Clerks 3 came out at a time I needed. I was still reeling over the death of my older cousin, the closest I had to an older brother, who sadly died from complications after a serious surgery. He was the reason I saw Kevin Smith movies, they grew on me, and one of the last times I hung out with him, we went to see Hollywood Babble On in Downtown Boston. Which was in 2016, and after a rough week, so to say the least, I needed that. It's like the past couple years something Kevin Smith worked on was what I needed for that time. In short, I loved how Clerks 3 turned out, that heartbreak and pain, I needed to let that sadness out.
I am in the minority that enjoyed it and saw a lot of purpose when looking at the series as a whole. From the point of view myself as someone who lost a loved one tragically (in my case, a son) and their entire life stopped for some time, I get it more than a superficial level. That may be why I enjoyed it more than most - because to me, it connected to a point in my life. To each his own, just sharing my take.
Same here, a son 5 yo, and daughter 4 yo. Another film that I see differently than most is the beginning of A Quiet Place. Man, that was rough the first time watching. It steers away from the loss very quickly though.
I don't think you can analyze this movie without recognizing the parallels between dante and Kevin himself. The origin, the growth, the heart attack. The film and previous film embody kevins emotions and act as a time capsule for each arc of his own life.
I agree that your version would have been more narratively satisfying, but I also think that's kinda the point. Clerks was basically a reflection of Kevin's real life, based largely on real people and real conversations. Clerks II, as fun as it is, is a commercial product. He couldn't relate to his characters anymore, so he stuck them in a goofy and unrealistic sitcom premise in an attempt to sneak in some introspection. Jersey Girl showed him that sincerity didn't sell, so the genuine emotion of Clerks II is buried under layers and layers of artifice. Clerks 3 is a return to something more realistic and personal. People die, unexpectedly and without reason. Becky dying just a few days after being the catalyst for Dante's "happy ending" makes a painful amount of sense because it makes no sense at all. That's life. Randal getting "Dante's" heart attack, taking over Dante's hard won narrative, that's life too. Dante's been through so much, he deserves his reward, and like most deserving people he doesn't get it. He gets the opposite. Clerks III is an emotionally painful movie to watch because Randal is so oblivious to the ways in which he's hurting his friend. That scene where the doctor tells Dante to be there for Randal even though Randal hasn't been there for Dante at all... that really says it all. In a Hollywood narrative Dante would get his just desserts and ride off into the sunset a changed and improved man because that's what's fair, but instead he's made to suffer and sacrifice and lose everything he spent the last two films gaining because sometimes that's how it works. Kevin was inches away from dying on some random Sunday night, he knows now that life doesn't make sense and it's incredibly fragile and it sure as fuck doesn't follow a traditional dramatic arc. By killing Dante in Clerks III he finally communicated what he was trying to say with the deleted ending of Clerks: "Sometimes people just die." You talk about how Dante's only purpose was to be Randal's friend like that's a bad thing, but I don't think it is. Throughout the series, no matter what else they lost, they always had each other. So even if Randal was a massive dick sometimes he made Dante's life better by being in it, and vice versa. If there's one point to the film I think that's it: you never know when you're going to lose something you care about, or lose it all, so appreciate the things you have in your life while you can. Don't stop striving for something new, but also don't lose sight of what you already have. In other words: "To go on is to go far. To go far is to return."
To me u hit right on the money life sometimes sucks and for certain people it just doesn’t get better even how much u try and when u know when u lose everything to u when u though u where at end it hurts to push yourself more and he finally gets his ending just sucks that his happy ending he had to die and I feel that
When Clerks 3 ended, I just thought “That’s what life is: a series of down endings.” I am 30 now, but I had a pretty rough childhood (I was bullied, my parents had a messy divorce among other things) but Clerks and the other View Askew movies always made me feel better. It wasn’t just a movie to me it was a friend, so I may be biased. Personally I loved the third one, but I don’t think I can ever watch it again.
I’m interested to see how Clerks III will be regarded in 10 years; removed from the expectations we had for it when it came out, and the nostalgia fatigue we’ve been having lately. I feel like it could be re-appraised fondly like Jersey Girl was by many.
Just found your channel and currently binging while editing! Really enjoying what I've seen so far, also I'm a sucker for analyzing the hell out of what I feel like is everyone's strange parasocial relationship with smith.
"Mentre che l’uno spirto questo disse, l’altro piangea; Sì che di pietade io venni men così com’ io morisse. E caddi come corpo morto cade." "And all the while one spirit uttered this, The other one did weep so, that, for pity, I swooned away as if I had been dying, And fell, even as a dead body falls." Dante's Inferno Chant V
The reasons for clerks three is that life doesn’t work out while you live. Dante never went back to college or Dante never did anything to try to make it life any better so when he got old and his 30s, he was settled with the job and it’s 40s when he died he really did nothing really did help him out with his grief of losing his wife and son so life didn’t work out like he did so when he died he died very badly. It’s to teach. It’s teach Randall lesson life is how you make it when you treat friends.
I don’t think Dawson’s price was the reason she was reduced to a force ghost in Clerks 3. She loved the character and wanted to continue the story, but it wasn’t the story Smith wanted to tell. For some reason 🤨
I wish Clerks 3 had been a little less of a nostalgia trip. I really liked Clerks 2, thought it worked really great. But clerks 3 was just too self indulgent. Too meta.
I have a friend who I have known since high school. And every time we get together we watch Clerks. For now we are on 2 because we are 37 years old :D, although we have watched all the parts.
