Dogma

Rating:
Summary: Problematic
Review: While dogma has some hilarious moments, ("Whose house?") and some very compelling ideas, it, like chasing amy, ultimately falls short of smith's other "serious" film, the "death of a salesman" for the 90s, Clerks. Forgetting that characterization and plot are thrown out the window (Chris Rock, Selma Hayek, and Jason Lee really have no role at all in the film,) some of the religious ideas seem underdeveloped, even trite - although Rock's comment about how people shouldn't have beliefs, only ideas, is brilliant, and is one of the movie's best lines. Jason Lee, who made malllrats great and saved Chasing Amy from Joey Lauren Adams' annoying screeching and abyssmal acting is woefully underused here, and Selma Hayek was absolutely terrible. The story was too disjointed and whimsical for some of the ideas to take firm hold, and some of those ideas needed to be fleshed out more anyway. Nevertheless, Affleck and Damon gave strong performances, Jason Mewes and Smith himself were typically hilarious - although maybe what the movie was really lacking was an amy/clerks-style silent bob sagacious summation of the issues at hand - and god was pretty funny too. Also it was good to see Jeff Andersen in his brief cameo at the gun store. One would hope, though, that Smith doesn't fall into his own dogmatic cycle, sacrificing quality filmaking for celebrity faces, vacuous ideas, and worthless attempts at humor, and instead returns to Clerks's hilarity, subtle social commentary, and commendable, almost poetic humility.

Rating:
Summary: Funny, but grossly over-rated
Review: Let me start by saying that I think Kevin Smith is perhaps the single most over-rated director of my generation, so anyone drooling for another review from a Smith-adoring sycophant should stop reading now. I got so annoyed with "Clerks" that I walked out before the end, and when I did stay for the end of "Chasing Amy" I wished I hadn't, it was so beyond contrived. "Dogma" was the first of Smith's films that I actually liked, but some of the worshipful reviews I've read of it on this site are just plain disturbing.

Smith likes to try to shock us, usually with what another comment on this site referred to as "d**k and f*rt jokes." The effective moments of "Dogma" saw the characters thinking within the logic of Catholicism as presented by the movie and producing problems and jokes from within that space (for example, Jay's response after Rufus has painstakingly elaborated Fiorentino's divine heritage: "So, she's black?" That was a perfect one that registered the biggest laugh of the night with the audience I was in). The far more prevalent moments were simple applications of the tired "d**k and f*rt jokes" to new targets, be it the Church, organized religion in general, etc. When the film first does this, it rightly offsets the seriousness and grandeur of the religious, but when the film does this for TWO HOURS STRAIGHT, I get a little bored, a little annoyed that Smith doesn't seem to know when he's made his point. So he just keeps on making it, and keeps on making it. And I quit finding it funny.

Fiorentino was woefully misused, cracking sarcasms when she should be full of curiosity, fear and trembling, rendering her otherwise beautiful moment of self-doubt utterly unbelievable and unmotivated (and almost, well, hokey), but the Wonder Bread Boys Damon and Affleck are actually really good, as is Rickman.

One final word to those who see in "Dogma" a critique of organized religion: Let's not forget that this supposed critique is a film whose very premise (articulated by Loki and Bartleby themselves, at the movie's outset in the airport) is that the Catholic Church speaks for God. Can you critique as outmoded and fallen an institution whose very status as divine authority is required by the plot structure of your critique? I don't think it works.

Let's see "Dogma" for what it is, a pretty good comedy. But let's not fall into the sandtrap of calling a movie deep just because it talks its way around religion. Other films have engaged religion far more credibly, and those are the behinds we should be kissing.

Rating:
Summary: Never heard of it either? Its GREAT
Review: It helps if you've had a formal religious education, but anyone can enjoy Dogma, as it pokes fun at organized religion, and especially the rediculous rules of the catholic church. It's got everything: satire, dialogue, action, jay and silent bob, and even chris rock! It's a must-see.

Rating:
Summary: The most fun Armageddon can be
Review: Kevin Smith has made some of the funniest movies out there. The best part (with the exception of Randell from Clerks) has always been Jay and Silent Bob. These two are worth watching in almost anything. If you have not seen Dogma, check it out. If you have not seen Clerks, order it now. There is no point in renting it, you will want to own it! Kevin Smith is one of the best talents working in film today.

Rating:
Summary: Some reviewer corrections
Review: First of all, I would like to correct a few of the reviewers here.

