Dogma (Special Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Dogma (Special Edition)
Movie Review: "Even God has a sense of humor"
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a smart comedy about religion and the Church. We find a great cast of different stars playing God, angels, demons, muses, prophets and apostles. I can understand that for some people religion is a very serious issue and that these individuals may take offense in this movie. However, if you do no belong in this group, I highly recommend you to watch this film, since I am sure you will have a great time.The Church is in a renewal process and seeking to attract people to enlarge its flock. Some of the changes involve revamping the depressing image in the crucifix for a smiling, winking and thumbs-up Christ. Also, a Church in New Jersey decreed a day in which everyone that passes through its gates will be cleansed of all sins and forgiven by God. Loki (Matt Damon) and Bartleby (Ben Affleck) are two angles that have incurred in God's wrath and therefore were expelled from heaven and condemned to live in Wisconsin from the rest of their eternal lives. They see this as an opportunity to be forgiven and allowed to return to heaven.
The path to their destination is not an easy one though, since by achieving their forgiveness they would prove God wrong, and existence will cease because it is based on the fact that God is always right. Therefore, Loki's and Bartleby's journey affects a large number of people and other mystic figures. There are two sides to the conflict, those that want to prevent them from getting to their destination, and those that want to help them and create chaos. Among muses, demons, the thirteenth apostle and a Golgothan, which by the way is super gross, we find a woman named Bethany (Linda Fiorentino). She is at a tough stage in her life and has almost lost her faith, but is requested by Metathron, the voice of God, to stop the two angels in their quest.
The way in which the film questions some of the beliefs of religion is smart and funny, and the talented cast help make this a very pleasant experience. For example, Chris Rock in his role of the thirteenth apostle is hilarious, showing his usual sense of humor with quick and witty jokes. I also found interesting the questioning of God's sex and Jesus race, which I think spices up several scenes throughout the movie and allows for some very funny moments.
Movie Review: Dogma restores my faith in Christians
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been looking through the reviews for the past half an hour reading all the bad ones I could find so I could find out why people though Dogma was bad. Most of them give no reason, simply saying "this sucks, don't buy it." Others are saying that the plot is implausible. Be more specific people. The plot hinges on Christian mythology, it's not supposed to be a real story. If you can't watch a movie without suspending your disbelief, this isn't for you.Since it has to do with Christianity, you do need to know a little about it beforehand. I've been in a church maybe twelve times in my life and sat through services even fewer times. My parents did nothing to raise me Christian or Jewish, in any denomination, and I understood this movie juts fine. Dogma explains things beautifully.
If you're hung up on the language, look past it. Smith doesn't necessarily write what Jason Mewes (aka Jay) says. Mewes is like Jay in real life, and swears profusely. It's only a word, if your delicate ears can't handle swears, don't watch the movie.
The movie has a disclaimer at the beginning saying that it's satire, which it is. I haven't seen a review that says Dogma is blasphemy, but just in case: Kevin Smith is Catholic. A devout one. In every one of his movies, at the end of the credits, he lists a bunch of people he thanks. God is always on the list. Smith just has a sense of humor in seeing his religion.
The movie's trying to say something, and gets wordy in the process. If you're too slow to read a thousand page book, don't watch the movie for anything but the jokes.
This movie reminds me that not all people are jerks about their religion. Normally if you poke fun at something even remotely related to their beliefs, they fly off the handle. Dogma shows an amazing flexibility in attitude and style. Kevin Smith's next movie will be something he (hopefully) won't get death threats for, much more lighthearted like Mallrats. It will also be the last in the Jersey chronicles. Kevin Smith is one of the greatest filmmakers of our time, and I look forward to more of his movies.
Movie Review: The title says so much...
Summary: 5 Stars
Forget how funny this movie is. Forget about all the great actors and actresses in it, and forget how much controversy this movie caused. Forget the abominable abundance of the f-word, and forget that one of the characters is made of feces.Do not forget this, however: Most popular religions today started with a bunch of good ideas. One time, this African had some great ideas about how his kindred could get along, and WE the people deemed him a prophet, almost supernatural. Started naming ourselves Muhammad, or Mohammed, or whatever, to honor him.
Another time, this Jew who spoke Aramaic had some good ideas about how his kindred could get along. WE the people first embraced him, then killed him, then declared him immortal so that killing him wasn't such a bad thing after all. Started naming our kids Joshua, or Jesus, or whatever, to honor him.