As I watch this analysis I can’t help but balk at the irony of you understanding so much of the narrative and then completely missing the point. Dante and Randal ARE the same person. Dante has always been the part of Kevin that is most like his dad, and what you are seeing in Clerks 3 is a son coming to terms with his father’s death, and his own survival of the same widow maker heart attack. Dante is the blue collar Jersey guy that gives up his dreams and sacrifices his body and heart, so that Randal can finally grow up and self actualize.
I don’t usually respond to criticism, but I think this is an interesting and fair reading. Applying that interpretation I still don’t think the execution of the overall three-film narrative was all that successful, but it’s a solid interpretation nonetheless. Thanks for watching!
Great video. I do think it’s a reach to assume Scott Mosier is considered ‘disposable’ in Kevin Smith’s life. He only talks about him with love and admiration, and even though has other producers now, he knows there’s only one Mosier.
I remember seeing 2 in theaters. When I was a clerk. And the first was so relevant, and is. And being older, then they were in 2, now, I'm still mad I didn't see 3 in the theater, but it made me cry when I saw it. Your version, is yours, but I think it would be hack.
Great job man. You put your finger on several things that always bothered me about Kevin Smith's clerk series, especially the last one. I totally agree.
Wow....Imagine being so easily influenced....Not being able yo think for yourself...That a youtube video has to define what You think. No wonder amercian is a burning trade heap. You's are all extremely dumb and easily lead. I hated Clerks 3 myself...But I didn't have to be Told....I formed that opinion myself.
Maybe it's me, but I feel like you missed the point. Dante and Randal were both the main character. You had 1 guy who over thought everything, could never make a decision, and when he did couldn't stick to it. Then the other guy who, for better or worse, just did things and dealt with the consequences later. Randal has his heart attack and almost loses everything, and decides he's going to take a long shot at making his mark on the world, something Dante always talked about doing but never attempted to do. Dante lost his family, but couldn't get passed it to see the good in his life, and even almost losing Randal didn't impact him. The trilogy shows not only that how you handle the situations life deals you makes all the difference, but how much those you're close with can affect your life, positive and negative.
One of my best friends passed away a few years back. We'd get high and watch Clerks 1&2. She passed away before 3 came out. So 3 truly broke me at the end. I've tried to watch it a few times and I can't make it through without breaking down.
I don't agree that Dante's narrative dissolves the way you claim in Clerks 3. Dante's whole arch is all about "learning to Love the things you most wish had not happened." A real lesson in what we get from loss and grief - and how our fears and insecurities can subvert a healthy journey of healing Put simpler, to be human and to exist is a gift - but along with being human comes suffering - there's no escaping it. Its all about learning the value we get from experiencing loss and that value leading to a deep realization that we dont get to pick and choose - to be grateful for one's life is to be greatful for all of it - even the worst moments
Calling Jay and Silent Bob reboot lazy misses the point... It's supposed to be lazy... Just as all these reboots/rethreads/rehashing of 30 year old movies is... at least Kevin Smith has something to say... And Reboot and Clerks III are the best movies to have come out in the last 6 years (the only other good one being Uncut Gems)... Kevin Smith will always be amazing and his fans will always celebrate his movies 💙
Excelente aporte. Me encanta esta trilogía. Justo hoy vi Clerks 3. Tu análisis es ameno, profundo y pertinente, muy bien documentado. Felicitaciones desde Caracas.
I came across your video right after finishing Clerks III and setting up a video essay on it. Man I do love this film but you make very good points. Can't wait to see whats next!
great video! I love Smith's movies and "3" was a real bummer for me. One thing I was fearing came to be, that Smith in 2022 was not going to be able to continue the ribald Adult brash sense of humor which defines his older movies. I get it he's older, I get it that there are 2 Smiths: pre-and post-heart attack. But as Tone goes, I feel there's an unspoken pact that we're getting something "on-brand" of which would have been insulting d*ck and fart jokes for overweight and underweight people who can't get l@id. And also I just thought of this writing but perhaps The Star Wars reference in this movie is making Dante into Last Jedi Luke Skywalker, a broken man sad and lonely who ultimate gives his life for Story. Thanks for the video!
After watching this video, I think the thing that would have saved Clerks 3 would have been to make it a Sliding Doors type movie where we get an ending where Dante dies and an ending where Randal dies. That is presuming that one of them must die to end this story.
19:19 - 20:05 In my opinion, I feel like that would've actually been a better ending than the whole entire Elias Subplot with him selling NFTs just for them to make big money. It just felt like a very forced deus ex machina.
Alright, so full disclosure here, but I'd only recently discovered the work of Kevin Smith when a friend convinced me to watch Dogma before we planned to go to a pop-up restaurant based on Mooby's. So I have zero connection to the characters of Dante and Randle up until I just saw all three Clerks films recently. And I can't really hate Clerks 3. It was an earnest attempt to discuss if his legacy at the end of the day is really worth it amongst the sea of filmmakers of his generation either burning out or just never making it. And while I won't say it's art, or a good movie, I will say I get his intention.
Smith planned to play the Randal character because I believe he sees himself as Randal not Dante but he is really more Dante. That’s why Randal lived. Smith couldn’t let himself die
Man still haven’t seen clerks three life has been crazy but I can’t believe his chic and baby dies. I watched clerks a million times and part two a few times but I had to sit in my truck and process this video.
