"Clerks III" Review (Spoilers)
May. 22nd, 2023 03:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the season finales of The Simpsons, The Great North, and Bob's Burgers, the latest episode of The Blacklist, and the comic book miniseries The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home.
Clerks III
Dante was a very hard character to like in the first two Clerks films. But he's totally sympathetic here and his grief over Becky is real in a way the franchise usually isn't. But unfortunately, they made Randall the unlikable person in the movie, and as far as I'm concerned his sins are far greater than Dante's ever were.
This is obviously the last Clerks movie, and I would not be surprised if it was also the last Jay and Silent Bob movie too and Smith lets the franchise end here. So it troubles me that Dante's death is preceded by a heartfelt and TRUE "Why you suck" speech to Randall, that he has no opportunity to walk back outside of the Heavenly movie theater in his mind. Randall is an absolute unfeeling jerk throughout the entire movie. I don't like the movie leaving his situation with Dante off on such a sad note. I don't want to feel sympathy for him after his selfish behavior.
The movie is not as interesting as the first Clerks (but then none of Kevin Smith's other movies are) but it's miles better than the second, and sort of distinguishes itself out of the trilogy by having the kind of heart and pathos seen in Chasing Amy, and not too many other films in the continuity. The ending was unduly sad. And it being so means I really hope Smith doesn't back down from it and do another silly Jay and Silent Bob sequel. I think this specific ending means Smith needs to commit to the View Askewniverse ending here. That's clearly the intention. Smith needs to stick with it this time. And I'm thinking Dante's death is less to satisfy fans of the movies, and more as a way for him to close the door on him being tempted to go back to his old haunts when he's running out of ideas. I don't like that ending. But if it IS the actually end of the film Universe anchored by Jay and Silent Bob, I'll still respect it.
Is the movie actually funny? I didn't really think so. I also question what the clips of the original Clerks were meant to signify as to what Dante was watching before he died. Were they literal? How does that work? If not, why does Randall talk about this being how HE sees Dante and their life? Good excuse for classic clips, bad example of illogical plot holes.
Randall can't do better in the eulogy than saying Dante wasn't even supposed to be here today. Arguably Dante's death is the wrong place to leave the franchise. But that was the right note to leave Dante's death on. I get Smith killed him to resist future temptation. But that line was him killing him the right way at least. That was a fine final thought in a eulogy and almost 30 years in the making.
I liked it. But the truth is Smith hasn't really made a GREAT film in a long time. It's probably for the best he's retiring this continuity. ***1/2.
The Simpsons "Homer's Adventures Through The Windshield Glass"
I liked the special opening credits they did for the 750th episode.
Wait, Maggie just spoke and nobody made a federal case out of it?
I love the idea of Heaven and Hell exchange programs due to changing standards. It's probably a thing.
The end credits with Lizzo is the kind of fourth wall breaking stuff the Disney+ shorts do that I don't like, but I was actually okay with it this time. It was cute, as was her performance as the Happy Little Elf.
Not perfect. But enjoyable nonetheless. That's all I need. ***1/2.
The Great North "For Whom The Smell Tolls: Part Two"
That was amusing, but the thing I really dug was the Hidden Yeti Easter Egg cheat sheet during the end credits. I didn't even know that was a thing, but that's going to make rewatching the series more fun.
Solid finale. ****.
Bob's Burgers "Amelia"
I loved it. It was wonderful. I thought the ending was very moving and yeah, I did not envy that jerk Wayne having to follow Louise's amazing report. I especially love how straight the episode title is and how it's not a bad pun for once. Occasionally the show really decides to Go For It, and this definitely qualified.
Drool aside, Linda was being a good mom in this episode, which I liked because it's not exactly typical. And I felt Louise's struggle in picking a hero who actually failed. And she someone made the report about how that failure might have been a success and we just will never know.
The episode where Louise does a report that actually mattered to her earlier in the season was another great episode in this vein. I feel like from now on the show should focus on nothing but Louise doing reports. It brought the goods for both episodes. *****.
The Blacklist "The Sicilian Error Of Color"
It technically a filler episode but there is something nice about spending an hour with Red while he does kind and charitable things.
Herbie continues to have the best insights. Anyone who suggests Ressler's always crappy advice should be ignored is all right in my book.
I like Malick too. She is very unlike other members of the task force introduced over the years in being relatively pleasant. It's a nice change of pace.
The episode was nice too. ***1/2.
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home 1 (Marvel Comics)
The Long Road Home: Part 1
The Dark Tower comics are now working without a net. While The Gunslinger Born was a straight up adaptation of the flashbacks from "The Gunslinger" and "Wizard And Glass", this miniseries (and many future ones) are in fact telling new stories about Roland's past that were only referred to in passing, or merely hinted about. Sort of exciting if you think about it.
The stuff that really interested me was Sheemie's stuff at the end. We were made aware Sheemie had psychic powers in the final book because he was one of the Breakers. But the comics introduce the idea that he wasn't born with then and they were created with his encounter with the Dogan here. Interesting notion. ****.
