Dogma and such films

[Kerrisan]

It kind of frustrates me when people find out that I love Dogma and respond, "but . . . you're a Christian! I thought you'd hate that movie!"
Yes, I am a Christian. But I also have a sense of humor. The concept of "Buddy Christ" tickles me. I find the idea of God using people like Jay and Silent Bob hilarious. There is so much truth to that film! (for example: yes, the Crucifix is rather depressing. A "Buddy Christ" figure would make Christianity seem more fun. God uses people like Jay and Silent Bob all the time - they're called "sinners.")

So yeah. I can poke fun and my own beliefs because some of them don't make sense. It's my faith in them that matters.

Just needed a rant!

[AFPheonix]

I love that movie, too. Absolutely killed me :)



But don't tell my mom that I watched it, I'll never hear the end of it ;)

[Kerrisan]

Pretty sure my father would condemn me to Hell if he knew I'd watched it and enjoyed it! ;)

[rahmota]

Heehe on the flip side of the coin as an Aethiest I get strange looks/reactions when I mention a "religious" film to someoine I like or they otherwise figure out I own it and enjoy it. Like the Ten Commandments or Spartacus with charlton Heston, Veggietales, Joseph etc... Its like as an Aethiest I'm not supposed to enjoy those kinds of movies or I'm supposed to be against them. Hey a good story is a good story.

[protege]

What I always find amusing...is that people claim that God made everything...and then get pissy when someone makes fun of religion. Uh, if God made everything, did he not include "humor" in there too?

[Lace Neil Singer]

Now it is such a bizarrely impossible coincidence that anything so mind-bogglingly useful could have evolved purely by chance that some thinkers have chosen to see it as a final and clinching proof of the nonexistence of God. The arguement goes something like this:


"I refuse to prove that I exist," says God, "for proof denies faith, and without faith I am nothing."

"But," say Man, "the Babel fish is a dead giveaway, isn't it? It could not have evolved by chance. It proves you exist, and so therefore, by your own arguments, you don't. QED."

"Oh dear," says God, "I hadn't though of that" and promply vanishes in a puff of logic.

[MadMike]

What I always find amusing...is that people claim that God made everything...and then get pissy when someone makes fun of religion. Uh, if God made everything, did he not include "humor" in there too?

That's how I feel -- I like to think God has a sense of humor.

I thought the film was hiliarous, and the fact that it pissed off the religious nuts is a plus in my book. :D

[Lace Neil Singer]

Am I going insane, or was Alanis Morrisette in that film? I remember vaguely seeing a film with her in it called Dogma.

Oh, and my older brother's a practicing Christian, and he finds that film hilarious.

[rahmota]

Yeah Alanis was playing God in that movie fom what I recall. I never saw Dogma but my friends did.

[Lace Neil Singer]

It's really good. And shoulda been Lemmy playing God, surely?

[Dreamstalker]

I remember the protests and picketing at the theater across the street from where I worked when that movie came out. At one point near the end of the run, the theater manager thanked the angry crowds for bringing him so much business :D

[Will-Mun]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UDoIBgiUAQ :D

I am a huge Kevin Smith fan, and have pretty much seen all of the Jersey saga. And Dogma is one of the best. I try to watch it any time it's on TV (since I'm broke, can't afford it, and the quality of my downloaded version sucks.)

It always amazed me that people are offended by the movie. I want to ask them if they've actually seen it, and if they say yes, did they have their head burried up inside their ass.

I mean no self respecting man can go into that movie and not see that it is a PARODY, a comedy, never intended to slight any religion. And if you can get past yourself, you can actually realize how insightful the movie IS.

[IDrinkaRum]

What I love is that I'm a Roman Catholic and my husband is an Episcopalian and he's amazed I love "Dogma"! He says that as a Roman Catholic I should be offended because of how the Catholic church is portrayed and I shouldn't tell people I like the film. :rolleyes: (he said the same thing about Heath Ledger's firlm, "The Order" - heh - my husband is weird).

