or without reference production sound so they can mimic their lines, followed by 3 "beeps" which help to cue the actor as to when they should begin saying their lines at a particular cue. With Mewes, the man needs no headphones, or reference. He just follows the scene on screen in front of him, followed by the "beeps" and nails it like a pro. Throughout production the guy’s been on the ball, never seeming to miss a beat, and today’s no different. I think the fact that Mewes essentially carries this film will be quite a surprise to some. He’s done some surprisingly good work here, and after putting the character of "Jay" to rest, desires to continue his pursuit of his acting career into different areas, outside of just playing "Jay".

Also, seeing as Jim Venable is doing the musical score for J&SBSB, you might also be interested to know that he's also doing the music for "Samurai Jack", the new cartoon from the same guy who does Powerpuff Girls & Dexter's Labrotory. The latest issues of Toyfare and Wizard have a "Samurai Jack" CD-ROM enclosed, which contains a Behind The Scenes featurette where you get to see and hear Jim Venable talk about the music he creates for the series. Nothing about J&SBSB there, though.

"Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jason Mewes - the gorgeous Shannon Elizabeth - and Chris Rock, who star in director Kevin Smith's deliriously funny comedy Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. Mr Mewes and film-maker Smith play the title characters. Fans of Smith's previous films, which include Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy and Dogma, will have met dope-smoking, babe-obsessed duo Jay and Silent Bob before. This film has them hitting the road, from New Jersey to Hollywood, to prevent a movie biography made about them. Mark Hamill from Star Wars has a cameo playing a bloated, middle-age super hero (well, sort of) in a side-splitting sci-fi parody."

July 21, 2001

July 20, 2001

Moments away from going to the panel...

...and I had to mention that NY Times piece. A big shout-out goes to Rick Lyman for such great (and substantial) killer ink for a movie that's very dear to my heart.

You can read it online, as linked by boyd (I'd call him Boyd) below, or over at NewsAskew. But if you're so inclined, I'd urge you to pick up a copy of the actual paper - as it features a HUGE photo of yours truly, taking up half the front page of the Arts section. I was blown away.

A few unrelated notes...

For the curious, 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back' received an 'R' rating.

If you're in the San Diego area, I'll be on the CBS station's nightly news at four or five this evening (I also did two morning shows, but you've already missed those).

And I respectfully disagree with Jon Favreau, in regards to our casting of the same actors repeatedly in all the films we've done. Not only has it been essential (as some folks HAVE to play the characters they've played in the previous flicks, since we've often brought back the same characters), but if a actor or actress is good, then why not work with them again? And again? And again?

Plus, it's just more fun.

Plus, it's one of the attributes to the films we've made that makes them stand out.

Plus, the audience (Mister Favreau excepted) loves it.

Plus, I love it.

I can go on, but you get the point.

But if that's his take on it, it's cool. I'm not offended, so please don't rush at the man's cyber-throat in an effort to avenge some imagined wrong.

That being said, I suspect I'll be waiting until video to check out 'Made' now.

Because, you know, fuck him and the horse he rode in on.

Just kidding.

About the fuck him part; not about skipping 'Made'.

Interviewer: So you’re not building an ensemble company of actors?

Favreau: No, I don’t work like that. I think it hurts Kevin Smith’s films. I couldn’t get too emotionally involved in Dogma with Jason Lee as the Devil. I didn’t want this movie to be a yearly talent show. I wanted it to be a film where there was a familiarity because of us, but I also want you to feel like you’re traveling to a world that none of us know. I want there to be a feeling that something very bad could happen, that the stakes were very real. Creating that tension gave us the opportunity to laugh and also the opportunity to have some sort of emotional resonance at the end.

"Everyone who's seen his films know that director Kevin Smith(Dogma, Chasing Amy) is one of us. The man LOVES Star Wars - one of the most memorable scenes in his film "Clerks" was the scene in which the two main characters pondered the morality of the contract workers dying along side the imperial bad guys in the Rebellion's fiery attack on the unfinished Death Star in Return Of The Jedi. And, Silent Bob's homage to Yoda in "Mallrats" manages to keep that movie on our to-rent list's. So, no one should be surprised that Smith's next venture, due out in August, is titled 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'"

All may not be lost, though. The scabrous, particularly observed critique of film world ways that marked such smart, astringent comedies of the 1990s as "The Player," "Swimming With Sharks," "... And God Spoke" and "Living in Oblivion" returns alive, well and brimming with independent attitude next month in "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," Kevin Smith's ("Clerks," "Dogma") affectionate but merciless response to every stupidity he's observed in seven years of making movies.

