Clerks Redux

May 31, 2006

In 1994, Kevin Smith, a native of Highlands, became famous with his first feature movie, ""Clerks,'' shot entirely in Monmouth County. It won kudos from major critics and opened a lucrative career that has included ""Chasing Amy'' and ""Jersey Girl.'' "Clerks II'' is scheduled to open in July. Are you planning to see it? Are you a die-hard Smith fan _ his View Askew website is very popular as well _ or just among the curious? Do you have a favorite Smith movie? This week, Smith's annual celebration of non-mainstream fare, Vulgarthon, is underway at the Clearview Cinemas in Red Bank. Are you attending?

Reality Bites

May 25, 2006


Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn star in ""The Break-Up,'' opening June 2. Aniston and Brad Pitt separated while she was making the movie, about a couple breaking up after two years of living together. Since making the film, Aniston and Vaughn have been linked romantically. Are the real and reel life similarities intriguing to you? Will they encourage you to see the film? Do you think publicizing Hollywood stars' private lives helps sell movies?

Is DaVinci Code offensive?

Dan Brown's best-selling novel, ""The DaVinci Code'' has been made into a film and is arriving in movie theaters May 19.
Are you planning to see the movie? Why? Have you read the book? Do you find the book's claim that Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalene and that they had children offensive, or just good fiction writing?
Area priests have said they are reading the book and call it ""a work of fiction and not to be taken seriously.'' Do you agree?