Like you, Kevin Smith is an avid Star Wars fan. Born in 1970, the New Jersey native was the perfect age to plug in to all things Star Wars when A New Hope opened. Subsequently, he worked humorous SW references into his films, from Silent Bob using The Force in Mallrats to Mark Hamill having a “lightsaber” fight (sort of) in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. The Clerks director finally saw The Force Awakens, and his review is absolutely worth a listen.
Kevin Smith included his The Force Awakens review on the “Fatman on Batman” podcast, which is cheating. Slightly. Batman’s not in Star Wars. Not yet, anyway. I digress. What did Kevin Smith think of J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars? Yeah, he loved it. He likens it to being like “a fat child in the cereal aisle.” He praises basically everything that Abrams pulled off, admitting that at one point he did believe The Phantom Menace was right up there with A New Hope. So take his opinions with a few grains of salt. But he says it’s so much fun. It’s worthy of the canon. He gushes over all of it.
He created the cinematic fountain of youth, man. He did the impossible. He brought the magic back. He put the ‘Star’ in Star Wars, man. It’s a trip down memory land, like I went into that theater and came out a 9-year-old, butterball kid. … I was there again, transported.
And remember, Kevin Smith has reason to hate J.J. Abrams. If you have forgotten, the Star Wars director EMPTIED OUT Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con this summer, right after the Force Awakens panel but right before Smith was due to speak at his own panel. It was a sight to behold. (Not for Smith. For Kevin, it sucked.)
Of course, they have been friends for a long time. If you haven’t heard Kevin Smith tell his story about visiting the Star Wars set, it’s a must listen:
Anyway, here’s the full Kevin Smith review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It’s good shit.
The Force Awakens is in theaters as we speak. See it, if you can find a ticket.