Just saw clerks 3 and I’m not sure what the parallels I see from my own life are but it just made me feel like shit. The ending of clerks 2 was so fantastic and I propobaly feel that way due to unfortunately seeing a lot of myself in Dante and his indecisiveness and mediocrity and just being a guy that is stuck and afraid to make decisions. It felt really good to see him end up with Rosario then in the third find out she dies, he’s suffered for 15 years never moves on then he also dies and lives basically a pointless existence kinda feels brutal
I would watch clerks a lot as an edgy teenager for jay and silent bob but dang I wish I would of known what the movie was saying about life and the quarter life crisis and stuff
I’m glad I never got around to watching Clerks three, the second one I felt was a really good message for anyone who might feel they are stuck in life. Like you can still find happiness even if it isn’t where you think it is. But the third seems to go back on it quite a bit and it’s a bit of a sour taste to swallow.
indeed...I didn't know they even made a 3rd film until about fifteen minutes ago.... but eff all that nonsense: Rosario Dawson dancing on the roof of the burger joint to the Jackson 5 may be one of the greatest, most gorgeous scenes of a beautiful woman in all of films... it's definitely Kevin Smith's most beautifully shot & overall gorgeous scenes he has ever shot himself.
The truest trilogy in the View Askewniverse is Mallrats, Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back and Clerks 2. That's the trilogy of Jay and Bob. Yes, they're side characters in 2 of the 3. But they are the true driving force, even if Kevin doesn't realize it himself.
No one asked Dante to be that way. Randall tried to talk him out of it constantly. Dante only has his people-pleasing ways to blame for his subpar life. A man who put himself in limbo, always looking for the easy way out
This is the absolute worse synopsis and general understanding of these films. You have zero idea what you're talking about, and are misinterpreting these movies far beyond anything i've ever seen.
I have sought out the breadth of Clerks 3 review/analysis here on Das YuzenTüben, and my experience with them has spanned a range of satisfaction as wide and varied as the works themselves, from cringetacular denominations that feel performative in how their critical scalpel drips with venomous scorn to nuanced academic studies on the multifaceted relationship between Smith and his filmography and specifically Clerks as a trilogy that transcend the relatively narrow scope of Smith's works and merit consideration in the greater discourse on "the canon." I say all this so that when I tell you that yours is comfortably sat near the summit of that interpretative ziggurat, that praise might be received as fondly (and fairly) as it is offered. Smith remains not only one of my personal favorite filmmakers even (and I say this in all sincerity) despite himself, but one of the mythic rare specimens of a celebrity I trust implicitly at his word and admire for the quality of his character, or perhaps more accurately and referentially, I believe in Kevin "Who-is-Harvey-Dent" Smith. I picked up similar vibes from you which is but one commendation I insist upon you for preserving both a clearly enduring fondness for Da Lunchbox as well as your professional integrity, as I'm certain this was not an easy feat of reconciling various conflicted interests. Impressive work that's most worthy of boosted recognition, which my recommendation will hopefully reflect in as many eyeballs I'm able to direct this way. From a hole in the ground of my Beloved Shire, known to the Big Folk as Iowa, Daniel James Bloomquist P.S. What smells like shoe polish?
to me clerks 3, is the bitter realization that most people don't get the amazing best friend that helps you find your way, the disneyfication of romance with the happy ever after, its the gritty realization that some of us have to take the small joys and victories, the cold beer on a hot summer day, a kiss and only a kiss form the way to hot girl for you, that you fuck up cause you get in your own way. its a urgent call to try anything if for no other reason then to say you did. not all of us get to take joy in the larger wins
I thoroughly enjoyed Clerks 3, was it perfect? No, but it was still a good film that had some great moments and really hit the feels at the end...... Anything's better than New Jersey
Kevin Smiths bests movies to me were Clerks, Clerks II, Mallrats, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob strike back, Chasing Amy, Jersey Girl, and yes Clerks III His worse to me was Tusk.... What the F$$k was that!!!??
LOVED the first two! Wasn't a fan of the third one at all. It wasn't too bad awful but the biggest problem I had with it was the way they did the Elias character! It wasn't believable at all that he just goes from being a Christian to worshipping satan. It was very cringe worthy! I didn't like how they killed off Becky either. The making the movie scenes were good enough and nostalgic. I've only seen it once so maybe it will grow on me after more views like Jay And Silent Bob Strikes Back did.
Dante was a broken mess in the first movie already...he had been in a funk since his ex had dumped him. In each movie he goes through the same cycle just more extreme each time
Hmmm, " Dante is reunited with the only women that truly loves him." I consider Becky the only women that didn’t currently hate him. (And didn’t have a chance to ask him to grow up.) Emma loved him and just wanted him to better himself with a good career. Veronica absolutely loved him, but wanted him to go back to college. Hell, even Caitlin had a strange attraction that kept her coming back (until she F*#ked a dead guy). Dante is a manchild that repeatedly chooses to sh!t his pants instead of lifting the lid. And in the end, it’s Randal that decides to try to be a film maker. Dante AND Randel are Kevin Smith. Wouldn’t it have been cool if Kevin Smith could have somehow ripped off the Fight Club ending? Where we find out that Randal is Dante’s other personality. The Quick Stop and the RST Video are one big store and Dante is the only employee working.
I feel like this doesn’t get it. I loved. Clerks 3. It was perfect. It was tragic and heartbreaking and perfect. Of course it was Kevin’s story. He’s never denied it. Dante is perfect and his ending is perfect for him. He’s with Becky where he belongs. He’s not supposed to be here today.
Why would you watch a video analysis of stuff that you haven't seen and then complain about spoilers?? You clicked on this video. You have nobody to blame but yourself.
Clerks 3 relies too heavily on nostalgia to evoke emotion and falls flat as a result. The constant references to past moments become exhausting and ultimately detract from the film's coherence. The decision to have Randal suffer a heart attack feels contrived and unnecessary. Dante should have been the only one to have one, not both!!
