View Askew/Kevin Smith Movies

Another film with Kevin Smith in it. This one has Jason Lee as well. Looking forward to it.

I'm a big Kevin Smith fan and he lends his voice to this film so that incorporates the higher than usual rating for this film.

Movie was not horrible, but was not great. affleck was the best choice for DD out there. Loved the Kevin Smith cameo.

I love Kevin Smith movies, and I loved Clerks, so this movie was already in high regards to begin with in my book. While sequels rarely are as good as the original I would have to say that in this case it was as good. LOVED THE DONKEY SHOW SCENE.

One of the best Star Wars Fan Films of all time. The movie is filled with dick and fart jokes and the such, which is what makes it a Kevin Smith film.

Another great Documentary featuring Kevin Smith.

Hilarious, directorial debut from Jeff Anderson. Another Viewaskewnivers film. Kevin Smith makes an appearance.

Wow!!! This movie was made for 26 grand. Simply amazing. I love the idea of the movie and the actors all worked well together.

This is a great movie. It deals with gay/lesbianism in society and has a lot of comedy. This is probably my second favorite Kevin Smith movie behind Dogma, and barely ahead of Clerks.

The second best of the Kevin Smith movies thus far. I love the story, and the comedy. Even though I'm not Catholic (I didn't get a few of the jokes the first time through) I really enjoyed the movie.

Not Kevin Smith's best picture, but I did like it. Smith is still the only director to get Affleck to give a great performance.

This was Kevin Smith's biggest budget film ever, when it came out, and was probably his biggest flop, Jersey Girl excluded. I really enjoyed the movie and continue to watch it on DVD. Though I agree that it was not his best work, this is still a very good movie.

What is there to say about this flick. It's a series of q&a's with Kevin Smith, who by my account is the best director of his era

Another movie that was good, that had Kevin Smith involved.

One of my alltime favorite movies. This was spectacularly written and extremely well cast. I still can't believe the Ben Affleck wrote this movie.

The first movie in the ViewAskewniverse that was not wriiten or directed by Kevin Smith, though he does make an appearance.

A view Askew production that was produced by Kevin Smith. This was a good movie, even if it was made in Canada.

Very good Documentary, that Kevin Smith produced.

Another good film produced by Kevin Smith. Little is it known that he is such a good producer.

Another good documentary produced by Kevin Smith.

The animated serial version of Clerks, this was not as good as the movie, but had a lot of comedic value. It was a primetime cartoon that just never got it's just dues. Only six episodes were made, and unless you have seen the DVD only two episodes were aired.

I'm hoping that Adult Swim will pick this up and make new episodes.

Another Malcolm Ingram documentary that was produced by Kevin Smith, a pretty decent flick.

My favorite of the Scream movies. This film has an appearance from Jay and Silent Bob.

A pretty good flick, that features Kevin Smith.

A great short film from Kevin Smith starring Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson.

Great Documentary.

Best documentary of a making of I've ever seen.

Another early picture from Kevin Smith/Brian O"Halloran. This little known flick, has a phenomenal script and is filled with little known, yet great actors.

Another great piece of work from Kevin Smith

A great documentary about Dogma, not sure why the poster is screwed up on here though.

Another Kevin Smith thing. A must see

Another great Documentary with Kevin Smith.

The directorial debut for Jennifer Schwalbach-Smith, the wife of indie film legend Kevin Smith, not perfect but a very good debut.

I only wish that I had a copy of it to watch again. This is classic film school stuff here.

Star rating based off of DVD review. Theatrical review in second half of post.

DVD Review

Continuing the franchise 12 years after the last installment, Len Wiseman's Live Free or Die Hard (2007) is a potent action film in its own right. Our protagonist, John McClane (Bruce Willis) has barreled through hostage situations, airline takeovers, puzzle-obsessed terrorists and more over the years, dishing out plenty of pain and one-liners in the process. Live Free or Die Hard doesn't change the formula much, but it's undoubtedly a different beast than its three predecessors. Like 1995's Die Hard With A Vengeance, the landscape remains open for our hero: he's not confined to one building, but we can't help but pine for closer quarters.

