3/5 Three films of Kevin Smith are highlighted in a new blu-ray box set
  by allangiven.com
With his directorial debut with CLERKS in 1994, Kevin Smith helped define the independent film genre and introduced fans to his trademark rapid fire dialogue with its numerous pop culture references and his small ensemble casts that serve to define his View Askew universe. What was unique and refreshing about CLERKS was not only the humor of a distinctive and new creative voice, but also its stark realism. Shot in black and white on a shoestring budget of just over $27,000, CLERKS went on to become a critical hit and ended up grossing over three million dollars in the US. Now, for the fifteenth anniversary of the film, Miramax has released a special edition blu-ray of the film and is including it along with Smith's third film, CHASING AMY from 1997 and his fifth film, 2001's JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK in the "Kevin Smith 3-Movie Collection" blu-ray box set . To many though, the thought of issuing Smith's films on blu-ray seems counterintuitive at best, for the films were never about presenting a stunning high definition picture and soundtrack, but instead have always seemingly operated outside of the Hollywood big movie norm.

Will seeing CLERKS now on a 1080p screen give a viewer something that was missed from previous releases of the film? Absolutely not. The fact is though, having the films on blu-ray now will allow those who love Smith's movie to begin building their HD collection, and on two of the discs in the box set, there are new bonus features that were not included on their respective DVD releases. The bonus features for each movie, and their running times include:

CLERKS: 15TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Miramax Films | 1994 | Rated R | 92 minutes

"Oh What a Lovely Tea Party: The Making of JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK" (1:30:00) This exceptionally long documentary was filmed by Smith's wife and gives a behind the scenes look as they film the Jay and Silent Bob film. Why this is included on the CLERKS blu-ray and not the JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK blu-ray though is a complete mystery.
CLERKS lost scene (10:00) An animated short
"The Flying Car" (8:00) A short film from "The Tonight Show"
MTV spots with Jay and Silent Bob
Theatrical Trailer (2:00)
Soul Asylum "Can't Even Tell" music video (5:00)
CLERKS restoration
Original auditions (14:33)
"Snowball Effect" (1:30:00) A comprehensive documentary on the filming of CLERKS and its lasting influence
"Mae Day: The Crumbling of a Documentary" (11:00) Smith's first film school project
Outtakes from "Snowball Effect"
10th Anniversary Q&A (42:00)
"First Cut" of film as well as "Theatrical Version"
Audio Commentary-"Theatrical Version": Classic commentary circa 1995
Audio Commentary-"Theatrical Version": Enhanced playback track with synchronized trivia and cast and crew quotes
Audio Commentary-"First Cut"

CHASING AMY

Miramax Films | 1997 | Rated R | 113 minutes

"Tracing Amy: The CHASING AMY DOCUMENTARY" (1:21:07)
"Was it Something I Said? A Conversation with Kevin and Joey" (18:05) While this is touted as being one of the new features for blu-ray, the material Smith and Adams talk about is pretty much identical to that which is found in the "Tracing Amy" documentary
10 Years Later Q&A (27:45)
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
Theatrical trailer

JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK

Dimension Films | 2001 | Rated R | 104 minutes

Audio Commentary

The box set in the end is not as good as it could be and leaves one to wonder how the titles were selected for it. CLERKS of course has to be included, and skipping the sophomore slump of MALLRATS and going directly to CHASING AMY, one of Smith's best films to date, is logical on some levels. But why include JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK as opposed to a superior movie like DOGMA? The inclusion of JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK seems to be almost an afterthought, and with its complete lack of bonus features seems there only to increase the price of the box set. Had Miramax opted instead to create a box set featuring all of the films of the View Askew universe, CLERKS, MALLRATS, CHASING AMY, DOGMA, JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, and CLERKS II, a far better product would have emerged.

5/5 Product Description
  by James R. Powell (Indianapolis, IN United States)
Title: THE KEVIN SMITH COLLECTION
Release Date: 11/17/2009
Label/Distributor: DISNEY
Prebook DVD: 09/08/2009
Retail Price: BD $89.99
Genre: Comedy Director: Kevin Smith
DVD Extras: featurettes, introduction by Kevin Smith, commentaries, playback track, animated short, music videos, audition tapes, outtakes, Q&A, stills galleries, storyboards, deleted scenes, gag reel, TV spots, filmographies
This boxed set contains Blu-ray versions of "Clerks," "Chasing Amy" and "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back."


4/5 what's in the three pack
  by Eddie Novak (Colorado Springs, CO)
clerks , chasing amy, and jay and bob strike back are going to be in the three pack.