@@nofear2trekfunniest part of that scene is Randal trying to explain The Mandalorian to the doctor, who is played by Amy Sedaris, who plays the recurring character Pelli Motto on The Mandalorian
I enjoyed the movie a lot. But I agree, it wasn’t fair to Dante. It’s nice that he died a hero reunited with his wife, but the heroism is hollow. His heroic act seems to be to have sacrificed his entire adult like to help and support a jerk. It would have been better if his heroic act was something more valuable.
Kevin Smith is with out a doubt the most inept filmmaker maybe ever. I never seen one guy do so much awful work that bomded and yet strangely has a cult following. It's so bizarre.
I didn’t like clerks 2, it seems like Dante and Randall regressed, in the first Clerks Dante was comfortable with complacency never wanting to push the boundaries in his own life in fear of ruffling up a few feathers, Randall on the other hand is also complacent in his own life, difference is he accepts and embraces it and doesn’t bitch or moan about how the universe is screwing him over, and he encourages Dante to shut the fuck up and stop blaming others for how his life turned out and to finally take control, the ending of Clerks really leaves the viewer to question and speculate what Dante and Randall do with their own lives afterwards, its open ended, does Dante finally realize he needs to drop his dead end job and go back to school? What happens to Veronica? What happened to his ex? What’s Randall up to? Well, clerks 2 scraps all that character development, Randall and Dante are still working the same jobs years later, no real progression and no real change, the only change is the Quikstop burning down and they just jump to another dead end job, this time around instead of being two friends who have two personalities that clash yet come to a mutual understanding, now it’s two people who are codependent losers , Randall being the worst where he can’t even function on his own unless Dante is around, and is incapable of forming new friendships because his personality was bogged down to jerkoff that refuses to change or better himself, at the end of the movie Randall pretty much begs Dante to not leave him, then like idk hay and silent bob are like okay it’s all good we got like thousands to rebuild the quikstop, we’ll give you the money if we can stand outside it all day , clearly these two know how to negotiate a solid deal, then it ends with them at the quikstop now as owners, left that movie with no lesson learned or no real takeaway, at least with the first clerks not only can you speculate on what the characters do after, it also can motivate you to do better in your own life, don’t sit around expecting change when you’re not putting in the effort yourself, clerks 2 is just like nah fuck that just make sure you somehow know two stoners with money, then you’ll be ight lmao
Notes for CLERKS 3: - Becky and daughter are alive neither involved in story with exception to hospital visit cameos at end. - Dante has two heart attacks a small one at beginning to inspire Randall to make their film and a second heart attack at the end. Randall is healthy throughout. - No Elias. - Introduce new character Amy Sedaris as Randall's weird girlfriend who has money finances film/knows a celebrity who can cameo in film.
Your version of Clerks 3 didn't really click with me as much. Your viewpoint seems to come from someone who's not lost someone that impactful on your life. It instead feels less emotionally impactful due to your lack of understanding of the subject matter you are dealing with. I like that Dante dying gave Randal a newfound understanding of friendship, allowed him to reflect how his actions negativity impact his relationships and overall improved Randal as a person. Dante also got an answer to his questions posed in this film and previous films. Life is unpredictable. You really can lose someone you are just settling down with. It happens to real people. It was the right time for Dante to go and the right place. His closure might not be the same closure as someone who finds a way to heal. Sometimes as sad as it might be people don't move on and heal from that type of tragedy.
I think you missed the point of this movie. This sort of bleak, dull, self indulgence and bad endings....us how life actually is. Most lives don't end happily. There are regrets and doubts, many people never overcome it and die unremarked. It us how it is in life
![ARGENTINA vs. PERÚ [1-0] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 12](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xtI25ENDDSY/mqdefault.jpg)
Clerks 3 came out at a time I needed. I was still reeling over the death of my older cousin, the closest I had to an older brother, who sadly died from complications after a serious surgery. He was the reason I saw Kevin Smith movies, they grew on me, and one of the last times I hung out with him, we went to see Hollywood Babble On in Downtown Boston. Which was in 2016, and after a rough week, so to say the least, I needed that. It's like the past couple years something Kevin Smith worked on was what I needed for that time. In short, I loved how Clerks 3 turned out, that heartbreak and pain, I needed to let that sadness out.
I am in the minority that enjoyed it and saw a lot of purpose when looking at the series as a whole. From the point of view myself as someone who lost a loved one tragically (in my case, a son) and their entire life stopped for some time, I get it more than a superficial level. That may be why I enjoyed it more than most - because to me, it connected to a point in my life. To each his own, just sharing my take.
I am so sorry for your loss, and if you haven’t been able to find peace yet, I pray peace finds you!
Dante's last monologue is so raw. I had two heart attacks at age 28. I almost died, had a crash code during minor surgery.
I'm with you buddy. My spouse died 3 years ago. I took a day off of work the day after seeing Clerks 3.
Same here, a son 5 yo, and daughter 4 yo. Another film that I see differently than most is the beginning of A Quiet Place. Man, that was rough the first time watching. It steers away from the loss very quickly though.
@@Four4Hundred2Twenty0too bad it didn’t turn out differently
I don't think you can analyze this movie without recognizing the parallels between dante and Kevin himself. The origin, the growth, the heart attack. The film and previous film embody kevins emotions and act as a time capsule for each arc of his own life.
