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So I saw this movie today, the third installment of the Clerks films by Kevin Smith. You REALLY need to see the first 2 in order to appreciate this one. There are a couple of other Clerk's type movies but this is what you might regard as the trilogy. I saw the first years ago when one of my kids informed me about the filming location so we watched it. Then watched the second when it came out. Same filming locations.

This one? Same filming locations and characters from the previous two films. Here's the trailer. When you see the very first scene here...that is exactly in my hometown. Only the building looked NOTHING like this back in the day when it was actually pretty and quaint. Now, as they say in the movie, it looks like a sht hole but it's okay inside--I've been inside of it. Anyway...trailer.

Clerks III (2022 Movie) Official Trailer - Kevin Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD3n3GM3Z_0

If you see the actual movie there is one scene taken where the camera looks down the road from the store. If you follow that road, it goes down to the beach. If you follow that road and take a left sooner, it goes to my growing up home which is actually not there any more. I think I recognized a cemetery where two characters are having a chat. Anyway...

This installment of Clerks was unlike all the rest. I was somewhat prepared for at least two spoilers but I had NO idea how poignant this version would be because the first two are goofy, slightly um...sleazy...and funny. This one is NOT one you are going to laugh your way through. Not even close. Yes, there are funny moments for sure. But overall...it's different.

I'm now convinced that Kevin Smith is somewhat of a genius. I don't mean top drawer genius, but a creative genius none the less. Having seen the first two Clerks, I found myself watching this thinking to the effect: I can't believe what Kevin Smith is doing with this movie because there are multiple layers embedded in the story line and part of it is Kevin Smith's in real life. So...if you've seen the first two Clerks, I'd recommend this one. If not, I'd recommend all 3 to get the gist of the Clerks journey.

Stars Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith as Jay and Silent Bob and if you don't know them or any of the other actors, I'll say that Rosario Dawson is in this as well. It's on Amazon Prime TV. Not sure if it's still in theaters.

I liked it well enough and was surprised by the overall direction Smith chose to take it. Then again as I indicated above, I think he reaches into his in real life and that's accounts for the shift.

Thanks for the recommendation, Jersey Girl. I had seen this was out but was going to give it a pass. Your post has encouraged me to give it a shot. I liked the 1st Clerks more than 2, and I find Kevin Smiths movies to be ones I need to be in the right mood for or they land poorly. And some are just poor movies. I say that will some love for the guy and his unashamed comic book loving, superhero geek, not-an-LA producer self. But he can make a bad movie.

honorentheos wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 25, 2022 1:10 am

Thanks for the recommendation, Jersey Girl. I had seen this was out but was going to give it a pass. Your post has encouraged me to give it a shot. I liked the 1st Clerks more than 2, and I find Kevin Smiths movies to be ones I need to be in the right mood for or they land poorly. And some are just poor movies. I say that will some love for the guy and his unashamed comic book loving, superhero geek, not-an-LA producer self. But he can make a bad movie.

Hey honor,

I never knew the films existed until one of my kids played one for me. Part of why I think our kids like them is because they are well familiar with the turf. I think of the Clerks series as cult flicks. You either like them or you don't. Are they intelligent comedy? Nope. If these had been made back in the day (my day, not my kids) we would've viewed them accompanied by um...substances.

This one was different. Intelligent? I think in a certain way it was. Is it Oscar worthy? Heck no. It was an unexpected spin on the characters for sure. There is one part near the end that seems confusing but I surmised it's purpose and I think you will, too.

Anyway, I guess I have an attachment to these because of the filming locations. As I was watching the scene where the camera looked down the road in my mind, I'm driving to my old home and remembering. There's a shot of what we call the Foodtown Clown.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_Clow ... %20Liquors.

Foodtown was a grocery store. One Sunday my mother and I stopped there for groceries. When we came out of the store her Corvair had rolled down the slight hill of the parking lot, OUT of the parking lot and was on the triangle shaped traffic island. Across the highway from the clown, there is a retail store that used to be the store where the Boy and I first met. So it is those things that draw me to the films more than anything else.

Jay is a total pig but I'll admit that he's the one character that makes me really laugh because he IS such an off the wall pig.

Silent Bob I can't comment on or it'd give away a spoiler.

Rosario Dawson is so entirely beautiful. More beautiful than before. How does she do that?

Anyway, Clerks makes me go down memory lane and make me homesick. After seeing this one, I cried all the way home until my eyes were puffy from wanting to be there again. Just BE there.

So it's a combination of things, really. But I say again, this one was different. If you know anything about Smith's in real life, you'll recognize his inner voice telling the story through the characters.

A bit of a spoiler alert...and OMG he bought the movie theater I used to walk to to see movies as a kid.

Kevin Smith talks new film, ‘Clerks III’ l GMA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqb3MrT9qTk