Posted by Mr. Shrapnel at charon.gecm.com on February 07, 2000 at 04:49:38:
In Reply to: A real do-nothing Saturday posted by Repost from Kevin on February 06, 2000 at 17:25:31:
Kevin,
I first saw Mallrats a while after its release - no idea if it ever basked in the half mad smile of a theatre projectionist in the UK. I'd seen Clerks on a reccomendation, and found the film in the local video store. I loved it, really, and being complete pants with filmtalk I haven't the words to describe the step to the left if was from Clerks. Though what truly MADE the film for me was Jason Lee. Everytime he came onscreen I knew I'd be entertained. Him and your script were perfect (a bit like Rock in Dogma).
I want to see Lee leading a film again, I want to see a 'Mallrats' for the '00's, I want to see an irreverent comedy from you with a bit of pathos but a dollop of laughs. But I think Mallrats 2 would have to be far removed from Mallrats 1, NOT to distance it in embarrassment, in much the same way George Micheal hides under the sofa when the zen-like lyrics of 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go' entertain his radios speakers (and nothing else), but just to make sure everything is still that much more of a step forward.
I don't know, I don't pretend to know you or your motivations, I don't know much about film but I know what makes me pop a retina in laughter. You have to have fun doing what you're doing, though you don't want to be indulgent. If you're gonna enjoy to the hilt making a Mallrats sequel, then do it. There is an audience. If you make it, they will come. But there's a lot you could make that would get bums on seats. I like the idea of Lee in a leading role again very much. I like the idea of an all out comedy from you. I'm just unsure whether it has to be linked hard to Mallrats.
: 3) I'm getting close to shutting down the View
: Askewniverse permanently, in favor or making more
: diverse, less Jay-and-Bob type flicks, so this would
: be one of the last of the bunch
This is interesting, and I'm sure people will initially think 'shit, piss, bollocks!', apart from the less colouful of us, who'll probly think 's**t, p**s, b******s!'. But it's a progression. I'd HATE for you to shut things down though. Change is necessary, but nothing ever needs to be killed, apart from Denise Richards character in Starship Troopers, who should have been a bug pin cushion rather than the lovely and tenting icon, Dina Meyer. Mothballing is a lot better.
Whatever you decide, I'll watch it. And as long as you have fun doing it, that's what working everyday should be all about.
Oh, get well, and soon.
byes,
Andy.