I agree that your version would have been more narratively satisfying, but I also think that's kinda the point. Clerks was basically a reflection of Kevin's real life, based largely on real people and real conversations. Clerks II, as fun as it is, is a commercial product. He couldn't relate to his characters anymore, so he stuck them in a goofy and unrealistic sitcom premise in an attempt to sneak in some introspection. Jersey Girl showed him that sincerity didn't sell, so the genuine emotion of Clerks II is buried under layers and layers of artifice. Clerks 3 is a return to something more realistic and personal. People die, unexpectedly and without reason. Becky dying just a few days after being the catalyst for Dante's "happy ending" makes a painful amount of sense because it makes no sense at all. That's life. Randal getting "Dante's" heart attack, taking over Dante's hard won narrative, that's life too. Dante's been through so much, he deserves his reward, and like most deserving people he doesn't get it. He gets the opposite. Clerks III is an emotionally painful movie to watch because Randal is so oblivious to the ways in which he's hurting his friend. That scene where the doctor tells Dante to be there for Randal even though Randal hasn't been there for Dante at all... that really says it all. In a Hollywood narrative Dante would get his just desserts and ride off into the sunset a changed and improved man because that's what's fair, but instead he's made to suffer and sacrifice and lose everything he spent the last two films gaining because sometimes that's how it works. Kevin was inches away from dying on some random Sunday night, he knows now that life doesn't make sense and it's incredibly fragile and it sure as fuck doesn't follow a traditional dramatic arc. By killing Dante in Clerks III he finally communicated what he was trying to say with the deleted ending of Clerks: "Sometimes people just die."
You talk about how Dante's only purpose was to be Randal's friend like that's a bad thing, but I don't think it is. Throughout the series, no matter what else they lost, they always had each other. So even if Randal was a massive dick sometimes he made Dante's life better by being in it, and vice versa. If there's one point to the film I think that's it: you never know when you're going to lose something you care about, or lose it all, so appreciate the things you have in your life while you can. Don't stop striving for something new, but also don't lose sight of what you already have. In other words: "To go on is to go far. To go far is to return."
To me u hit right on the money life sometimes sucks and for certain people it just doesn’t get better even how much u try and when u know when u lose everything to u when u though u where at end it hurts to push yourself more and he finally gets his ending just sucks that his happy ending he had to die and I feel that
I lost my best friend a few years ago and we both love Kevin Smith movies so this one hit me hard. If thought it was funny and emotional
When Clerks 3 ended, I just thought “That’s what life is: a series of down endings.” I am 30 now, but I had a pretty rough childhood (I was bullied, my parents had a messy divorce among other things) but Clerks and the other View Askew movies always made me feel better. It wasn’t just a movie to me it was a friend, so I may be biased. Personally I loved the third one, but I don’t think I can ever watch it again.
Took the words out my mouth !
same here
I’m interested to see how Clerks III will be regarded in 10 years; removed from the expectations we had for it when it came out, and the nostalgia fatigue we’ve been having lately. I feel like it could be re-appraised fondly like Jersey Girl was by many.
It's definitely The Last Jedi
I doubt it
Hey Clerks 3 really speaks to me at this point in life. This great movie almost made me cry. Clerks 3 is almost my story as well. Bravo Kevin Smith.
Great video! Really explained why clerks 3 didn’t work at all for me. Thank you for making this
Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.
I am STOKED to have found your RUclips channel 🥰 can't wait to watch you grow and see what this year brings you and in turn, us!!
Just found your channel and currently binging while editing! Really enjoying what I've seen so far, also I'm a sucker for analyzing the hell out of what I feel like is everyone's strange parasocial relationship with smith.
"Mentre che l’uno spirto questo disse, l’altro piangea;
Sì che di pietade io venni men così com’ io morisse.
E caddi come corpo morto cade."
"And all the while one spirit uttered this, The other one did weep so, that, for pity,
I swooned away as if I had been dying,
And fell, even as a dead body falls."
Dante's Inferno Chant V
The reasons for clerks three is that life doesn’t work out while you live. Dante never went back to college or Dante never did anything to try to make it life any better so when he got old and his 30s, he was settled with the job and it’s 40s when he died he really did nothing really did help him out with his grief of losing his wife and son so life didn’t work out like he did so when he died he died very badly. It’s to teach. It’s teach Randall lesson life is how you make it when you treat friends.
I don’t think Dawson’s price was the reason she was reduced to a force ghost in Clerks 3. She loved the character and wanted to continue the story, but it wasn’t the story Smith wanted to tell. For some reason 🤨
I wish Clerks 3 had been a little less of a nostalgia trip. I really liked Clerks 2, thought it worked really great.
But clerks 3 was just too self indulgent. Too meta.
^^^ This. Moiser's absence was felt.
That's kinda all Kevin does anymore
I literally thought I had missed a kevin smith movie when he reveals becky was killed off
I have a friend who I have known since high school. And every time we get together we watch Clerks. For now we are on 2 because we are 37 years old :D, although we have watched all the parts.
As I watch this analysis I can’t help but balk at the irony of you understanding so much of the narrative and then completely missing the point. Dante and Randal ARE the same person. Dante has always been the part of Kevin that is most like his dad, and what you are seeing in Clerks 3 is a son coming to terms with his father’s death, and his own survival of the same widow maker heart attack. Dante is the blue collar Jersey guy that gives up his dreams and sacrifices his body and heart, so that Randal can finally grow up and self actualize.
I don’t usually respond to criticism, but I think this is an interesting and fair reading. Applying that interpretation I still don’t think the execution of the overall three-film narrative was all that successful, but it’s a solid interpretation nonetheless. Thanks for watching!
This channel rules.
Great video. I do think it’s a reach to assume Scott Mosier is considered ‘disposable’ in Kevin Smith’s life. He only talks about him with love and admiration, and even though has other producers now, he knows there’s only one Mosier.
I remember seeing 2 in theaters. When I was a clerk. And the first was so relevant, and is. And being older, then they were in 2, now, I'm still mad I didn't see 3 in the theater, but it made me cry when I saw it. Your version, is yours, but I think it would be hack.
Great job man. You put your finger on several things that always bothered me about Kevin Smith's clerk series, especially the last one. I totally agree.
