An Evening With Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder

"An Evening with Kevin Smith" is a set of DVDs featuring Q&A sessions from screenwriter, actor, film producer, director, comic book writer, author, podcaster, and comedian Kevin Patrick Smith. Smith first came on the scene with the 1994 independent film "Clerks," a low-budget comedy in which Smith debuted `Jay and Silent Bob.' While most Q&A sessions are best kept for one-time-viewing, "An Evening with Kevin Smith" is more like an interactive stand-up comedy set.One of the big things that sets Kevin Smith apart from other comedian/writers is how easily he meshes with the general population. Again, I'll reiterate that this is not your typical Q&A; everything this man has to say is funny (but you probably want to be at least a little familiar with Smith's work prior to watching, some people don't care for his brand of humor). An avid "Clerks" and "Dogma" fan, I found these DVDs incredibly entertaining; Kevin Smith's on-the-spot improvisation is highlighted in these Q&As, further attesting to his comedic brilliance. Sooo... if you're a Kevin Smith fan, I think you'll really enjoy watching his version of stand-up; if you've never heard of the guy, it probably isn't worth purchasing.___________"An Evening with Kevin Smith"--Unrated 2-disc set (224 minute run-time) from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released in December of 2002.SPECIAL FEATURES: Bonus Trailers.The first "Evening" takes place between 2001 and 2002 at the American Colleges: Clark University, Indiana University, University of Wyoming, and Cornell University. During his visits, fans flocked to ask questions of Smith related to how he became involved in the film industry, his relationships with various celebrities (notably Jason Mewes and Ben Affleck), and where he gets the inspiration for his characters and storylines.___________"An Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder"--Unrated 2-disc set (239 minute run-time) from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released in 2006.SPECIAL FEATURES: Toronto Stand-Up Concert, Toronto: Limo Ride Featurette (Kevin Smith hits the streets of Toronto, determined to answer the all-important question, "What is Canadian cuisine?"), London Stand-Up Concert, London: Man on the Street Featurette (Kevin Smith sidekick Jason Mewes tries out various pick-up lines on the ladies in London).The second edition of Q&A sessions from Kevin Smith was shot in Toronto and London. Going into this set, I had a hard time wrapping my head around `what more could Smith have to say?' But being among non-domestic fans opens up an opportunity for Smith to poke fun at the cultural differences that divide American fans from the British and Canadian varieties. In addition, "Evening Harder" opens up more of Smith's personal life to the public, and nothing is off-limits. Throughout the evenings, Kevin discusses his marriage, `Playboy,' his own physique, `X-Men' (as a means of homosexual release), and even Mel Gibson--though that last one could probably fill up its own Q&A.

The first An Evening With....was amazing, such a unique look into the behind the scenes of Kevin Smith's world. Kevin is a great storyteller and makes everything funny and is willing to expose himself to the naked truth. I was looking for more stories about the industry and the projects Kevin was, or had worked on, but this evening seemed to be more of his personal life and lacked the depth and humor of the initial film. Don't get me wrong Smith is always funny but I am more interested in his art and the details and truths behind the making of it. I am sure I would love to hear his personal stories around the diner table with a some libations but here they just become thin and unmemorable. If you are looking for something to kill the time and don't want to think to much or follow a plot Smith will make you laugh and kill those minutes, but there isn't much to discuss after the fact.

