Quentin Tarantino or Kevin Smith (as Director)

[AKA]

They both broke in the early 1990s with films people still love - they both have rabid fans - they both are known for their writing as well as their directing - but if you were at the San Diego Comic Con and ninjas were attacking, which one of these two (Rodriguez can fend for himself) is so much more awesomer that you would have to save him first?

Tarantino

Resevoir Dogs
Pulp Fiction
Four Rooms: The Man From Hollywood
Jackie Brown
Kill Bill Vol 1
Kill Bill Vol 2
Grindhouse: Death Proof

Smith

Clerks
Mallrats
Chasing Amy
Dogma
Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back
Jersey Girl
Clerks 2

[nate1000]

Q.

2 words: Jersey Girl.

[Furtherman]

Good question. But if I had to fight ninjas - I'd fight for Tarantino, only because I can watch his movies over and over again.

[EliSnow]

I'm a huge Kevin Smith fan, probably a larger Smith fan that a Tarantino fan.

But if I'm to save the better director, that's Tarantino.

Other than that, I think I would go with Smith. I'll listen to him be interviewed, do podcasts, Q&A, etc. He's much more enjoyable all around than Tarantino.

[Snoogans]

ok. Seriously, my name is Snoogans, and I'm saying if Kevin Smith wins, you are all stupid

[Cleophus James]

Kevin Smith is good, but

Tarantino moves a camera once in a while.

[realmenhatelife]

Smith is, by his own admission, not a good director. He's better than he used to be, but Tarintino always had a visual style and a take on filmmaking. Smith is pretty utiliitarian, where Tarintino uses the language of film shots.

As a person Smith is way more interesting, though. Love the smodcasts.

[TheGameHHH]

ok. Seriously, my name is Snoogans, and I'm saying if Kevin Smith wins, you are all stupid

Yea, I love Smith as well but Tarantino just makes better movies, period. I own every Smith movie and almost every Tarantino movie so I'm huge fans of both directors but Quentin makes better, socially relevant movies.

[EliSnow]

Yea, I love Smith as well but Tarantino just makes better movies, period. I own every Smith movie and almost every Tarantino movie so I'm huge fans of both directors but Quentin makes better, socially relevant movies.

"Socially relevant?"

I'm not sure I'd agree with this asssessment. Better for certain.

[King Hippos Bandaid]

Tarantino 2nd Round KO

[TheMojoPin]

I don't even see how you could realistically make this comparison in the first place.

[King Hippos Bandaid]

I don't even see how you could realistically make this comparison in the first place.

QFT


next poll

Do you like Baby Back Ribs or Lima Beans better

[epo]

Not a comparison. Kevin Smith really needs to stop making the Silent Bob movies to prove that he's more than a one-trick pony.

[grlNIN]

I liked Jersey Girl.


"FTW"

[epo]

I liked Jersey Girl.


"FTW"

That's the irony as I didn't think Jersey Girl was all that bad.

But Smith got trashed by the critics, so what did he do creatively? Clerks 2. That is simply regression as an artist.

[MobCounty]

It's a shame that we thought to compare the two. Q

[TheMojoPin]

That's the irony as I didn't think Jersey Girl was all that bad.

Me neither. It's nothing incredible...just a perfectly serviceable, charming little film. It really feels like what John Hughes wanted to make when he tried shifting into "family films" towards the end of his directing career.

[pittphantoms]

I would put Resivoir Dogs up against any film I have ever seen and it would stand up. I am not saying it is number 1, but its up there. You add Pulp Fiction to that and there few directors that have two movies BETTER.

[MadMatt]

I refuse to participate in this farce.

Each man has his own strengths and weaknesses. I refuse to besmirch the name of either just because AKA is bored. :tongue:

[cupcakelove]

I don't think Kevin Smith is that great.

[drjoek]

Which did you like better? "Jedi" or "The Empire Strikes Back?"

[MobCounty]

I don't think Kevin Smith is that great.

You posted "my secret, but I was too scared to post" post. I've seen a lot of them too. They are decent movies to get drunk with, but I would probably not drag the lady to the theater to see one.

That said, KS seems like a very cool as a person and I would feel like an asshat if I met him for posting my thoughts.

[TheGameHHH]

Which did you like better? "Jedi" or "The Empire Strikes Back?"

Empire, it had the better ending. All Jedi had was a bunch of muppets.

[MadMatt]

Empire, it had the better ending. All Jedi had was a bunch of muppets.

Blasphemy!


[yeah, it's out of order. But, nobody countered with "Empire."]

