Posted by bimp at core10d212.toad.net on August 27, 2000 at 20:15:23:
This message is sort of an expansive "thank you" to Kevin Smith from
some old fart who thinks of himself as a really big fan.
My name is Calvin Smith (all during my growing years I was mistakenly
called "Kevin" by many people--never considered it an honor until now),
and I am 43 years old. A few years ago when one of my very good friends
and spiritual anchors started telling me "You've gotta see Clerks!" and
putting quotes from Dante and Randal in her .signature file, I nodded
my head and put seeing that film on the back burner. My involvement
in community theatre and non-custodial parenting also meant that the
ships called "Mallrats" and "Chasing Amy" passed me by in the night.
Then November of 1999 came around, and with it "Dogma". I was delighted
by the abbreviated trailer I saw during a commercial break, and had a
faint recognition of Jay and Silent Bob because of bits and pieces people
had told me about the other Kevin Smith films. I eagerly ran to the
only showing the theatre here in Laurel, Maryland had of it on a particu-
lar night--a 10pm showing. I was the only one in the fucking theatre
to see that movie that night. It didn't matter. I laughed, cried, and
cheered. I had a new favorite film. First "Star Wars", then "Wrath of
Khan", then "Beetlejuice", and now "Dogma", which to my mind blew the
rest of them out of the water.
I pestered my wife to get the video release as soon as it came out for
my birthday, and she did--paying the "priced for rental" cost. I then
purchased one of the finest possessions I've obtained via Internet mail
order in the past year: an autographed screenplay. I agree--"Dogma" is
a work of which Kevin Smith can be very proud, both the filmed final
version and the written version with all its extra explanation. I think
of it as his magnum opus.
During the past month, generous friends have invited me over to view the
other three Askewniverse films, and I've enjoyed them greatly (of the
first three, "Mallrats" is my fave--I'm a sucker for good hilarity--
although the visual and story impact of "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy" are
right up there in my book. I'll eventually own them all.
But "Dogma" is just plain the best. I resonate a lot with the spiritual
statements he made in what he called a trifle of a film. I laughed. I
cried. I cheered. I sometimes still do. I cherish this damn movie, and
the screenplay. When God pulls the pin out of the Universe and, bickety-
bam, the whole thing comes down around us, I hope (S)He gives Kevin Smith
a great big hug and tells *him* "Thank you."
I know I want to. That's why I just did.