Dogma (1999)

Dogma: Directed by Kevin Smith. With Bud Cort, Barret Hackney, Jared Pfennigwerth, Kitao Sakurai. An abortion clinic worker with a special heritage is called upon to save the existence of humanity from being negated by two renegade angels trying to exploit a loop-hole and reenter Heaven.

“While both funny and frightening, this film is more than just a comedy with gratuitous violence and (bad)-language. Itu0026#39;s a theological reflection…and a call to the Church to focus on things that matter (like living life to the fullest, helping those in need, honoring and respecting all, expecting respect in return) rather than those that donu0026#39;t (like…well, dogma [doctrines/church laws] or any belief that causes us to u0026quot;draw a line in the sand,u0026quot; condemning to hell or perdition any who disagree with us). As I watched it (the first and all subsequent times), I felt sure that the movie was written by someone who really loves his church — but is smart and aware enough to recognize its shortcomings, its blindspots, even its failures and hypocrisies. Rather than simply leaving or ignoring or dismissing it, Smith chooses to enter into dialogue with it, using the potent medium of film to do so. One can only hope that the church–not just Roman Catholic but all branches of it– takes him up on his call to conversation.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003enNot to be missed in the film, on a lighter note, are the introductory disclaimer and the u0026quot;Thank Yousu0026quot; at the end. Smith thanks Elaine Pagels, for Godu0026#39;s sake — who knew anyone in Hollywood read contemporary, feminist theology? What a welcome revelation….”