Generation X looked at Clerks as it saw itself, but weirder. Kevin Smith’s View Askew juggernaut began with this self-financed black and white indie flick that plainly displayed that mediocre filmmaking skills can be ignored if the characters are truly engaging. Dante and Randall, the titular clerks, are so wonderfully entertaining that there isn’t a whole lot of plot to get in the way of their engaging-ness. Essentially a series of unusual conversations, Clerks is just pure entertainment and Smith’s passion for the material gives it a heart that more polished films couldn’t find in a cardiac surgery theater.

Why We Like It:

The Clerks 10th Anniversary Edition doesn’t punish you for having gotten a Clerks DVD before, nor does it make you hang onto that old one for completion’s sake. The near-legendary drunken commentary from the first release is preserved here as a part of Clerks history, as is the “lost scene,” and the music video and theatrical trailers. Additionally, an entirely different cut of the film comes on the second disc with an entirely new commentary, as now the cast and crew look back on the film with a new perspective. The third disc, however, is enough for any Kevin Smith fan to lay down cash on the barrel head for this set. From the rarely (if ever) seen Mae Day documentary from his film school days to journals, question and answer session and documentary material on the film, the set is a true document of this little piece of film history. This set is definitive. We only wish all our favorite films were subjected to a set this comprehensive.

Quick Hit:

Play this DVD twice a week and hold a semester-long class on Clerks. Graduate with a B.A. in the Askewniverse and indie film.