An Askew View : The Films of Kevin Smith

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Summary: An insightful commentary on Kevin Smith's cinema
Review: An Askew View: The Films Of Kevin Smith by film and television journalist and expert John Kenneth Muir is an insightful commentary on Kevin Smith's cinematic works that have gone on to achieve a kind of cult-following, including his films: "Clerks," "Chasing Amy," and "Dogma", as well as such efforts as "Mallrats" and the ill-fated "Clerks: the Animated Series" (which was ultimately killed to make room for the then-megahit "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" game show). Interviews with Kevin Smith and other filmmakers form the backbone of this fascinating companion book that is highly recommended reading for students of filmmaking, as well as the legions of Kevin Smith fans.

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Summary: If you love the Kevin Smith movies, you will love the book
Review: As a fan of the Kevin Smith films, I found this book a great companion to the Kevin Smith Askew-Universe. It offers insight, interviews with the major players, and a great history of the films that we have come to love. You will not be disappointed.

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Summary: It's ok
Review: If your a Kevin Smith fan, and interested in film in general check this book out. Despite many..many type-o's the book is worth a read.

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Summary: Excellent Book - Tons of New Stuff and funny, funny, funny
Review: This is a really fun book, loaded with new interviews with all the View Askew regulars, including Scott Mosier, Walt Flanagan, Bryan Johnson, Jeff Anderson, Brian O'Halloran, Vincent Pereira Dwight Ewell, Ethan Suplee and others. And their stories are hysterical! More to the point, the book goes behind the scenes to reveal new stories behind the movies - direct from the horses' mouths, including some of the really early ideas behind CLERKS. A highly amusing and funny read. I laughed out loud so many times reading this book that people around me thought I was crazy. I've already let one of my friends borrow it and now I want my copy back...

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Summary: Great History of View Askew for new Kevin Smith fans
Review: When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued. Being a big fan of Kevin Smith and his works, I thought that this book would give a new insight into the man and his genius. Unfortunately, since I am a big fan, I had done my research by reading books like Spike, Mike, Slackers & Dykes plus the hard-to-find Mallrats book published by Kitchen Sink Press. I've also listened to all of the DVD commentaries in addition to going to see Kevin Smith speak in public.

So, I was somewhat disappointed that there was barely any new information included in this book. Not to say that this book was awful, which it is not. The book does a great job of culling all of the information about each movie and breaking it down into easy digestible form with many notated quotes from Kevin Smith and others.

Regrettably, the author sometimes slips his personal feelings when providing the View Askew timeline, which disrupts the flow of the book and loses some of the objectivity of this historian. Also, the author sometimes forces too many similes when referencing Mr. Smith. It almost seems like the author wants to emulate the pop culture wittiness that his subject has been known for.

However, in the day of instantaneous access and easily obtainable information, the task of surprising people with new information is a daunting task, especially when the subject is on someone who uses the Internet as his marketing mouthpiece. But, this book does a great job of staying on track, dishing out colorful stories and giving the reader a wonderful ride through the View Askewinverse.

Rating:
Summary: Great History of View Askew for new Kevin Smith fans
Review: When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued. Being a big fan of Kevin Smith and his works, I thought that this book would give a new insight into the man and his genius. Unfortunately, since I am a big fan, I had done my research by reading books like Spike, Mike, Slackers & Dykes plus the hard-to-find Mallrats book published by Kitchen Sink Press. I've also listened to all of the DVD commentaries in addition to going to see Kevin Smith speak in public.

So, I was somewhat disappointed that there was barely any new information included in this book. Not to say that this book was awful, which it is not. The book does a great job of culling all of the information about each movie and breaking it down into easy digestible form with many notated quotes from Kevin Smith and others.

Regrettably, the author sometimes slips his personal feelings when providing the View Askew timeline, which disrupts the flow of the book and loses some of the objectivity of this historian. Also, the author sometimes forces too many similes when referencing Mr. Smith. It almost seems like the author wants to emulate the pop culture wittiness that his subject has been known for.

However, in the day of instantaneous access and easily obtainable information, the task of surprising people with new information is a daunting task, especially when the subject is on someone who uses the Internet as his marketing mouthpiece. But, this book does a great job of staying on track, dishing out colorful stories and giving the reader a wonderful ride through the View Askewinverse.