Monty Python's Life of Brian - Criterion Collection

Starring:Terence Bayler, Peter Brett, John Case, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Carol Cleveland, Kenneth Colley, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Neil Innes, Sue Jones-Davies, Chris Langham, Andrew MacLachlan, Bernard McKenna, Charles McKeown, Spike Milligan, Michael Palin, Gwen Taylor, John Young
Studio: Criterion
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

"Blessed are the cheesemakers," a wise man once said. Or maybe not. But the point is Monty Python's Life of Brian is a religious satire that does not target specific religions or religious leaders (like, say, Jesus of Nazareth). Instead, it pokes fun at the mindless and fanatical among their followers--it's an attack on religious zealotry and hypocrisy--things that that fellow from Nazareth didn't particularly care for either. Nevertheless, at the time of its release in 1979, those who hadn't seen it considered it to be quite "controversial." Life of Brian, you see, is about a chap named Brian (Graham Chapman) born December 25 in a hovel not far from a soon-to-be-famous Bethlehem manger. Brian is mistaken for the messiah and therefore manipulated, abused, and exploited by various religious and political factions. And it's really, really funny. Particularly memorable bits include the brassy Shirley Bassey/James Bond-like title song; the bitter rivalry between the anti-Roman resistance groups, the Judean People's Front and the People's Front of Judea; Michael Palin's turn as a lisping, risible Pontius Pilate; Brian urging a throng of false-idol worshippers to think for themselves--to which they reply en masse "Yes, we must think for ourselves!"; the fact that everything Brian does, including losing his sandal in an attempt to flee these wackos, is interpreted as "a sign." Life of Brian is not only one of Monty Python's funniest achievements, it's also the group's sharpest and smartest sustained satire. Blessed are the Pythons. --Jim Emerson

Description

After slaying the Arthurian legend in their now classic Holy Grail, the Pythons set their sights on the Greatest Story Ever Told. Blind faith, virgin birth, crucifixion-nothing is sacred in this epic send-up of ancient times, which draws on the cornball biblical blockbusters of the 1950s to lampoon celebrity culture in any era. Criterion has gathered the guilty parties-including John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin-for two commentary tracks as provocative and hilarious as the film itself. Available for the first time in a 16:9 enhanced transfer, Monty Python's Life of Brian can finally be viewed in all its - ahem - glory.

Customer Reviews:

Monty Python is always a pleasure to watch........2007-05-26

The cast of The Life of Brian seemed to have as much fune making the movie as I did watching it. There is always a touch of the sacreligious in th e work of the Monty Python team and the Life of Brian can strik some people harshly. But as in most of their works the tewam seems to be having fun with a story that could have been.

Funny, funny, funny.......2007-05-24

A slight bit of deep tongue-in-cheek stupid slap stick humor, but, hey, that's what these guys are all about. Laugh a little, laugh a lot.

Monty Python.......2007-05-07

at their best. a Laugh out Loud movie. Irreverent, yet pleasing.

First Try At Python....What Took Me So Long?.......2007-04-23

On a friend's strong recommendation, I just got done viewing the Life of Brian. I am glad I did. He had raved about how funny the movie is, so I finally relented and gave it a try. There are many laugh out loud moments in this film. Very witty and smart dialogue, and satirical looks at the way people donduct themselves when in a large group of people. From Brian's "mom" to the song that closes the movie, this film boasts some sheer hilarity. I enjoy smart films, even when the smart is in the form of satire. A movie like the Lif of Brian further illustrates how mediocre many of the new Hollywood comedies are (Talladega Nights, R.V., etc.).

I recommend this movie. Granted it can be described as an acquired taste, yet I found the taste fast to acquire. Four stars.

Controversial?.......2007-03-26

With by far the majority raving over this trite and predictably British schoolyard humour since its release, I would hardly ever have called it 'controversial'.
Seems the vocal Christians were surprisingly mum over this one. Could have sent this 5 star rating down a few pegs if they'd spoken up against what they would have called mockery and blasphemy.

DVD:

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