The Reader - PUT THE BOOK DOWN

Life Of Brian

Monty Python was a name that all through the 1970s would have children and adults alike shouting "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition", "Spam spam spam spam", and many more, but in 1979, the Python team released a film that would have us all saying "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!" and that film was 'Life Of Brian'.


Considered by most to be the greatest of the four Python movies, and in 2006's '50 Greatest Comedy Films' on Channel 4, it was awarded top spot.

The film tells the story of Brian, born in a stable in Bethlehem, who is mistaken for the Messiah. During his life, he falls in love, gets involved with a group of terrorists, paints 'Romans go home' on the walls of Pontius Pilate's palace, and is eventually crucified with a group of criminals, who end the film singing 'Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life'.


The thing is, the plot is not the point. Life of Brian is actually nicely researched film that chronicles a dirty, miserable, oppressive time when people were ready to worship a shoe if they thought it would get them a better deal in the afterlife. It sends up the ponderous Biblical epics of the 1950s and 60s, along with the whole of Judeo-Christian history. Of course, this led to the Church condemning the film, and some areas banning it entirely. This only led to a rise in its popularity, as it often does when something in the media is considered controversial, in fact, Sweden advertised it as "The film that is so funny that it was banned in Norway!"

So, as long as you're not easily offended, please give this film a chance if you haven't done so already. It will not disappoint.


VERDICT - ALRIGHT, I AM THE MESSIAH! NOW FUCK OFF!

1 - Don't watch the Watchmen

Some big changes

Well, some big changes have been made, both in life and to the site. I am going to be doing weekly film reviews, as well as a movie-based weekly satirical comic strip.

I will be trying to get each of these up over the weekends, but will start with them today.

Thanks for reading.

A thankyou

As I have already mentioned, this blog was for a university project which is now over. The blog will be continued even though the project is done, so don't worry about me vanishing.

I would just like to thank the various people who visited the site, enjoyed (or disagreed with) the reviews, and commented on them. It was such a great boost in confidence for this site to see the views heading towards 3000 when it was marked, and it was you people who helped me reach the final grade of 76 out of 80.

Make sure to keep coming back for new reviews, because I am not going anywhere!

So here is to you, everyone at London Met, everyone who knows me personally, or who was sent the link from a friend, to Kabuki Elvis (Joe), to Semolina Pilchard (Francesca), and a special thanks to the ever-patient B3tans who didn't moan when I kept posting the link to my site in the hopes of constructive advice from people who run websites for a living.


For the fans, a simple yet beautiful gift; me dressed as a dinosaur.

Scarface

In 1983, eleven years after finding fame as Michael Corleone in 'The Godfather', Al Pacino was becoming one of the most recognised film stars in Hollywood. He was receiving roles in all the big films of the time, but was remaining fairly picky about which ones he took. Oliver Stone offered him a role in his remake of a 1932 film classic. Stone's film became a classic in its own right, and that film was 'Scarface'.



The movie tells the story of Tony Montana, a Cuban 'political refugee' who moves to Miami, with plans to becoming the leader of a drug empire. Along the way, he loses a lot of people he loves, and succumbs to greed. He learns that crime really doesn't pay in the long run.

'Scarface' received 3 Golden Globe nominations, appears in the IMDB top 250 films, is ranked as the tenth best gangster film by the AFI (American Film Institute)

The film has been called a classic, terrific, "the movie every guy must see". And what word do I award it?

Over-rated.

The plot is all-over-the-place, not a single one of the characters is likeable, they are all two-dimensional, Pacino's character is ridiculous to the point of laughable, and, to be honest, the film is just not that good.

Yes, there are lots of men out there who are yelling at me right now, but they are the same men who like films with Jason Statham in them, films about motor racing, and films with no plot, but plenty of tits.

This film is NOT for people who want to see an intelligent gangster film. Stick with 'The Godfather' for that, or, better yet, the original 1932 'Scarface'


VERDICT - DON'T TOOT YOUR HORN HONEY, YOU'RE NOT THAT GOOD.

The end of a (short and silly) era

Well gang, it has been fun, but things cannot last forever. My blog is being marked as we speak, and so I must say, to all the fans, I hope you appreciate the effort that went into this.

One film a day, that's 2-3 hours work right there, a day, on top of university!

This is, by no means, goodbye. I will still be reviewing films, just at a rate of one or two a week. If I kept going with one a day, I would kill someone, probably myself.

Again, thankyou for your support, it as meant a great deal.