Customer Reviews

Silent Bob Speaks: The Collected Writings of Kevin Smith

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

OK, there are pros and cons to this book. Lets do the cons first. There is no new material in this book - it is a collection of articles that Smith had written for the Internet a number of years ago. The result is that most of the information is hopelessly out-of-date. The reader will not find any new gossip - just old gossip. Also, I don't know if any movie's production needs so much documentation - let alone Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. It is unlikely that this book will make it into the annals of Great Literature.

However, on the good side, Kevin Smith is a surprisingly good prose writer. I know from his movies that he can be funny and turn a good phrase through dialogue when he really wants to, but these essays show that, not only does he have the ability to be funny on the printed page, but that he is quite a skilled narrative writer as well - conjuring a scene with a few lines of economic, effective description. Even when describing what he does in the bathroom, Smith is a master of finding le mot juste.

Also - like the nonfiction works of William Goldman - this book provides a look inside Hollywood from a "regular guy's" perspective. Kevin Smith will always view himself as some jerk from New Jersey who got incredibly lucky and fell in with the beautiful people. I can certainly relate to his preference for living in the Garden State and his aversion to life in L.A. - having lived in both places. He is quite willing to dish the dirt like an old lady on Hollywood phonies such as Reese Witherspoon - whom he refers to as "Greasy Reese Witherspoon."

I don't think that this book is for everyone. As in his movies, Smith's basic flaw is his lack of confidence in himself as a writer. It's obvious that he is talented - if he were only more disciplined, or had better editors, he would produce better product. When Smith is desperate to be funny, he will simply be as crude as possible. Still, I like his movies and - as Smith himself acknowledges - many people like HIM, and hence pay money for his stuff. If you are one of the fans of Kevin Smith as a character unto himself, this book is just the thing for you.

It's a quick read, primarily made up of articles that Kevin wrote for Arena magazine. Definitely worth the $10 Amazon's charging for it. The bit where Kevin interviews Tom Cruise is one of my favorites. Pretty funny stuff - caught my self laughing out loud at just about every story. Oh man, when Ben is telling Kevin's daughter that he's her real father.....

I bought this book for my husband who is a huge Kevin Smith fan. If you are a fan, you won't be disappointed. If you are easily offended by language, the occasional potty humor and thinking out of the main stream its probably not the book for you. He is a brilliant writer who can write about everything from being obese to meeting Tom Cruise. It's a good (and quick) read.

"Silent Bob Speaks" is a book that any Kevin Smith fan will appreciate. Like his movies, you have to "get" Keven Smith to appreciate "Silent Bob Speaks." Smith is the first to know that Silent Bob's humor doesn't speak to everyone, so he doesn't try to change his ways to appease the masses. Smith is happy conveying his special brand of humor uncensored for those who like it the way it comes out. I highly recommend "Silent Bob Speaks" to fans of Smith's movies. I also recommend "A Long Way Down" and "My Fractured Life."

Read it in an afternoon and enjoyed it a lot! If you're a fan of K. Smith you'll appreciate it. Kevin puts out a lot of great material. Also, check out his podcast "Smodcast". Type SMODCAST into iTunes for a FREE, yes FREE, audio show with Scott Mosier. It's some classic stuff and you'll bust a gut laughing.

Kevin Smith proves himself as a very good writer once again with this collection of his blogs. There is a lot of behind the scenes information given as well as his likes and dislikes when it comes to movies and celebrities. The stories range from funny to serious, but all keep the interest of the reader the entire time. If you are a fan of the "Evening with Kevin Smith" DVD series, this is basically the same kind of thing but in book form. The stories are different than on the DVDs, so I didn't mean that the same stories are told that you have heard a thousand times.

So basically, if you are a fan of Smith, this book is a must have that you won't be able to put down. If you're not a fan, why bother with this in the first place? Fans will find enjoyment, but I doubt those Clerks haters will have their opinions changed. This is for the fans, and fans...I can't say it enough, you will like this book.

Kevin Smith is a brillant and interesting writer. If you agree with that statement then you will likely enjoy this book. If not then it likely won't change your opinion. Thats not to say its bad, but the book, (which is composed of largely recycled Smith writings regarding the production of his films as well as some random musings that appeard in his magazine columns), is not likely to facinate those who are not already Smith fans.

There are some gossipy bits featuring the likes of Ben Afleck, J-Lo, and Reese Witherspoon that may intrugue the lay-person, and as one might expect Smith's writing is full of his trademark humor. On the whole though it's all likely not enough to make this book worthwhile If you Don't love Kevin Smith. If (like myself) you are a fan of his work however then you should buy it read it and love it and then place it on the shelf with the askewniverse films, as we are clearly who this book was complied for.

This book was good for several hours of pure enjoyment. If you don't like his movies, you probably won't like the book; if you do enjoy his wit, then this is a must-read.

The book has 300 some odd pages, but some pages are only half filled with writing, there are a few blank pages in between each chapter, so literally, you could condense this book into 100 pages. It's easily a one evening read, which sucks for the price. If you dig Kevin Smith than you will enjoy this book, but be prepared for a short read that is mostly a Ben Affleck tribute book. He goes on and on about him, how he loves him, how he's the greatest ever,that's at least 3/4 of the book.

This book is laugh-out loud funny, an hilarious and irreverent look inside a filmmaker's world, one who professes love for his family, friends, his comics and films. I am a Kevin Smith fan and I admit it but I believe this book shows his best strengths lie in being a funny, acerbic written wit. I hope he writes more.