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WWMPD? Have some SPAM, of course!

Some people may tell you this movie is sacrilegious. It isn't. Only twice in the film are depictions made of Jesus, only once of the Nativity and these depictions are quite tasteful from my Christian point of view.
Despite the fact that the film is going on 30 years old it's comedy and political satire still makes me laugh like a moose on cheap Norsky vodka. "The Latin Lesson" scene always puts me on the floor.
It's not a sacrilegious film. It's a comedy about what people usually make of themselves when they take themselves to seriously.
Wink Wink, nudge nudge, say no more.

A Funny Spin on the Gospel Story

A must see for all Python fans and followers of the gospel alike. John Cleese displays his intelligence as an all rounder actor by playing a centurion and various other characters educating the peasants through the laws od language. One of the most remarkable scenes of the film is when the crowd follow who they think is the messiah and ask for a sign. A sandal is indicated and they offer praise to the sandal.

grab a firm hold of your socks, because you will laugh them off

On one hand, it's more complex than 'the Holy Grail' that I do not consider a religious satire, but more like a satire on tales of knights, compared with 'Life of Brian'. On the other hand there is the uncomplicated controversy 'sex, sex, sex that's all they think about' in a supposedly medieval way. But of course the lavatorial humour is only there to lighten up the more concerned and clever jokes, like the mockery of the stoning, feminism, the gladiators, the crucifixions, the self-chastisement, the bargaining nonsense, the supposed superiority of the Romans (Biggus Dickus et al) and the repressing of Jews. Religious viewers who don't have much stamina could have a cardiac arrest when watching this film I guess. But under all the mockery MP have a very sharp knowledge of the bible, philosophy and events that 2001 years ago took place (or what is believed by certain religious groups) and don't really get anti-clericist.Without George Harrison this 'hand made film' would not have been possible. I see it twice a year to remind me of the craziness of religious herding, stalking and hypocrisy. And also to remember to always look on the bright side of life. Do not make your history homework: watch this instead! The only time MP got carried away really is with the alien spaceship, which is childish and not important. What is important, are the settings and decors, which are more convincing than those of 'Gladiator' (Scott, 2000) and 'the Last temptation of Christ' (Scorsese, 1988) as far as I'm concerned. BTW, how would Kirk Douglas in Spartacus (Kubrick, 1960) have performed the the famous song at the end of the film? Anyway, MP perform 40 (fourty) brilliant roles with just them six and that might just be the biggest gag of the film.Strange, that 'Life of Brian' is considered one of the best comedies ever and Buñuel's 'Simón of the desert' (1965) and 'the Milky Way' (1969) are almost not known at all. Let's just blame it on the subtitles. On its turn, Life of Brian might partially have been an inspiration for 'Army of Darkness' (Raimi, 1992). My favourite line by Simón del Desierto: 'I'm beginning to realize that I don't realize what I'm saying. What am I saying?' So satisfy your curiosity and try these films: what are you waiting for ... Christmas? 10/10

hilarious! brilliant!

Those who don't think it's funny usually are missing the point(s). Monty Python, like most Brit comedy, were usually fairly intellectual in their ridicule ... and if you can grasp the spoofs of historical (and even present day) references, you will never tire of it. They were always ahead of their time, and by the way, this is not a religious spoof, but rather it's more of a political spoof. Note to readers: I will give an example of an incisive comedic part of the movie . Their skewering in the movie, of all the Jewish "guerilla" groups, parallels, the very same type of groups today, who happen to be Arabic/Palestinian. The movie is very funny, yet can be thought provoking as well. Generally, I find British comedy to be droll at times, but it rarely degenerates to gutter humour laced with crudities and profanities the way a lot of modern North American comedy tends to. I find that this movie highlights the clumsy, sheepish, nature of humans who may have the best intentions but mess things up royally.

The Best of Monty Python

Just the best movie of this crazy UK group. Of course there are maybe funnier jokes on the Flying Circus, and the knight duel in the woods of the Holy Grail is just crazy - but this is their best all together movie.Funny is as well that the German dubbed version is as funny as the original one - and I normally hate dubbed movies!

Killing Sacred Cows

I must say I'm amazed at other reviews that find nothing "sacrilegious" or anti-Christian in "The Life Of Brian."

Now I love the film, I think it's very funny. But that's because I'm not a Christian, and consider the far-fetched doctrines of this (and all religions) fair game for skewering and lampooning.

But if a friend asked me what the tone of this movie was, I would answer honestly: brutally mocking, in-your-face sarcastic, and completely contemptuous of the Christ story. I think Christians who don't see this have missed the point and don't seem to take their own beliefs too seriously.

Just imagine if a similar film were made about the life of Mohammed. (As perhaps it should be). There would be blood in the streets.

The Funniest Movie Ever Made....

