Clerks II (2006)***

One of the common interests the directors/writers Kevin Smith and Richard Linklater (1) share is: they both love to look at the same duet of characters at two different time points.

How much do people change in 10 years?



It seems that all the reasons to rebel dissipate as we grow older. No same old joke can be as half as funny as when they were first told. Growing older simply means that we all suffer from anxiety to step onto the track to comfort zones: good marriage, decent career, and a big house and shit.

I didn't have high expectations on "Clerks II (2006)" after seeing "Clerks (1994)". I am so afraid that Kevin Smith and his crew simply wanted to extend the original fun and irony to another comedy hit with no souls. To my surprise, "Clerks II" is not like a sequel to its predecessor. Sentimentality sneaks around behind all the jokes and ridiculous scenes. Sometimes I don't really admire such attempts since sentimentality may ruin the originality of a funny story. But, maybe this is an inescapable fate for movies like "Clerks II". Fooling around will sooner or later become damned boring at any melancholic or manic level.

Thank God, Jay’s Buffalo-Bill dance is still a timeless delight.



(1) Richard Linklater: Before Sunrise (1994); Before Sunrise (2004)

Terminal (2004) ****

I was totally surprised that Steven Spielberg's "Terminal" didn't get much attention from either critics or moviegoers. From Tom Hank's performance to John Williams' composition, "Terminal" exemplifies how a small project can be so elegantly orchestrated and never loses its charm. Above all, this story reaches out to people struggling to adapt to a new and occasionally hostile place. I think it's fair to simply call it an act of humanity. For those who have ever fallen into the crack in a system, this movie salutes you.

Clerks (1994) ***

Kevin Smith's "Clerks" is a hard-ass serious comedy.

When a movie is dominated by diaglogues, the flooding lines of actors are the real ond only beef served to the audience, and the audience is forced to swallow everything the actors say.

When watching "Clerks," I felt like I were one of the customers buying a chocolate bar at that convenience store and couldn't help overhearing the annoying but entertaining conversations.

Honestly, "Clerks" is a tricky flick. It looks like the story is centered on a character who doesn't have the gut to change his life's directions, but actually it is more depressing than that. All the dumb and smart-ass intentions seem to go nowhere -- everyone is trapped in that suffocating space arguing over nothing.

So, does "Clerks" want to enlighten us that the core of life is emptiness and frustrations? Not necessarily. Behold all of the trivial actions and consequences. Nothing comes from nothing, baby.

Me and You and Everyone We Know ****

Miranda July, as the writer, director, and actress, has showcased her witty and sentimental styles in her "lovely" film: Me and You and Everyone We know.

I wonder how many people have watched this film with smiles on their faces. To me, I felt like I am tasting a mixture of different ingredients that are sweet, bitter, and occasionally spicy.



Is this story about ridicule produced by the digital era? I am not sure. My wild guess is that this is an autobiographical work. Therefore, never attempt to presume a uniform tone in this movie. The reason is simple: life is a mosaic painting by nature. Having said that, this film has easily warmed my heart.