Clerks: 10th Anniversary Edition (3 Discs)

I first watched this film when I was 15 and it was a life changing experience. It really turned in me into a film fanatic and a major fan of Kevin Smith - I even liked Jersey Girl??? Anyway, the dialogue in this film is amazing, filmed using £26,000 Canadia Dollars in black and white in a convenience store out of hours (that's why the bit with the chewing gum and shutters was written in). If you consider yourself a film fan this is one not to be missed which will be talked about for decades to come.

It seems forever now when you mention the year 1994 but it was a very significant year in film. Some of the films released that year included The Lion King, Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, Interview With The Vampire and of course Clerks.
Clerks is a fantastic example of film making in 2 ways, 1. It proves that you can make a great film with nothing more than the premise of 2 guys hanging around a New Jersey convinience store and 2. It proves that you dont need millions of dollars pounds or whatever to make a good film. Kevin Smith maxed out all his credit cards, sold his precious comic book collection and put it together with the $5000 tuition he saved from dropping out of the Vancouver Film School to get a grand total of $28,000 and used that to make what has become one of the best films in history. The premise was simple, Smith would use the actual convinience store he was working in at the time as the setting for his story of 2 20-something New Jersey slackers who work at the convinience store and pass their time with hockey on the roof, long talks about Star Wars and other pieces pop culture and get annoyed by the odd customer looking to buy a pack of smokes. Before long everyone was talking about this grainy black and white film that is just 2 guys talking but is so funny it'll make you die!
The films 2 main characters are Dante and Randal who work at the Quick Stop and RST Video in Leonardo New Jersey. throughout the day they keep each other company and abuse the customers while Dante struggles to choose between his girlfriend and his ex. Meanwhile they manage to fit in a game of hockey of the store roof, a memorial service and Randal even gets to go to a good video store! This film also introduced the characters of Jay and Silent Bob who would go on to play big parts in Smiths next 3 films before getting a film of their very own. Starring Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Marilyn Ghigliotti, Lisa Spoonhauer, Kevin Smith and of course, his faithful drug fuelled friend (back then at least) Jason Mewes), the film has become a cult hit and helped Smith become one of the most significant indie film makers of our generation.
This 10th Anniversary Special Edition DVD is jam packed with so much DVD extra goodness you may have a DVD O.D.! There are 2 versions of the film, the theatrical version and the longer version that they went to the festivals with, each version of the film has it's own commentary with the stars of the film and uber producer Scott Mosier. There's a 90 Minute DVD called "Snowball Effect" that covers Smith's upbringing and how he came to make Clerks with interviews with cast and crew of the film and some of Smith's nearest and dearest. There's Mai Day: The Crumbling of a Documentary which was the film Smith and Scott Mosier made in film school, there's also a 40 minute Q&A session with Smith joined by O'Hollaran, Anderson, Mewes, Ghigliotti, Scott Mosier and DP Dave Clien. There's an animated "Lost Scene" from the film, a load of MTV Shorts featuring Jay and Silent Bob, original audition footage and a short film starring Anderson and O'Halloran as Dante and Randal and written and directed by Smith called "The Flying Car"
If you're a fan of Kevin Smith this DVD is a must, it gives you so much insight into the man that has become somewhat of a cult icon. If you've never seen Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jersey Girl or Clerks II then this is the perfect place to start your Kevin Smith obsession!

Classic zero budget first film from Kevin smith"Well about 25,000 Dollars of Maxed out credit cards to be exact.It,s a timelees early nineties Diologue driven comedy that just hit at the right time during the early 90,s and became a modern day cult classic.Randell became an instant Hero for people who,d had enuff of everybody,ha,ha,.The extras on this nice package are the main pull thou"Brilliant making of and documentrys and a load of Commentarys"My only gripe even thou i own this Set is maybe there should be a slight Price drop"The Mammoth King Kong sets only a Fiver"Kev,s first film should have a Price drop then it,d be Berserker!!!!!!!!!

Kevin Smiths definitive masterpiece is also his first. I bought this because of the low price and the 10th anniversary label, thinking it to be special.

After seeing it I had to get all Mr. Smiths movies, but this definetly sets the bar high! so if you are in any doubt on which movie to get yourself for a GIGA-laughfest, get this!
Full of Smiths well known dick and fart humour. and also an absoulte cult classic!

There is always a danger when putting out a special DVD that the watcher will be dissappointed as they feel they've been con'ed out of money as if offers little that the original DVD offered.

Clerks X foes not suffer from this as Kevin Smith and Co. provide a 3 Disc edition filled to the brim with features that must be deemed a must watch for any 'ViewAskew' fan.

A special mention must be put out on my behalf to the inspiring documentary 'The Snowball Effect' which offers a great insight to all Smith put into getting Clerks out into the world over 10 years ago from a remote location in Jersey. It must be watched to appreciate what he put on the line.

I cant write this review without of course a brief mention of the brilliance of 'Clerks' itself. The film that set the 'ViewAskewniverse' jouney off.