Customer Reviews

Chasing Amy (Widescreen)

5 star:		(148)
4 star:		(44)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

I think anyone who is an avid fan of DVD has been fooled at least once or twice by so-called "collector's edition" or "director's cut" DVDs, in which we are promised special features, but are left holding nothing more than boring running commentary and maybe one extra scene. However, you need to believe Kevin Smith when he tells you that the Criterion Collection Chasing Amy is worth the extra couple of bucks. I have been a fan of this movis for a long time, and I was blown away by the deleted scenes (of which there were atleast ten) and the commentary by the young, funny cast. I think it says a lot for the type of quality movies Smith does when you have a fairly big star such as Ben Affleck willing to take time out of his schedule to appear repeatedly on the extra segments included on this DVD. Any fan of this film should own the Criterion Collection of this wonderful movie, and it is especially a must own for big Kevin Smith fans, it is his best work yet.

After the similarly funny novel, "The Losers' Club: Complete Restored Edition" by Richard Perez, Chasing Amy is the best Amazon purchase I made in a long time. Some people may say that this film is uneven, etc., but in my opinion there's so many great, heartfelt scenes that I can't seem to get enough of this flick, and I've taken to watching it over and over. Just think of the "confession scene" where Holden confesses his love -- I can't think of any film with such a heartfelt, soulful scene; and I love the scene where Alysa answers the Holden's question: "Why Me?" Then there's the great scene where Silent Bob tells the story of Amy. Amazing 'cause it's such a thoughtful scene but also funny. In short, I really need to recommend this movie to people who think Kevin Smith does nothing but make films full of dick and fart jokes. I say, yeah there are those jokes, but so much more to it! Pick up a copy of this great film, probably my favorite so-called romantic comedy of all time. And again I need to recommend "The Losers Club: Complete Restored Edition" -- very much related to this film.

This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edotion of the film.

This film the third release in the Jersey "trilogy" (quintilogy to be exact) is also the one where Silent Bob speaks more than any other release. In this film,(Ben Affleck) a comic book artist falls in love with young women who is also a comic book artist, only to discover that she is lesbian. The film is not for children and like the film "Clerks" almost got an NC-17 rating based solely on sexual dialog.

The Criterion DVD has numerous special features.
There is a new DVD edition video introdiction for the audio commentary explaining a comment made by Kevin blasting DVD's (The audio commentary as originally recorded for the laserdisc edition.)
The is full length audio commentary by director/actor Kevin Smith, producer Scott Mosier, actors Ben Affleck and Jason Mewes, associate producer Robert Hawk, Miramax executive Jon Gordon, and Vincent Pereira. There is also a Theatrical trailer, 10 deleted scenes with introductions. There is also a set of outtakes.

The Criterion Collection remains the exclusive distributer for the film's DVD format as of the time this review is being written.

Interesting but pretty improbable, and ultimately it will be unworkable. It should have been written as a tragedy instead it is a farce.

Kevin Smith has redefined comedy in his Jersey quintilogy, bringing life to an entire community filled with strange and hilarious characters. In "Clerks" and "Mallrats" he gave us pure comedy, but in this third installment, he brings a more serious side to the making of "Chasing Amy", and what he has created is an excellent movie all around.

This is the story of Banke and Holden, the creators of the underground comic book "Bluntman and Chronic" (based on the characters of Jay and Silent Bob). Holden falls in love with another comic book writer, Alyssa Jones, who happens to be a lesbian and happens to have a long and infamous sexual history. This is a love story, more than anything, about coming to terms with who you are, who your partner is, and their past. And Smith does this really well. We care and love all of the characters, and there is still plenty of comedy here. The bar scene where Banke and Alyssa are comparing scars from previous sexual episodes is absolutely hilarious.

The movie is stolen here by Banke, played by Smith constant Jason Lee. He spews his dialogue with such ferocity and fun, that we cannot help but love his conflicted and overly-aggressive character.

There is a big plot twist at the end here, but like Holden says, it seems so inevitable that they all get to this point. This is a great movie, because it is a love story, and a powerful and different one at that, as well as a hilarious comedy. There are plenty of comic book references here, as well as plenty of swearing and sexual dialogue, which makes Smith's writing that much more authentic and believable.

Maybe "Chasing Amy" isn't the funniest movie Smith has done, but it is definitely the best all-around movie he has made. There is intelligence here as well, making this a can't miss movie.

this was an ok film, but still highly overrated i recommend clerks, clerks the series, or maybe mallrats instead of this.