Wanna hear the best part? Now we're fighting each other (we meaning humans) in the Mideast because some man-made religious landmarks happen to overlap in the same city. Am I oversimplifying things?
So "Dogma" reminds us that an end-of-the-world event like the plenary indulgence of two fallen angels (or maybe world war III in the fertile crescent) would be brought on by...yep- We the people. Why? Because we set up a million and three rules (some of which are contradictory) and called them Catholicism, or Buddhism, or whatever, when all we need are a few GOOD IDEAS!!!!
Wanna hear something else funny? The phrase 'plenary indulgence' wasn't around until 1600 years after Jesus died. Know what else? Jesus didn't found Christianity. We did.
In this movie we have what? A Latin muse who's a stripper. An African disciple ignored in a European Bible. A Catholic martyr who works in an abortion clinic. And some white boys, the most derelict of which were labeled prophets! What do they have in common? A Jew named Jesus? Not quite. Just a few good ideas.
And in the end, it's all a movie, right?
Movie Review: Best Movie EVER
Summary: 5 Stars
People always told me I'd like this movie. As an extremely cynical person, they said it would totally work it's way into my mind. But, being so cynical, I doubted that. My main draw was that Alanis Morissette, of whom I'm a huge fan (it's not even funny) plays the Almighty. But I never really took the time to find this movie. So, it found me.
One day as I was looking for something to watch on TV. And sure enough, Dogma was on. I was about a half hour late, but I decided to just watch it. When it was over, I was stunned. I fell in love with the movie right then and there. It was on later that day and I watched it again. I was even more enthralled the second time around. I resolved that I HAD to get this movie. I'll tell you why.
Dogma takes a very interesting look at the world of religion. It gets very sarcastic and critical at times, which drew the ire of many groups over whether or not the movie was appropriate. Obviously they never took the time to see it, because instead of making religion out as evil, the film does everything it can to show the viewer how good religion truly is. Unlike other movies that are like this for the sake of just being controversial and provocative to get attention, this raises many good points about the church and about society in general. Some might call this film blasphemous. I call it genius. An instant classic. I admire the people who came together to make such an amazing thing. The chemistry is perfect, EVERYONE has impeccable acting, and the story is just plain excellent. The writing is first-rate. Even better in fact. I don't want to give away anything, so I'll leave it to you to see it for yourself. I hope you're as wowed as I am. I just bought it today, 3 weeks after first seeing it. I just finished watching it and it seems to get even better with repeated viewing. So even if you hate it at first, you'll learn to love it. I loved it from the get-go.
Movie Review: DOGMA...A Cult Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
When this film was releasd, it was proclaimed by the Catholic Church as blasphemous. On the contrary. The film is a reaffirmation of faith and at the same time, not to be taken seriously. When GHOSTBUSTERS was released way back in 1984, the hype above the titles claimed, "Coming This Summer To Save the World". It got almost the same reaction as this film. As with GHOSTBUSTERS, DOGMA is a comedy and not scripture. The film's main plot is about two fallen angels Bartleby (Ben Affleck) and Loki (Matt Damon) who somehow find a loophole to get back to heaven. For this, they must travel to New Jersey where Cardinal Glick (George Carlin) is planning "pass through the Church doors and have your sins wiped away automatically" day. However, this loophole can mean the end of the world because it would mean God is not perfect. Along the way, they go on a killing spree. Then, the voice of God, Metatron (Alan Rickman), recruits Bethany (Linda Fiorentino) to stop the fallen angels and she in turn recruits help along the way. The funniest of course, are the so-called prohets, Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith) from all of Smith's movies and Chris Rock as Rufus the 13th and only black Apostle. At the same time, Jason Lee as the demon Azrael is scheming to have the fallen angels succeed. Kevin Smith has done his homework and as a Catholic, knows his catechism. As usual, the Kevin Smith's dialogue is crisp and fun to listen to, and the comedy is right on the money. Great support all around from Chris Rock, Alan Rickman, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Lee etc... and Selma Hayek is used right for a change. The final battle scene of good vs. the not so evil may be a little graphic, and Alannis Morissette as God may be a little hard to swallow, but this is one of Kevin Smith's slickest movies to date. The special addition DVD has all the bells and whitsles.