Monty Python's Life Of Brian – The Immaculate Edition [Blu-ray]

Description

Monty Python delivers the group’s sharpest and smartest
satire of both religion and Hollywood’s epic films. Set in 33 A.D. Judea where
the exasperated Romans try to impose order, it is a time of chaos and change
with no shortage of messiahs and followers willing to believe them. At it’s
center is Brian Cohen, born in Bethlehem in a stable next door, who, by a
series of absurd circumstances is caught up in the new religion and
reluctantly mistake for the promised messiah, providing ample opportunity for
the entire ensemble (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle,
Terry Jones and Michael Palin) to shine in multiple roles as they question
everyone and everything from ex-lepers, Pontius Pilate and haggling to
revolutionaries, crazy prophets, religious fanaticism, Roman centurions and
crucifixion, forever changing our biblical view. “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 Emerso

Features:

Product Details:

• Genre: Comedy
• Format: Blu-ray, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Contributor: Susan Jones, George Harrison, Neil Innes, Peter Biziou, Michael Palin, Kenneth Colley, John Young, Terry Jones, Gwen Taylor, Andrew Maclachlan, Spike Milligan, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Charles Knode, Terence Bayler, Chris Langham, Geoffrey Burgon, Eric Idle, Bernard McKenna, Charles McKeown, Carol Cleveland See more
• Language: English
• Runtime: 1 hour and 34 minutes
• Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.85:1
• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.75 x 5 x 0.25 inches; 1.6 Ounces
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ 3350196
• Director ‏ : ‎ Terry Jones
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Blu-ray, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 34 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ January 29, 2008
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Terence Bayler, Carol Cleveland, Kenneth Colley, Susan Jones, Chris Langham