No marketing maven vetted this script, which includes Smith pals Ben Affleck and Matt Damon dissing each other's career choices and sets a record for swipes at an actual distributor -- in this case the one that's releasing "Jay and Bob," Miramax.

July 19, 2001

Happy Birthday

As pointed out by someone earlier in the week (yes, I may not be posting much lately, but I'm watching; Mother-Sister ALWAYS watches), mid-July marks the fifth year this site's been in existence. With all that's been going on with 'Jay and Silent Bob', we never got to officially recognize this or make a big deal out of it, which is kind of a shame, as it's probably the most important aspect of View Askew, outside of the movies themselves. Perhaps if we make it another five years with the site, I'll do what I've threatened to do in the past: throw a party at my house for anyone still interested. But for this first milestone anniversary, all I can do is say "Happy Birthday, www.viewaskew.com."

We're in the studio at this moment, recording the score for the flick. Jim's done a phenomenal job, working first with an 83 piece orchestra on Monday, and now a smaller 53 piece orchestra yesterday and today. Later tonight, we record the choir.

Yes - it's a BIG score. Big and funky.

Some folks have been speculating about the move from the 24th to the 22nd. This, I'm told, is a vote of confidence. Bob figures the movie to be a word-of-mouth flick, so the Wednesday bow is meant to jump-start the weekend as folks (like yourselves) who go on Wed/Thurs spread the word to those looking for something to see on Friday and Saturday. We'll see if it pans out, but I tend to trust Bob. He knows what he's doing.

Tomorrow, we record the last pieces of ADR on the movie, with Mewes, Eliza, and Diedrich, then it's off to San Diego. The panel's on Friday, from 2:00 to 5:00p.m. I believe. I'll be showing a rather large clip from the flick, amongst other goodies. And for a lucky two hundred and fifty attendees, there's going to be something extra special...

Remember: get to the panel early, and come prepared to ask really good questions. Excellent queries may be rewarded.

Stroke 9 - "Kick Some Ass"

Afroman - "Because I Got High"

This press release from ICV heralds the film and the upcoming soundtrack, saying that its extra features rival those of stuff you'll find on DVDs (and will likely appear on the J&SBSB DVD as well). This is one CD soundtrack that every fan's gotta pick up, and it's definitely being pushed harder than any we've seen before.

Don't forget, you can get your preorders in for the CD Soundtrack at Amazon.com! You'll even save a few bucks on your admission when you check out Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back in theatres. Good deal.

JM: Why did you have this insanely large cast with all these guys doing one- and two-day parts?

KS: It was the nature of the story. People like Jay and Bob a lot, and they’d always say, "C’mon, make a Jay and Silent Bob movie, just them. It’d be cool." And I’d always say, "Why?" I mean, one character doesn’t even talk. It’s tough to put those guys in the spotlight. It’s tough to say, "You love them in small spots, now love them for 90 to 100 minutes." You run the risk of having the audience go, "F--- this. I did like them in small doses, but not feature-length."

So the idea was to spread them out, mix them up with other people. They get a scene or two to themselves, then they meet somebody, and that person gets the focus for a little while. Structurally, it helps break up seeing two guys the entire time.

July 18, 2001

I’d be hard-pressed to think of ourselves as a big studio company, but we haven’t been an independent film company since we weren’t a company. Like we made CLERKS and we called ourselves "View Askew" but we were not incorporated or anything like that. And that was the only movie we ever truly, independently made. MALLRATS had Universal money behind it, CHASING AMY had Miramax money behind it, DOGMA had Miramax money on it and JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK has Dimension money behind it. I mean, I haven’t made, in the strictest definition of the term, I haven’t made an independent film since CLERKS.

