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Religulous is Bill Maher's newest film. Google it if you haven't heard of it. The basic premise is that Maher goes around interviewing religious fundamentalists (under the pretense of making a documentary called "a spiritual journey") while poking fun at their beliefs. I saw it last night, and surprisingly (or not), I thought it was very good.

The film is intellectually dishonest, and arrogant to an incredible degree. The interviews are cut and paste jobs, with subtitles mocking the point of view of the religious people. But that's all fine by me - the movie isn't supposed to be an intellectual discussion of religion, it's supposed to be mostly funny with a couple legitimate insights, and that's what it provides. The only problems I could see coming from this are (1) pissed of religious fundamentalists who weren't interviewed in an honest way, (2) people who blindly accept Maher's "analysis" and think that religion is silly based on the mostly illegitimate arguments he provides.

Has anyone else seen it? What do you guys think about it?

I'm slightly interested in these... legitimate insights?

That is to say, im interested in what these legitimate insights are, i'm definately not interested in these types of films.

I'd like to see it, but I heard it was pretty offensive. People have compared it to Borat, but that makes me want to see it even more. :D

What was it rated?

I plan to see this. I'll be looking for the more comedic side of the movie though. I don't think it was made to say that religion is bad, but just to be funny.

Sky Panda:
There are legitimate insights in Maher's agnosticism. Also, a lot of his criticisms of Mormonism and Catholicism are valid - neither church would consent to an interview.

Blackson:
It's R.

BlckNWhteNnja:
I'm pretty sure it was saying that religion is bad - it just did this in a primarily comedic way. The last scene (my least favorite) has a bunch of images, primarily of fundamentalist Muslims and explosions, but also other fundies and explosions.

DemonzLunchBreak wrote:Sky Panda:
There are legitimate insights in Maher's agnosticism. Also, a lot of his criticisms of Mormonism and Catholicism are valid - neither church would consent to an interview.

Blackson:
It's R.

BlckNWhteNnja:
I'm pretty sure it was saying that religion is bad - it just did this in a primarily comedic way. The last scene (my least favorite) has a bunch of images, primarily of fundamentalist Muslims and explosions, but also other fundies and explosions.

Yah. That sounds like Maher. *Goes ahead and does NOT buy the video*

Maher has been going down recently. Most of his jokes on "Real Time* are sexually offensive with no real purpose to them. His swearing tripled, and his "New Rules" gets more clapping then laughing. It's supposed to be the other way around. My respect for the guy just went out the window. A 51st story window...

Zelda wrote:*Goes ahead and does NOT buy the video*

I'm afraid I agree - I'm not going to buy the video, either.
I am gonna go see it, though. Probably tonight. I'm pretty stoked.
And when the video actually does come out, I totally plan on buying it. It just sucks that I can't buy a copy now. :((

Maher's a nut, but Religulous sounds interesting. I'll probably get the video when it comes out as there's no theatre around here.

I imagine the film is going to be gratingly self-indulgent.

I'd watch it. I think I'd get annoyed a bit at how a guy like Bill Maher chooses to represent the group he is fervently a part of.

Just saw it.
It's highly entertaining, but trying to wear the Intellectualism Hat (which blows away in the breeze early on in the movie, but Maher still thinks he's wearing it). The end result is basically a bunch of comedy, which is pretty enjoyable. You also get to meet the most badass Senior Vatican Priest on the face of the planet. I'll probably buy the DVD.
But what I really didn't like was the very end, when Maher, after condescending to religion for making people do things out of fear, tells people to drop their religious beliefs or the world will end. He might also have wanted to consider looking a bit less like Satan incarnate as he was giving the introduction to his final monologue.

My favorite moment has to be when, very early on in the movie (within 15-20 minutes, probably), he gives a hard-hitting retort to a guy he's interviewing, who is consequently stunned for a moment, and it cuts to a very brief shot of some Jesus movie in which the guard slaps Jesus. I flippin' lost it.

I think I'd like to see this if for no other reason than for the comedic value. I can't imagine it being a very serious movie, or that any arguments presented for any side are very good. But I'm sure there is some dumb, slapstick humor involved.

*Goes ahead and law braking is illegal, so that's not what I'm doing here. Duh tries to find some clips if it's that good*

I think I can know what to expect from that swearing retorting strong atheist. Some laughs, but no deep-rooted humor.

Zora_S_Kenneth wrote:...law braking is illegal, so that's not what I'm doing here. Duh...
.

Ha! Did a mod post that, or was it just you?

Blackson wrote:

Zora_S_Kenneth wrote:...law braking is illegal, so that's not what I'm doing here. Duh...
.

Ha! Did a mod post that, or was it just you?

That was just him.

Demonz' analysis was pretty sound. Maher didn't even pick just fundies, he picked the worst of the fundies; it was like someone taking a couple people with Sickle Cell Anemia and saying the sickle cell gene is a blight upon the earth, when in heterozygous form it's harmless (and makes you immune to malaria!).

My only point of disagreement is that I didn't find actually find it all that funny (maybe because I kept being annoyed by Maher's pompous, self-righteous jackassery).

Sidenote: Woooooo first post! Hello all.

I plan to watch it sometime. Seems to be something I'd enjoy.

Suki, I really hope you didn't give too much away. ;D