here it is folks. show me whatcha workin with!

My vote: Mallrats

I was rolling on the floor laughing the first time I saw Clerks, but was only mildly amused with Mallrats on the first go-around. However, my tastes then evolved and I began to appreciate the more subtle humor of the latter (and all it took was watching it in college 4 times in two days). Now, when I watch Clerks I can barely get beyond the HORRIBLE acting. I do appreciate the humor, especially the x-rated stuff, but the delivery is sooo poor. Most will say that Kevin Smith "sold out" with Mallrats, but I really couldn't care less about that. All it means is that he had enough clout and money to afford actors that were just good enough.

Chasing Amy and Dogma took themselves waaaaayyyyy too seriously. Kevin Smith needs to stick to dick and fart jokes. With that, we got JASBSB, which I found too forced and just downright lame. I never really gave the clerks cartoon a chance, but I figured if they can show it on ABC, then it can't be THAT good.

My vote was also for Mallrats. It was just overall the funniest, in my opinion, and it has held up the best in repeat viewings. If I had to rank Kevin Smith's films, they would go:

01 Mallrats
02 Chasing Amy
03 Clerks
04 Dogma
05 J&SBSB
06 Clerks Cartoon

Yes, Chasing Amy was more "serious" compared to Smith's other movies, but I don't hold that against it. It was funny, intelligent, had a better script than any other Smith movie (in my opinion), and it had Jason Lee. In my opinion, the Smith movies with Jason Lee in them are the best. Those two are a great combo.

I know that some people here like the Clerks cartoons, but I guess I just don't get it. I saw 2 episodes and those were enough. I think if it would've been on cable (Comedy Central or HBO), it would've been funnier.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 11:59 pm on Aug. 9, 2002)

Jason Lee was in all of them except for Clerks.

You're right, Keith. I meant - Kevin Smith movies where Jason Lee has a major role are the best.

Ah..After my absence of a couple of days (a casualty of moving, I'm afraid), I come back to see a Kevin Smith topic. Yay.

My vote= Mallrats. When I was sick this past winter, I would always pop in this DVD, and I would always laugh my ass off. I could quote it I have seen it so many times. In fact, I think that LW just might have my Mallrats and Dogma DVDs..I had forgotten about that.

Anyway, since jamiecarroll ranked the Kevin Smith movies, I shall do the same. Note that I do enjoy all of the following, regardless of their rank.

1. Mallrats
2. Dogma
3. Clerks
4. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
5. Chasing Amy

**I won't rank the Clerks Cartoon, simply because I haven't seen it enough. I will say that the one night I did see it (with a certain TF), it made me laugh a lot.**

Oh, and for the record, I am in love with Jason Lee.

(Edited by StephanieW at 6:05 pm on Aug. 10, 2002)

i voted for dogma, besides it being funny, it has a great script; it says alot i think, real stuff. clerks cartoons ARE funny; abc only aired 2 episodes, so don't hold that against them. chasing amy was more serious, but another great film. mallrats is probably the funniest. jay and silent bob as a stretch, but it made me laugh heartily all the same.

Had to go w/ Clerks Animated. Followed by Mallrats, then Clerks, then I guess Jay and Silent Bob. Chasing Amy and Dogma take themselves waytoo seriously... I used to buy into them, but they don't hold up over time.

Clerks Animated is the only time I think there's been a mastery of the craft end of what is going on. And it takes itself as seriously as it should (not at all). The others all feel inflated to me after these years of viewing.

Will