Now if you broaden your definition of independent films to mean "any movie that could not be made through the studio system," then yeah, we’ve definitely made movies that I would consider to be independent. CHASING AMY was an independent movie. If we made that for a studio, those guys would’ve wound up together by the end of the flick. DOGMA was a movie that could never be made through a studio system and as was proven later on almost didn’t work, although it did get made with studio money, but the studio didn’t want it. JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK couldn’t be made through a studio system unless that studio was Miramax/Dimension. There’s so much Miramax/Dimension family in it.

There’s so many references to movies we’ve done with them. We take MAJOR potshots at Miramax in the movie and Miramax takes it on the chin, you know, they never said "remove it." If we had made that movie elsewhere we probably couldn’t take the potshots at Miramax because the lawyers wouldn’t let us and no other studio would let us take potshots at them. You think Universal would’ve let us make the jokes at their expense that we make with Miramax’s expense in this movie? Heavens no. The studios are very protective of their image. Miramax thought it was funny, so they didn’t care.

Antony: So you’re working on a [Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back] documentary for Kevin right now?

Malcolm: Yes, with Kevin’s wife Jennifer.

Antony: Is this for web content eventually?

Malcolm: It will be for the DVD. I think Kevin’s really great about putting out these big huge editions of his films. He just saw the opportunity to have someone there the whole time to document all the way from [the project’s] inception, all the way to the end. It’s probably going to end up being more of ‘a year in the life’ because it’s turning out to be a very interesting year. So it’s not just dealing with Jay and Silent Bob, it’s going back and interviewing the old cast, a lot of people we’ve worked with, kind of all the peripheral people.

[Antony’s Note: Malcolm’s partner in filming the documentary footage of Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, has indicated that the footage is being prepared as a two hour documentary for the festival circuit.]

July 17, 2001

July 15, 2001

THE DOOBAGE DUO RETURN

BLUNTMAN & CHRONIC Action Figures

They stormed the box office this summer in 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back', and now they've set their sights on comic book stores, just in time for Christmas! Bluntman and Chronic - the superhero secret identities of Jay and Silent Bob - are ready to set the collector's market ablaze and give new meaning to the term "blunt". Use 'em in the privacy of your own home to recreate the thrilling adventures of the recent View Askew summer blockbuster, re-enact the hilarity of the best-selling Image graphic novel, or create your own, X rated adventures starring these crime-busting (and law-breaking) do(bage)-gooders and their faithful simian companion, Suzanne.

Based on model sheets by Michael Avon Oeming, each highly-detailed 8" tall figure is generously articulated and has been sculpted to create all of the details you expect. As with all Graphitti Designs products, we have gone the extra mile so that our figures will be the best around and will stand-out above the crowd.

Bluntman & Chronic have arrived and the world of plastic toys will never be the same!!

Each 12-pack case includes: 6 Bluntman & 6 Chronic figures. Shipping December 2001.

Figure.............SRP: $14.95 Ea.

Check with retailer for case pricing.

BLUNTMAN Action Figure

. Large 8" tall size.
. 16-points of articulation.
. Genuine Synthetic Hair.
. Removable Cloth Jacket.
. Two (2) additional, interchangeable hands.
. Removable Flight Goggles.
. Blunt-Saber.
. Three (3) Marijuana Throwing Stars.

Figure...................SRP $14.95 each
(sold in assorted case lots only)

CHRONIC Action Figure

. Large 8" tall size.
. 16-points of articulation.
. Genuine Synthetic Hair.
. Two (2) additional, interchangeable hands.
. Suzanne the Orangutan.
. Multi-functional Banana.
. Odorless Poop-on-foot Prop.

Figure...................SRP $14.95 each
(sold in assorted case lots only)

July 11, 2001

July 10, 2001

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. We are not part of the Kevin Smith cult that obsesses over everything related to the "View Askewniverse," which began with the Red Bank, New Jersey-set film Clerks in 1994, has been embellished by the films Mallrats, Chasing Amy and Dogma, and is now being brought up-to-date with Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. We just like Kevin Smith for being a pleasantly weird Hollywood rabble-rouser and we tend to see his movies for the hell of it. Chasing Amy was the high point, if you ask us, but all of them have their great moments. This one, like Dogma, has an exhaustingly long cast with star cameos again from folks like Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Chris Rock, Jason Lee and (ugh) Alanis Morissette. We do not know or care what the "plot" is--this thing is obviously so self- and film-referential that the idea of narrative threads is rather quaint. We'll just put our faith in Silent Bob himself (that's Kevin Smith) and show up.

