Writer-director Kevin Smith has often joked about his bare-bones approach to directing when it came to his early films such as Clerks and Mallrats – if things get really exciting, he might actually move the camera. That being the case, his back catalogue might not strike you as an ideal candidate for a Blu-Ray release. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment must disagree, however, because they’ve announced three of Smith’s films are getting just that. On November 17th Clerks, Chasing Amy, and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back will hit Blu-ray for $39.99 a pop. You can also get a boxed set with all three for $89.99, which isn’t a bad deal considering the individual pricing.

It’s hard to say how much benefit the tiny-budgeted Clerks will benefit from a high-def transfer, but it will be nice to have a solid archival edition of Chasing Amy, still arguably Smith’s best film. And then there’s Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, which means if you buy the three-movie set you’ll basically get two-and-a-half good films. Hey, at least it ain’t Jersey Girl…

Each new release includes the usual View Askew-approved mess of extras, a mix of new stuff and reruns from the previous DVD releases. All in all, it’s a good deal for Smith fans, even if one of the films isn’t nearly as good as the other two. Here's what you'll get on the special-features front:

Clerks Special Features

• Introduction by Kevin Smith
• Original DVD Bonus Features:
  
  • Classic Commentary
  • Enhanced Playback Track
  • Intro to the First Cut 2004 Commentary
  • 2004 Commentary (with New Authoring)
  • Clerks Lost Scene – Animated Short
  • “The Flying Car”
  • MTV Spots With Jay & Silent Bob
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Soul Asylum’s “Can’t Even Tell” Music Video
  • Clerks Restoration
  • Original Auditions
  • “Snowball Effect”
  • Outtakes From “Snowball Effect”
  • “Mae Day: The Crumbling of a Documentary,” With Intro by Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier
  • 10th Anniversary Q & A
  • And more!

Chasing Amy Special Features

• “Tracing Amy: The Chasing Amy Doc”
• “Was It Something I Said?” – A Conversation with Kevin & Joey
• 10 Years Later Q & A
• Audio Commentary with Writer/Director/Actor Kevin Smith and Producer Scott Mosier
• Plus Original DVD Bonus Features: Deleted Scenes; Outtakes; Trailer and more!

Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back Special Features

• "Oh, What A Lovely Tea Party: The Making Of Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back”
• Audio Commentary with Director Kevin Smith, Producer Scott Mosier & Jason Mewes
• Deleted Scenes with Intros by Kevin Smith and Guests
• “The Secret Stash” with Intro
• Gag Reel with Intro
• Internet Trailers with Intro
• TV Spots
• Stills Galleries
• Behind-the-Scenes featurette
• Morris Day and the Time’s video “Learnin the Moves”
• Music video: Afroman’s “I Get High”
• Music video: Stroke 9’s “Kick Some Ass”
• Comedy Central’s Reel Comedy: Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back
• Cast and Crew Filmographies
• Guide to Morris Day and The Time (Still Frames)
• Storyboards and more!