[Puckishone]

Well, here's a real head-spinner for you: I am an atheist and I didn't much care for "Dogma." :D It was a little too over the top for me with the whole "religion bad" motif...yes, Kevin we get it...mm hm, we get that one, too....yeah, and that one....oh, for crying out loud, enough already!!!! (My preference is for subtle parody, and Kevin Smith ain't the guy for that.)

But I understand the preconceptions that go with labels such as "Christian" or "atheist" and I generally regard all of them as a load of crap. All it takes, to my mind, is some positive experiences with people different to us to (hopefully) open the mind and plant the seeds of acceptance therein. In other words, if you're going to call me a monster, do it because you know me personally, rather than just by my title. ;)

[Boozy]

Veering off topic a bit, but I'd like to confess something:

I've hated every Kevin Smith movie I've seen, with the exception of Clerks, and I suspect I only liked that one because it spoke to me personally.

I think Kevin Smith is a pretty smart guy, though. Just ask him! :D

[Will-Mun]

Well, here's a real head-spinner for you: I am an atheist and I didn't much care for "Dogma." :D It was a little too over the top for me with the whole "religion bad" motif...yes, Kevin we get it...mm hm, we get that one, too....yeah, and that one....oh, for crying out loud, enough already!!!! (My preference is for subtle parody, and Kevin Smith ain't the guy for that.)

You know, Kevin Smith IS Roman Catholic. He may not be... devout. But he does attend Mass (usually the week before a new movie of his comes out) from time to time...

Dogma wasn't "RELIGION BAD!" it was the view of religion from a Catholic man, from someone who has read the bible, and believes in it (tongue in cheek maybe, but he believes).

Kevin has actually said he wants to make a Dogma 2, which will center around the Apocalypse.

In late November 2005, Smith was asked about a possible Dogma sequel on the ViewAskew.com message boards. His response:

"So weird you should ask this, because ever since 9/11, I have been thinking about a sequel of sorts. I mean, the worst terrorist attack on American soil was religiously bent. In the wake of said attack, the leader of the "Free World" outed himself as pretty damned Christian. In the last election, rather than a quagmire war abroad, the big issue was whether or not gay marriage was moral. Back when I made "Dogma", I always maintained that another movie about religion wouldn't be forthcoming, as "Dogma" was the product of 28 years of religious and spiritual meditation, and I'd kinda shot my wad on the subject. Now? I think I might have more to say. And, yes - the Last Scion would be at the epicenter of it. And She'd have to be played by Alanis. And we'd need a bigger budget - because the entire third act would be the Apocalypse. Scary thing is this: the film would have to touch on Islam. And unlike the Catholic League, when those cats don't like what you do, they issue a death warrant on yer ass. And now that I've got a family, I'm not as free to stir the shit-pot as I was when I was single, back when I made "Dogma". I mean, now I've gotta think about more than my own safety and well-being. But regardless - yeah, a "Dogma" followup's been swimming around in my head for some time now."[1]

Smith later commented he was amazed that the post was picked up by the press and noted that he had only thought about it and had not actually written anything yet. Smith also stated that even if the project ever formulates, it is a very long way off.

A one-shot comic featuring Bartleby and Loki was announced by Smith in 2000. It was going to be a 50 (or so) page story detailing how these two angels confronted God and were kicked out of Heaven and forced to stay in Wisconsin. As of January 2007, the comic remains on Smith's agenda, but has not been worked on.


Veering off topic a bit, but I'd like to confess something:

I've hated every Kevin Smith movie I've seen, with the exception of Clerks, and I suspect I only liked that one because it spoke to me personally.

I think Kevin Smith is a pretty smart guy, though. Just ask him!


Oooh. Thats just... Thats like signing your death warrant in this thread. :D Just ASKING for it, coming into a thread discussing a Kevin Smith movie and tearing down the man's work.

For shame. -Wags finger- :p

[Parrothead]

Off Topic/ Thread hijack: Have any of you read Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb:_The_Gospel_According_to_Biff%2C_Christ%27s_C hildhood_Pal