Monty Python's 'Life of Brian' Set for Theatrical Re-Release - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 03-25-2004, 01:28 AM

Monty Python's 'Life of Brian' Set for Re-Release

By Steve Gorman
Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Coming back soon to a theater near you -- a controversial film about a Jewish guy from Nazareth who is worshiped as the Messiah and crucified by the Romans.

No, it's not Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." It's Monty Python's "Life of Brian."

Inspired by the runaway success -- and public furor -- over Gibson's portrayal of the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus, the creators behind the 1979 biblical satire about an anti-Roman activist who spends his life being mistaken for a prophet are planning a 25th anniversary re-release next month.

"Life of Brian" will open at the end of April in Los Angeles and New York before expanding to other cities across the country, Rainbow Film Company president Henry Jaglom, whose distribution arm is reissuing the film, said on Tuesday.

Jaglom, a writer-director whose partner, John Goldstone, produced the original film, said trailers for the comedy would appear in theaters starting on Good Friday.

"We decided this is an important time to re-release this film, to provide some counter-programing to 'The Passion,"' Jaglom told Reuters. "I intend it, hopefully, to serve as an antidote to all the hysteria about Mel's movie."

He said marketing for the re-release would play off Gibson's film by adapting such taglines as "Mel or Monty" and "The Passion or the Python" -- "we want to give people a choice."

The members of the Monty Python comedy troupe -- John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and the late Graham Chapman (who played Brian) -- all shared writing credits on the film and won back theatrical rights to it several years ago. Jaglom said the surviving members "all agreed this was a good time" to re-release the film and would help promote it.

Owing to a heavy turnout by Christian moviegoers and weeks of intense media attention, Gibson's film opened to blockbuster success on Feb. 25 -- Ash Wednesday. "The Passion" has gone on to generate nearly $300 million in North American ticket sales alone, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.

"Life of Brian," stirred an uproar all its own 25 years ago, with some Christians condemning the film as blasphemous. The film only got made when former Beatle George Harrison stepped in to finance the picture after EMI Films withdrew from the project, fearing that it was too controversial.

The movie focused on the fictional Brian of Nazareth, a Jew who is born in the manger next-door to Jesus and grows up to join an anti-Roman separatist group called the Judean People's Front but ends up being mistaken for the Messiah. The film's creators have said it was meant as a spoof on Bible films and intolerance rather than Christianity.

But that distinction was lost on some who were offended by the irreverent flavor of the film, including a scene in which several crucifixion victims sing and whistle the tune "Look On the Bright Side of Life" while hanging on crosses.

dandelion wine · 03-25-2004, 01:43 AM

Gotta go see this once it's released again. It's already in my DVD collection and I've watched it several times... one of the best and funniest movies I've ever seen.

The last scene in the movie had me in tears.

Brian · 03-25-2004, 02:05 AM

I love this movie. Every time I see this scene, I laugh.

Pontious Pilate: What's so funny about "Biggus Dickus"?
Guard 1: It's a joke name, sir.
PP: I have a vewy gweat fwiend in Wome called Biggus Dickus.
Guard 2: *snickers*
PP: Silence! What is all this insolence. You will find yourself in gladiator school vewy quickly with wotten behavior like that. Wait until Biggus Dickus hears of this.
G2: *snickers*
PP: Wight. Take him away!
G1: Oh but Sir-
PP: No I want him fighting wabid wild animals within a week! I will not stand to allow my fwiends to be widiculed by the common soldiery.

*guards 3 and 4 try to contain their laughter*

Does anybody else feel like a little giggle when I mention my fwiend Biggus Dickus.

*walks up to Guard 5*

What about you. Do you find it weesible (sp?) when I say the name Biggus Dickus!

*guard 5 squints as he tries to control giggling*

He has a wife, you know. You know what she's called? She's called Incontinentia. Incontinentia Buttocks.

*all the guards laugh*

ashrak · 04-02-2004, 11:55 PM

hes not the messiah, hes a very naughty boy!

i am returned.

barwars · 04-03-2004, 10:26 PM

haha
SO much better than "The Passion"

Ill definately be seeing this!

