TNMC
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I'm a big Kevin Smith fan. I've enjoyed his movies since my freshman year of high school and enjoy them to this day, two weeks before my senior year. His humor, while well-covered by the "dick and fart" joke also ventures into the relms of pop culture and satire. I admit, "dick and fart" jokes can be funny, but, in this age almost every comedy that comes out is plagued with these jokes and Smith's work always seems refreshing and funnier with each viewing.
In honor of the release of his fifth and final "Askewniverse" film entitled Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (Smith is a big fan of the Star Wars franchise and often includes jokes from the films.), I've decided to go back and review the previous four films: Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Dogma, along with the short lived animated series for the movie Clerks. All of these reviews will be on the DVDs of the films (Sadly, not the Special Edition of Dogma is not in my collection yet so you will have to deal with the first edition.) because DVD is the way these movies (as well as all movies) should be seen.
Today, for my first review, I will be covering the Clerks DVD along with the Clerks:Uncensored DVD (aka the animated series). Enjoy! Snoochie Noochies!
CLERKS
Story: 8/10
Those of you who have not seen Clerks are missing quite a bit. Like the other pennicles of independent film along with sex, lies, and videotape and Pulp Fiction, Clerks proved to be quite an influence on filmmaking as well as a skyrocket to fame for the director. (Not quite fame yet, perhaps more of a cult status.) I believe this film was listed on the A.F.I.'s top 100 comedies and I admit it is quite good (not my favorite Kevin Smith film, but good just as well) it is one of the funniest films I've ever seen. The story deals with two clerks at adjoining stores. Dante runs with quickie mart and his best friend, Randall, runs the video store. We basically watch a day in the life of the two clerks as they deal with consumers, a pair of stoned drug dealers (Jay and Silent Bob in their first appearence), and their personal problems. One of my complaints with the film does not revolve around the story so much, but Dante's character. It is his day off and yet he comes into work because his boss asks him. Throughout the day he bitches and moans about being in work and gets pretty much screwed. If I was this guy, I would of just walked out midway through the day from hell. (Also, why on Earth would you go for Caitlin Bree...) My other complaint is that Randall really gets on my nerves. I know he is supposed to but he drives me nuts. Complaints aside, this is a great comedy.
Video: 7/10
It's a grainy black and white, just like it was filmed. It adds to the style and feel, but it still isn't quite sharp enough. At least it's widescreen....
Audio: 6/10
Again, like the film it is not perfect and it's not ment to be. These guys did this film on a shoestring budget, it's not going to be a Fight Club like audio track. I do believe the orginal track was mono and I guess this is mastered into Dolby Surround: Stereo, which like the widescreen, is an improvement. Not much action and/or use of stereo.
Extras: 8/10
This disc includes an audio commentary by the cast and crew that is great. Half of them are drunk or stoned and it adds to the humor of the track. It does not quite beat Smith's "Mallrats" commentary, which is probably the funniest one I've ever heard, but it's not bad at all. This, along with the deleted scenes and alternate ending are the real gems. It's nice to watch the deleted scenes and ending because Smith also provides an introduction to explain why they cut the scenes and other tidbits which is a real nice thing to hear. I never watched the music video on the disc (I'm not a big Soul Asylum fan.) but the trailer is really decent. I was disappointed not to see a documentary or something however. I mean, this is an influential film. At least give it a documentary.
Overall: 8/10
It's an expensive disc. That keeps it from getting a nine... Along with the lack of documentary.
What do you think? Talk about it on the Forums
