Kevin Smith’s funny disclaimer that his film is nothing but a fantasy/comedy is fine, if it were that. The reality though is entirely different, as every shot taken at the church and Catholicism is just clear commentary, not humor! Smith’s public claim to not understand why people are upset is ultimately more bogus than his disclaimer. He knows perfectly well why, but controversy means ticket sales. (I guess his faith lies more in capitalism!) Personally, I don’t see how anyone can deny this. Every five minutes the plot is stopped to berate God, Jesus and the church with nothing but naïve cynicism and inflated pop culture jabs. This sanctimonious preaching is followed up with more rhetoric and a moral that while correct, is still rather arrogant coming from him. Smith says that faith is the most important thing we can have. Sure it is, but when has cynicism ever been the road to faith? That’s an oxymoron, pal, and the coward’s way out.

      When you leave DOGMA, whether you liked it or not, you’ll probably be thinking that the Catholics are to blame for everything. Stuck in a dead end job? Blame the Catholics! Your wife leaves you? It’s the Catholics fault! Stub your toe? Those pesky Catholics! Anybody thinking that I’ve vastly over simplified this either weren’t paying attention or just didn’t see this film. Look, I have no doubts that this movie will find its audience, made up of those who agree and find this cynicism funny, or with those who are so gullible to not even realize what’s being said. Sadly, I fear the latter will be in the majority. Hey, “Ignorance is bliss.” But the critics are a bunch of pussies anyway. If this film went after any religion other than Catholicism, they would’ve trashed it unmercifully. Are they two-faced? Absolutely, and they get away with it only because no one calls them on it.

      But if you ignore the church, the cynicism, the hype, the protests, faith, or whatever, there’s the simple fact that DOGMA is just not a good movie. Smith’s other films are much better (i.e. funnier), while this is rather boring and tedious. The writing is second rate, the production amateur, and the special effects are lame. The SEINFELD brand of humor that Smith continually utilizes, just with bad language, ends up a failure. The more these characters banter on and on about nothing, the more annoying it becomes. (You wish they’d shut up!) For proof, not a stir was heard from my audience for almost an hour straight.

      Let’s be clear though, my goal is not to defend what Smith slanders. I just think that his attacks are faulty, and therefore should be just as scrutinized. My faith is my own, and I don’t need Kevin Smith telling me what to think. Personally, I don’t feel that any one religion is perfect, but that shouldn’t detract from their importance either. Yes, we should be able to laugh at ourselves because humor helps us to understand each other better than we know. DOGMA, however, isn’t comedy or satire! It’s cruel and unabated propaganda. Most of all (if not worst), it’s a lame movie and I’ll leave it at that.