I love when the forgot your keys type scene happens in real life
I didn't realize why I hated the last clerks until I watched this. Great video
Wow....Imagine being so easily influenced....Not being able yo think for yourself...That a youtube video has to define what You think. No wonder amercian is a burning trade heap. You's are all extremely dumb and easily lead. I hated Clerks 3 myself...But I didn't have to be Told....I formed that opinion myself.
Maybe it's me, but I feel like you missed the point. Dante and Randal were both the main character. You had 1 guy who over thought everything, could never make a decision, and when he did couldn't stick to it. Then the other guy who, for better or worse, just did things and dealt with the consequences later. Randal has his heart attack and almost loses everything, and decides he's going to take a long shot at making his mark on the world, something Dante always talked about doing but never attempted to do. Dante lost his family, but couldn't get passed it to see the good in his life, and even almost losing Randal didn't impact him. The trilogy shows not only that how you handle the situations life deals you makes all the difference, but how much those you're close with can affect your life, positive and negative.
One of my best friends passed away a few years back. We'd get high and watch Clerks 1&2. She passed away before 3 came out. So 3 truly broke me at the end. I've tried to watch it a few times and I can't make it through without breaking down.
I don't agree that Dante's narrative dissolves the way you claim in Clerks 3. Dante's whole arch is all about "learning to Love the things you most wish had not happened." A real lesson in what we get from loss and grief - and how our fears and insecurities can subvert a healthy journey of healing
Put simpler, to be human and to exist is a gift - but along with being human comes suffering - there's no escaping it. Its all about learning the value we get from experiencing loss and that value leading to a deep realization that we dont get to pick and choose - to be grateful for one's life is to be greatful for all of it - even the worst moments
Calling Jay and Silent Bob reboot lazy misses the point...
It's supposed to be lazy...
Just as all these reboots/rethreads/rehashing of 30 year old movies is... at least Kevin Smith has something to say...
And Reboot and Clerks III are the best movies to have come out in the last 6 years (the only other good one being Uncut Gems)... Kevin Smith will always be amazing and his fans will always celebrate his movies 💙
Great commentary. Your video has actually inspired me to watch Clerks III, a thing I never thought I'd do.
Excelente aporte. Me encanta esta trilogía. Justo hoy vi Clerks 3. Tu análisis es ameno, profundo y pertinente, muy bien documentado. Felicitaciones desde Caracas.
Your version of what the end of Clerks 3 should have been was so much better than the actual movie
I came across your video right after finishing Clerks III and setting up a video essay on it. Man I do love this film but you make very good points. Can't wait to see whats next!
great video! I love Smith's movies and "3" was a real bummer for me. One thing I was fearing came to be, that Smith in 2022 was not going to be able to continue the ribald Adult brash sense of humor which defines his older movies. I get it he's older, I get it that there are 2 Smiths: pre-and post-heart attack. But as Tone goes, I feel there's an unspoken pact that we're getting something "on-brand" of which would have been insulting d*ck and fart jokes for overweight and underweight people who can't get l@id. And also I just thought of this writing but perhaps The Star Wars reference in this movie is making Dante into Last Jedi Luke Skywalker, a broken man sad and lonely who ultimate gives his life for Story. Thanks for the video!
I started this video expecting to hate it. But I do wish your version of Clerks 3 got filmed.
After watching this video, I think the thing that would have saved Clerks 3 would have been to make it a Sliding Doors type movie where we get an ending where Dante dies and an ending where Randal dies. That is presuming that one of them must die to end this story.
Great video! Love the structure, and the insight
Nice vid. Love seeing insightful commentary on Kevin Smith’s career. ✌️
This video is fantastic. Your analysis is fantastic.
I was looking for Tomb Manny's Tapes, but I'm really glad I found you instead.
I love all 3 Clerks films
The point of Dante's life is the same as the point of most people's life. It's pointless.
I feel like that message would hit harder if they killed Dante at the end of Clerks 1 like they planned
Loved this video man, totally agree
It should not be your last. It never should be!
Love your idea of Clerks III
This was an amazing commentary on a series I love. I don’t often leave comments, but wow. This was brilliant.
19:19 - 20:05 In my opinion, I feel like that would've actually been a better ending than the whole entire Elias Subplot with him selling NFTs just for them to make big money. It just felt like a very forced deus ex machina.
Alright, so full disclosure here, but I'd only recently discovered the work of Kevin Smith when a friend convinced me to watch Dogma before we planned to go to a pop-up restaurant based on Mooby's. So I have zero connection to the characters of Dante and Randle up until I just saw all three Clerks films recently. And I can't really hate Clerks 3. It was an earnest attempt to discuss if his legacy at the end of the day is really worth it amongst the sea of filmmakers of his generation either burning out or just never making it. And while I won't say it's art, or a good movie, I will say I get his intention.
Agree I think only the first clerks film is the only truly good project to come from that universe
@@JesusGomez-ob2qtwhy you gotta undermine Dogma
Mallrats wasn't that bad @@JesusGomez-ob2qt
I am definitely going to just pretend Clerks 3 didn't happen.
Smith planned to play the Randal character because I believe he sees himself as Randal not Dante but he is really more Dante. That’s why Randal lived. Smith couldn’t let himself die
Fantastic deconstruction. A+
Man still haven’t seen clerks three life has been crazy but I can’t believe his chic and baby dies. I watched clerks a million times and part two a few times but I had to sit in my truck and process this video.
well done
Just saw clerks 3 and I’m not sure what the parallels I see from my own life are but it just made me feel like shit.
The ending of clerks 2 was so fantastic and I propobaly feel that way due to unfortunately seeing a lot of myself in Dante and his indecisiveness and mediocrity and just being a guy that is stuck and afraid to make decisions.