....That isn't an early Mel Brooks or Richard Lester movie! This film pretty much made me a fan of the Pythons, leading me to go see a retrospective of theirs including "And Now For Something Completely Different", "Jabberwocky" and "Monty Python & The Holy Grail". By far the most ingenious and well written thing they've done since and maybe SLIGHTLY funnier than "Grail", this movie makes fun of zealotry, hypocrisy, decadence, dumb luck and history, all in one fell swoop!


The movie generally involves a case of mistaken identity that affects a Nazarene named Brian, born on the same day as, and right downstream from, you-know-who. This mistake affects Brian's life through the course of the entire movie, even after he joins a fanatic sect of Roman-hating terrorists. Though the Wise Men who mistook him for Jesus early in the film corrected themselves, Brian still has a hard time convincing the sheepish, desperate people who follow him everywhere that he isn't a messiah while trying to escape Roman capture.


Cleese, Idle and Palin especially shine in this film, playing many disparate parts...Cleese as 1) A Roman centurion, 2) Reg, the leader of a terrorist faction Brian happens onto, and 3) A high priest/Pharisee/Sadducee - whatever, holding a zany trial for someone who has said the Lord's name in vain; Idle as: 1) Stan, a terrorist with gender identity problems, 2) A crazy but extremely lucky guy who never gets crucified though he's due for it, 3) A guy who taunts a fellow at the sermon on the mount by repeatedly calling him "Bignose", 4) A stuttering gravedigger, 5) A stoning rock, false beard and gourd vendor and 6) The guy who sings "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" to Brian while hanging from a cross; Palin plays: 1) Pontius Pilate, 2) a particularly zealous member of the terrorist band Brian joins, 2)A squirrelly beggar complaining about being cured, 3) a VERY mild-mannered head counter at Brian's crucifiction, 4) The guy Idle taunts at the sermon on the mount and 5) A verbose false prophet. Even Chapman, the one playing Brian, also plays the role of Biggus Dickus, the lisping friend of Pontius Pilate as well as the hapless "Red Sea pedestrian" himself. Terry Jones plays Brian's mother and an ascetic who has his vow of silence ruined by Brian stepping on his foot.

When I first saw this movie, I didn't remember laughing so much since seeing Richard Lester's "Help!" and "Hard Day's Night" at the Circle In The Square up in Greenwich Village back in 1967. A true masterpiece of zany comedy as only the British seem able to do it.

Wouldn't it be great to see either Rowan Atkinson's or "Grant/Naylor's" take on religion? The possibilities are endless!

Funniest film ever made!

One of my two favorite films ever made, but as the other one's not a comedy, this MUST be the funniest movie ever! Thank you Monty Python for making it and thank you George Harrison for making it possible. Every time I see it I seem to discover another little joke or something that's going on in the background. Except from being funny it's also a very, very clever film.I just can't see how anybody can find it offensive and not hilariously funny. I just never get tired of watching it. And I want 'Always look on the bright side of life' to be played at my funeral. All I can say is that I highly recommend this film. 10 out of 10.

The Life of Brian: Politics as Usual

"The Life of Brian" is one of the most brillant comedies ever created (I would list "This is Spinal Tap" a close second). The Pythons' best work by far. While the movie presents clever satire of religious fanaticism, it much stronger in satirizing political fanaticism and hypocrisy: and the two themes never meet in this movie. The People's Front of Judea wants Brian because he hates the Romans "a lot," NOT because they believe he is the Messiah. Still they are the ones who show up at the crucifixion. The parallel plot strains stress the often random nature of life events. In the end, it's the political satire that puts this movie ahead of its peers. To understand the genius of the political satire, I suggest that you join an underground political movement, and then watch the movie again with fresh eyes.

Wonderful!

LIFE OF BRIAN was the Python team's finest hour; a gathering of well observed satire, alarming historical accuracy (perhaps more so then Ben Hur) and the trademark Monty Python mania that was omnipresent in all of their best works. Look out for the blackly hilarious (and somewhat macabre) crucifixion scene featuring the song's (brilliantly inappropriate) theme tune.

Do You Think God Laughed At This?

The Pythons are back with 'Life of Brian'. This time they adapt the bible. This might be offensive to the religious but I thought it was hilarious and a clever poke at fanatics but even though some of the jokes are hysterical, many happen to be a little too crude and vulgar for some people. But, then again, that's the Pythons for you. 'Life of Brian' tells one linear story unlike 'The Meaning of Life' which featured a series of sketches showing the different 'stages of life'. It's not about Jesus, but a humble neighbour of his who's been mistaken for a messiah. Even after poor Brian's constant denials and refusals he is forced to be seen as a messiah and treated as one and this is a result of the people's blind faith. The only reason that I can think of why people of religious faith will find this offensive is because they lack a sense of humour.

best film of all time...