***TREAD LIGHTLY - PLENTY OF SPOILERS HERE***Uh-oh...here comes that potty-mouth man again! Kevin Smith (CLERKS, DOGMA, JERSEY GIRL) made successful, raucous noise with AN EVENING WITH KEVIN SMITH, a 2002 film documenting several Q & A stand-up tours he conducted in several college venues. Now, the articulate but unapologetically vulgar writer/director, who is as wardrobe-challenged as ever, returns, this time with a lengthier 2-disc effort. It's as raunchy and irreverent as the first EVENING WITH... And, yes, at a grand total of 239 minutes, this sequel might prove to be too arduous for the average fella with a life, especially when one factors in some of the horrendously inane questions asked by the audience participants (such as "What would be your word of the day?" or "If you could be half man, half dog, which part would be which?"), but, you know what, the fat guy's still as funny and eloquent as ever.You'd think he'd rein in the cusswords a bit - what with his mother being in the London audience and all - but nuh-uh. He even includes her in some of his impromptu bits. Kevin Smith remains an entertaining, stream-of-consciousness storyteller, and I admire his frankness and fearlessness. Any seemingly innocuous question (say, for example, about the film industry) could prompt him into a convoluted response which then, oft times, segues or dovetails to a more intimately detailed account of his personal life.Disc 1 contains Q & A concert footage shot in Toronto as Kevin's snippet of a daughter, Harley, cutely introduces him to the maple leaf crowd. Kevin then comes out and immediately begins riffing on sundry topics, some of which are: writer's block and writer's laze, how DORA THE EXPLORER is better enjoyed when smokin' a little somethin' something', more dirt about Prince, his monetary net worth (5 bucks), Mel Gibson and THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, etc. The Toronto concert also showcases cameos by the cooly taciturn Jason Muse and Kevin's hot wifey, Jen.Disc 2 finds London's Criterion Theatre playing host to Kevin Smith as the audience learns, amongst other things, of Kevin's thoughts regarding the X-Men (and its associated parable), his views on certain of the British press, what his version of a Green Hornet film would be, stuff about bears and cubs, his favorite come-on line, and yet more fun facts about his wife, including his experiences directing her for a P1ayboy shoot.Those who have nothing better to do is invited to hang around each disc's main menu screen and view 5 and a half extra minutes per disc of Smith's goofy, time-filler shenanigans. Disc 1 has an 11-minute long "Limo Ride" bonus featurette (Kevin hits the Toronto streets to ask the populace this question, "What is Canadian cuisine?"), while Disc 2 offers an amusing 6 and a half minute-long "Man on the Street" featurette (Jason Mewes tests various pick-up lines on the London honeys).Kevin Smith is a joy to watch as he sweatily navigates and fields the sometimes penetrating, but more often than not, insipid audience questions. He's charming and doesn't hold back and manages to gently remonstrates the more brain-deficient members in the theater (this, by the way, demonstrates that just because you have a cool Brit accent, it doesn't mean you automatically have higher I.Q.). As diverting as I find Kevin Smith to be, it still took me multiple sessions with the DVD player before I could go thru the two discs. There are times when Kevin rambles on ad nauseam and rolls off the non sequitur stuff. But, for the most part, Smith offers fascinating and perceptive insider insights on various Hollywood industry topics, as well as, again, being upfront with his home-spun, hide-nothing opinions. Coupled with his rapier wit and penchant for self-mockery, this funny fat man glues you to whatever surface your behind is planted on.

This DVD set was okay. The first DVD is set in Toronto, the second in London. When doing a Q&A, you're only as good as your crowd I suppose and these crowds were not good. The London crowd was much better than the Toronto crowd...the London crowd was actually super polite and orderly, almost embarrassed to be asking questions. The Toronto crowd seemed filled with drunk college kids just yelling out things and asking really ridiculous things. Now, maybe I'm not one to say what is ridiculous to ask or not, but if you saw this Q&A, compared to all the other ones? This is the worst of the bunch.

I am a big Kevin Smith fan. I like all his movies, SModcast and these Q&A's, i really enjoy hearing his take on stuff, general opinions and his witty spin on things, he talks in great depth about a wide array of events in his own life and career as well as the people close to him, some of which we (as Smith fans) will recognise and remember from his films. The first Q&A on disc one takes place in Canada, and is really the disc that will keep your interest for repeat viewing and rates 10/10 for me personally. The second disc which takes place in London does not keep me interested so much for repeat viewing, this however is not down to Kevin Smith but instead the audience who and came across uninterested and unintelligent with silly and boring questions, Smith just about manages to pull it back though. The best part of disc 2 is seeing Jason Mewes candidly being filmed going about London. I've had this a while now and disc one gets a lot of repeat business from me, it's absolutely hilarious and a must have for Kevin Smith fans! And you may love the London show from disc two, maybe it's just me missing something but the Canada show really makes it worth it.

Brilliant dvd add to my collection. It arrived safe and sound.

Bought as gift

This is simply one of the funniest Question and Answer dvds out there. It's a must have for any Kevin Smith fans, as many of his anecdotes, featured in this dvd set, end up being part of the script of Clerks 2.These dvds will make you laugh out loud almost uninterrupted, and it's something even people who have never heard of Smith's work will enjoy.Excellent purchase, would rate it even higher than 5 stars if i could

Great product