Our world has changed enough in the last decade to understand that action films must adapt with the times. The old "computer hacker" bit has been done to death in recent years, but it's here where Live Free or Die Hard attempts to center the action: a ruthless computer whiz named Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant) has taken over most of America's computerized systems, causing buckets of chaos nationwide. McClane, in the meantime, is holding his own whiz kid in custody: Matt Farrell (Justin Long), who soon finds himself in deep water once McClane takes action. Like the 1995 installment, Live Free or Die Hard finds itself in "buddy" territory soon enough---but instead of a charismatic racist like Samuel L. Jackson's Zeus, we've now got a generation gap to keep things interesting. Willis and Long manage to establish a fairly amusing rapport early on, and it's this dynamic that keeps things rolling through a few rough patches.

A great action movie can always be measured by the bad guy(s), and it's here where Live Free or Die Hard can't help but fall short. Timothy Olyphant is miscast as Gabriel---and as our own Brian Orndorf stated bluntly in his theatrical review, he comes across more like "a Starbucks manager on a particularly itchy morning shift". Gabriel's evil intentions lay dormant during most of the film; we're simply expected to believe that he's causing trouble just because he's pissed off and knows how to use a computer. One could argue, however, that this makes it easier than ever to root for McClane and company: we simply want to see Gabriel put in his place. In any case, Live Free or Die Hard still manages to pack a punch without compelling opposition for our heroes.

We've been spoiled by weekly television epics like 24, so it's no surprise that Live Free or Die Hard falls into similar territory at times. The action is brisk and non-stop: baddies are dispatched violently, car chases come fast and furious and explosions abound. McClane has almost become a caricature of the tough, wisecracking cop we first met in 1988---and there are still traces of mortality at times, but the danger doesn't feel quite as dangerous anymore. We could almost substitute Jack Bauer himself in John McClane's role---and let's be honest, it really wouldn't change much. Still, there's a lot to like here: from the stylishly shot action sequences to the razor-sharp editing and effective comic relief, there's enough Die Hard here to feel like it's not just a part of the franchise, but a truly worthy successor to the orignal.

Presented on DVD by Fox, Live Free or Die Hard arrives in a variety of fashions. This unrated, two-disc package gives fans what they should've gotten at the theater: more f-bombs and blood, which have been a hallmark of the franchise for nearly two decades (NOTE: both cuts are included on Disc 1). The story hasn't changed one bit, but it's good to know that such an unwarranted marketing decision has been reversed for the DVD release. Aside from that, fans have plenty to look forward to here, including a solid technical presentation and a host of decent bonus features. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Quality Control Department

Video & Audio Quality

Presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio and enhanced for 16x9 displays, Die Hard looks as good as expected for a new, big-budget blockbuster. The film's stylized, gritty color palette holds up nicely, image detail is excellent and black levels are rock solid. This being a Fox screener copy, there are moments of heavy pixellation (and the occasional studio watermark) which prevent a proper score from being awarded. Should a final copy be made available, the ratings will be adjusted accordingly.

Screener or not, the audio treatment is impressive on all counts. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 (with optional French and Spanish 2.0 dubs), Live Free or Die Hard boasts clear dialogue, strong directional effects and plenty of rear channel and subwoofer activity. The score rarely fights for attention, ensuring that this dynamic mix will please casual fans and audiophiles alike. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are included during the main feature only.

Menu Design, Presentation & Packaging

Seen above, the animated menu designs are basic and easy to navigate. The 128-minute unrated main feature has been divided into 36 chapters, while no obvious layer change was detected during playback. The packaging was not included with this screener copy, but I'd imagine we'll get a two-disc keepcase and a few promotional inserts.

