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Chasing Amy
(directed by Kevin Smith, 1997)
Chasing Amy is a major disappointment to me -- why? Because up until the very end, I thought the movie was PHENOMENAL. I had never seen it before until tonight -- I've seen it on TV in the past, but I didn't pay attention. I like Kevin Smith, but I haven't seen everything he's done. My favorite movie of his has been Dogma. I *might* make Chasing Amy my new favorite -- not sure yet. I think it has a terrible ending and if anyone wants to help me see it differently, go right ahead, but for now, I'm not buying into its message. I'm going to go into SPOILER mode and talk about it for those who have seen it -- if you have not seen the movie and would like to skip the spoilers, stay tuned -- I'll be right back:
Oh. Well, it looks like I just wrote a tall white building there. Did y'all stay tuned?
I really don't know what else to say. I guess this review will have to be more for those who have seen Chasing Amy so they can read my rant.
Short and sweet, this was a... oh, I don't know! I don't know if it's right to call this "great" or "good" or whatever, yet.
I loved the gay black character, Hooper! One of the best gay characters ever. Damn, he was funny and interesting.
For those of you who don't know, Chasing Amy is about Ben Affleck falling in love with a lesbian. The rest you've gotta see for yourself.
I'm sorry I didn't say much else for those who skipped the spoilers and waited so long for me to get back. To make this review feel like a typical Sexy Celebrity review - something I hope you keep coming back for - I'll give you a BEN AFFLECK LOOKED DAMN GOOD IN THIS statement. My god, that guy is sexy. He should not be falling in love with lesbians, either. What a waste. How could you ever think about balancing Ben Affleck with pu$$y? I'm pretty sure it's written in one of Julia Child's cookbooks that pu$$y should not be paired with Ben Affleck -- I'm sorry, but Ben Affleck is a full course meal all on his own. You are seriously going to get major indigestion and wind up in a hospital if you try to sneak in a little pu$$y with your Ben Affleck. I hope the nurses don't come when you press the call button!
I've gotta be honest and say I can't rate the movie much lower. It was going to get a 5 from me, but then, you know, that ending... so it loses a whole thing of popcorn just because of that. It might even really deserve a 3.5, but I'm going to be nice because I really did enjoy my time watching this movie. I just feel Kevin Smith gave a horrible message once all was said and done.
(directed by Kevin Smith, 1997)
Chasing Amy is a major disappointment to me -- why? Because up until the very end, I thought the movie was PHENOMENAL. I had never seen it before until tonight -- I've seen it on TV in the past, but I didn't pay attention. I like Kevin Smith, but I haven't seen everything he's done. My favorite movie of his has been Dogma. I *might* make Chasing Amy my new favorite -- not sure yet. I think it has a terrible ending and if anyone wants to help me see it differently, go right ahead, but for now, I'm not buying into its message. I'm going to go into SPOILER mode and talk about it for those who have seen it -- if you have not seen the movie and would like to skip the spoilers, stay tuned -- I'll be right back:
WARNING: "Chasing Amy" spoilers below
What the HELL?! Tell me this ending is the most pathetic, sad thing you've ever witnessed. There is no reason why Holden should have turned into a sad little weasel who loses his friend and his girlfriend. Kevin Smith, this movie sends an AWFUL message. I understand you're trying to say that people shouldn't give up on somebody just because of what they've done in their past, but isn't it obvious that Alyssa was crazy?! I don't buy her as a sane, good little woman at all. My #1 indicator of this was when she gave holy hell to Holden for admitting that he loved her - she got out of the car, in the pouring rain and told him to leave her - that she'd find her own way back home. She tells him she's a lesbian and she just can't change for him. He turns and heads back to the car -- she runs back immediately and starts making out with him?! And they're suddenly a couple?! Do you know what that whole thing said to me? That she was only acting that way so she could go back with him so she wouldn't get stuck in the rain trying to get a ride - 'cause weren't they kinda far from home? I was suspicious of her right then and there, because she just changed her heart so drastically.
Then when all of the stuff about her naughty past came out, I felt fooled by her, as did Holden. Once everything came out about her, I didn't trust her - and I had already been distrustful of her when she changed her mind so suddenly about dating Holden. But they played out the whole thing where they made Alyssa sympathetic and Silent Bob came in and gave that whole "Chasing Amy" story about how much he regretted losing the girl he loved because he judged her and all that, blah blah blah. So, I really thought the movie was going somewhere and that it was very interesting and very deep and philosophical and all that, but then....
The scene where Holden wants to have a threesome with Banky and Alyssa. Great scene. I was really loving this movie. So, Holden confronts Banky and tells him he's gay and he wants to have sex with him and Alyssa just so they can all work out their problems. Alyssa says no and says she couldn't do that because it would ruin her relationship with Holden and she loves him and all that, blah blah blah. This is all very good to me. This is great. But then Alyssa does something that shocks me.