In Kevin Smith's upcoming film "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," his two goofball heroes discover that a comic book based on their lives is being made into a Hollywood movie. "After 'X-Men' hit at the box office," their friend Brodie explains, "all the studios started buying up every comic property that they could get their hands on, looking for the next blockbuster."

July 9, 2001

"Jay and Silent Bob's comic book alter-egos from JSBSB come to life in all their 8-inch glory, thanks to new figures from Graphitti Designs. Sportin' 16 points of articulation apiece, Bluntman (that's Bob) and Chronic (that's be Jay) will be sold separtely, and come with replaceable hands. Chronic comes with a monkey, Bluntman with a "marijuana-leaf throwing star" and "bong saber." Graphitti boss Bob Chapman also promises "a pile of poop someone stepped in."

"Describe your working relationship with Kevin and feelings on being a part of ‘JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK?"

I’m going to be very sorry when it’s over. I’m only in one scene, but I’m just having a blast and I didn’t know what to expect. You know I got kind of nervous because a lot of times I’ve met people that you say that maybe it’s better if I didn’t meet them. You know, "I like their act or whatever." I’m not disparaging them, but I’m just saying the person doesn’t always match up with the image you have of what that person must be like. Whether it’s a musician, a comedian, an actor… or anything, the director’s the same. You know there’s a slight chance, "I’ve heard he’s a nice guy", but there’s a chance of coming away less of a fan than I am now. In a way I’d like to keep it at arms distance.

...

With Kevin I’m just so amazed at how easy he is. Obviously, he’s such an original voice with no background in Hollywood whatsoever and to be that successful – is so encouraging for all of us who think that "Oh, it’s got to be like generations, who you know, who you’re married to and who your agent is." I think it should be very encouraging to people with just raw talent. You know you can really connect and hit one out of the ballpark. And having said that, you come in and you think, "Well his scripts are pretty much gospel." And yet, he’ll say "…and that’s when you come up and say that line. Do you like that line? How would you say it?" I’m shocked that he’s willing to be so collaborative. I think that’s just the mark of someone who’s really secure with what it is they want and who it is they are.

July 6, 2001

July 5, 2001

...Kevin Smith has obviously read way too many talk backs and way too many posts on the View Askew boards and while he doesn’t have the therapeutic ability to just click and ban assholes for ruining his day, he did manage to get the ability to depict these little dipshits as being the insensitive little twerps that they are, so that the entire movie going public can laugh at these shits.

...

But then, they aren’t funny. The dipshits are.

I couldn’t stop laughing at this film. This movie is a hugely childish thumb to nose and wave at them while sticking out his tongue.

The film is fall down funny. Now technically it might have tons of flaws, but I didn’t notice because I was so giggly over the concept that Kevin Smith has made a movie to MOON Internet Talk Backers that have talked shit about him. That’s just beautiful. It is pure.

Chaplin made THE GREAT DICTATOR to make the world see Hitler for what he was…. And Kevin Smith made JAY & SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK to make people realize that those little internet flame whores out there are very much the logs of excrement that we all know them to be.

Now - How funny is the movie itself?

VERY.

_Jay_and_Silent_Bob_Strike_Back_ *** 1/2

More than other filmmaker in recent memory, writer-director Kevin Smith is unusually receptive and accessible to his rabid (and consistently growing) fanbase. The discussion board on his official website (viewaskew.com) is legendary for the amount of interaction he has with fans; and public appearances and autograph signings are far from rare occurrences, with the latter usually extending hours beyond their allotted time blocks in order to accommodate every last person in line. But even Smith has outdone himself in terms of giving back to his public with the wild comic romp _Jay_&_Silent_Bob_Strike_Back_, which behind its outrageous surface is an affectionate valentine to those who have loyally followed him and his work over the years.

