How did Monty Python’s ‘Life of Brian’ influence your life (if at all)?

29 comments

  1. I got stoned and laughed at it a lot in college. That hardly makes it unique, but I guess it provided a couple hours of good times.

  2. Made references to the Judean People’s Front/People’s Front of Judea bit until it became too old and obscure.

  3. Well I’ve spent the last 30 years screaming, “There’s no Messiah here, so PISS OFF!!!”

  4. It made me do a deep introspection and realize that I was not cut out for the People’s Front of Judea. With a great deal of trepidation and anxiety, I left them and joined the Judean People’s Front. After some missteps and a difficult transition, I am much more happy and fulfilled.

    I also have much more respect for the Cheesemakers, and anyone who manufactures dairy products.

  5. The rise of the Cult of the Gourd, and then it’s schism with the Cult of the Sandal definitely helped me understand humanity and theology.

  6. I was attending a Catholic school when it came out. My teacher told us that this movie was blasphemous. I couldn’t wait to see it.

  9. My favourite band always plays their song when their concert is finished.

    Always look on the bright side of life

  11. I frequently bless cheesemakers, and makers of all dairy products… though cheese is pretty much the only dairy I consume anymore.

    On a real point, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life did really resonate with me about not letting yourself get dragged down on how your life may be a piece of shit so just look on the bright side cause right now might be just before you draw your terminal breath.

    Also, if you haven’t seen this, I suggest you get tissues first

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsHk9WC7fnQ

  12. Growing up we had a family tradition of watching LOB on Christmas Eve every year. We still quote it to each other whenever the opportunity arises.

  16. My wife and I regularly sing “Always look on the bright side of life.” and whistle when trying to cheer each other up.

  17. I sing “Always look on the bright side of death” and everyone looks at me like I’m a strange old man.

  18. I saw it in middle school. It was the first movie I’d ever seen where the good guy doesn’t win. The first time I saw it, it was kind of surreal.. I couldn’t believe that it would just.. end, like that.

    Then I realized that’s how the world really works.

  21. “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” came at a good time in my life, when I was feelin’ particularly shitty (probably depressed, possibly after a breakup).

    Also I frequently use the “Biggus Dickus” and “We shaww welease…. WOGER!” lines a lot (sometimes due to the topic that someone brings up sometimes about how “Hercules” is pronounced a certain way that “Testicles” should also be pronounced). Never fails to make me laugh.

  22. it never really spoke to me and i was forever perplexed by its status in many fun and creative communities

  23. Whenever my friends find ourselves in a situation requiring a straight face, one of us whispers “I have a vewwy gweat fwend in Wome…”

  25. I have a friend who is a history teacher, and he uses the “What have the Romans ever done for us?” scene in class to illustrate both the importance of government in daily life and the moral complexities of living under an empire.

  26. I first saw Monty Python on our local PBS station that played it and Benny Hill most days after school. This would have been the late 70s / early 80s when I was a latchkey 12-year-old with no adult supervision. I lived in Texas so was far removed from the Python’s natural habitat. ([“The Miracle of Life Part 2, the Third World” subtitle: “Yorkshire” Stork flying in. “Oh, bloody hell.” Baby plops out. “Would you get that for me, Deirdre?”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzVHjg3AqIQ)).

    My friends and I watched it religiously, correcting each other for accuracy as we quoted from the show. It formed my sense of humor and guided me philosophically. Consider these outstanding hats, er, [words](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2QJvc_SxFQ).

    > “I’ve had a team working on this over the past few weeks, and what we’ve come up with can be reduced to two fundamental concepts. One: People aren’t wearing enough hats. Two: Matter is energy. In the universe there are many energy fields which we cannot normally perceive. Some energies have a spiritual source which act upon a person’s soul. However, this “soul” does not exist ab initio as orthodox Christianity teaches; it has to be brought into existence by a process of guided self-observation. However, this is rarely achieved owing to man’s unique ability to be distracted from spiritual matters by everyday trivia.”

    What was that about hats, you ask? I mean [gender identity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YruT2ROEUc)?

    > **Patient:** Is it a boy or a girl?
    **Obstetrician:** Now, I think it’s a little early to start imposing roles on it, don’t you? Now, a word of advice. You may find that you suffer for some time a totally irrational feeling of depression. PND is what we doctors call it. So it’s lots of happy pills for you, and you can find out all about the birth when you get home. It’s available on Betamax, VHS, and Super 8.

    Keep in mind, this movie was released in 1983 and was already joking about gender identity.

    And of course, there is their surprisingly accurate take on [cosmology](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq4uCWtQE24).

    > So remember, when you’re feeling very small and insecure,
    How amazingly unlikely is your birth;
    And pray that there’s intelligent life somewhere out in space,
    ‘Cause there’s bugger all down here on Earth!

    But the crowning jewel, in my opinion, is the observation that [cheesemakers are blessed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpkWT5voTSE).

    “Blessed are the meek! Oh, that’s nice, isn’t it? I’m glad they’re getting something, ’cause they have a hell of a time.”

    At every turn, they joke and cajole people to reconsider their own importance. Life of Brian is really the ultimate expression of this because Brian gets caught up in trouble and crucified (line on the left, one cross each). He truly isn’t important in the grand scheme of things, but he taught me to [always look on the bright side of life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUhlRoBL8M).

  29. I wrote a report on it for a film class in college.

    I then shamelessly used the report again, with a few tweaks, for a different class.

    Report was asking if the film was ‘Anti-Christian’. I am one, so I should know. I said it wasn’t.

    No, I’m not writing the report again for you, nor do I have it anymore. That was like 35 years ago.

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