Rating: Summary: Great writing, wonderful cast, bland direction. Review: Let's be frank: visually, "Dogma" is unimpressive. The special effects look TV-quality, the editing is jerky, the cinematography is bland and Kevin Smith's direction is unispired. Thankfully, the sins of "Dogma" are far outweighed by its virtues. Smith's script is hilarious, thought-provoking, and ultimately touching. To act it out, he's rounded up a top-notch cast that brings genuine life to their roles. Brainy bombshell Linda Fiorentino is Bethany, chosen seemingly at random by the sarcastic angel Metatron (Alan Rickman) to work for God. Her mission: to stop a pair of fallen angels (Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) from exploiting a Catholic Church loophole that will get them back into Heaven. If they do, they'll prove God wrong, thus erasing everything He/She has created. Bethany's reluctant allies in her quest include Chris Rock as Rufus, the unrecorded 13th apostle, kicked out of Earth, Heaven and history for rightly insisting that Jesus was black; Salma Hayek as a Muse with a heavenly body and a brain to match; and everyone's favorite potheads Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Smith.) Fiorentino gives yet another great performance, contrasted nicely by Rickman's sad, exasperated angel. Affleck and Damon's menacing twist on their pretty-boy images is genuinely disturbing. Mewes is reliably funny as the imbecilic Jay, and Smith shows perfect comic timing and impressive range as Silent Bob. The story mostly coasts along on a vast supply of smart-alec wit, but a few scenes rise above the rest: an unnerving parking-garage confrontation between Affleck and Damon, and a quiet lakeside chat between Fiorentino and Rickman. "Dogma" also scores points for keeping most of its script's excessive violence stylishly offscreen. Bottom line: "Dogma" is not a well-made film, but it is a good one. You will laugh loudly and often, and come away with a greater respect for the power of faith and the importance of believing in something greater than yourself. Film fans take note: in October 2000 View Askew will release the "collector's edition" of this film, with more than an hour of cut footage and plenty of other extra goodies.
Rating: Summary: puts the fun back into fundamentalism.... Review: I'm giving this a 3 mainly because while I liked the film, the lines weren't that funny to me -- more sit-com quality than topnotch humor. I'd give it a 4 as a rental, though--it's worth seeing, has a great cast, and lays bare the humor in ponderous, concretistic, legalistic, and literal-minded attitudes that take themselves far too seriously. The supersensitive who long for the days when creative irreverence could be repressed in the name of goodness and purity might prefer a Disney flick. Keep an eye out for the corporate boardroom scene -- it's, well, a blast. Movie quiz question: where did they get the line "I believe in THIS"? Hint: a similarly controversial film for which Peter Gabriel wrote some fine music....
Rating: Summary: Fast paced thought provoking loads of fun! Review: This movie is now one of my all time favorites! Yes, it is sometimes crude and irreverent, but if you listen closely to the dialogue(which means seeing the movie more than once!) you will see that the purpose is to make you reflect on your faith and see what it really means to you. The main quote I loved from the story is 'Why can't we have ideas instead of beliefs since ideas are easier to change'? Religion, like every other aspect of humanity, must evolve with us. This story is very humorous and thought provoking and the cast is superb! If you have any sort of intelligence that allows you to be a free thinker, you will LOVE this show!
Rating: Summary: Disappointing Review: I think people liked this movie because they thought it was rebellious but still somehow true. I tried really hard to like it because I like "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy" VERY much. I was disappointed. I just didn't think it was all that funny, and the premise seemed strained. It was hard to suspend disbelief. As a comment on Catholicism, incidentally, it isn't even close. I would describe myself as a Catholic estranged from the Catholic church. I used to be very devout. The movie didn't offend me. It just seemed like it was made by someone who seems to be a Catholic-without-a-clue. Take it from one who knows.
Rating: Summary: Now this was a movie Review: If you are a super religious person the movie is not for you. Open minded people would find this movie histerical. This movie from beginning to end made and think and laugh, all actors in the movie did a great job and keep your eye out on the cameos. If your looking for a keeper this one is for you.
Rating: Summary: Every Catholic's Worst Nightmare! Review: I will admit that I am a Catholic. A devoted one. But I must confess: I thought "Dogma" was hilarious! It goes against any beliefs Christians have, but you can't help but laugh! The story gets a bit confusing, but easy to follow: two fallen angels decide to end the world...Then an abortionist, who happens to be a relative of Christ, is called upon (along with a fowl-mouthed prophet and his silent partner)to stop them. Along the way, they run into angels making their living as strippers, a deadly monster made out of poo, and the two merciless fallen angels who are executing any sinners they come upon. Sounds interesting? It gets better. But, you'll have to rent the film to find out!
