Making films that alter any perception of one's religious beliefs and not drawing controversy is tricky business. Last Temptation of Christ (one of Martin Scorcese's best films) was attacked when it opened over ten years ago. Kevin Smith's new satire Dogma has not opened to that severe of a protest, but members of the Catholic church are venting their displeasure nonetheless.

Kevin Smith's earlier works (Clerks and Mallrats) weren't really films that tried to say much. They were just raunchy comedies that were out to entertain and entertain they did. With Chasing Amy, Smith wanted to say something. Dogma sort of does for religion what Chasing Amy did for relationships.

Compared to his first three films, Dogma is epic in scope and features a barrage of big talent including: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, Janeane Garofalo, Bud Cort, Alanis Morissette, and of course, the lovable Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith).

As usual Kevin Smith peppers his screenplay with an assortment of pop culture references. Some work (Jay and Silent Bob's riff on John Hughes films is a hoot) and some don't (the wax on wax off bit from Karate Kid isn't very funny). ThereÕs even some great references that might not be apparent (there's a very funny moment where Smith lifts a line from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). Although this type of thing is Smith's trademark, there is no denying that he is maturing as a writer.

In the end I didn't really feel that Smith is bashing on the Church, but rather trying to make sense out of an institution that has been around for as long as we can remember. If anything, he is embracing faith, not condemning it. It's also obvious to me that Smith isn't just some kid in off the street. He grew up Catholic and seems to have a solid grasp on Catholicism.

As far as I'm concerned, he has every right to express his opinion as does the Catholic church. Besides, in the end this is only a movie and a majority of the people complaining about Dogma probably haven't even seen it.

Dogma never takes itself too seriously and never becomes heavy handed. Everytime the film seems it's going to get too serious, Jay and silent Bob are there to lighten things up.

And although there are moments in Dogma that don't work (there's a scene in which our heroes are attacked by a creature made from human fecal matter) and the film's final ten minutes are less than stellar (Smith's choice of casting Morisette as God didn't do it for me), Dogma is usually a very intelligent and winning comedy with a lot of raunch and a lot of heart.

Dogma isn't Smith's best film, but it is certainly his most ambitious, and I've got to tell you it really made me think as well as laugh.

On a final note, get ready Kevin Smith fans. Jay and silent Bob will return in Clerks II.