Dogma (1999)

Two banished angels have discovered a massive loophole that would allow them back into heaven. However, doing so they would make God fallible and destroy existence in the process. Mankind's only hope rests with Bethany, a lapsed Catholic working in an abortion clinic who questions her faith.

With help from a two prophets, a heavenly muse and an apostle with a 2,000 year grudge they head for New Jersey to stop the angels before it is too late. Along the way they come across the horned devil Azrael who's out for revenge and he'll stop at nothing to allow the angels to reach the church and destroy the world.

The picture is bright and colourful with an above high bit-rate, although the picture can appear to be a little too washed out at times. There's certainly no signs of artifacting, outlining or pixelisation, although the picture won't be one of the best you'll see this year.

The sound is good enough with the occasional use of the surround channels. However, where the sound does excel is with the dialogue which is clearly audible in the centre channel without having to keep adjusting the volume.

The menu is good enough, but if a little slow, with some animation and scoring. There's a fair amount of extras although it is devoid of the many extras found on the region one edition. When you compare this edition with the region one version, which has an additional disc containing deleted scenes, interviews and a number of commentary tracks, it really makes you feel that the region two market is still being neglected.

This is such a star studded film with some excellent, and poignant, acting from the entire cast. Although funny in a black way, I did get the feeling that the actors were desperate to show their more serious sides as they would do in a Shakespearean film. However, I felt one person stood out more than most. Alan Rickman is just riotous as a completely p***ed off angel whose impressive fiery entrance is soon dampened by a fire extinguisher.

To fully understand the story behind the film you probably need to be either catholic, religious, or both. However, you'll certainly not miss the sarcasm and finger pointing towards the catholic church, and indeed some of the questions raised over modern day faith are quite justified. One important point though, if the divine being had to be anyone, why Alanis Morissette!?