Monty Python's Life of Brian - Criterion Collection

Rating:
Summary: historically funny
Review: The most interesting part of this film is how, in some ways, it depicts what was happening during the changing of Roman religion (multi-gods, etc.) to the single Christian god. Hundreds, if not thousands, of religions and gods existed at that time (or so it has been written). There is no good reason for Christianity winning out, except the historical ones. This is what makes me question all of Christianity. Any religion could have become the single religion..it was just a matter of politics. Why not still believe in Roman/Greek gods? Why not Egyptian or Sumerian? Why monodiestic system at all? This movie truly mocks those awkward times and makes you think about it at the same time. Brainwashed Christian zealots would never get it. It took me a long time to get this movie. As a kid I never found it funny, at least not the way Holy Grail was funny. Now, I still find it difficult to watch over and over, as it makes me try to pick out lines that are in some ways truly hysterical and others, so perfect. Python were so ahead of their time. Pre-SNL, etc. And pre-Dogma for religious diatribes. Years before the wash of religious-tinged movies coming out as the year 2000 nears. It starts to make you think about this entire thing. 2000 years...big deal, Egyptians were around for 3000 years+ and then the Greeks and the Romans messed that up. Christianity may just be the current viewpoint of a majority, but it is quickly becoming a minority as other religions, Islamic, etc., founded in no less perplexing ways...increase in numbers. Python members may get their last laugh as this short movie really tells the history of organized religion throughout our time. Believe something...believe something else, get persecuted for it, become a symbol of persucition and establish a diety....

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Summary: Always look at the bright side of life......
Review: .....Said a wise man as he was crucified. The Life Of Brian is a religious comedy poking fun at fanatical worshopers from all religions. Montey Python at his best!

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Summary: Satire at its best--hilarious and timeless
Review: Since I look upon these guys with an almost-religious reverence, I'm as guilty as anyone of the kind of blind devotion they satirize so piercingly in this film. It's a brilliant comedy that works on so many levels, you can draw new things from it each time you pop it in. And the extras here are fascinating, particularly the low-key documentary--just the kind of unpretentious self-examination you'd expect from people who'd be damned before they took themselves seriously.

Rating:
Summary: extra features make this DVD all the better
Review: The Life of Brian DVD is a veritable treasure trove of extra features which make this worth buying even if you already have the videotape. Five deleted scenes with commentary (admittedly poor quality, as they were rescued from a working tape), a Python documentary, and two audio commentary tracks can keep you busy for days. One comment on one of the tracks during Graham Chapman's "full monty" scene is worth the price of the DVD. You'll be yelling "Props!" for years afterwards ...

Rating:
Summary: Great stuff!
Review: People who worry about concepts like "blasphemy" don't have enough functioning neurons to appreciate this movie. Sad but true.

Rating:
Summary: Follow the Gourd
Review: Those things that are your most sacred are the things that you should burn! A very smart person said that and this movie may be a prime indicator that it is a good tenent to follow. For those one star - stay away from this reviewers, 'follow the sandal! follow the sandal! Blind faith is still blind.

Rating:
Summary: My favorite Monty Python movie
Review: This is funny. People who take Jesus too seriously will be offended. Too bad! This is good silly fun. It even has a catchy song, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".

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Summary: BLASPHEMY IS IN THE MIND OF THE BEHOLDER
Review: For nearly two decades, I've debated this now classical, hilarious movie that tweaks the noses of all who suffer from spiritual insecurity and paranoia. Some agreed with my view upon closer inspection of the movie that the ONLY groups actually ridiculed by it were the ancient Romans and Jewish terrorist gangs that tried to oust them from the Holy Land. What the Monty Python group did was use symbolic clichés for making their point. Of course, in ancient times thousands were crucified by the Romans ... but that of Jesus' became a time honored cliché. Of course, Romans sanctioned Jews stoning their blaphemers, and stonings became a cliché. As I recall, when the Life of Brian was first released, legions of Christians and Jews condemned this movie ... and of course most of them hadn't seen it. If one can leave his religious hangups and paranoia at the door and can relax then the Life of Brian can show how terrible it is to unintentionally become a false prophet (portrayed by Brian). The therapy of laughter will cure the ills of anyone who sees this as it is: a hysterically funny lampoon by talented actors. In twenty years, I haven't heard of a single case of either anyone abandoning his religion or of becoming possessed with demons merely from having seen this movie. But many developed aching sides from howling at the absurd, incredibly funny scenes: "Fwee Bwian!"

Rating:
Summary: Nobody Expected the Spanish Inqusition
Review: Monty Python strikes again 20 years after Life of Brian originially pleased audiences. This cult classic is intensely funny in that quirky British way. A must buy!

Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Review: A film that is a must to see the sooner its re-released the better