Bonus Features

It's good to see a strong, two-disc package right out of the gate, as Live Free or Die Hard arrives with plenty of goodies attached. The lone extra on Disc 1 is a feature-length Audio Commentary with star Bruce Willis, director Len Wiseman and editor Nicholas de Toth (NOTE: the same commentary plays during both cuts). This is a satisfying track for the most part, featuring plenty of production stories, filming techniques and the constraints of shooting an R-rated film that would eventually become PG-13. De Toth's comments are especially interesting for this reason, but all three participants get a solid amount of speaking time during this entertaining session.

The centerpiece of Disc 2 is "Analog Hero in a Digital World: The Making of Live Free or Die Hard" (1:37:14, below left). This feature-length documentary is a fairly promotional but detailed affair, covering the story origins, franchise history, casting, stunts, editing, visual effects, sound mixing and music...in short, a little something for everyone. Divided into 10 sections (with a handy "Play All" option, of course), "Analog Hero" covers a lot of ground in just over an hour and a half. This and the audio commentary are almost more than enough by themselves, but there's still more to go.

Also here is "Yippee Ki Yay MotherF*****!" (22:37, above right), a casual chat with Kevin Smith and Bruce Willis, who discuss the star's career while simply hanging out on the Fox lot. This laid-back interview doesn't include a mountain of brand-new information, but the candid atmosphere really stands in good contrast to everything else.

The next three extras aren't quite as engaging: first up is a Music Video for "Die Hard" by Guyz Nite (4:31), which basically summarizes the franchise---complete with Willis' catchphrase---in rowdy rock fashion. Accompanying the music video is "Behind-the-Scenes with Guyz Nite" (5:48), which will probably only be of interest to fans of the band. Bringing up the rear is the odd "Fox Movie Channel Presents: Fox Legacy" (6:19), a brief, promotional-type recap of the franchise which doesn't really add much.

Closing things out is the film's Theatrical Trailer (2:21), as well as a few Previews for current and upcoming Fox releases. All bonus features are presented in 1.33:1 and anamorphic widescreen formats, though none include optional subtitles or Closed Caption support. Even though a few of the minor extras don't quite fit in, there's plenty to dig through here after the main feature is over. The only head-scratcher (aside from the lack of deleted scenes) is a gag reel; it's mentioned in the commentary but seems to be MIA.

Final Thoughts

Easily on par with the third installment but still trailing behind the original, Live Free or Die Hard is undoubtedly a better film than most fans were expecting. Still, some will argue that John McClane's character might as well be Jack Bauer or The Terminator at this point: our "everyman" protagonist has gradually morphed into a seemingly indestructible force, making this more a collection of over-the-top stunt sequences than a halfway-believable story. On the other hand, it's an eye-popping action spectacle...so things could be worse, right? Fox's two-disc, unrated DVD release pairs both versions of the film with a strong technical presentation (screener issues notwithstanding) and a host of bonus features, earning this release high marks overall. From top to bottom, Live Free or Die Hard is a solid package that action fans should enjoy digging through. Highly Recommended.

Theatrical review
I have to admit that Die Hard 4 was a guilty pleasure.

However with that being said, you can tell where they edited out scenes to get a PG13 rating.

The audio was not matching the what the actors are actually saying in quite a few scenes.

And some scenes seem to go on a bit too long.

All in all it was great to see John who is a low tech guy in a high tech situation.

It's safe to assume that the DVD release will either be "R" rated or Unrated altogether.

In any case, I cannot wait.

The fourth part of the Die Hard franchise brings up mixed feelings in a longtime fan. In short it can be summed up in the words that this is a pretty good action film but not a very good Die Hard film.

The plot revolves around a group of terrorists (or whatever you want to call them) taking down the computer infrastructure of the United States. A well chosen plot line, considering how much is run by computers these days. The attack starts off small but grows exponentially in its destructive power as the story flows along. Its a good premise but I don't think it was executed to the maximum of its potential. The sense of danger and Armageddon that such a thing would cause isn't reflected too much in the film. This would have added a lot to the film and from Die Hard 3, one can see that a strong plot and storyline carry a film very well.