It felt really good to see him end up with Rosario then in the third find out she dies, he’s suffered for 15 years never moves on then he also dies and lives basically a pointless existence kinda feels brutal
I would watch clerks a lot as an edgy teenager for jay and silent bob but dang I wish I would of known what the movie was saying about life and the quarter life crisis and stuff
I’m glad I never got around to watching Clerks three, the second one I felt was a really good message for anyone who might feel they are stuck in life. Like you can still find happiness even if it isn’t where you think it is. But the third seems to go back on it quite a bit and it’s a bit of a sour taste to swallow.
indeed...I didn't know they even made a 3rd
film until about fifteen minutes ago.... but eff all that nonsense: Rosario Dawson dancing on the roof of the burger joint to the Jackson 5 may be one of the greatest, most gorgeous scenes of a beautiful woman in all of films... it's definitely Kevin Smith's most beautifully shot &
overall gorgeous scenes he has ever shot himself.
Good work 👌
Great video buddy
Thank you, please do more Kevin Smith videos.
Very Good....well done
The truest trilogy in the View Askewniverse is Mallrats, Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back and Clerks 2. That's the trilogy of Jay and Bob. Yes, they're side characters in 2 of the 3. But they are the true driving force, even if Kevin doesn't realize it himself.
No one asked Dante to be that way. Randall tried to talk him out of it constantly. Dante only has his people-pleasing ways to blame for his subpar life. A man who put himself in limbo, always looking for the easy way out
This is the absolute worse synopsis and general understanding of these films. You have zero idea what you're talking about, and are misinterpreting these movies far beyond anything i've ever seen.
Why is Elias dressed like King Diamond?
He loses faith in his religion. But seriously, it would’ve taken less time if you just watched the movie.
Does anyone know the song that plays a few seconds after the 9 minute mark, and ends with Dante dying?
ruclips.net/video/loFj7vGF67E/видео.html
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! @@TooManyTapes
What translation of the Tao te Ching are you quoting from?
wait...there was a Third Clerks?
I have sought out the breadth of Clerks 3 review/analysis here on Das YuzenTüben, and my experience with them has spanned a range of satisfaction as wide and varied as the works themselves, from cringetacular denominations that feel performative in how their critical scalpel drips with venomous scorn to nuanced academic studies on the multifaceted relationship between Smith and his filmography and specifically Clerks as a trilogy that transcend the relatively narrow scope of Smith's works and merit consideration in the greater discourse on "the canon." I say all this so that when I tell you that yours is comfortably sat near the summit of that interpretative ziggurat, that praise might be received as fondly (and fairly) as it is offered.
Smith remains not only one of my personal favorite filmmakers even (and I say this in all sincerity) despite himself, but one of the mythic rare specimens of a celebrity I trust implicitly at his word and admire for the quality of his character, or perhaps more accurately and referentially, I believe in Kevin "Who-is-Harvey-Dent" Smith.
I picked up similar vibes from you which is but one commendation I insist upon you for preserving both a clearly enduring fondness for Da Lunchbox as well as your professional integrity, as I'm certain this was not an easy feat of reconciling various conflicted interests.
Impressive work that's most worthy of boosted recognition, which my recommendation will hopefully reflect in as many eyeballs I'm able to direct this way.
From a hole in the ground of my Beloved Shire, known to the Big Folk as Iowa,
Daniel James Bloomquist
P.S. What smells like shoe polish?
to me clerks 3, is the bitter realization that most people don't get the amazing best friend that helps you find your way, the disneyfication of romance with the happy ever after, its the gritty realization that some of us have to take the small joys and victories, the cold beer on a hot summer day, a kiss and only a kiss form the way to hot girl for you, that you fuck up cause you get in your own way. its a urgent call to try anything if for no other reason then to say you did.
not all of us get to take joy in the larger wins
Which is why it's good and makes sense. The whole point of Clerks was to be like real life and in real life the ending is in fact often sad.
I thoroughly enjoyed Clerks 3, was it perfect? No, but it was still a good film that had some great moments and really hit the feels at the end...... Anything's better than New Jersey
Kevin Smiths bests movies to me were
Clerks, Clerks II, Mallrats, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob strike back, Chasing Amy, Jersey Girl, and yes Clerks III
His worse to me was
Tusk.... What the F$$k was that!!!??
Clerks should’ve stayed a Duoligy than a Trilogy.
Nah, the issue was how we don't even get a bit of that happy ending from 2 before the pain of 3. It's there but sorta sidelined until later on
Dont worry as most fans of the first 2 pretend the 3rd doesn't exist.
LOVED the first two! Wasn't a fan of the third one at all. It wasn't too bad awful but the biggest problem I had with it was the way they did the Elias character! It wasn't believable at all that he just goes from being a Christian to worshipping satan. It was very cringe worthy! I didn't like how they killed off Becky either. The making the movie scenes were good enough and nostalgic. I've only seen it once so maybe it will grow on me after more views like Jay And Silent Bob Strikes Back did.
Dante was a broken mess in the first movie already...he had been in a funk since his ex had dumped him. In each movie he goes through the same cycle just more extreme each time
I feel Randal was the main character only because that how's Kevin could get the actor in it
Hmmm, " Dante is reunited with the only women that truly loves him." I consider Becky the only women that didn’t currently hate him. (And didn’t have a chance to ask him to grow up.) Emma loved him and just wanted him to better himself with a good career. Veronica absolutely loved him, but wanted him to go back to college. Hell, even Caitlin had a strange attraction that kept her coming back (until she F*#ked a dead guy). Dante is a manchild that repeatedly chooses to sh!t his pants instead of lifting the lid. And in the end, it’s Randal that decides to try to be a film maker. Dante AND Randel are Kevin Smith. Wouldn’t it have been cool if Kevin Smith could have somehow ripped off the Fight Club ending? Where we find out that Randal is Dante’s other personality. The Quick Stop and the RST Video are one big store and Dante is the only employee working.