03-25-2004, 01:28 AM	#1
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Monty Python's 'Life of Brian' Set for Theatrical Re-Release Monty Python's 'Life of Brian' Set for Re-Release By Steve Gorman Reuters LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Coming back soon to a theater near you -- a controversial film about a Jewish guy from Nazareth who is worshiped as the Messiah and crucified by the Romans. No, it's not Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." It's Monty Python's "Life of Brian." Inspired by the runaway success -- and public furor -- over Gibson's portrayal of the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus, the creators behind the 1979 biblical satire about an anti-Roman activist who spends his life being mistaken for a prophet are planning a 25th anniversary re-release next month. "Life of Brian" will open at the end of April in Los Angeles and New York before expanding to other cities across the country, Rainbow Film Company president Henry Jaglom, whose distribution arm is reissuing the film, said on Tuesday. Jaglom, a writer-director whose partner, John Goldstone, produced the original film, said trailers for the comedy would appear in theaters starting on Good Friday. "We decided this is an important time to re-release this film, to provide some counter-programing to 'The Passion,"' Jaglom told Reuters. "I intend it, hopefully, to serve as an antidote to all the hysteria about Mel's movie." He said marketing for the re-release would play off Gibson's film by adapting such taglines as "Mel or Monty" and "The Passion or the Python" -- "we want to give people a choice." The members of the Monty Python comedy troupe -- John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and the late Graham Chapman (who played Brian) -- all shared writing credits on the film and won back theatrical rights to it several years ago. Jaglom said the surviving members "all agreed this was a good time" to re-release the film and would help promote it. Owing to a heavy turnout by Christian moviegoers and weeks of intense media attention, Gibson's film opened to blockbuster success on Feb. 25 -- Ash Wednesday. "The Passion" has gone on to generate nearly $300 million in North American ticket sales alone, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. "Life of Brian," stirred an uproar all its own 25 years ago, with some Christians condemning the film as blasphemous. The film only got made when former Beatle George Harrison stepped in to finance the picture after EMI Films withdrew from the project, fearing that it was too controversial. The movie focused on the fictional Brian of Nazareth, a Jew who is born in the manger next-door to Jesus and grows up to join an anti-Roman separatist group called the Judean People's Front but ends up being mistaken for the Messiah. The film's creators have said it was meant as a spoof on Bible films and intolerance rather than Christianity. But that distinction was lost on some who were offended by the irreverent flavor of the film, including a scene in which several crucifixion victims sing and whistle the tune "Look On the Bright Side of Life" while hanging on crosses.

04-02-2004, 11:55 PM	#4
ashrak the pestilent one Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 28, 2003 Posts: 10	hes not the messiah, hes a very naughty boy! i am returned.
	__________________ Despair all ye nations, for the years are drawing on, our great cultures are fading and soon theyll be gone. So conceited our scholars, they jeer through their teeth, with their theorys so shallow- quite soulless beneath

03-25-2004, 01:43 AM	#2
dandelion wine ~ Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 20, 2003 Location: Behind the Couch Posts: 34,967	Gotta go see this once it's released again. It's already in my DVD collection and I've watched it several times... one of the best and funniest movies I've ever seen. The last scene in the movie had me in tears.

03-25-2004, 02:05 AM	#3
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	I love this movie. Every time I see this scene, I laugh. Pontious Pilate: What's so funny about "Biggus Dickus"? Guard 1: It's a joke name, sir. PP: I have a vewy gweat fwiend in Wome called Biggus Dickus. Guard 2: snickers PP: Silence! What is all this insolence. You will find yourself in gladiator school vewy quickly with wotten behavior like that. Wait until Biggus Dickus hears of this. G2: snickers PP: Wight. Take him away! G1: Oh but Sir- PP: No I want him fighting wabid wild animals within a week! I will not stand to allow my fwiends to be widiculed by the common soldiery. guards 3 and 4 try to contain their laughter Does anybody else feel like a little giggle when I mention my fwiend Biggus Dickus. walks up to Guard 5 What about you. Do you find it weesible (sp?) when I say the name Biggus Dickus! guard 5 squints as he tries to control giggling He has a wife, you know. You know what she's called? She's called Incontinentia. Incontinentia Buttocks. all the guards laugh

04-03-2004, 10:26 PM	#5
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	haha SO much better than "The Passion" Ill definately be seeing this!