The Film
It took a while, but Kevin Smith's earlier works are finally making it to Blu-ray. Until now, we've only seen his later films in high-def. That list includes Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Clerks II and Zack and Miri Make a Porno.
Miramax is releasing two entirely new HD titles, Clerks and Chasing Amy. Fans have been frothing for both for quite some time. As a reward for your patience, they can be purchased separately or as part of the Kevin Smith 3-Movie Collection. In addition to those first two flicks from the "New Jersey Trilogy," the set includes Smith's biggest moneymaker to date, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Mallrats (the second in the series) fans will just have to wait -- it's not a Miramax film and has yet to get its high-def due.
Four years after Chasing Amy, Smith compiled a greatest hits of characters in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. He takes his omnipresent anti-heroes Jay and Silent Bob, puts them center stage, and lets the fun fly. The plot and style is a both of a departure from Smith's earlier fare. This time, the boys are on a cross-country trek to stop the movie, Bluntman and Chronic. If you've watched Chasing Amy, you'd know all about that. Of course, there are many other characters from many of Smith's movies, as well as more Star Wars chatter (and appearances by Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher). It's also full of gay jokes, dick jokes and weed jokes, but it's so much more. It's a love story, a crime story and a monkey story. All of that doesn't really matter, though, because Smith is out to skewer Hollywood and he does that very well. For a peek at what else goes on in the movie, check out Joe Lozito's review of the theatrical release of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
For Smith fans, this is a nice little package. It's also a cheap one. Most fans probably already have Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, so it's nice that Miramax is allowing you to purchase the titles separately. The two new titles list at $40 each, so for the extra $9, you can get the extra disc and share a little Jay and Silent Bob with someone you love.
The Picture
None of these titles is like the other. The obvious outcast is Clerks. It's in black and white, which means you shouldn't expect to see any colors popping from the porno mags behind the Quick Stop's counter. The film got the restoration treatment for its 10th birthday (and picks up the featurette about that process), and this 1.85:1 transfer shows vast improvement over the DVD. Still, the film was low budget, so we can't expect miracles. There isn't much detail, but the blacks are nice and the film has a brighter shade overall, making it the best it's ever been. Is Blu-ray a necessity for this title? No. Is it nice? Well, naturally.
Chasing Amy looks slightly better, but not exactly great. That's not Jersey, kids; that's this 1.85:1 transfer. Closeups are most impressive here, with the most detail. The wide shots? Not so much. For a film that revolves around comic books, the colors are also a bit dim. Even the outdoor shots are a bit of a downer. The film had a $3 million budget, and it shows even on Blu-ray.
While we'd expect a less-than-stellar image from those two flicks, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a lot less acceptable in our book. This is one of his more recent works. It's also the one with the budget. While the 2.35:1 transfer is nothing to shield your eyes from, it's just sort of average. Miramax hasn't done anything since they first released the title on Blu-ray in 2006. It's got fine colors and some decent detail. It's the showpiece of the collection -- which isn't saying much.
The Sound
Ever seen a Kevin Smith movie? Every one of them is all about the dialogue. Each of the movies in this set delivers each line with a powerful punch. Jay and Silent Bob offers the most options for rear sounds, but with a PCM 5.1 track. It delivers some nice moments, but isn't anything you'd use to show off your system. The other two get the DTS-HD Master Audio treatment. Again, good dialogue. However, there are virtually no rear sounds, except for the occasional crowd scene and each film's musical soundtrack.
The Extras
Here is where the carrot is dangled. Do you bother to upgrade to the Blu-ray? It all depends on how much you value the little things. Kevin Smith likes those little things, so you can expect plenty of special features, usually with some type of commentary or introduction. All should satisfy even the most rabid Smith fan.
If you already own Jay and Silent Bob, you'll recognize this edition well. It's the same lone commentary, as well as a feature called "Movie Showcase," which allows you to jump to scenes that Miramax has deemed the best in high-def. Sadly, Miramax is still holding onto all of the goodies from the 2-disc DVD release. If you are going for separate purchases, at least they didn't try to create a double dip with the duo. The only new Jay and Silent Bob feature is actually on the Clerks release. It's "Oh, What a Lovely Tea Party," a 90-minute making-of documentary directed by Smith's wife, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, who also stars in the film.
Details on Bonus Features by Film:
Clerks: 15th Anniversary Edition
Chasing Amy
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Final Thoughts
Miramax is finally giving the people what they want -- Kevin Smith people, anyway. Nothing in the Kevin Smith Collection will show off the dazzle of your high-def setup. However, all of them are worth owning. If you already have Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, you might want to skip the box. If not, all of of the extras on the other two discs add icing to the cake, making this packed set worth the purchase.
Product Details
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