Rating: Summary: Mr. Smith¿s Best Effort to Date Review: During Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy we all learned to appreciate the witty banter of Kevin Smith. One problem I had was that his burning, biting philosophy was coming out in response to some seemingly uninteresting things i.e. a quick stop, mall, or comic book line. Therein lies some of Smith's genius, but also a crutch that is holding back some fun, topical, relevant, engaging philosophy about things that can make a difference. He has addresses that issue in Dogma, a pure fun, but thought provoking tale about love, sex, destiny, hope and oh yes religion. If you are offended by this film (that is too bad) you have missed the point. I won't even begin to think I understand Smith's purpose, but this is a film that told me, we need to personalize our belief and solidify our convictions or the "Jays" of our lives might try and clip our wings. The dialogue in this film (vulgar as usual) was fun and exciting to follow. I would like to see the PG film Smith has in store (the one he keeps promising his parents in the credits). The Davids, Mamet and Lynch proved that amazing films can be made with a PG and even G rating (The Spanish Prisoner, The Straight Story) and someday Smith will figure this out and win an academy award. Not that I'm too offended by him, but repetitions of the "f" word is the easy way out when an feeble mind loses the ability to express itself. The cast of this film alone makes it worth seeing. The appearances by Carlin, and the Clerks boys are lively and well done. Across the board the acting is solid as is the direction and Smith fans won't be disappointed.
Rating: Summary: funny Review: two renegade angels have found a loophole that could potentially destroy all of mankind. It leaves a question wandering in your mind. Can a band of unlikely heroes save the day?
Rating: Summary: Not for some people but... Review: This movie is still funny! Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes are so wonderfully mismatched that you can't help but laugh at them. As the angels, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are sinister enough to try and outsmart God to allow them entrance into heaven. Chris Rock, George Carlin and Salma Hayek are all funny additions to the film. Alanis Morissette's depiction of God was one I could've lived without. No, it's not intended for people with strong religious beliefs, but those who can watch it objectively will find it has a positive message about Catholicism and it's place in the world.
Rating: Summary: I found the movie cute & amusing! Review: Why is it that directors of indie films & the bizzarre often make box office flops when given a big budget & star power? Is it the audience that only expects greatness from b&w films, or movies shot w/a handheld camera & almost no budget? Maybe, because it happened w/david Lynch (Dune),Tim Burton (Mars Attacks), and now Kevin Smith. The fact of the matter is that these are all good films, they just seem to lack the "edge" attributed to their directors.Dogma is no exception. The idea is very clever. 2 fallen angels attempt to regain entry into Heaven, which will mean the destruction of mankind if they do so, as it will prove God fallible. Neat. The angels are Damon & Affleck who are good, but really unneeded stars as leads. Linda Fiorentino, who hasn't lost her touch since Last Seduction, but just chose some bad scripts, is on top of her game here as a faith stricken Catholic. She is joined by Jay & Silent Bob (unusually nonabrasive in this role), as well as the Muse Salma Hayek, to stop them. What I feel results is a fun, clever, well crafted film that was either overlooked or played down because of religious factions that opposed the movie. The only problems that I found, really, were the few mistakes made in regards to Catholisism; one being that a priest, bishop, or cardinal cannot sanction a "door" which will forgive all siners simply by passing thru it, which is what the 2 angels call their "loophole" for getting back into Heaven. Only the Pope is infallible in the Catholic religion, & I don't remember the film mentioning him sanctioning this "door." Another faux paus was that chris Rock couldn't be the 13th apostle, as there was a 13th apostle in scripture. He was Mathias, who replaced Judas after his suicide. Rock would be the 14th apostle. Other than that, the swearing got old real fast, but those are about my only complaints w/the movie. I found that, intentionally or unintentionally,View Askew Productions created a faith affirming movie. Who wouldn't want God to be loving, beautiful (whether male or female), unspeaking, as we couldn't understand the sublime nature of an all powerful being anyway, and w/a sense of humor and wonder in all His creations, as evidenced by God's romp and tumblesets through the fresh,green grass.Just perfect! I know that this is the type of God I would want. A cute (bet that's the first time that word was used to describe Dogma)film.
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