I just want to tell my favorite scene: as brian wakes up, after the a "night" with judit, he opens up the window, and stands naked in the window, with spreaded arms, like jesus on the cross. then the people cheer for him, praising him as the messiah.brain, sorry brian wants to get rid of those people, telling to them, that :"we are all individuals!", the mass repeating :"we are all individuals!", but only one throws in: "me not!" genious! watch it , enjoy and laugh!

I Think God Has A Sense Of Humor, Don't You?

And in the 1979th year of Our Lord, God took in a screening of Monty Python's "Life Of Brian," and thought it was funny. He did NOT think the film was blasphemous or offensive in any way. Yea, God did admire it's incredibly clever pokes at religion and at religious fanatics, for God Himself knew the virtue of being able to laugh at one's self. He also knew before He even walked into the theater that the title character, Brian, was NOT Jesus Christ, but merely a man who was born at the same time as Christ---right next door, in fact---and became mistaken for a messiah. God settled into His seat, with popcorn in one hand and diet soda in another, and had a rollicking good time.He recommended "Life Of Brian" to His Son, Jesus, who went to see it the following week. He, too, thought it was a hilarious film, and immediately sang the praises of the Monty Python troupe---John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam & Michael Palin---for creating such a wonderful spoof. And He recommended the film to His friends. Have an open mind, He told them, and have fun. But God and His Son were quite puzzled why so many people in the Bible Belt community were so upset by "Life Of Brian"---especially the ones who hadn't even bothered to SEE the frigging film for fear of being damned for all time. And They both shook their heads in dismay. It's only a movie, They thought, and a very funny, harmless one at that. Get a life!But God gave Monty Python's "Life Of Brian" the power to overcome such ridiculous adversity, and today, well over two decades later, the film is rightfully regarded as a comedy classic, and one of the Python's finest works. It's *still* not a film for everybody, but does it have to be? If you're in tune with the Python's style of zany comedy, you'll enjoy "Life Of Brian."And praise be to Saint George Harrison, late of The Beatles, for lending the Pythons a hand in making this wonderful movie. :-)

My tradition is to watch it on Christmas Eve

...Overall, this probably isn't the funniest Monty Python work. The Search for the Holy Grail and many of the Flying Circus skits are funnier, so if you are looking to be introduced to Monty Python you may want to try one of those first. But if you are a fan of Monty Python and you haven't seen this, you definitely need to. Oh yes, for anyone that cares about these kinds of things, there is full frontal nudity in the film, but it is very, very brief. A definite must see for fans of British comedy.

Best Comedy Ever!

You don't get much better comedy than Monty Python. There were four films and a couple of unofficial ones like Time Bandits and Erik The Viking but out of the four Python films Life of Brian is without doubt the greatest comedy along with Spinal Tap I have ever seen. What I love about Life of Brian most is that it is a British film and it was a film that had done well over in the States and it was a chance for America to look at a British set of actors and see how funny and inventive they are, but they did try and get on the wrong side of people as well with the topic of Jesus. What also I admire is how they are taking the Mick out of religion but it also has a good message to it whether people who religious liked it or not. But like The Passion you should look at it for a filmmakers point of view and not judge it on it's controversy. The scene at the end where they are all on the cross and Brian just accepts what is happening and then another man behind him decides to sing `Always look on the bright side of life'. I think that was the way of the Pythons to say to the world that no matter how much you take your life seriously you should always look on the better on things in life and that really kicks into me when the sing the song at the end. Whether it was mean't to be like that I don't know but it makes you happy thinking it. Now to my favourite scenes, where do you begin with something so amazing.
Well any scene involving the Roman emperor and his Big Dickus remarks will never stop being funny especially when he calls Brian `A Jewish rap scallion'. And also any scene involving John Cleese.A comedy marvel that gets funnier with every watch and if a comedy can do that then it must go in the books as one of the most inventive and original comedies ever which is what the Pythons were and what Life of Brian is and will be forever.

Still ROFL

I liked this movie when I first saw it. I didn't like it as much as Holy Grail, but this DVD helps me appreciate it more. The two commentaries are the reason that one purchases Criterion DVD's. I am amazed that they got together so many Pythons to create the commentary. Deleted Scenes, wow, with commentary. Amazing. The quality of the transfer of the video and sound is fantastic. If you like Monty Python, buy this right now!