1) The "big name stars" were not brought in by the budget. Dogma is still quite a low budget film by Hollywood standards, and the "big name starts" worked for scale. For those that don't know, scale is minimum wage for actors. Ben Affleck, Jason Lee et. al. are in the movie because they know Smith and are friends.

2) The Pope is who sanctioned the "door thing."

3) Dogma was written before Clerks, Smith's first movie, was made.

4) If Rufus was one of the original appostles, Mathais would be the 14th, not the 13th.

Now, with that said, I must say that the SE DVD is going to be a treat. Some people were lucky enough to see the film with part of the deleted scenes in tact, and there is some really great stuff in there. In the strip club, there's a song that will really knock your socks off. 100 minutes of extra footage, and many movies coming out now are shorter than that! This is a huge treat for the fans!

Rating:
Summary: Dog Food
Review: Dog biscuits take ages to eat and are very bland (taste like cardboard) so does this movie. What is the point of having a plot so complicated that all the characters get to do is explain it the whole way through? I never thought I'd say this but the adolescent humour is the best thing about this film ... and amazingly Ben Affleck and Mat Damon still manage to be entertaining despite being weighed down with the prerequisite ton of boring dialogue

and to those of you that insist this movie is a masterpiece designed for only those that understand ... this movie does not go over my head ... get real ... the observations it makes about religion are so tired and boring that I think I remember my Catholic School priest bring them up in a Morning Mass once.

I don't have a dislike for K. Smith either I really loved Chasing Amy and Clerks and Mallrats were pretty good too.

But why Kevin why? As my mother once said, it isn't funny and it isn't clever so don't do it

Rating:
Summary: Jesus Christ wasn't sent here to give us the willies!!
Review: Kevin Smith has outdone himself. The director of "Clerks," "Mallrats" and "Chasing Amy" has come of age. A deeply philosophical endeavor, "Dogma" traipses through the tenets of Catholicism with a vengence. Behind the incredible and delightful humor is a strong and conspicuous enough message to make a former Catholic (such as myself) squirm with guilt (what else?)! Jay and Silent Bob are my heroes!!

But, like the director, you shouldn't take this film too seriously. It's merely a phenomenal venue for the incredible talents it showcases.

I can't wait for the Special Edition DVD!!! I've worn out the DVD I bought just weeks ago!

Rating:
Summary: in heaven, there is no beer
Review: OK, this has got to be the most irreverent film since 'Life of Brian', and Smith even seems to be paying homage to this work in places. The placement of George Carlin, one of our favorite religious commentary/critic comics as a reformational cardianl was quite apropriate. Smith is taking advantage of the larger budget to pull in some star power, as well as Affleck and Damon's now famous/popular mugs. As such, the film loses the DIY sensibility and roughness of his previous works, and should really be considered a separate piece, not really following the same indie criteria of the 'New Jersey trilogy', although a few references to the previous movies sneak in.

While I think that this is probably Smith's funniest film as a satire, I still think 'Chasing Amy' is the best of his 4 works for its combination of humor and tragedy.

Rating:
Summary: Can't yet give it 5 stars, but 4 on the film itself!
Review: Loved it! Though I was raised Catholic, I was always taught to have a good sense of humor about myself. Too many people saw this movie as a poke in the eye at religion. Funny, I saw it as a positive statement on religion. Of course, most of the negative reviews tend to come from people who haven't actually SEEN the film....

Rating:
Summary: I'll surely go to hell for loving this movie
Review: Considering how much religious controversy, this movie has attracted, I'll surely go to hell for loving this movie so much. Admittedly, I'm a Kevin Smith junkie, and I bought this DVD the day it came out (both for the original DVD release and the special edition). Beware, as Dogma is mostly plot-driven comedy, as opposed to the largely dialogue-driven pieces that Kevin Smith has previously done. Regardless, the Kevin Smith quality is still there, and the numerous religious discussions about the (im)plausible validity of traditional themes will make you both laugh and give a second thought to what you've been taught in church.
The cast is stellar, including one of my favorite Alan Rickman roles of all time. As always, there's Jay and Silent Bob, who provide a more central role, as opposed to the side comedic relief they provided in prior Kevin Smith films.
All in all, the movie is splendid! The special edition DVD features a slew of features including tons of deleted scenes, dozens of outtakes, and cast and crew commentary. As with any View Askew film, the commentary, itself will often have you in hysterics as well provide you with insight in the making of the movie.