Brian is a small satire with some bite

Rating: 8/10 (12 December 2002)

It's about time I wrote my defense to what I stated earlier and in here spoilers will be contained.
I did watch the opening scene. I thought it was hilarious and downright funny. I loved the way the Wise Men mistakenly went to the wrong place. Brian's mother tried to keep the gold with minimal success. I know that wasn't Jesus lying in that manger, it was Brian. Throughout the rest of the movie, Brian keeps finding himself intersecting the path of Christ wherever he went. His story is more of dumb luck/fated consequence unlike Christ's story.
Let me make this clear. This is satire/comedy and I know it is satire/comedy. For me though and me only, I was horrified by the last third of the film. I personally hold Jesus Christ on a pedestal like many others do and they do want to see anything bad happen to him. Imagine someone took a person, object or issue you personally held close to your heart and satirized it. It could be very hard for you to view. I love satire on organized religion as much as anybody else but I personally feel that the life and spirit of Christ cannot be contained in someone's interpretation (forming one's own religion based on teachings and life of Christ) so I find the satire hard to watch. Christ has many, many, many followers and they dearly respect them. I truly understand why they were up in arms back when "Life of Brian" was released.
I understand satire to be a creative commentary on some particular issue. The user who broke my comments down suggests that I didn't know that this was a satire. Satire needs a basis and the Four Gospels were the basis for it. Like I said earlier, it is hard for me to deal with that (I guess I am opening myself for being targeted, so fire away!). On other subjects, I don't mind satire but when it comes to Christ's life as the basis and even though he is not the central character, I find it hard to swallow.
One more thing, I never suggested that we return to the Inquisition. I would want to strangle myself I ever suggested that. My point was along the lines of banned work. Works like "The Divine Comedy" were banned because they suggested things that went against the Catholic Church and "Life of Brian" is a direct challenge (whether they meant it to be or not: I am thinking not!) to the authority at that time if it had been released at that time. Since "The Church" was in charge at the time, they did not have a sense of humor and people were savagely tortured to the point of death (the boys of Monty Python could have suffered like that). I am suggesting that the world in our own time is more accepting of to the thoughts and words of satirists and comedians than ever before. The Inquisition was retributive in ways I cannot fathom. The methods they used that I can fathom make me want to die. I would bury myself in a garden plot with a funnel over my mouth to breathe as just a small punishment for suggesting "a return to the 'good ol' days of the inquisition'. The Inquisition was as bad as those suffered under the likes of Amin, Pinochet, Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler (insert others here if you can think of any). May The Inquisition Forever Stay Dead!!!
So, in conclusion, I find "Life of Brian" to be a funny movie for the first 2/3 and it heads steadily south by the end on my above reasoning. I think the boys of Monty Python have created a comedy/satire that will forever stand the test of time. Many, many, many movie lovers love this movie. I think it is a great comedy myself in several ways (jokes, writing, direction, acting are well-done). As a movie, it entertains but as a satire it fails. I give this movie 8 out of 10!
PS: Jesus Christ has whethered satire before and people have cheapened the Crucifixion and Resurrection in ways I cannot imagine and those cheapenings have been much worse. All in all, "Life is Brian" is somewhat small in the scheme of things.
Here ends my rant!