Welcome To The Dogan: Part I: The Ghostly Queen
The robots at the end are clearly the same kind as Andy the Messenger Robot from Wolves Of The Calla. ****.
Issue Overall: ****.
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home 2 (Marvel Comics)
The Long Road Home: Part 2
The bridge crossing was pretty riveting.
Honestly, though, this is not my favorite of the miniseries. "Running away to home while Roland is in a coma" is unsurprisingly not the most interesting premise the franchise has ever cooked up. ***.
Welcome To The Dogan: Part II: The Evil Uffi
This suggests Cuthbert and Alain's ancestors were actually buddies with Arhur Eld. Talk about a couple of Gunslinger legacies. ****.
Issue Overall: ***.
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home 3 (Marvel Comics)
The Long Road Home: Part 3
Oh, my God! The giant raven! SO great!
For some reason, "an unkindness of ravens" sounds even creepier than "a murder of crows" does.
An out of it Roland killing a mutant wolf with his bare hands is beyond badass.
Good one. ****.
Welcome To The Dogan: Part III: City Of The Dead
This bit was also super scary. ****.
Issue Overall: ****.
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home 4 (Marvel Comics)
The Long Road Home: Part 4
I love when Roland comes face-to-face with the Crimson King for the first time he quips that he expected him to be taller and smell less of dead cow meat.
Good example of "Now I've seen everything" for Bert. Sheemie is not the hero we want, but he's the one we've got. Great cliffhanger for that reason. ****1/2.
Mid-World Mutants:
Crap like this is why I LOVE the Supplementary material by Robin Furth. *****.
Issue Overall: ****1/2.
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home 5 (Marvel Comics)
The Long Road Home: Part 5
The notion that the Crimson King is the first and true heir to Arthur Eld is fabulous because Roland's "cousin's" claim is legit: He was here first. What he plans to do with the keys to the Kingdom is another story (and utter madness) but it's interesting that the King can lay actual claim to the power he wants. ****.
Invoking The Guardians
I loved hearing the full nursery rhyme for Maturin the Turtles Beam Guardian. ****.
North Central Positronics
This issue is a feast of Robin Furth essays, and besides a cool map of End-World, Furth tells us that NCP's ultimate goal was constructing an artificial version of The Dark Tower. Needless to say this is not just new information, it explains a LOT. Totally wish "A Wind Through The Keyhole" didn't retcon the comics. There are some enlightening answers to be found here. ****1/2.
Dogans
An essay about Dogans, natch. ***1/2.
Le Casse Roi Russe
About the Crimson King's castle and keep. ****.
Issue Overall: ****.
Clerks III
Dante was a very hard character to like in the first two Clerks films. But he's totally sympathetic here and his grief over Becky is real in a way the franchise usually isn't. But unfortunately, they made Randall the unlikable person in the movie, and as far as I'm concerned his sins are far greater than Dante's ever were.
This is obviously the last Clerks movie, and I would not be surprised if it was also the last Jay and Silent Bob movie too and Smith lets the franchise end here. So it troubles me that Dante's death is preceded by a heartfelt and TRUE "Why you suck" speech to Randall, that he has no opportunity to walk back outside of the Heavenly movie theater in his mind. Randall is an absolute unfeeling jerk throughout the entire movie. I don't like the movie leaving his situation with Dante off on such a sad note. I don't want to feel sympathy for him after his selfish behavior.
The movie is not as interesting as the first Clerks (but then none of Kevin Smith's other movies are) but it's miles better than the second, and sort of distinguishes itself out of the trilogy by having the kind of heart and pathos seen in Chasing Amy, and not too many other films in the continuity. The ending was unduly sad. And it being so means I really hope Smith doesn't back down from it and do another silly Jay and Silent Bob sequel. I think this specific ending means Smith needs to commit to the View Askewniverse ending here. That's clearly the intention. Smith needs to stick with it this time. And I'm thinking Dante's death is less to satisfy fans of the movies, and more as a way for him to close the door on him being tempted to go back to his old haunts when he's running out of ideas. I don't like that ending. But if it IS the actually end of the film Universe anchored by Jay and Silent Bob, I'll still respect it.
Is the movie actually funny? I didn't really think so. I also question what the clips of the original Clerks were meant to signify as to what Dante was watching before he died. Were they literal? How does that work? If not, why does Randall talk about this being how HE sees Dante and their life? Good excuse for classic clips, bad example of illogical plot holes.
Randall can't do better in the eulogy than saying Dante wasn't even supposed to be here today. Arguably Dante's death is the wrong place to leave the franchise. But that was the right note to leave Dante's death on. I get Smith killed him to resist future temptation. But that line was him killing him the right way at least. That was a fine final thought in a eulogy and almost 30 years in the making.
I liked it. But the truth is Smith hasn't really made a GREAT film in a long time. It's probably for the best he's retiring this continuity. ***1/2.
The Simpsons "Homer's Adventures Through The Windshield Glass"
I liked the special opening credits they did for the 750th episode.