All the classic Die Hard characters are there but it isn't McClane who stands out the most. Justin Long plays a hacker who by coincidence happens to be with McClane when the attack happens and he stands out. His witty lines even rival those of the main character himself and overall it is a joy to see him on screen. McClane however is only a shadow of his former self which we saw in the first three films. The PG-13 rating (instead of an R like the first three) has really watered down McClane's vocabulary and if you're a fan of the franchise, you'll know exactly what I mean. He does have some occasional witty dialog but nothing like what it was in the first three. It seems like its just thrown in there to make this film more of a Die Hard film but unfortunately it doesn't work well. Bruce Willis doesn't feel like McClane at all anymore. The villain, played by Timothy Olyphant is exceptionally weak. The Gruber brothers are on a whole different level and even the somewhat lackluster main bad guy of part 2 towers over this guy. He doesn't come off as menacing or threatening at all. He is given some witty dialog but it just falls flat. The police chief, the guy who helps McClane all the time, is rather forgettable, something I can't say for the guys who played the corresponding character in the first three films.

The film is directed by Len Wiseman of Underworld fame. He also has a background in TV commercial and music video production and it really shows here. Heavy color correction with the addition of heavy blue hues and the dimming out of colors gives the film a somewhat alienating look while as the first three kept things simple and thereby made you feel as if you were there. The camera-work, accompanied by the editing, is the usual quick cut, constantly move the camera type that has become so common these days. Not that it looks bad- its quite sleek looking actually, but its simply not Die Hard. Due to this and the slightly overly fast pacing, the film never manages to make good use of the surrounding settings, a very key part to the first three films. The pacing is like in too many modern films- things for some reason need to happen fast and be rushed.

The action is OK I suppose. Although the previous films also had some pretty over the top stuff, this film takes it even further, all the way to the point where it just isn't that fun anymore since too much suspension of disbelief is required. But aside from that, I found the action quite enjoyable. The special effects were of course top notch and I was glad to see that many things were done for real and not just via CGI. And the score, by Marco Beltrami, was also excellent with some great tunes very fitting for an old school action film.

Overall, not a bad action film but it pales in comparison to the first three.

WOW, I just saw a sneak peak of this film. The story is ok, and the animation is amazing, but the voice acting was a bit off. Very funny and good for kids and adults alike though.

Jason Mewes gets the stars up on this one, Paris Hilton knocks them back down.

I'm gonna love it, Kevin Smith is in it.

Who couldn't love this flick, it has comedy and it about a porn star.

Oh man these are great.

Very good insight on the whole Marvel situation with two of the greatest creators in comic book history. Narrated by Kevin Smith.

A great documentary featuring Kevin Smith and Stan Lee.

This was never relased. It was meant ot be the pilot for a TV series based off of Kevin Smith's movie, but it was so bad that it was never seen.

Because the View Askew universe is embedded within the Degrassi universe Smith uses every opportunity to play around with what is rooted in what universe. The day to day-one (where he's Kevin Smith the writer/director), the Degrassi universe (where he is also Kevin Smith but not married and the director of a Silent Bob movie) or the View Askew universe (where he is Silent Bob in some typical scenes). All three cross over. And to weave all of this into the Degrassi story lines is a pretty amazing balancing act I would say. His wife in real life, Jennifer Schwalbach, has a funny cameo as The Blonde. There's a hilarious scene where he's hit on by a very drunk Caitlin Ryan (who appeared on Degrassi Junior High) that later helps the Degrassi story move ahead. The Alanis Morisette cameo is awesome. Well you'll have watch both episodes (and maybe the previous one to see the setup) yourself but if you are willing to see the whole structure and dig the play between those universes it's a very satisfying watch.

Phenomenal Documentary. Produced by Scott Mosier.