[GreatAmericanZero]

I love Kevin Smith (well, not so much his stuff post Dogma) but I think Quentin Tarantino's worst is better than Kevin Smith's best

[fezident]

KILL BILL I and II automatically takes QT to the hall of fame.

Kevin Smith makes mediocre movies, but they're not without charm. MALLRATS is funny and CHASING AMY is a great film. The rest of his resume is lukewarm.


Tarantino.


No contest.

[furie]

Q.

2 words: Jersey Girl.

yeah, 'nuff said.

[Slumbag]

I've found myself lately getting really bothered by Kevin Smtih's work. I know, as a fan of Clerks mainly, but also all his other work, I should've liked "An Evening with Kevin Smith", but I didn't. It was really self serving and I think the time could've been spent working. That's a great thing about Tarantino. He's always working on something.

[EliSnow]

I've found myself lately getting really bothered by Kevin Smtih's work. I know, as a fan of Clerks mainly, but also all his other work, I should've liked "An Evening with Kevin Smith", but I didn't. It was really self serving and I think the time could've been spent working. That's a great thing about Tarantino. He's always working on something.

Smith is always working too. Writing comics, his own movies including the new one with Seth rogan, tv work,etc

[Slumbag]

Smith is always working too. Writing comics, his own movies including the new one with Seth rogan, tv work,etc

That's totally true, and perhaps I should have stated my point better. Right off the bat, I wanna say that the movies Kevin Smith has coming up look fucking awesome. It just seems he likes to stay so reminiscent of his past works, and I think that's what gets my goat about Kevin Smith. He's too into his old work, and a lot of the stuff he puts out, it seems you're supposed to laugh or enjoy it because of something he did before. Like, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, although pretty funny, was totally self serving. I like that Tarantino consitantly comes out with fresh stuff.

[TheMojoPin]

Smith is always working too. Writing comics, his own movies including the new one with Seth rogan, tv work,etc

Wait, wait, wait...are we really counting his shitty comic book mini-series that take YEARS to come out as actually "working?"

[TheMojoPin]

I like that Tarantino consitantly comes out with fresh stuff.

I love Tarantino's films, but let's not go nuts and say he's doing "fresh" work. Everything he does is based off of/cribbed from someone else's work or idea or is an adaptation or an "homage" to particular films or specific genres/styles...he's good at putting a "newer" eye on established works or styles or genres, but there's little genuinely original about anything he's done, including his style of shooting, editing and use of music.

[Slumbag]

I love Tarantino's films, but let's not go nuts and say he's doing "fresh" work. Everything he does is based off of/cribbed from someone else's work or idea or is an adaptation or an "homage" to particular films or specific genres/styles...he's good at putting a "newer" eye on established works or styles or genres, but there's little genuinely original about anything he's done, including his style of shooting, editing and use of music.

Agree 100%. But it's fresh as far as his films go.

[mikeyboy]

KILL BILL I and II automatically takes QT to the hall of fame.

Seriously? I think Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction put him there. With some exceptions, I find nearly all of Kill Bill I & II to be pretty empty eye candy.

[Contra]

Q.

2 words: Jersey Girl.

It's funny how no one is saying that Jackie Brown was a fucking awsome movie.

[mikeyboy]

It's funny how no one is saying that Jackie Brown was a fucking awsome movie.

I kind of did. (http://www.ronfez.net/forums/showthread.php?t=63419)

[TheMojoPin]

It's funny how no one is saying that Jackie Brown was a fucking awsome movie.

They should. Outside of PF, it's easily my favorite Tarantino film. Absolutely fantastic film, and criminally underrated.

[MagillaGorillaz]

The real question should be who had the better Thing reference in their films. Nuff said.

[AnnoyedGrunt]

I will say that Kevin Smith does a better commentary track, but other than that I'd say Quentin is a better writer and a vastly better director. However, the blog entry he wrote about Mewes' heroin addiction might be the best thing he ever ever wrote.

[Snoogans]

It's funny how no one is saying that Jackie Brown was a fucking awsome movie.

AK 47..WHEN YOU ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY HAVE TO KILL EVERY MOTHERFUCKER IN THE ROOM

[EliSnow]

Wait, wait, wait...are we really counting his shitty comic book mini-series that take YEARS to come out as actually "working?"

I was thinking back to Daredevil, not Spider-man/Black Cat.

[TheMojoPin]

I was thinking back to Daredevil, not Spider-man/Black Cat.



