"Holy Flying Circus"
A film made by The BBC last year shown on 'Ovation' about the controversy behind MONTY PYTHON'S "The Life of Brian".
I was happily mistaken!!
For those that don't know (SHAME ON YOU J/K) Monty Python and the Flying Circus were not only probably the funniest comedy troupe known to the television watching public, but they also made a few AMAZINGLY hilarious and timeless films. Their first film, 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail', is on most every top five comedy list, if not at the top spot.
Then in the late 70s, they wrote a script about the hilarity of organized religion.
And there in lies the problem.
So like I said, I assumed it was a 'making of' or 'looking back' sort of thing. But to my DELIGHT, they not only had actors playing the parts (unbelievably well, I might add) but they told the story of the controversy behind 'Life of Brian' in a cleverly informative way, but best of all, they did it THE PYTHON WAY!!!!
They had the six pythons also dress in drag to play their own wives and mothers. They broke away from the story to give us a laugh (I don't want to give away TOO much, but for instance, they did things like during an argument, had the sets just fall away as the characters start fighting with lightsabers. Yes, Lightsabers.)
"Life of Brian" wasn't even offensive. Then or now. It's not life of CHRIST, it was life of BRIAN, and -through- Brian, we are able to see the absurdity of it all, through comedy and satire. The people that hated it and banned it NEVER EVEN SAW IT!! It was actually respectful of 'Christ' as a person. It was BRIAN that was made fun of and through him, you can get whatever you want to get out of it. Personally, I love all Python films, but this one is especially clever. Initially, 'Life of Brian' got an 'okay' by the board but the religious groups (the same that never saw the film) went OVER their heads to try to get it banned.
All in all I LOVED this film. They got Terry Jones' little Welsh accent PERFECT, Micheal Palin's kindness , Graham's intelligent cheekiness, Eric Idol's look and voice was down pat, John Cleese (well, the actor portraying John Cleese) could replace him in real life!! My only complaint is they must have hired a Brit to do Terry Gilliam (The sole American Python) and his voice and behavior made him seem like a rude buffoon!!! Not the wonderful Python and UNBELIEVABLY TERRIFIC (and a personal favourite) Director that he became. That was the ONLY fault I found with this witty and fun film. If you love the Pythons, this is a MUST SEE, in my oh so humble opinion.
And if you DON'T like Monty Python, what the hell is WRONG with you, ya nutter?!?!? ;)
"He's NOT the messiah, he's a VERY NAUGHTY BOY!!!"
Brought to you by your friend in films, Zuzu
I was happily mistaken!!
For those that don't know (SHAME ON YOU J/K) Monty Python and the Flying Circus were not only probably the funniest comedy troupe known to the television watching public, but they also made a few AMAZINGLY hilarious and timeless films. Their first film, 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail', is on most every top five comedy list, if not at the top spot.
Then in the late 70s, they wrote a script about the hilarity of organized religion.
And there in lies the problem.
So like I said, I assumed it was a 'making of' or 'looking back' sort of thing. But to my DELIGHT, they not only had actors playing the parts (unbelievably well, I might add) but they told the story of the controversy behind 'Life of Brian' in a cleverly informative way, but best of all, they did it THE PYTHON WAY!!!!
They had the six pythons also dress in drag to play their own wives and mothers. They broke away from the story to give us a laugh (I don't want to give away TOO much, but for instance, they did things like during an argument, had the sets just fall away as the characters start fighting with lightsabers. Yes, Lightsabers.)
"Life of Brian" wasn't even offensive. Then or now. It's not life of CHRIST, it was life of BRIAN, and -through- Brian, we are able to see the absurdity of it all, through comedy and satire. The people that hated it and banned it NEVER EVEN SAW IT!! It was actually respectful of 'Christ' as a person. It was BRIAN that was made fun of and through him, you can get whatever you want to get out of it. Personally, I love all Python films, but this one is especially clever. Initially, 'Life of Brian' got an 'okay' by the board but the religious groups (the same that never saw the film) went OVER their heads to try to get it banned.
All in all I LOVED this film. They got Terry Jones' little Welsh accent PERFECT, Micheal Palin's kindness , Graham's intelligent cheekiness, Eric Idol's look and voice was down pat, John Cleese (well, the actor portraying John Cleese) could replace him in real life!! My only complaint is they must have hired a Brit to do Terry Gilliam (The sole American Python) and his voice and behavior made him seem like a rude buffoon!!! Not the wonderful Python and UNBELIEVABLY TERRIFIC (and a personal favourite) Director that he became. That was the ONLY fault I found with this witty and fun film. If you love the Pythons, this is a MUST SEE, in my oh so humble opinion.
And if you DON'T like Monty Python, what the hell is WRONG with you, ya nutter?!?!? ;)
"He's NOT the messiah, he's a VERY NAUGHTY BOY!!!"
Brought to you by your friend in films, Zuzu