The Miraculous Return of Dogma: Kevin Smith’s Long Fight Rewritten!

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the revival of a beloved classic film – the climax of Kevin Smith’s Dogma.

25 years ago, a movie that had been steeped in controversy embarked on a tumultuous journey into the depths of Hell. Along the way, it encountered the age-old demons of religious zealotry, social justice debates, and studio bosses eager to maintain their control. This summer marks the 25th anniversary of this odyssey with the release of Dogma: A 25th Anniversary Celebration. As a minister hailing from the Garden State, I’d like to guide you all through the divine saga of how Kevin Smith brought back Dogma.

1998: Dogma’s Controversies Delayed The Film’s Theatrical Release

Initially, the concept of “Dogma” carried certain challenges, reminiscent of an inherent flaw, when considering its place within the cinematic universe created by Kevin Smith. In this fourth installment, these difficulties stemmed from the contentious narrative revolving around Bethany Sloane (Linda Fiorentino), a non-believer who finds herself entangled in a bawdy, adult-oriented journey through Biblical lore.

In simpler terms, a film featuring George Carlin as a Catholic Cardinal faced strong resistance due to its controversial content, causing delays in its release which was initially planned for 1998. This obstacle eventually led to the film’s cancellation or withdrawal, known as “Dogma”.

1999: The Road To Releasing Dogma Led To A Complicated Rights Chain

Similar to many other films directed by Kevin Smith, Dogma is known for its biting wit, crude humor, and a compassionate spirit that embraces everyone. However, these qualities weren’t enough to shield the movie from being discarded by Miramax, as reported by E! News in 1999. If you think the film’s controversial portrayal of religious themes could be the reason, then you are spot on.

In the end, Variety announced that the independent film studio of Bob and Harvey Weinstein would continue handling international distribution. At the same time, up-and-coming Lions Gate Films secured the rights for domestic theater release on November 12, 1999. Critics praised it, while some Catholics protested against it, but for a while, Dogma managed to establish its presence globally.

2001, 2008: Dogma’s Physical Media Releases Existed Without A Streaming Plan

Because Lions Gate Films was a relatively small independent studio, they relied on larger film studios like Universal and Sony Pictures Entertainment for distributing their movies on home video platforms. This is why the initial viewing of American Psycho’s enigmatic ending might have been through a DVD box with the Universal logo, and for the movie Dogma, it was Sony Pictures Entertainment’s home video division that released both the 2001 DVD and 2008 Blu-ray versions.

Regrettably, when our modern streaming system became popular, the rights for ‘Dogma’ had already become challenging to secure. The secondary market was pricing the movie at unusually high levels, making a copy of ‘Dogma’ as valuable as gold. However, we were assured that we would identify the key players required to make it available again. On the one hand, this was positive news; on the other hand, it was disappointing because the Weinstein Brothers postponed the release of ‘Dogma’ for at least four more years.

2020: Kevin Smith Tried (And Failed) To Buy Dogma’s Rights Back From The Weinstein Brothers

In a conversation with TopMob’s ReelBlend podcast, Smith disclosed that Harvey Weinstein was hindering the sale of Dogma from behind bars. As early as 2020, the director of Jay & Silent Bob Reboot endeavored to bring the film back, but failed to persuade the former Hollywood heavyweight.

It’s quite surprising that those who championed “Shakespeare in Love” for Best Picture over “Saving Private Ryan” seem to cherish their valuable back catalogs as if they were eternal treasures! In terms of Biblical references, one might dub this section “The Devotion of Dogma“, albeit with far fewer contentious undertones. Yet, I did promise an extraordinary twist, and that climactic moment was rapidly approaching.

2024: Dogma And Kevin Smith Were Reunited, And It Was Good

In my own words, I’m thrilled to share that during an exclusive interview with That Hashtag Show, it was confirmed – something I’ve been quietly hopeful about in the corridors of the Smodcastle Theater in Atlantic Highlands – that the creative rights for “Dogma” have been restored to me. The Weinsteins have graciously agreed, and now I have the opportunity to share my vision with the world again, this time in stunning 4K clarity as we breathe new life into this cherished film.

What’s essential at this point is determining a date for the event, with the intention of creating an atmosphere ripe for joyous festivities and sales figures indicative of a warm reception and gratitude from attendees. Additionally, perhaps there could be a strategy to re-release this cherished film on home video, mirroring the recent resurrection of 28 Days Later. However, let’s save that discussion for another time.

2025: Behold, Dogma’s 25th Anniversary Celebration!

It turns out that in 2025, Easter Sunday and April 20th (4/20) will coincide. This is likely why the 25th anniversary celebration of “Dogma” has been scheduled for several months after its actual anniversary on November 12, 2024. In truth, one might argue that this alignment is a divine message that this film is particularly relevant right now. At the very least, it could be seen as evidence that God has a sense of humor.

Regardless of your personal beliefs, it’s my hope that we can all embody a positive spirit as the classic film Dogma gets restored and re-released. To bring this discussion to a conclusion, I’ll allow its creator to share his thoughts on faith, serving as our parting message:

Similar to the journey taken by Jay and Silent Bob during their Reboot Roadshow, Kevin Smith is preparing to embark on a nomadic adventure reminiscent of Caine’s travels in Kung Fu, except he carries with him an entirely distinct indie film legacy. With the impending digital and physical release of Dogma seemingly just around the corner, this captivating tale appears to be drawing to a close. It has been a challenging journey, but one that was undeniably worth fighting for.

If you’re in proximity to any of the tour venues or aware of a theater presenting “Dogma” from June 5th onwards, remember to attend and contribute to Kevin Smith’s religious-themed cinematic marvel. Here’s hoping that “Red State” will be added to Brother Kevin’s Cinematic Miracle Revival Tour, as this movie seems particularly suited for such a presentation.

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2025-04-05 01:09