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DVD Description
Monty Python delivers a scathing, anarchic satire of both religion and Hollywood's depiction of all things biblical with their second film. The setting is Judea 33 A.D, a time of poverty and chaos, with no shortage of messiahs, followers willing to believe in them, and exasperated Romans trying to impose some order. At the centre of it all is Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman), a reluctant would-be messiah who rises to prominence as a result of a series of absurd and truly hilarious circumstances providing ample opportunity for the entire ensemble (John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Chapman) to shine in multiple roles as they mock everyone and everything from ex-lepers, Pontius Pilate, and the art of haggling to crazy prophets, Roman centurions, and crucifixion.
Special Features
- Immaculately re-mastered picture and sound
- Commentary by Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones
- Commentary by John Cleese and Michael Palin
Disc Two:
- 'The Story of Brian' - an all new hour-long documentary
- An illustrated recording by the Pythons of their early screenplay in progress
- 5 Deleted Scenes: 'Shepherds', 'The Sign that is the Sign', 'Otto', 'Pilate's Wife' and 'The Souvenir Salesman'
- Original radio ads by Mrs Cleese, Mrs Idle, Mrs Gilliam and Michael Palin's dentist
- Languages: English, Italian
- Subtitles: English (hard of hearing) - movie only, Arabic, Danish, English, Finnish, Hindi, Italian, Norweigan, Portuguese, Swedish
- Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic - 1.85:1
- DVD9
- 'The Story of Brian' - an all new hour-long documentary
Disc One:
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
95 of 102 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have steadfastly resisted buying previous versions of this DVD, as the 'extras' are virtually non-existent. Where is the spoof travelogue that accompanied the cinema release (with John Cleese getting increasingly frustrated with the number of scenes including gondolas)? Where is the short Christmas card animation, without which the appearance of the cut-out stagecoach in the film itself makes no sense? Both of them together can't take up more than 15 minutes, so space can't be the issue.
But at last - 'a special edition' - surely this will have everything that was missing from the previous releases? And the package IS very nice - script book, postcards, film cell, sturdy box to house them in. But what's the point of good packaging if the DVD is the same? As far as I can make out, there is no difference at all, and for the first time I actually regret buying a DVD - I really should have read the small print.
The film itself, of course, is an absolute classic that everyone should see. Not only is it extremely funny, it has a serious sub-text about not just believing what you're told - with religious fundamentalism on the rise, it feels more relevant today than it did when it was first released. So just buy the cheapest version you can find - you'll enjoy it more without the nasty taste in your mouth.
85 of 92 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There are arguably only two even slightly good movies featuring Jesus as a character; one is Pasolini's gritty and soulful "The Gospel According to Matthew", the only film to have been given awards by both the Vatican and the Italian Communist Party, and the other is "Monty Python's Life of Brian". Jesus turns up early on, played by the superb British character actor Kenneth Colley, giving a Sermon on the Mount with unparalleled sincerity - he gradually recedes from view (and gets fainter and fainter) until we are scuffling around the edge of the crowd with the eponymous Brian and his ratbag mother, who shouts "Speak up!" at the unheeding Christ. The whole film takes place here - on the edge of potentially great events, as its hero gets loaded by everyone around him with more and more burdens of significance and responsibility, just because that's the way it goes in Judea in AD 33.
It's maybe the best Python movie because it handles such dynamite material so brilliantly. So many priceless moments that can make you laugh out loud even when you're in a room on your own - like the intricate committee structure of the People's Front of Judea, or Pilate not being able to pronounce his "r"'s ("No, no. Spiwit! Bwavado! A touch of...dewwing-do!"), or the saintly passer-by who offers to shoulder the burden of a crucifixee, and finds himself being hung on the cross for his good heart. Brian's life mirrors that of Jesus not because he has ambitions in that direction, but because everyone around him (except his mother - "He's not the Messiah! He's a very naughty boy!") wants it to. This gives the film a truly satisfying narrative that none of the other Python movies managed to achieve. (While I love the "Holy Grail", I always get disappointed that it just stops, with no real ending.)
Okay, so if you've read this far you probably love the movie anyway. The question remains, why has it been so badly served on DVD? "Holy Grail" and "Meaning of Life" have had lavish treatment, with multiple commentaries and featurettes and all sorts of bells and whistles. Why has their masterpiece not been given the same? This "Special Edition" includes a copy of the screenplay, a few postcards and a frame from the film, mounted on a bit of card...well, thanks, guys, but I could really have used some of those deleted scenes that were included in the original edition of the screenplay AND NOT IN THIS ONE...
Whoever is responsible for this sorry-ass packaging of a great film deserves to be hung upside down for several years. Or at the very least, to be stwuck. And vewy woughly. Save your money - the cheaper version has the same disc, and unless (like me) you actually want a postcard of the boys to stick up in your office, then you'll miss nothing.
