Monty Python's Life of Brian

The first time I saw The Life of Brian was in my 1st year of high school. It instantly became one of my favorite comedies and I’ll never get tired of watching it over and over again. If I were a devoted Catholic, I would have to whip myself with a barbed wire while watching it lest the Almighty think I was enjoying it. Hilarious scenes, great writing, and superb acting. The sheer number of memorable lines and historical references make this comedy absolutely timeless. All I have to do is think of Otto's suicide squad, Pilate, the ex-leper, or the line to the crucifixion, and I'm chuckling to myself again. (2016-08-03)

My first ever encounter with the work of the famous Monty Python ensemble, and as I see it, perhaps my last. The gentlemen around Terry Jones have a really interesting and wacky sense of humour, one that is far from mine. When I think about the film in hindsight, all that comes to mind is the lisp of Caesar and the final song “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life”, those are the only things that really made me laugh out loud. Otherwise, a surprisingly dull affair and one of my biggest film disappointments so far. (2012-05-29)

Life of Brian is the culmination of Monty Python's work and one of the best comedies ever created. After finishing Holy Grail, the group members decided that they could now take some risks and touch on sensitive areas of religious faith and politics. The script was developed at the end of 1977 in Barbados, where all the group members gathered, and then they tried to offer it to EMI, which produced Holy Grail. According to the studio management, it was a blasphemous film and Monty Python had a difficult time finding money for their project, although the budget was a laughable 4 million dollars by today's standards. It was filmed in Tunisia and, after long negotiations, Graham Chapman, who was a heavy alcoholic at the time, was cast in the main role. The plot is a parody paraphrase of the birth of a legend on which Christianity spread, and at the same time a parody of modern politics from colonialism to national liberation struggle and terrorism. The film caused very angry reactions from church circles and was banned in many places. These reactions meant that the film was eventually shown with greater success than the Monty Python crew expected. Monty Python states that some cities banned the film from being shown, even though they did not have movie theaters. It is one of the timeless legends of the comedy genre, where fans laugh again and again at the madness of the characters and scenes and enjoy the final song on the cross. Overall impression: 100%. (2008-01-21)

A brilliant comedy through which the entire Circus has booked a spot in the hottest place in hell. The Bible of all vulgar heretics (right, Shnoff?), the Bible of those who like to laugh at everything... and the Bible. Those who are blameless, throw a stone at them, but if you are a woman, be careful not to let your beard fall off! A summary of beautifully-touted jokes that can offend apparently all believers of all faiths. But so what? Even if they crucify you, follow the first and only commandment: "Always look at the bright side of life". That's Monty Python's religion, that's a religion I always like to kneel to! Amen. (2004-01-26)

Monty Python's humor has never seemed that great to me. Yes, they have great jokes and skits, but for me it gets lost in the quantity of bits that simply don't entertain me. However, this satire on the life of Jesus Christ does have something to it and it's clear that there are ideas that the group has really delved into. And they come across well. It just doesn't entertain me that much overall. (2015-04-13)