I feel like this doesn’t get it. I loved. Clerks 3. It was perfect. It was tragic and heartbreaking and perfect. Of course it was Kevin’s story. He’s never denied it. Dante is perfect and his ending is perfect for him. He’s with Becky where he belongs. He’s not supposed to be here today.
9:22 spoiler alert!!!!
Why would you watch a video analysis of stuff that you haven't seen and then complain about spoilers?? You clicked on this video. You have nobody to blame but yourself.
Clerks 3 relies too heavily on nostalgia to evoke emotion and falls flat as a result. The constant references to past moments become exhausting and ultimately detract from the film's coherence. The decision to have Randal suffer a heart attack feels contrived and unnecessary. Dante should have been the only one to have one, not both!!
Without Randal’s heart attack we would have missed the movie’s best scene, of the dialog interaction between the doctor and Randal. She was hilarious!
@@nofear2trekfunniest part of that scene is Randal trying to explain The Mandalorian to the doctor, who is played by Amy Sedaris, who plays the recurring character Pelli Motto on The Mandalorian
In other words, Kevin did what he avoided in Clerks 2.
yeah
He pulled an Alien 3
I enjoyed the movie a lot. But I agree, it wasn’t fair to Dante. It’s nice that he died a hero reunited with his wife, but the heroism is hollow. His heroic act seems to be to have sacrificed his entire adult like to help and support a jerk. It would have been better if his heroic act was something more valuable.
Kevin Smith is with out a doubt the most inept filmmaker maybe ever. I never seen one guy do so much awful work that bomded and yet strangely has a cult following. It's so bizarre.
I'm just gonna pretend Clerks 3 never happened, they didn't need to happen.
Am I the first one here?
I didn’t like clerks 2, it seems like Dante and Randall regressed, in the first Clerks Dante was comfortable with complacency never wanting to push the boundaries in his own life in fear of ruffling up a few feathers, Randall on the other hand is also complacent in his own life, difference is he accepts and embraces it and doesn’t bitch or moan about how the universe is screwing him over, and he encourages Dante to shut the fuck up and stop blaming others for how his life turned out and to finally take control, the ending of Clerks really leaves the viewer to question and speculate what Dante and Randall do with their own lives afterwards, its open ended, does Dante finally realize he needs to drop his dead end job and go back to school? What happens to Veronica? What happened to his ex? What’s Randall up to? Well, clerks 2 scraps all that character development, Randall and Dante are still working the same jobs years later, no real progression and no real change, the only change is the Quikstop burning down and they just jump to another dead end job, this time around instead of being two friends who have two personalities that clash yet come to a mutual understanding, now it’s two people who are codependent losers , Randall being the worst where he can’t even function on his own unless Dante is around, and is incapable of forming new friendships because his personality was bogged down to jerkoff that refuses to change or better himself, at the end of the movie Randall pretty much begs Dante to not leave him, then like idk hay and silent bob are like okay it’s all good we got like thousands to rebuild the quikstop, we’ll give you the money if we can stand outside it all day , clearly these two know how to negotiate a solid deal, then it ends with them at the quikstop now as owners, left that movie with no lesson learned or no real takeaway, at least with the first clerks not only can you speculate on what the characters do after, it also can motivate you to do better in your own life, don’t sit around expecting change when you’re not putting in the effort yourself, clerks 2 is just like nah fuck that just make sure you somehow know two stoners with money, then you’ll be ight lmao
It's very grown up Gen X.
🌻
I feel like the point was that he wasn’t even supposed to be there that day
Keep it simple and try to enjoy lol
Notes for CLERKS 3:
- Becky and daughter are alive neither involved in story with exception to hospital visit cameos at end.
- Dante has two heart attacks a small one at beginning to inspire Randall to make their film and a second heart attack at the end. Randall is healthy throughout.
- No Elias.
- Introduce new character Amy Sedaris as Randall's weird girlfriend who has money finances film/knows a celebrity who can cameo in film.
And her celebrity friend is an anthropomorbphic horse played by Will Arnett
Scotty kept Kevin grounded, he is not a throw away.
Since they parted way Kevin's work has been horrible
It was awful. Like truly awful.
I loved clerks 3 don't agree at all.
Dante is me. Always in the shitpile
Don't please god 0:24
what
In my head cannon Clerks 3 doesn't exist. It's just so bad. I get WHY Smith made it...just maybe he shouldn't have.
Your version of Clerks 3 didn't really click with me as much. Your viewpoint seems to come from someone who's not lost someone that impactful on your life. It instead feels less emotionally impactful due to your lack of understanding of the subject matter you are dealing with. I like that Dante dying gave Randal a newfound understanding of friendship, allowed him to reflect how his actions negativity impact his relationships and overall improved Randal as a person. Dante also got an answer to his questions posed in this film and previous films. Life is unpredictable. You really can lose someone you are just settling down with. It happens to real people. It was the right time for Dante to go and the right place. His closure might not be the same closure as someone who finds a way to heal. Sometimes as sad as it might be people don't move on and heal from that type of tragedy.
A duuuuuuuuuh
I'v lost more than one person in my life that was close. Clerks 3 can still go suck a fat one.
I think you missed the point of this movie. This sort of bleak, dull, self indulgence and bad endings....us how life actually is. Most lives don't end happily. There are regrets and doubts, many people never overcome it and die unremarked. It us how it is in life
9:22
😎🙏💯