It's maybe the best Python movie because it handles such dynamite material so brilliantly. So many priceless moments that can make you laugh out loud even when you're in a room on your own - like the intricate committee structure of the People's Front of Judea, or Pilate not being able to pronounce his "r"'s ("No, no. Spiwit! Bwavado! A touch of...dewwing-do!"), or the saintly passer-by who offers to shoulder the burden of a crucifixee, and finds himself being hung on the cross for his good heart. Brian's life mirrors that of Jesus not because he has ambitions in that direction, but because everyone around him (except his mother - "He's not the Messiah! He's a very naughty boy!") wants it to. This gives the film a truly satisfying narrative that none of the other Python movies managed to achieve. (While I love the "Holy Grail", I always get disappointed that it just stops, with no real ending.)
Okay, so if you've read this far you probably love the movie anyway. The question remains, why has it been so badly served on DVD? "Holy Grail" and "Meaning of Life" have had lavish treatment, with multiple commentaries and featurettes and all sorts of bells and whistles. Why has their masterpiece not been given the same? This "Special Edition" includes a copy of the screenplay, a few postcards and a frame from the film, mounted on a bit of card...well, thanks, guys, but I could really have used some of those deleted scenes that were included in the original edition of the screenplay AND NOT IN THIS ONE...
Whoever is responsible for this sorry-ass packaging of a great film deserves to be hung upside down for several years. Or at the very least, to be stwuck. And vewy woughly. Save your money - the cheaper version has the same disc, and unless (like me) you actually want a postcard of the boys to stick up in your office, then you'll miss nothing.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It's now been over 30 years since this film was made and still none have surpassed it. I ought to state here, that I am a christian. While there are some aspects of the film that are mildly offensive, the pythons never set out to pillory Jesus. If you listen to the commentaries, they did some good research and couldn't find anything in what Jesus said or did that was risible. The humour is focussed on unthinking belief, literalism and factionalism, amongst other things.
Having a much larger budget than they had for The Holy Grail, they expoloited it to full effect, along with props borrowed from other biblical epics. Given the small cast and multiple roles for most actors, it is a comic masterclass; the only thing that comes close to it is Dr. Strangelove. There a few bits of the film that were a bit off-key; specifically the omission of the Otto scene which makes his appearance at the end somewhat random, and the inclusion of a spaceship just to plug a plot hole.
Eminently quotable, and a source of inspiration, you need to watch this to know what good comedy is. It is inciteful, well researched and all the team worked to ensure that every scene was funny, nomatter what it took to make it so.
Having a much larger budget than they had for The Holy Grail, they expoloited it to full effect, along with props borrowed from other biblical epics. Given the small cast and multiple roles for most actors, it is a comic masterclass; the only thing that comes close to it is Dr. Strangelove. There a few bits of the film that were a bit off-key; specifically the omission of the Otto scene which makes his appearance at the end somewhat random, and the inclusion of a spaceship just to plug a plot hole.
Eminently quotable, and a source of inspiration, you need to watch this to know what good comedy is. It is inciteful, well researched and all the team worked to ensure that every scene was funny, nomatter what it took to make it so.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Life of Brian
The film Life of Brian is a classic, and must be the funniest film ever. It was ground-breaking and generated much foolish criticism from people who failed to understand it. Read more
Published 5 days ago by Michael Biddulph
Worth it for the extras
The film is unquestionably excellent and stands up very well despite the passage of years. I bought this version because of the extras. Read more
Published 6 days ago by J0n G
LIFE OF BRIAN...Immaculate Collectors Edition.
The LIFE OF BRIAN is one of the funniest films ever made in British Cinema History, and has been re-released as a 2 dvd collectors set. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr David M. Cox
python
I have seen the video on TV and at the cenema. I think it is a classic and I don't know what all the fuss was about. I watched the documentaries about it too. Read more
Published 7 months ago by K. Bott
Very Good
I really enjoyed this Film and having seen it before,wanted a copy to watch at home .So glad I bought it.
Published 9 months ago by Mr J D L Gray
Should be on the curriculum
My teenagers loved this film - it should be on the national curriculum. It's very funny and makes some important educational points.
Published 11 months ago by Michael Lloyd
A movie about ourselves
"Life of Brian" is probably the greatest comedy ever made. (With the Python-related serial "Fawlty Towers" a good second. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Ashtar Command
exilarating
This movie is exilarating as in Monty Python's style.
What I would have liked to know before buying it was if there was
a version doubled in Italian, as I knew that it... Read more
What I would have liked to know before buying it was if there was
a version doubled in Italian, as I knew that it... Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2009 by Marletta Carmela
Just remember that the last laugh is on you
If you've ever tried to compile a list of pure comedies that are also truly great examples of cinema, you'll know how hard it is. I get stuck at about three. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2009 by O. Buxton
So disappointed
I love Monty Python humour, but this film was completly ruined by the almost constant stream of swearing, could not finish the film
Published on 8 Aug 2008 by Ms. E. Morgan
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