Review By Light House Shines

I must actually be pretty damn good at the whole advance screening thing, since I've been able to see roughly 95% of all the movies on my wish list. Sometime years before their actual theatrical releases. With the the minor exception of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, naturally. Though I already got tickets to see that opening night so why should I care really. Especially since I have been wanting to see Dogma for almost an entire year now, ever since someone sent me the script in an email. Roughly the exact same point and time when I decided that I must see this film early anyway I could! For there are just so many things and actors associated with this film that I absolutyely love. More so considering that I am a huge fan of the first part of the infamous Jersey trilogy Clerks, specifically since I actually worked in a video store for over 5 years in my youth. Where I encountered almost the exact same bunch of deranged/demented, and more often than not, incredibly stupid customers that the characters in Clerks did. Who for some unexplainable reason seemed to naturally gravitate to my place of employment, seemingly just to bother me with their insipid whining and inane questioning...But I digress, as I want to talk about uber director Kevin Smith's latest big screen foray Dogma ( By the way, I absolutely loved issue 5 of Daredevil, so keep it up!). A comedy of biblical proportions if you will, for lack of a better description. Since this film is sure to upset the moral right on so many levels, mostly because of the plot.

Which basically revolves around a pair of disgruntle wayward Archangels, played by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to side splitting perfection. Forsaken and cast out by by God herself, desperate to get back into heaven anyway they can. Even if it means the unwitting destruction of God and the entire universe as we know it, by inadvertently proving God to be fallible via a loophole in Catholic Dogmatic law. Something an abortion clinic worker named Bethany (Linda Florentino), and her two would be prophet companions, Jay and Silent Bob have been sent to stop ( Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith respectively). When the possible end of the world is prpphecized by Metatron, the voice of God. Nicely played to the hilt by Alan Rickman, who had quite a few good scenes throughout the movie. Specifically towards the end while in the presence of God. Though I wont spoil those by going into them. Who also inlists Rufus, the forgotten black 13th apostle, to help Bethany in her quest to save creation. Played bitterly by Chris Rock, who has some of the film's best lines of dialogue.

Something that has always been one of the best things about any of Kevin Smith's films, and more specifically very true in the case of Dogma. His brilliant and varied use of dialogue to masterfully illustrate his unique and very often well thought out point of view, whatever that maybe giving each film. As Mr. Smith has an obvious love for the spoken word, that subsequently cannot help but show in every single thing he writes. For even his current turn as writer for Marvel comics Daredevil, reeks with creativity and the vitality that only Kevin Smith can delivery. Albeit his camera angles and subsequent spectrum of acting ability haven't always exactly been a contributing factor to the power of some of his films. Especially in regards to the earlier ones like Mall Rats (sorry, I know you have taken enough crap for that one already). Which is somewhat the case in Dogma, for while I really loved it when the various characters were talking and interacting with one another. I was a little bit bored or insulted at some of the intermittent juvenile humor, that took place before and after each major scenes was played. Although truth be told, I would willingly take Kevin Smith's version of bad film making techniques over any other director or filmmaker in a heartbeat. Simply because he is such a strong writer and all of his dialogue scenes are so full of life and imagination. Of course my opinion is also slightly prejudiced, because I have always been a huge fan of both Ben and Matt's. Increasingly so after witnessing Good Will Hunting and Ben's role in Chasing Amy(Still my favorite Kevin Smith film by far). Hence I was naturally very excited to see them both onscreen again, especially since the majority of their scenes involved them killing people. All in typical Kevin Smith fashion, that they found to be unworthy or in violation of God's law ( Look for the Mooby the Cow massacre scene, destined to be one of Kevin Smith's all time best scenes in any film).

Alas along side from the meager praise I can give Dogma, there is also some sad news. As the particular screening I attended for Dogma was supposedly one of the only screenings of the film to take place on the entire West coast ( as far as I know) before it moves on to Cannes. So unfortunately there is very little to no chance that anyone outside of the movie industry, or with some inside connections will be able to see this film in it's current form. Months before it's official release some time hence. As I have to assume that there will possibly be some more editing, or fine tuning if you will of the film before it's final theatrical release in November of 99. Especially if the A.F.A. (American Familiy Association) has it's way, which is something I think I have to comment on. For personally I was raised to essentially come to my own beliefs concerning religion and/or the (possible) existence of God. As such I try to understand, if not actually respect everyone's religious beliefs. Even those that differ greatly from my own. For my personal opinion has always been that if there is indeed a God, he/she/it will be the one who ultimately judges us/anyone for their respective sins. If such a thing even takes place upon our deaths, since no one has ever come back to let us know for sure. And as such, or until someone does offer us difinitive proof, why bother spending so much of one's time and personal energy persecuting someone or something. Simply because it differs from what you consider to be the acceptable norm ( This is of course within reason, as it doesn't apply to people who regularly have sex with farm animals or hunt people for sport or anything equally bizarre like that). Especially since most religions are all about peace, love and unity, not blanketly condemning people as sinners and screaming that they're going to burn on Hell for all eternity. Just for making a film that happens to express a religious view other than your own. Which is essentially what I believe director and writer Kevin Smith was trying to convey throughout much of his film. That religion is just a humble beginning and not the end all be all of existence, and that no one person or faith is absolutely correct or true. So with that said Dogma is definitely a great film, even if Kevin is going to burn on hell for all eternity for making it! The blasphemous heathen!