In Chasing Amy, Kevin Smith finds a delicate balance between the raw vulgarity and toilet humor of his other four movies while delivering his best dialogue yet. I found myself watching the final ten minutes over and over as subtle facial expressions and the brilliant detachedness of the three characters closed off any doubts as to the outcome of their relationships. Minor flaws in the dialogue reminded me of the choppiness of Clerks. I found Chasing Amy to be a stunning window into the today's generation dealing with some of its own issues. There were strong performances & sharp, smart dialogue rather than the all-too-common dumb schtick. It had urban reality and it had heart. Some sheltered people may find this film crude, and they may be right. However, this is how people in real life talk. If your tender ears can't handle words then don't rent it. For everyone else this is a great movie. Smith made this film with a low 6 figures and it looks better than many that get churned out these days. The Criterion Edition especially is amazing with great sound and a crisp picture. This isn't a life changing movie or anything but it is the most dramatic of Smith's films and there are plenty of good laughs. Give it a chance. (Make sure and listen to the directors commentary track, it's almost as funny as the film)

'Chasing Amy' is a very emotional and moving love story. Some scenes may be too much for some people, but once again, like other Kevin Smith films, it is kept alive by the dialogue. Kevin Smith is a talented writer and should write more serious works. He shouldn't waste his time on silly junk like he normally does. Rent this on though.

Chasing Amy is quite possibly the best written of all of Kevin Smith's movies. Sure, Mallrats is funnier, and Jersey Girl is more sentimental, but Chasing Amy is a great original movie. Affleck and Jason Lee both give really great performances in this one...not a knock against Joey Lauren Adams, but Lee and Affleck develop an onscreen chemistry here that is superb. Dwight Ewell is absolutely perfect in the role of Hooper as well.

The script, as always in a Smith movie, is what steals the show. It has one of the greatest moments in any movie (BLACK RAGE!), and some real genuine conversation and thought that was not present in Mallrats and Clerks. It is slightly more mature, but still juvenile at the same time.

Its Kevin Smith. Pretty much, you'll love it or hate it. I personally love it.

About three-quarters of the way through, Silent Bob explains that HE was the one chasing Amy - up until this point I couldn't understand why it wasn't called Chasing Alyssa.

This movie is part of a 'set' of Kevin Smith films, two of which I've seen, and liked (Dogma, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back). And now I like a third one! If you've only seen one, then I suggest you look out for the others, as there's loads of references, in-jokes and characters appearing in all the movies. I still have to get Clerks & Mallrats.

I did feel that Jay & Silent Bob didn't have big roles in this. They appeared regularly throughout in Dogma, and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back - well, that film was all about them! I'm totally after Clerks & Mallrats now. I'm ashamed to say I'm actually beginning to like Jay and Silent Bob - I have to say that I prefer Silent Bob, his facial expressions are hilarious.

For some reason, I was not keen on Joey Lauren Adams character. Her voice totally got on my nerves, and she generally bugged the hell out of me during the whole film.

The extras were fantastic, THE best extras I've seen yet on a DVD. There's a very long DVD intro from Kevin Smith, Ben Affleck, Jason Mews, and some other guy, and these guys feature in some hilarious scenes when they're trying to introduce the outtakes/deleted scenes, and the colour bars. There's also some mentions that Jay & Silent Bob will return in Dogma (which they do), and there's a lot of thanks towards the end of the credits. These are:

To all the critics that didn't like our last movie: "All is forgiven."

GOD - For all that's come before, all that'll come after,
and most importantly, for right now.
JOEY - For giving me something personal to say. I love you poopie.
(First one who laughs gets decked!)
SCOTT - Master of the Impossible, ying to my yang, heart of my heart... He's my cherry pie.
BEN - Outstanding. Outstanding, this guy.
JASON LEE - For kicking it Reynold's style.
DWIGHT - Hi Duh-Wight.
JAY - My little Mewes.
JON GORDON - Why, Why, Why?!?
MOM & DAD - I know I've got a PG in me somewhere.
JOHN PIERSON - Guru, Czar, friend.
DAVE - For the prettiest pictures yet. At bargain basement prices, no less!
BOB HAWK - For being there from the start, teaching us what makes a movie great, and always doing the dishes.
HARVEY - Who, like a good parent, gives us money, offers endless moral support, and spanks us when we need spanking (okay... everything but the spanking part).
MIKE ALLRED - For fulfilling this fanboy's dream. See you in the
funny papers.
THE CAST AND CREW - Who worked for nothing, yet gave everything.
MATT SEITZ - For the one review that made a difference.
BRIAN MACKEWICH AND BAM - For the extra mile... and the hundred more that followed.

I actually found this film very, very sad towards the end! As I normally say in this kind of reviews, I'm rooting for the couple to be together, and when it doesn't happen, I get quite tearful!

This is a great film, despite Joey Lauren Adams voice! It's quite funny, although some of the cut scenes would have been better off left IN! I have one minor quibble - Joey Lauren Adams looks totally different in the film to the front cover! Is that just me?