I am a big fan of Kevin Smith, good and bad.
I loved all his movies (and that includes Jersey Girl). For the most part, anything that has the name Kevin Smith attached to it, I’m usually there. So when I saw his book, Silent Bob Speaks, in our very own bookstore, I felt two things: one, extremely ecstatic that Kevin Smith has a book out, and two I felt stupid for not knowing.
Oh well. I couldn’t wait to pick it up and feast my eyes upon the humorous rantings and ravings of Smith. Although quite funny and witty, I was somewhat disappointed.
This book is not for everyone, however. In fact, if you have never heard of Kevin Smith this book is not going to help. The book is targeted for those who have at least heard what kind of projects Kevin Smith has been attached to.
If you know Smith’s work, you’re going to enjoy the book. However, if you don’t know Smith’s work, than you will be lost from beginning to end. It’s that simple. So being a Smith fan I can appreciate his book more than someone who wouldn’t know who Smith is, yet, I still feel disappointed.
Silent Bob Speaks is divided up into seven sections, with each section focusing on a certain topics. Those topics range from his casting sessions during the pre-production phase of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back to his personal view of Reese Witherspoon and his friendship with Ben Affleck.
This book is filled with Smith trademarks: vulgarity, bluntness and Affleck. To a Smith fan, most of this is nothing new. It should as be said that this isn’t a real “book,” but more so, at least most of the chapters are, a collection of articles Smith wrote for Area magazine.
This is why I had a problem with Smith’s book. I understood that most of the book was a collection of his writings, but I didn’t realize that the entire book was a collection of his writings – and old writings at that.
Say, by some long shot, that I did read Area magazine. I would have been very disappointed to spend nearly $13 for articles I’ve already read.
Granted, most of the subjects for his articles are funny, or down right crude – which in turn is funny (again Kevin Smith humor is something to be understood through his works). It was nice to get an insight on Smith’s opinion for some subjects; I just wish it was more new than old.
Modern opinions or updated collections of writing would have been better in most cases. When talking about his friendship with Affleck, I felt behind the times, so to speak.
Here I am reading about Smith praising the relationship between Ben and J-Lo, knowing full well that they have been done for a while and Ben and Jennifer Garner are an item now.
I found myself laughing and entertained by his articles, but at the end of each article wondering, “Ummm, I wonder what Smith would say now about that” or “Ummmm . I wondering if Smith feels like an idiot for saying that.”
Alas, I am stuck with old material and a sense of feeling left behind.
Silent Bob Speaks, like his movies, is meant for his audience and his alone. Sure, you can jump on and learn about Smith and his vulgarity, but for the most part a newcomer won’t fully understand the direction Smith is coming from.
A Smith fan could go either way with this book – own it or don’t. It is hilarious book with humorous outlooks on Britney Spears and Attack of the Clones, but honestly, if you don’t buy it, you won’t be missing much.
Outdated articles, in the long run, keeps this book from being a must have.
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