She dumps him.
Now, this to me was very bitchy -- but -- it goes with my theory about her. She yet again has changed her opinion so drastically and so suddenly. She wants to keep him to herself and not share him and she loves him so much -- but then, BAM, she dumps him right after saying this!
She's CRAZY! This woman is seriously messed up and no lesson Kevin Smith wants to give is going to alter my perceptions of this and make me see my thought here as an error.
The last scene of the movie is the worst. The last scene BLOWED UP the whole movie for me. It was like a bomb went off. We get one of those "One Year Later" screens and we see Holden, Banky and Alyssa all at a comic book convention. We find out that Banky has moved away from Holden and has started his own comic book. They do not speak to each other anymore - but Holden sees him and waves and they act friendly. Then we see Alyssa - she's got a new lesbian lover. Holden comes up to her and shows her a comic book he's made in the past year - he calls it "Chasing Amy" and it's all about his relationship with Alyssa. Alyssa looks through it and sees a comic book panel that shows Holden, as a cartoon, telling Alyssa that he's sorry for what he did. The film ends with the real Holden just basically walking off, alone.
THIS IS THE WORST MOVIE ENDING I THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN.
It is the biggest downer. Why? Because there's no reason why Holden should be so regretful. Alyssa was not right for him. She was a flake. She was a ditz. She was a troublemaker. She bounced from person to person, sex to sex. I hate this ending because Kevin Smith had already set up this ending - thanks to the scene with Jay & Silent Bob - as some sort of message to guys telling them to be accepting of people or else they'll lose the greatest thing ever.
I'm sorry -- shame on you, Kevin Smith, for turning this wonderful movie into this. You have portrayed men as weak and stupid. You turned an interesting movie about sexual orientation into a banal moral message about not judging others. This is a very dark movie, but it's dark for all the wrong reasons. It's dark in a bad way. Alyssa is a nightmare. The fact that this movie ends with Holden without his friend Banky and with Alyssa as a character that deserved apologies and will keep Holden soft and weak and torn up over her for a long time is majorly depressing and a terrible message to men. Men should not see this movie. NOBODY should see this movie, but men especially. And that's very weird for me to say because I was totally with this movie all throughout -- I loved it -- it was so good and so funny that I thought it had a very real chance of becoming one of my new Top 10 favorite films. But I don't know about that now. I wanted to lie to myself and forgive the ending and love the movie and all that, but I sat there as the credits started and I thought...
No.
No, I cannot do that. No, it doesn't feel right. The ending sucks. It's totally dark and unhappy and I feel it's bad because it just doesn't work with the rest of the movie. It's an extreme downer. The balance was totally destroyed. It's like someone took the gravity away. And I don't like it for that reason. Holden ends up being a pathetic wuss and there's nothing that says he should have been smarter. Yes, Banky warned him earlier in the movie, but come on -- you're actually gonna throw a "one year later" scenario where Holden and Banky aren't friends anymore and Alyssa has moved on? Dark move, Kevin Smith -- sad, maybe true, but I can't forgive you for ending on this note. It's a movie and if you're gonna put philosophical stoners in it, and you wanna be all philosophical yourself, GIVE THE GUYS AT HOME A MORE POSITIVE MESSAGE! This last note sucked ass - and speaking of notes, on this one, I think I'll end spoiler mode.
Then when all of the stuff about her naughty past came out, I felt fooled by her, as did Holden. Once everything came out about her, I didn't trust her - and I had already been distrustful of her when she changed her mind so suddenly about dating Holden. But they played out the whole thing where they made Alyssa sympathetic and Silent Bob came in and gave that whole "Chasing Amy" story about how much he regretted losing the girl he loved because he judged her and all that, blah blah blah. So, I really thought the movie was going somewhere and that it was very interesting and very deep and philosophical and all that, but then....
The scene where Holden wants to have a threesome with Banky and Alyssa. Great scene. I was really loving this movie. So, Holden confronts Banky and tells him he's gay and he wants to have sex with him and Alyssa just so they can all work out their problems. Alyssa says no and says she couldn't do that because it would ruin her relationship with Holden and she loves him and all that, blah blah blah. This is all very good to me. This is great. But then Alyssa does something that shocks me.
She dumps him.
Now, this to me was very bitchy -- but -- it goes with my theory about her. She yet again has changed her opinion so drastically and so suddenly. She wants to keep him to herself and not share him and she loves him so much -- but then, BAM, she dumps him right after saying this!
She's CRAZY! This woman is seriously messed up and no lesson Kevin Smith wants to give is going to alter my perceptions of this and make me see my thought here as an error.
