Life of Brian - thoughts...?

Question

Just wondering how religious people take Life of Brian - is it offensive, or just plain funny?
Btw, only answer if you've seen the film. If you haven't but you think you can complain about it, think about how you would like someone complaining about the bible when they haven't read that.

Also, please, if you think it is bad say why. Otherwise, your statement doesn't carry anymore weight than me saying "George Bush is an idiot" without backing it up.

Answer 1

It is blasphemous.

Yes, I have seen it.

Answer 2

when the life of brian was first released it was refused a certificate by the british board of film censors (though they left the loophole that local authorities could give it a local certificate).

the first time i went to see it i had to travel thirty miles and elbow my way through a picket of christian demonstrators.

the churches made a serious attempt to destroy this film. they failed, that is the only reason you are allowed to see it these days.

there was even a famous live debate on tv when the christian pundit malcolm muggeridge and the bishop of southwark called for the film to be fully banned. muggeridge and bishop stockwood were opposed by a team of john cleese an michael palin. cleese and palin made the two christians look so pathetically bigoted that religious people still complain when footage of the interview is shown.

even before the film was made religious lobbyists had managed to persuade the original film financiers to withdraw funding (just because of what the film was about). in the end the production was more or less privately bankrolled by george harrison.

no such film as 'the life of brian' could be made today: the churches have become too strong.

i do not regard this as an improvement in either private or social liberty.

Answer 3

Never saw it, because I never heard of it. I did see the "Holy Grail" by Monty Phyton and that was too funny. I would probably like this movie as well. It is just a satire movie, that pokes fun at religion. Nothing wrong with that. I like comedians that poke fun at minorities. I am not offended by the jokes, some of it is true. What type of person are you, if you can't laugh at yourself?

Who knows there may be a film one day that will make fun of atheists. When Dane Cook did that "Atheist sneezing" joke I noticed that some atheists liked it, but some thought the whole joke was stupid and called Cook a bad comedian. Since he is doing well, he can't be all that bad. Some even went on with some lecture about there being no God.

Don't worry atheists the more acceptable atheism becomes, the more likely you will be made fun of in TV and movies. In due time, in due time.

Answer 4

I'm a Christian (Mormon) and I've seen it several times, and I love it. I don't find it in the slightest bit blasphemous. On the contrary, the scenes where Jesus is nearby he is evidently very revered and it is tastefully done. The whole point is that Brian IS NOT Jesus, he just happens to live at the same time. Despite being satirical, it's also very good in terms of showing us what the time was like.

My very favourite scene (and I like many of them) is the graffiti scene - "People called the Romans, they go the out?"

Answer 5

Wonderful.

From the amazing scene "What have the Romans ever done for us?" (which has spawned more than one TV series) through to the lisping Roman governor describing his friend...

Ah. I've just re-read your question, and I'm going to have to disqualify myself on the grounds of not being religious.
(aside: I loved the peculiar film Time Bandits, which has Ralph Richardson playing "God as an Englishman" and tackles, in its own way, the problem of evil.)

Answer 6

It's hilarious. You can always count on Monty Python to drain some of the hot air out of pompous buffoons everywhere.

"Alms for an ex-leper?"

Answer 7

I laughed, a lot. =D