So for this film more than any of his others, it certainly is beneficial (though just as certainly not necessary) to walk in with some prior knowledge of Smith's "View Askew-niverse," which officially closes with _Strike_Back_. The title characters, foulmouthed drug dealer Jay (Jason Mewes) and his laconic "hetero lifemate" Silent Bob (Smith), are the Askew-niverse's most beloved figures, having appeared in all of Smith's previous films in capacities small (_Clerks_, _Chasing_Amy_) and larger (_Mallrats_, _Dogma_). _Strike_Back_ gives the pair their long-due turn on center stage, and in an added bonus for the fandom, resurfacing especially for this occasion are other popular characters from those four films. Needless to say, only those with some Smith oeuvre familiarity will fully appreciate the appearances of people such as _Clerks_' Dante and Randal (respectively played by Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson), who to the VA-virgin eye would seem to be just bit players.

The significance of _Amy_'s Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck) and Banky Edwards (Jason Lee, who also turns in an appearance as the best thing about _Mallrats_, Brodie Bruce), however, won't be lost on any newcomers, for they nudge Jay and Silent Bob--the movie and the characters--into action. _Bluntman_and_Chronic_, the superhero comic book Holden and Banky modeled in the likeness of Jay and Bob, is about to be adapted into a film without our dynamic duo's permission, and so they set off on a cross-country trip from New Jersey to Hollywood to stop the production. Obviously, the more serious overtones of Smith's last two efforts, _Amy_ and _Dogma_, are nowhere to be found in _Strike_Back_, and don't come in looking for some innovations in plotting, either; the film is simply a road/chase comedy that wants nothing more than to make the audience laugh.

And are there ever laughs to be had in _Strike_Back_. Indeed, Smith's famous (infamous?) predilection for dick and fart jokes is very much in evidence (though, thankfully, there's nothing here approaching the scatological nadir of _Dogma_'s Golgothan), yet while he may have gained a fair amount of notoriety for that lowbrow brand of humor, his greatest strength has always been the rapier wit of his dialogue, whenever raunchy or not. On the receiving end of many of the film's best verbal barbs is the glitzy world of Tinseltown moviemaking. No one is shielded from the hysterical satirical onslaught: not Internet gossip sites; not Affleck, who gamely pulls double duty as Holden and himself; not the film's distributor, Miramax; not even _Jay_and_Silent_Bob_Strikes_Back_ and the View Askew canon itself, and as such the fourth wall is not only broken, but flat out bulldozed. Lest the film sound extremely insular with all its in-jokes and Hollywood insider humor, _Jay_and_Silent_Bob_Strike_Back_ also offers a number of broader-appeal delights, particularly in the performance department. That Mewes and Smith have their act down by now is no surprise; Mewes invests his usual gusto into every last one of Jay's four-letter words and vulgar gestures, which are, as always, countered with expert reaction takes by Smith. What is surprising, though, is Shannon Elizabeth's beguiling turn as the sweet Justice, who falls for Jay as she and her more sour friends Sissy (Eliza Dushku), Chrissy (Ali Larter), and Missy (Jennifer Schwalbach, Smith's wife) spend time on the road with him and Bob. Other colorful characters pop up throughout the course of the film, the standouts being Will Ferrell's clueless Federal Wildlife Marshal Willenholly and Chaka (Chris Rock), a militant African-American film director; and a multitude of stars recognizable to all audiences turn up in some enjoyable cameos. The polished and at times--brace yourselves--slick visuals of _Strike_Back_, undoubtedly due in large part to cinematographer Jamie Anderson, will be downright shocking to Smith fans and especially to his detractors, who will find themselves with one less thing to knock him on. I'm sure they will come up with plenty of compensatory ammunition in the content of the film--or rather lack thereof. With its shameless (and not always successful) riffs on other movies, frequent references to his own previous work, and slant toward broad antics in general, even Smith has called _Strike_Back_ "a step backward" in his progression as a filmmaker. To hell with any perceived requirements for "artistic growth," I say, if stagnation and regression are done in the name of offering a good time at the movies--and _Jay_and_Silent_Bob_Strike_Back_ is nothing less than a rollicking blast.

(This film is not yet rated; opens August 24)

July 3, 2001

(CLICK THE PICTURES ABOVE TO DOWNLOAD!)

Until then, we've got the entire ET clip online at Scooping The Monkey for ya. You can ALSO view clips and the full story at ET's website HERE. This is highly recommended, as they've included the entire interview with Hamill (again, watch out for those spoilers!). Enjoy!