The last scene of the movie is the worst. The last scene BLOWED UP the whole movie for me. It was like a bomb went off. We get one of those "One Year Later" screens and we see Holden, Banky and Alyssa all at a comic book convention. We find out that Banky has moved away from Holden and has started his own comic book. They do not speak to each other anymore - but Holden sees him and waves and they act friendly. Then we see Alyssa - she's got a new lesbian lover. Holden comes up to her and shows her a comic book he's made in the past year - he calls it "Chasing Amy" and it's all about his relationship with Alyssa. Alyssa looks through it and sees a comic book panel that shows Holden, as a cartoon, telling Alyssa that he's sorry for what he did. The film ends with the real Holden just basically walking off, alone.
THIS IS THE WORST MOVIE ENDING I THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN.
It is the biggest downer. Why? Because there's no reason why Holden should be so regretful. Alyssa was not right for him. She was a flake. She was a ditz. She was a troublemaker. She bounced from person to person, sex to sex. I hate this ending because Kevin Smith had already set up this ending - thanks to the scene with Jay & Silent Bob - as some sort of message to guys telling them to be accepting of people or else they'll lose the greatest thing ever.
I'm sorry -- shame on you, Kevin Smith, for turning this wonderful movie into this. You have portrayed men as weak and stupid. You turned an interesting movie about sexual orientation into a banal moral message about not judging others. This is a very dark movie, but it's dark for all the wrong reasons. It's dark in a bad way. Alyssa is a nightmare. The fact that this movie ends with Holden without his friend Banky and with Alyssa as a character that deserved apologies and will keep Holden soft and weak and torn up over her for a long time is majorly depressing and a terrible message to men. Men should not see this movie. NOBODY should see this movie, but men especially. And that's very weird for me to say because I was totally with this movie all throughout -- I loved it -- it was so good and so funny that I thought it had a very real chance of becoming one of my new Top 10 favorite films. But I don't know about that now. I wanted to lie to myself and forgive the ending and love the movie and all that, but I sat there as the credits started and I thought...
No.
No, I cannot do that. No, it doesn't feel right. The ending sucks. It's totally dark and unhappy and I feel it's bad because it just doesn't work with the rest of the movie. It's an extreme downer. The balance was totally destroyed. It's like someone took the gravity away. And I don't like it for that reason. Holden ends up being a pathetic wuss and there's nothing that says he should have been smarter. Yes, Banky warned him earlier in the movie, but come on -- you're actually gonna throw a "one year later" scenario where Holden and Banky aren't friends anymore and Alyssa has moved on? Dark move, Kevin Smith -- sad, maybe true, but I can't forgive you for ending on this note. It's a movie and if you're gonna put philosophical stoners in it, and you wanna be all philosophical yourself, GIVE THE GUYS AT HOME A MORE POSITIVE MESSAGE! This last note sucked ass - and speaking of notes, on this one, I think I'll end spoiler mode.
Oh. Well, it looks like I just wrote a tall white building there. Did y'all stay tuned?
I really don't know what else to say. I guess this review will have to be more for those who have seen Chasing Amy so they can read my rant.
Short and sweet, this was a... oh, I don't know! I don't know if it's right to call this "great" or "good" or whatever, yet.
I loved the gay black character, Hooper! One of the best gay characters ever. Damn, he was funny and interesting.
For those of you who don't know, Chasing Amy is about Ben Affleck falling in love with a lesbian. The rest you've gotta see for yourself.
I'm sorry I didn't say much else for those who skipped the spoilers and waited so long for me to get back. To make this review feel like a typical Sexy Celebrity review - something I hope you keep coming back for - I'll give you a BEN AFFLECK LOOKED DAMN GOOD IN THIS statement. My god, that guy is sexy. He should not be falling in love with lesbians, either. What a waste. How could you ever think about balancing Ben Affleck with pu$$y? I'm pretty sure it's written in one of Julia Child's cookbooks that pu$$y should not be paired with Ben Affleck -- I'm sorry, but Ben Affleck is a full course meal all on his own. You are seriously going to get major indigestion and wind up in a hospital if you try to sneak in a little pu$$y with your Ben Affleck. I hope the nurses don't come when you press the call button!
I've gotta be honest and say I can't rate the movie much lower. It was going to get a 5 from me, but then, you know, that ending... so it loses a whole thing of popcorn just because of that. It might even really deserve a 3.5, but I'm going to be nice because I really did enjoy my time watching this movie. I just feel Kevin Smith gave a horrible message once all was said and done.
WARNING: "Chasing Amy" spoilers below
I really hope Holden and Banky got together somewhere after the comic book convention and had out of this world anal sex, too. That Banky needed some serious deep dicking.