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Monty Python's Life of Brian
: Lovely British comedy set in the New Testament Biblical days. Timeless comments on society, religions, sociology, ... people in general.
Monty Python is ALWAYS funny. No matter what you see, Monty Python means funny. If it says Monty Python, or even Middgey Pit-on, just buy it. It's hillarious.
I love this movie. I especiall like the song at the end called "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." I am a huge fan of Eric Idle. I saw him in the movie Nuns on the Run and he was hilarious. Graham Chapman plays Brian like a true professional. I cracked up laughing at the scene where the guards brought Brian to see Pilot and when they mention Biggus Dickus, the other guards tried not to laugh. That's the best scene in the whole movie. Go out and buy it.
What kind of DVD release do you give the funniest film from the funniest comedy group of all time. This brand spanking release, that's what. The Criterian Collection has always been a bastian of quality, but this is one of their best. The extras are magnificant. Having been a long time Python fanatic, i thought there wasn't much i hadn't seen. The deleted scenes are fantastic, (particularly the shepards), but i had seen them before. Best on this release are the British radio spots, (very, very funny) and the wonderful 1979 BBC documentary, "the Pythons" filmed on location in Tunisia during the making of Brian. The Python's talk candidly about themselves and each other and there is some sharp, witty, banter.
No good having good extras if the films not up to much, i hear you cry! Well, rest assured, in Brian you have one of, if not the greatest comedies of all time.
It is not, as many would believe, an attack on Christ. He appears in two scenes (obviously, not the real one) but is merely peripheral. The closest to the bone this gets is with an ex-leper who claims his begging trade has been damaged since Christ cured him. Hardly extreme blasphemy, is it?
No, this film is an attack on blind faith, the willingness for people to just follow anybody who says they're the messiah and not think for themselves, and the dangers that follow. Brian (Graham Chapman) is an ordinary man who is mistakenly believed to be the messiah and is mobbed by fickle worshippers. If one scene sums up the entire film it is when Brian's followers are arguing over what Brian's "sign" is. Some believe he wants them to take off one of their shoes, like he has done, the other thinks that it means they should gather shoes as a form of worship. In reality, Brian has only lost his shoes through running away from them. This demonstrates how uneducated faith can lead to unwise choices, and arguments among society. Religion, though able to be a power for good, can rip people apart if they do not consider carefully.
It may seem like a deep message, but don't let that put you off. Brian is full of side splitting moments, and as a film is a lot more satisfactory than it's predeccessor "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." The stoning scene, Pilates address to the people of Rome, what have the Romans ever done for us? These scenes are all classics but there are many more. Please, i urge you, buy this. Your life won't be complete without it!
When I first saw this film in theaters, I noticed that about halfway through it, the elderly folks in the audience started walking out of the theater. But I went to go see it 3 more times after that. So my suggestion to you is to watch this film any way you can (and since it's currently not available on video, I suggest you scour your local video store for a copy).
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