Me too (wasn't DD late when he was writing it? Not years, but some pretty good gaps). I still don't see what all the hooplah is about with his DD run. Quesada's art is spectacular, but the writing and pacing of that story is just meh...complete, nonensical rehashes of Miller's best "catholic guilt stories," a random psycho turn by Mysterio (who has no history with Daredevil, and the explanation is really shallow) which makes zero sense, falling back on ye olde Bullseye crutch, and DRAMATIC!!!!! deaths galore. Mysterio offing himself is cheap and shallow and a waste of a character, and Karen getting killed was written in such an obvious and desperate way that it still pisses me off. So, in short, I'm not a fan of Smith's comic books.

[fezident]

Seriously? I think Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction put him there. With some exceptions, I find nearly all of Kill Bill I & II to be pretty empty eye candy.

I used to feel like you do. When I saw the KILL BILLs seperately, I liked 'em a whole lot. But, when I viewed both movies together - as a whole- I was totally blown away. I loooved it.

When I treat both halves as a whole, it's my favorite QT movie. If I had to keep 'em seperate, then yeah... I gotta give the gold medal to PULP FICTION. That movie is just sooo damn good. It's a "10" either way.
But KILL BILL has some serious f'ing scope. I get lost in that universe.

[nate1000]

Me neither. It's nothing incredible...just a perfectly serviceable, charming little film. It really feels like what John Hughes wanted to make when he tried shifting into "family films" towards the end of his directing career.

Yeah, that's fine- from John Hughes. But this is the guy who brought us Clerks on a $10K budget. The movie smacks of taking the Hollywood money and mailing in the touchy feely happily ever after Hollywood movie. I expected more from his talent.

[SPeeDy_Freak]

My wife liked Chasing Amy.

I liked Pulp Fiction

[TheMojoPin]

Yeah, that's fine- from John Hughes. But this is the guy who brought us Clerks on a $10K budget. The movie smacks of taking the Hollywood money and mailing in the touchy feely happily ever after Hollywood movie. I expected more from his talent.

I didn't. At his best, he writes smaller, character-driven films. That is what JG is.

[EliSnow]

I didn't. At his best, he writes smaller, character-driven films. That is what JG is.

Exactly. Peel aside all the vulgarities and witicisms from Clerks, it's about a guy trying to figure out himself, his place in life at that time of his life, and his loves. And although it's a great flick, it's not like it's Pulp Fiction.

Given where Kevin Smith was when he wrote Jersey Girl (being a new father), it's not suprising that he wanted to tell the story about a guy and his daughter.

Plus, why is everyone so suprised that Smith does a John Hughes-like movie? Mallrats was essentially an ode to John Hughes movies.

[EliSnow]

My wife liked Chasing Amy.

I liked Pulp Fiction

Interesting. I love both movies, and I bet I'm not alone.

[TheMojoPin]

Interesting. I love both movies, and I bet I'm not alone.

Yeah, I love both. Him implying you can't like both is like saying you can't like both Goodfellas and something like Election.

[booster11373]

I think that both directors have showed a bit of growth as artist

but talk about a director that has nothing

Guy Ritchie

I liked Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and liked Snatch even though its the same movie but latest Revolver is such a piece of crap avoid at all costs

This "guy" has shown absoulutly no forward direction at all

[ravn816]

This is so hard because I love both for different reasons. But I also probably have to go with QT. I'll have to see what Smith does with Zac and Mary make a Porno, a non-Silent Bob film from what I've heard of it. But very excited for it.

I recently saw Grind House (the 2 movie-Robert Rodrigez-QT homage to B/C-grade 70s horror/thriller films). I LOVED it. And while RR made the better film (Planet Terror--a zombie film), QTs thriller Death Proof didn't suck.

[Nobody's Hero]

I love both guys movies, but would pick Tarantino over Smith because he makes better ones. Kevin Smith's flicks (especially the first three) definitely have that emotional pull for me because of who I was whe I first saw them, when I first saw them, etc.; but they ain't even in the same ballpark, ain't in the same league, ain't even the same fuckin' sport as QT.

That said, am I the only one who doesn't get hung up on "artistic growth"? It's the Wes Anderson syndrome, that he can only make one type of movie (or one movie in general, depending on who you ask). Why can't somebody find what they're good at, and sort of carve themselves a little niche doing it. Kevin Smith is exceptionally good at writing simple, dialogue driven character studies. I'm all for artists taking chances and the excitement that brings, but I also think the artist has the right to make the subject of their art whatever compells them. I figure if the person creating it is excited by the work, I have a better chance of digging it too.