Thursday, November 18, 1999 ~be ~quinaS' Page9 Dogma delive~s co~troversial hum.or By ANNA FARAMELLI Meanwhile, Bethany Sloane racist and sexist are not anything Aquinas Royallife Editor (Linda Fiorentino), a worker at an new, it makes for a quality movie abortion clinic, is visited by when put together with Smith's Dogma, the fourth of five Metatron (Alan Rickman). He superb writing style. movies in Kevin Smith's "New explains to her that he is the voice Dogma is quite possibly Jersey Trilogy," is the latest film of God and that she has been Smith's best film to date. One of to feel the wrath of The Catholic called upon to stop Loki and the greatest things about this League. Groups of Catholics Bartleby from destroying exis­ movie is the extremely talented protested outside advance screen­ tence. Metatron explains that if cast. Carlin is hysterical as the ings of Dogma stating that the the angels are successful in superficial Cardinal Glick, his film is anti-Catholic. The reality returning to heaven they · will sharp-witted humor and holier is that the film is neither anti­ have proven God wrong and than thou attitude makes the audi­ Catholic nor anti-religious; it is a because the whole of existence is ence wish that he had more movie about faith. based upon the fact that God is screen time. Cardinal Glick (George infallible, to prove God wrong Affleck and Damon get to do Carlin), the pastor of" St. would be to end existence. the buddy act again and they do it Michael's parish, attempts' to bol­ Bethany is sti_II skeptical about perfectly. They successfully play ster church attendence by using this, but Metatron assures her that the role of the bad guys in the his "Catholicism Wow!" cam­ she can do it and tells her that she movie while at the same time paign to invoke a little-known will be helped along on her jour­ gaining the audience's sympathy. Catholic dogma called plenary ney by two prophets. Rock is the best that he has indulgence, which absolves the Convincing herself that it was ever been in the role of Rufus. He sins of anyone who passes all a dream, . Bethany goes to successfully makes serious politi­ through the archway of his work the next day and is almost cal commentary through his bit­ church. killed by a trio of hockey-loving ing humor. Loki (Matt Damon) and· demons, when the prophets, Jay Fiorentino is great as the feisty Bartleby (Ben Affleck) are angels (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob and sarcastic Bethany. She is suc­ who were banished from heaven (Smith) make their appearance. cessful in convincing the audi­ for eternity by God after refusing The three then make their way ence of her struggles with her to follow God's orders. After a toward New Jersey and on the faith and the task that she is faced millennia of living in Wisconsin, way are joined by Rufus (Chris with. they are tipped off to Glick's plan Rock), the thirteenth apostle, who Mewes and Smith are wonder­ and realize that this loophole in is upset because he believes that ful as the fun loving, ganja smok­ Catholic dogma will allow them he was left out of the Bible ing Jay and Silent Bob. Their off­ to re-enter heaven via St. because he was black. the-wall humor and unique Michael's in New Jersey. In an The plot's twists and turns vocabulary grabbed the audi­ attempt to get on God's good keep the audience interested, ence's attention in every scene side. Loki, the former angel of while the film's humor is often they were in. death, has decided to once again used to make the audience reflect Dogma looks at the subjects of punish commandment breakers, on their religious beliefs. faith and God in a refreshing new and the pair leave behind them a Although the ideas that Jesus was light. It is one of the few recent trail of bodies on their journey to black, God is really a woman and movies that is worth the money New Jersey. the authors of the Bible were you pay to see it. underage (continued from page 6) being jeopardized. Jeopardized Whether you are Catholic or not, deprived of a certain aspect of because you are unhappy and it is easy to take for granted what your life, be very grateful that distraught. These consistent feel­ is in front of us because it is nor­ you will one day receive some­ ings can affect the quality of mal and comfortable. thing to build it upon. your education here at The We are a part of a large com­ The four or maybe five years University. munity of students who are that you have at this University The same education that given a gift of receiving an edu­ is a gift. It is a gift because it is some of you travel by car and. cation at a college level. only given to a select few on this plane for hours to continually However, this larger community earth. improve atid. one day embrace. If will never compare to the num­ You will one day sit on an you did not want the quality of ber of individuals that perceive education that others will work education that this institution college as a challenge they will the longest hours, pray, beg and strives to give you, your mere never face. sacrifice a good portion of their presence would be non-existent. Never face because of acade­ life to give what you will have to You the student have the mic failure, poverty, financial their own children. power because you have been need or the general thought that Do not feel robbed because chosen to be here to receive an college was never even an option you cannot go across the street: educ.ation that will far surpass in their life. utilize what others would travel many others and will be far more It is sad to say that college is the longest highway for in order useful as a tool for life than any not an option for everyone, but it to be a part of something you memories from a crowded base­ is even more disheartening to take for granted every day of ment. say that an education at all seems your life. Our Catholic affiliation impossible to grasp for many. demands us to be grateful for So maybe instead of consid­ Devin DeMarco is a senior what has been provided to us. ering yourself as one being from Waldwick, N.J. .