Posted by The Killa at 1cust118.tnt12.tampa.fl.da.uu.net on September 03, 2001 at 01:26:36:
Hi guys. First off let me say that I've enjoyed your work since 1995, when someone told me that I just have to see this movie called "Clerks". He popped it into the VCR (c'mon, it was '95) and I laughed my ass off. Here was a film that truly represented MY generation (I'm currently 32 years old). Sure, we all hated the term "slackers", but really could even we as slackers come up with anything better? I watched "Clerks" numerous times after that & suggested it to anyone who would listen. Then came "Mallrats". Okay, I loved it, but I must admit that in the beginning all I could say was "Where's Dante and Randall?" and "Who are these two NEW guys?". But then Brodie, T.S., and company grew on me and of course, there was also Jay & Silent Bob in there for my real comic relief. I always have felt that "Rats" was a logical and successful follow-up to "Clerks", I never disliked it in either the comedy sense or comparing it to the first film. Then came "Amy". Okay, let's face it, after the backlash of "Rats", it seemed expected that Kevin would want to go the more "dramedy" direction than the wackiness of it's predecessor. But I must admit, it's my least favorite of the New Jersey Trilogy (that title is extremely outdated now, isn't it.). I was at the time looking for those earlier laughs, but instead I got a love-story gone awry. However, as a true "Kevin Smith Film" fan, it has grown on me like the rest, and I don't say as much anymore the statement, "...but Jay & Silent Bob are barely in it" like I did so many years before. Around this time in 1997, I deciced to stretch my wings in my profession (at the time I was working in Programming at a Florida television station) to join a rebel group of, dare I say it, "slackers", and join a pirate radio station as lead disc-jockey. While there, we would take numerous calls during our "TV/Movie trivia show" called TV Time, concerning the works of Kevin Smith. You would of been amazed by the amount of "Clerks" trivia we received on a nightly basis, as well as people quoting the films, trying to "stump" us on which character actually said it. To me, you guys really helped form the later 90's with your films and it showed on our little "Party Pirate". Eventually the FCC came down hard on us in November of 1997 & shut us down (but that's a WHOLE different story), and my life continued on. Thankfully in the theatres a little later I was enlightned by "Dogma". "Thank God" (no pun intented), I proclaimed to say, thanking Mr. Smith in giving us more of that classic Clerks comedy (with sure, a little bit O' Amy in there) for all to see. I loved "Dogma", strong characters, a story that was fanasty but realistic at the same time, and of course, more Jay & Silent Bob than ever. I was a happy movie-goer once again, but TV (especially while working in it) seemed tedious. When I heard that Kevin was going to make a cartoon animated version of "Clerks", I was like "No Kidding! Where? Cartoon Network? HBO? Or maybe even FOX?". No, the answer was ABC, and I said "Damn, it probably won't have a snowball's chance in hell then", and I was right. Let me say that you guys did the right thing by taking the ABC offer, hell it was better than say working for UPN (for which I work for currently). I caught only one aired episode, and of course loved it (For the record, I NEVER missed the profanity once-it isn't always necessary in all forms of your entertainment), and was equally disappointed when the network decided not to run any more shows. I've always felt it could of been a good 100 episode "syndi" show-just the wrong avenue for airings. Oh well. Oh yeah, between then and now, I was introduced to DVD. And like everybody else, I went hog-wild on purchases, making "Clerks" my second DVD bought ever (no offense, but "Evil Dead 2" was the first, can you blame me?). Then Mallrats, Amy, Animated Clerks, and recently (watta wait!) the special edition Dogma. I want to thank you Kevin for the attention to detail you've shown in making these DVD's, incredible and humorous commentaries & the bonus cut footage, just fantasic! Now let's go back only a few months from now. The new Kevin Smith film "Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back" was coming soon. I told everyone I knew that I'm definately going to see this one ASAP. Unfortunately, due to work and what not, I didn't get that chance till today (September 2nd). And what did I think? HILARIOUS! God, it was the best film I saw this summer by far (and that includes JP2, AP2, RH2,....too many sequels really)! You did an incredible job on this one. Jason, you really performed extremely well in this one, you should be proud. You guys saved my movie-going year this year and I thank you. I didn't want to mention this, but earlier I heard that this will be the LAST Jersey film, but after reading a few of the posts here, it looks like it will still be around for the future. I'm glad and I would like to say that I appreciate all of your hard work and humor throughout your (currently) five movies and TV series. Thanks for everything guys, and extreme good-luck in the future.
Thanks For Reading,
-The Killa-
P.S.:I almost forgot, I had a question: Does "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back" take place in between "Amy" and "Dogma" (I haven't seen your book "Chasing Dogma" yet or the comic books, sorry), or does it follow "Dogma" like movies usually do? Just curious and thanks.