Kevin Smith versus Movie Critics

I, for the most part, enjoy Kevin Smith the filmmaker, but the more he publicly opens his mouth the less I like the persona. Check this out: http://www.avclub.com/articles/that-kevin-smith-thing,39529/

It just screams butthurt to me to start saying critics are assholes simply because they don't dig on your movie. It's especially irritating when he makes the claim that his latest movie should be beneath criticism because it isn't very good anyway. I get that he likes to be self-deprecating to steal the thunder from other people, but it seems counter-productive to say, "Don't call my movie shit. It's supposed to be shit!" Lord knows he would be plastering positive reviews all over his blog and Twitter, were he getting a sea of them. I want to continue to like Kevin Smith, but he just comes across as a whiny, petulant child in these tirades of his.

As for the actual article at hand, I think the writer makes fair points. Generally, critics aren't making personal attacks, they're simply saying what they feel about the movie as entertainment. I know not everyone likes critics and it's sometimes fair to say that it's easier to sit back and judge everyone else without making movies yourself, but the way Smith systematically attacks anyone who goes against him just seems petty and bitter to me. I certainly can't remember the last time Martin Scorsese or Steven Spielberg started blasting anyone who criticized them.

What do you think? Is Smith justified in his public outbursts or is he just upset that he hasn't become Hollywood royalty yet?

Kevin Smith is tiring. Shut the fuck up and take a directing class. And I like his movies. He's a great writer but a very average director.

My patience with and tolerance of Kevin Smith gets thinner and thinner with each passing year. Stragely enough, he adversely gets fatter and fatter.

i love Kevin Smith. IDC about his opinion on critics however.

Back when I was a young buck living in Kansas, Kevin Smith came to do a lecture at a local college. My mom still has the picture of the two of us standing together.

You all know my thoughts on the matter.

Why couldn't he lash out at me?

This is just the way he is. I dig on his movies to an extent, but honestly have never found the appeal of his personal character to where people'd want to meet him. He's kind of funny sometimes...that's a reason, I guess.

Eh. That's just the way he is. I don't dislike his rants but really he goes too far sometimes. I kind of think he acts like a bit of a baby at times.

I have always thought Kevin Smith was an ass.

I don't think he's an ass but he gets whiney at times.

jaydee74 wrote:I don't think he's an ass but he gets whiney at times.

That too.

You know, now that I think about it, Kevin Smith doesn't need critical acclaim. Think of it as how Joss Whedon's shows don't need ratings. There's a rabid enough fanbase to keep these sons of bitches rich no matter what.

Heytherejeffro wrote:You know, now that I think about it, Kevin Smith doesn't need critical acclaim. Think of it as how Joss Whedon's shows don't need ratings. There's a rabid enough fanbase to keep these sons of bitches rich no matter what.

Very true.

Count me as one of the rabid. While i don't agree with everything he says, i try and remember that he's just like everyone else, except with a bigger audience.
no one's perfect, everyone rants and whines on occasion. It's just how we are.

What other director, aside from Uwe Boll, has criticized critics for not liking their movies? I'm not saying there haven't been any, but I have trouble thinking of one.

http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-6-the-fien-print/posts/kevin-smith-s-wondercon-q-a-touches-on-southwest-critics-and-red-state

He doesn't want to direct. He wants to be a stand-up comic and professional Tweeter.

Way to aim high, Kev.

I'm a fan of Smith, but not everything he bitches about. That said, he was really nice when I called his store in NJ a decade or so ago (yeah, I'm old...blow me). It was before Chasing Amy came out, he was apparently there signing merch and when I called to order some stuff, he was the one who answered the phone. I didn't realize it was him until the end of the call when he said he would sign it just like I asked (some were gifts) and I was dumbfounded that he didn't tell me immediately. I can understand why some people are put off by him but I still base my opinion on how he treated a perfect stranger. He has even replied to a tweet or two of mine.

Kevin Smith is a good at his meet and greets but as far as directing and writing... Clerks was good...