Rating: Summary: Simply Awful Review: I've never heard more polarized reviews than with this movie. That alone makes it worth seeing, but contrary to the other opinions expressed on this page, I found the movie painfully awful - trite, formulaic, bad acting, bad script and supremely cheesy.
Rating: Summary: One of Smith's greatest films. Review: Kevin Smith in my opinion has never made a bad film but he does suprise his audiences with this one. Not just that but Chasing Amy and Good Will Hunting are the films that made Ben Affleck the star he is today. This is the greatest chapter of the NJ Trilogy. Oh and a suggestion for the Smith fans pay attention to detail. I really can't wait for the DVD to see what got left out but in the mean time watch the tape.
Rating: Summary: Not as great as the fanboys would have you believe, but..... Review: No doubt the countless Kevin Smith fanboys out there will label this review "unhelpful" for actually daring to present a review of anything less than five stars, but, well, that's their problem. Simply put, the film has nothing interesting to say about modern relationships that hasn't already been said in countless other films, which managed to do it without a) seemingly endless discussions of sex or b) treating women (particularly lesbians) as little more than doormats defenseless against the myriad whims of the male species. The acting runs from above-average to terrible, and you know a film is in trouble when the lead actress falls into the latter category. Joey Lauren Adams either needs a speech therapist or a new profession, since she sounds like a long-lost member of the Chipettes, or something. It's difficult to take "emotional" scenes like her loud harangue against Affleck seriously when the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard would be a preferable alternative to Ms. Adams' shrieking. Smith's direction is static and excessively dull, a problem that has so far plagued all four of his films. The dialogue, as usual, is the saving grace. Unfortunately, since the story isn't as freewheeling as the intermittently clever "Clerks" and "Mallrats," it doesn't have the same off-the-cuff feel, and sounds more as if Smith was referring to a thesaurus every few seconds as he was typing up the screenplay. But there are still many, many good lines, and I must admit, somewhat reluctantly, that Smith has a natural ear for dialogue. The story itself is, as I said before, more structured than its predecessors, but not as tight as typical American film fare -- a good thing, really, since your average Hollywood flick is usually so predictable that you can guess the outcome of a scene less than a few seconds after it starts, This isn't a problem in a character-driven film like "Chasing Amy," where the big question isn't "who's going to die next?" but what they're going to say or do before we cut to the next locale. For this reason alone, I'm giving "Chasing Amy" three stars -- really a two, but I'm so sick of the insipid trash dedicated filmgoers are subjected to these days that "Amy" looks like "The Battleship Potemkin" by comparision.
Rating: Summary: Criterion Collection for This One? You're not serious! Review: For a few of my friends I recommended that they see this film. It's entertaining. This film, however, is not fine filmmaking, nor is it all that artistic. It's a low budget-- and it looks low budget -- moderately entertaining film. Does this film rate the Criterion Collection? It's not even close! It's a cute little film at best! I suggest you see it. As far the people raving about this one as a great film.... Are we talking about the same film?
Rating: Summary: worth seeing twice! really! Review: Kevin Smith is an awesome director. If you love Clercks like I do, I would not hesitate to see Chasing Amy. I thought this movie is witty, fun, and never boring. There are no slow parts that got me restless at all. I will highly recommend this movie.
Rating: Summary: Brav-O Kevin Smith Review: Until he makes the Oscar hailed film he is sure to make.(Which I hope will have a lil Silent Bob and Jay ;P) This is the movie that will always pop up after his name is mentioned. Everything about it is just plain awesome. The subject matter and characters were the best ones at the right time. His view eventhough at times not agreeable its presentation is not offensive to listen to or watch. A perfect and mature balance. I must say this one is to be watched and savored. I hope Ben makes another one with Kevin and soon! Kevin even though I love these Jersey films I hope you do a non jersy film one day soon. Just cuz I and others as well want to see what a good non jersey film would be like. Yes I know not all of Dogma was in Jersey. Just promise Grammercy has nothing to do with it!
Rating: Summary: Stepping out of Matt's shadow... Review: Maybe one of the reasons Ben Affleck's acting is sometimes overlooked at award time has to do with his relationship with good friend Matt Damon. In "Chasing Amy" he becomes his own man. This is a story about real love--unconditional love -- the only kind of love there is. You don't love someone because he or she does what you want them to do, you just love them. Unfortunately, some guys never figure this out. Although critics persist in describing Amy as "gay" I don't think that's an accurate characterization. I hate typing people. Amy probably wouldn't check the "sex box" on a questionnaire as homosexual, and neither should the viewer. I think this is the main point of the film. Amy's philosophy is you that you love whomever you love, and gender has nothing to do with it. You love an individual, not a sex. Gee, it's so simple a child could figure it out and most children do. Unfortunately, the protagonist doesn't understand this and he loses Amy, and that makes this movie awfully sad.
Rating: Summary: Propaganda! Review: Chasing Amy is one demented movie; the story is about a guy whom falls in love with a lesbian. Chasing Amy is crude and frankly does not have any redeeming qualities which one would expect from a movie about "diversity". I also have a problem with movies that preach to much. Why should I accept whom she is. I personally think that it is each to his own; therefore I do not want to be told what is considered moral or immoral.
Rating: Summary: Delightfuly Real Review: Despite what some people feel for this movie, it is, in fact, a realistic look at love. I understand that it would be easy to distinguish this film as unrealistic because of the confusion a couple of the character's have with their sexual identieties. But the basics of the film can be appied to any relationship. The basic principle is "no one before THE ONE matters!" Thats it, plain and simple. No experiences you have had before meeting the love of your life, amount to anything once you are with your soulmate. This film also demonstrates another principal of relationships, being that we shouldn't listen to what others say or think. I think many of us have let outside influences get in the way of what could have been a great relationship. All in all this is a great film if you get to the heart of the matter. This is a real film, no hi tech anything, and no fluff, just an honest look at love in today's society.
Rating: Summary: A great movie about modern relationships! Review: Chasing Amy is the kind of movie I never get tired of. I think I must have watched this movie 20 times and am looking forward to it on DVD. Its one of the most brutally honest films about relationships I've ever seen. Its also hilarious. No matter how often I've seen this film, I never quit laughing. I also think this is a very misunderstood film by some of the reviewers at Amazon who perceived it negatively. Its a great depiction of friendships, biases against homosexuality and the ability for two very different people to fall in love. Alyssa was a very promiscuous girl who had experienced a different lifestyle than Holden. She did lie about herself in a way I thought was very wrong, claiming virginity when she wasn't. I think she was confused and had very negative views on dating men until she met him and he changed her perception on the opposite sex. It wasn't meant to offend the gay community, it was a story about confusion. To an extent, I think Alyssa became a lesbian due to her past. It shows how the past always comes back to haunt you and how it can destroy the good things in your life. Which is a shame because the past is the past, something Silent Bob more or less tells Holden towards the end. A brilliant film I would give it more stars if I could. Wonderful
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