stick to the TV shows

I have always been a great fan of Monty Python which is without a doubt the greatest TV comedy troupe of all time. But I have never thought that their style of humor was ever enough to carry a feature-length movie and watching the re-release of "Life of Brian" only confirms that for me. Monty Python's Flying Circus worked best in the short, often hysterically funny, skit form. The TV episodes would often have a very general theme but usually careened from one topic to another without necessarily any connection. But on the big screen they have to do an entire story either about King Arthur or about Brian of Nazareth and I don't think that they ever really sustain the humor in either show. Certainly there are some inspired parts---the Roman centurions desperately trying not to laugh at a lisping Pontius Pilate. Only they then overkill that joke by having Pilate then speak to a crowd of Jews later in the movie. It was funny the first time, not funny the second time. The bits dealing with the all-talk, no-action People's Front of Judea were good as well. But the rest of the movie doesn't really work for me, or I should say they certainly don't measure up to the best parts of the TV series. I was finally able to spot George Harrison's cameo in the movie. George considered the Pythons to be the spiritual heirs of the Beatles and Python Eric Idle later helped make a very funny mockumentary of the Beatles called "The Rutles" which George also participated in. What would been terrific to see would've been some sort of joint effort between Monty Python and the Beatles (as it was, Ringo was the only Beatle to have a brief appearance on a Python episode). "Life of Brian" gets credit for being the first and only movie to satirize Christianity and I think Christians who are offended take it way too seriously. But if you want to watch truly great film satires, watch the Marx Brothers' terrific "Duck Soup" and Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove". Both are extremely funny and relevant.

THE FUNNIEST COMEDY EVER!

someone once said,"If your stupid, you think Monty Python is funny. If your intelligent, you think Monty Python is really funny." However, if you can't see past the fact that they are writing an extremely witty satire of those who exploit religion for thier own political agenda, and those who blindly follow religion without ever thinking things out for themselves first, then this quote dosen't apply to you. certain religious groups held their own Spanish Inqusitions for this film, and they are about as accurate as the original one. the Pythons have written a brilliant script, combined with immaculate preformances. every scene is full of classic characters, biting satire, and wonderful comedy that remains Python's finest movie. For me (as comedy is quite personal) this will always be the funniest comedy ever, unless you are an ignorant moron who isn't clever enough to figure out that Monty Python is mocking you, not Jesus (who, incidently, is portrayed quite normally, and referres to as preforming a miracle) Buy this one, as no intelligent person should be without it.

One of the greatest comedies.

Take a break from the gloom and doom of Gibson's "Passion Of The Christ".
Lighten up a little and have some fun. The first big scene after the credits is Brian and his Mother listening to Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount".
So Brian is immediately identified as a poor slob of misunderstanding and circumstance. In a documentary about the film, Eric Idle said they knew they can't really make fun of Christ, but it was just a unique opportunity to do comedy about a period of time that nobody ever thought of doing comedy on before. So, before you kick your TV, run to your bible and curse the Monty Python guys. Relax, grab a beer and remember to "Always look on the bright side of Life".

Could I be the next Brian?

Of course not. Because in this day and age, I would be branded as a heretic or labeled insane and thus thrown out of the way in an insane asylum. With that out of the way, the Life of Brian is an accurate comedy brought to us by Monty Python that makes a VERY valuable and intelligent point about organized religion. The Catholic Church (and others) have changed so much that it isn't even the same thing anymore. People misinterpret things whether it be a gourd or a sandal, and it becomes completely out of hand. I know that this isn't necessarily the right place to post it, but as an atheist, I feel that God exists to explain the unexplained. With that out of the way, let's continue with the review. It's absolutely filled with laughs. I could hardly stay still when the roman guard had Brian correct the misspellings of his graffiti. The Bigus Dicus scene is absolutely classic and the even more classic "always look on the bright side of life" (curse my lack of ability to whistle). There are only a few problems with this DVD. One, this is a poor DVD, there is only one disc, and hardly and extras worth paying attention to. The far better Criterion collation version has that second disc that Holy Grail and Meaning of life possess yet for some reason for life of Brian is 30 dollars, whereas Meaning of Life and Holy Grail are significantly cheaper then the superior version of Brian. The second problem which is not quite as irritating is that for me (and this may only have been for me) I find that their accents are a lot thicker in this film. I enjoy the English accent as much as the next guy, but some times, I find myself going "what he just say?" and having to find myself rewinding so I can focus better to see what that last line was. That still doesn't affect the overall impact and message of the film or its brave humor or its originality. This movie deserves 5 stars but this DVD is getting 4 for the lack of features and inferiority to the overpriced 2 Criterion collection version. The Life of Brian may challenge the idea of organized religion, but it is not made to offend anybody. It makes a valuable point but the only ones who were really shocked or appalled by this film were us Americans. Fellow reviewer Isala has explained why, so I won't repeat what they said. If you are unsure of this film still, then rent it. If you then find yourself offended, then you just have to loosen up and relax a bit. That's pretty much all I have to say. Try to get the Criterion collection for a low price if you're a big fan, but if you are a casual fan then this version will do just fine. Hoped this helped.