Red State:
Kevin Smith has done comedy and "action", so this was his attempt at a thriller/horror I guess. Centers on a cult-like church in the vein of the Baptist church that protests the funerals of homosexuals and soldiers. We get 3 kids captured after replying to a sex ad and taken to a church to so they can make an example of them. The rest is just a 20min long sermon and a terrible looking shoot out with really bad acting and dialogue. Thought the idea sounded mildly interesting, but Smith really doesn't have anything fresh to say during the movie. Feels like in his mind he was shooting a Tarantino-type movie. I am a fan of his first few movies for what they are, but really he hasn't put out a good product in quite some time. 5/10
Politically, I'd say that my views are pretty similar to Smith's. But there's no part of me that wants to see this movie. The real Westboro Baptist Church is horrifying enough on their own.
I'm a huge fan of his and have even talked to him a few times, but I couldn't finish this. Watch instead the documentary "The Most Hated Family in America", which is much more terrifying that Red State.
If you're a Smith fan you should rent his college lecture DVDs. Really funny.
Last night (thanks to Rhymes) I watched "most Hated Family" (on documentaries.com), then watched Red State. The doc was pretty compelling, but it just made me profoundly sad as the director began to get close to the girls and got to know them. They are all going to be so criminally effedup (yet still attractive) that they probably poison and destroy numerous future families. I just don't see how that kind of crazy can ever be cured.
i think it made me more enjoy, or at least put into better context, Red State. Overall I was quite disappointed. it had some really nice flashes, but felt very sophomoric.
At this point in his career, Kevin S should not be flashing the sophomoric. I also thought the third act was completely unnecessary. REally did not need govt conspiracy on top of all the other plot devises in play.
Most Hated Family 3.88/5 stars
Red State 2.17 stars