Posted by Darth Dobbin at 208-58-250-98.s352.tnt1.nwhv.ct.dialup.rcn.com on June 18, 2000 at 10:45:53:
In Reply to: what would jesus do? posted by kevinmoore on June 18, 2000 at 10:26:20:
But you lost me here:
do you think jesus would be mad and punch bethany in the uterus? what would he do?
Did your pappy just throw you a Father's Day Beatin'? Ye gods, man.
To give some undeserved credence to your question, I think the exclusion of the big "J" was intentional for a host of reasons.
1)The film *was* a comedy, after all. It's 1st intention was to induce chuckles. Having Jesus as a wacky character would probably offend Kevin's own sensibilities, I would imagine, and having him as a serious redeemer with the beatific understanding of the oneness of all souls and the infinite balance and mercy of the universe and God's intentions would be the comedic equivalent of not only a wet balnket, but a wet SMALLPOX blanket, both stifling and killing any laughs in the film.
2) The movie was a "side story" of the minor players in the cosmological game, with one "heavy hitter" providing guidance. (Metatron.) In comic book terms, the "heroes" assembled in DOGMA were the Askewniverse's answer to the DOOM PATROL- Heroes saving the universe to be sure, but off-beat heroes that are not invited to the JUSTICE LEAGUE picnic. The inclusion of Jesus would be like having SUPERMAN fight alongside of the CREEPER.
3)If you thought there was controversy in the film as it stands, can you IMAGINE what would happen if Nazareth's favorite son was IN the flick? Yowza. Actually, I find it funny that GOD him/her/itself is "safer" to interpret on film in a wacky way than Jesus is. Isn't it ironic? Don'tcha think?
Personally, I find God as George Burns talking to John Denver to be 40 times more scandalous than anything in DOGMA. I mean, c'mon... That dude wrote "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," and rhymed "fiddle" with "cakes on the griddle."
If that's not blasphemy, then I need a new dictionary.