Wait, Maggie just spoke and nobody made a federal case out of it?
I love the idea of Heaven and Hell exchange programs due to changing standards. It's probably a thing.
The end credits with Lizzo is the kind of fourth wall breaking stuff the Disney+ shorts do that I don't like, but I was actually okay with it this time. It was cute, as was her performance as the Happy Little Elf.
Not perfect. But enjoyable nonetheless. That's all I need. ***1/2.
The Great North "For Whom The Smell Tolls: Part Two"
That was amusing, but the thing I really dug was the Hidden Yeti Easter Egg cheat sheet during the end credits. I didn't even know that was a thing, but that's going to make rewatching the series more fun.
Solid finale. ****.
Bob's Burgers "Amelia"
I loved it. It was wonderful. I thought the ending was very moving and yeah, I did not envy that jerk Wayne having to follow Louise's amazing report. I especially love how straight the episode title is and how it's not a bad pun for once. Occasionally the show really decides to Go For It, and this definitely qualified.
Drool aside, Linda was being a good mom in this episode, which I liked because it's not exactly typical. And I felt Louise's struggle in picking a hero who actually failed. And she someone made the report about how that failure might have been a success and we just will never know.
The episode where Louise does a report that actually mattered to her earlier in the season was another great episode in this vein. I feel like from now on the show should focus on nothing but Louise doing reports. It brought the goods for both episodes. *****.
The Blacklist "The Sicilian Error Of Color"
It technically a filler episode but there is something nice about spending an hour with Red while he does kind and charitable things.
Herbie continues to have the best insights. Anyone who suggests Ressler's always crappy advice should be ignored is all right in my book.
I like Malick too. She is very unlike other members of the task force introduced over the years in being relatively pleasant. It's a nice change of pace.
The episode was nice too. ***1/2.
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home 1 (Marvel Comics)
The Long Road Home: Part 1
The Dark Tower comics are now working without a net. While The Gunslinger Born was a straight up adaptation of the flashbacks from "The Gunslinger" and "Wizard And Glass", this miniseries (and many future ones) are in fact telling new stories about Roland's past that were only referred to in passing, or merely hinted about. Sort of exciting if you think about it.
The stuff that really interested me was Sheemie's stuff at the end. We were made aware Sheemie had psychic powers in the final book because he was one of the Breakers. But the comics introduce the idea that he wasn't born with then and they were created with his encounter with the Dogan here. Interesting notion. ****.
Welcome To The Dogan: Part I: The Ghostly Queen
The robots at the end are clearly the same kind as Andy the Messenger Robot from Wolves Of The Calla. ****.
Issue Overall: ****.
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home 2 (Marvel Comics)
The Long Road Home: Part 2
The bridge crossing was pretty riveting.
Honestly, though, this is not my favorite of the miniseries. "Running away to home while Roland is in a coma" is unsurprisingly not the most interesting premise the franchise has ever cooked up. ***.
Welcome To The Dogan: Part II: The Evil Uffi
This suggests Cuthbert and Alain's ancestors were actually buddies with Arhur Eld. Talk about a couple of Gunslinger legacies. ****.
Issue Overall: ***.
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home 3 (Marvel Comics)
The Long Road Home: Part 3
Oh, my God! The giant raven! SO great!
For some reason, "an unkindness of ravens" sounds even creepier than "a murder of crows" does.
An out of it Roland killing a mutant wolf with his bare hands is beyond badass.
Good one. ****.
Welcome To The Dogan: Part III: City Of The Dead
This bit was also super scary. ****.
Issue Overall: ****.
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home 4 (Marvel Comics)
The Long Road Home: Part 4
I love when Roland comes face-to-face with the Crimson King for the first time he quips that he expected him to be taller and smell less of dead cow meat.
Good example of "Now I've seen everything" for Bert. Sheemie is not the hero we want, but he's the one we've got. Great cliffhanger for that reason. ****1/2.
Mid-World Mutants:
Crap like this is why I LOVE the Supplementary material by Robin Furth. *****.
Issue Overall: ****1/2.
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home 5 (Marvel Comics)
The Long Road Home: Part 5
The notion that the Crimson King is the first and true heir to Arthur Eld is fabulous because Roland's "cousin's" claim is legit: He was here first. What he plans to do with the keys to the Kingdom is another story (and utter madness) but it's interesting that the King can lay actual claim to the power he wants. ****.
Invoking The Guardians
I loved hearing the full nursery rhyme for Maturin the Turtles Beam Guardian. ****.
North Central Positronics
This issue is a feast of Robin Furth essays, and besides a cool map of End-World, Furth tells us that NCP's ultimate goal was constructing an artificial version of The Dark Tower. Needless to say this is not just new information, it explains a LOT. Totally wish "A Wind Through The Keyhole" didn't retcon the comics. There are some enlightening answers to be found here. ****1/2.
Dogans
An essay about Dogans, natch. ***1/2.
Le Casse Roi Russe
About the Crimson King's castle and keep. ****.
Issue Overall: ****.
