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Religulous  

post #1 of 22
10/2/08 at 10:19am
Thread Starter 
http://www.lionsgate.com/religulous/

The documentary Religulous follows political humorist and author Bill Maher ("Real Time w/ Bill Maher", "Politically Incorrect") as he travels around the world interviewing people about God and religion. Known for his astute analytical skills, irreverent wit and commitment to never pulling a punch, Maher brings his characteristic honesty to an unusual spiritual journey.

In theaters October 3rd.

As a Bill Maher fan I can't wait to see this but I have to wait until next week or so. : Anyone else going to see it?
post #2 of 22
10/2/08 at 11:58am
Me me me!!!

I have seen him plug this movie 2 times & I have loved what he has to say. Very intriguing!
post #3 of 22
10/3/08 at 2:57pm
After reading the description of the movie, I'm sure I'd like it and agree with Maher's point of view, but I probably won't see it because I don't need another dose of cynicism.
post #4 of 22
10/4/08 at 8:33pm
We want to see it.
post #5 of 22
10/4/08 at 8:38pm
I saw the preview, and thought I would definitely go see it. Then I read a review, and it said he went for really easy laughs, deliberately avoiding articulate, intelligent religious people. It seems there are a lot of less-than-bright folks interviewed, who end up looking like deers caught in the headlights.
post #6 of 22
10/4/08 at 8:40pm
i cant wait to see it!
post #7 of 22
10/4/08 at 8:44pm
I just got home from seeing it and it was really great. My only complaint is that Maher comes of as very condesending and preachy (how ironic) - which is pretty much his shtick all the time. I think he would have been able to better make his point, which is that organized religion is bunk, if he didn't belittle folks so much. It's heavily edited, of course, and you have to wonder if a couple of folks might have actually had some compelling arguments and they got edited out....that is if there can possibly a compelling argument to his point.

He is as much of an extremist as those whom he disagree's with. That said, I laughed my self silly. The whole theater burst into applause at the end (that's pretty common at this particular theater.)
post #8 of 22
10/5/08 at 4:38am
Looking forward to this.


Have no clue why, as a thoroughly religious person, I thoroughly enjoy people trashing religion. But I do.



post #9 of 22
10/5/08 at 11:40am
Even 9yr old dd wants to see this!
post #10 of 22
10/5/08 at 8:59pm
Just got back from seeing it. I had considered taking my daughter and now I'm glad I didn't. I don't know that I would when she's nine, either. It has some graphic, rapid-sequence shots, especially toward the end and the theme at the end is self-fulfilling prophesy of human annihilation. Pretty disturbing, actually. I was expecting comedy but it ended on a very dramatic note.

There were lots of heavily edited portions which - I agree - had a detrimental effect overall. He could have still retained some of the (very) comedic clips and not cut off or away from the interviews he did and I think it would have played better.

Maybe I missed the previews or reviews, but the end surprised me. I hadn't expected it to end with such a serious tone. It definitely gave me something to think about and I'm glad he put it out there.
post #11 of 22
10/5/08 at 9:36pm
could you spoiler me the graphic stuff? Or PM me? I'd like to know specifically what happens so I can make a more informed choice about taking DD to the film. Thanks!
post #12 of 22
10/6/08 at 2:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Verity View Post
After reading the description of the movie, I'm sure I'd like it and agree with Maher's point of view, but I probably won't see it because I don't need another dose of cynicism.
That's kind of what I was thinking. I like Bill Maher a good deal and the topic is somewhat up my alley, but at the same time I'm not really interested in the idea of trashing religion. Really, I just want everyone to get along and be happy, you know? I think there's a difference between exploring the idea of religion and faith from a non-believer's POV, and putting religion down. The title alone is enough to suggest that it might be a little over the top for me right now.

I'll still probably see it though.
post #13 of 22
10/6/08 at 11:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KaraBoo View Post
could you spoiler me the graphic stuff? Or PM me? I'd like to know specifically what happens so I can make a more informed choice about taking DD to the film. Thanks!
Happy to. PMing you.
post #14 of 22
10/6/08 at 11:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjorker View Post
That's kind of what I was thinking. I like Bill Maher a good deal and the topic is somewhat up my alley, but at the same time I'm not really interested in the idea of trashing religion. Really, I just want everyone to get along and be happy, you know? I think there's a difference between exploring the idea of religion and faith from a non-believer's POV, and putting religion down. The title alone is enough to suggest that it might be a little over the top for me right now.

I'll still probably see it though.
I can understand your POV. Before I went in to the theater I confessed to my friend that I felt a little guilty about seeing it. I thought after seeing it I would probably feel like I needed to go to confession or something. But in the end I didn't feel that way at all.

There were definitely parts that made me cringe - parts where Maher was just downright unrelenting and ridiculing. But from his point of view I can understand why he went that far. And while it's not pretty to watch, the point he makes in the end is rather dramatic. It's a rather different idea - one we're not very familiar or likely very comfortable with but one he claims is absolutely necessary to save us and the planet. It then made sense to me why he would come out so strongly and unapologetic against religious absolutism (is that the right word?) throughout the film. I suppose he did it in a humorous way because 1. that's his element and 2. he honestly does find it amusing. But I also think it scares the poop out of him and I think *that's* his main point and the overall point of the film.
post #15 of 22
10/7/08 at 9:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by daisymama12 View Post
I saw the preview, and thought I would definitely go see it. Then I read a review, and it said he went for really easy laughs, deliberately avoiding articulate, intelligent religious people. It seems there are a lot of less-than-bright folks interviewed, who end up looking like deers caught in the headlights.
That's pretty much what I expected. I saw Maher plugging the movie, claiming it's "not meant to ridicule people" but just to "ask questions," when it was painfully obvious that ridicule was the whole point.
post #16 of 22
10/8/08 at 8:50am
I can't wait to see it! I'm not sure if I'll bring my 2.5 year old since I'm not sure he'd be able to sit through the documentary style (he sits through other movies very well, though), but I definitely want my 6 year old to see it.

It sounds like something we would both absolutely love!
post #17 of 22
10/8/08 at 11:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KaraBoo View Post
could you spoiler me the graphic stuff? Or PM me? I'd like to know specifically what happens so I can make a more informed choice about taking DD to the film. Thanks!
Could you pm me too on this? Ds really wants to see it...

Thx!
post #18 of 22
10/15/08 at 10:09pm
I saw this yesterday. I very much disagreed with his little diatribe at the end - he seems to be equating ALL religion with fundamentalism and extremism and saying that it's ALL bad. I disagree. Extremism is detrimental and bad, yes, but that doesn't mean that all religious belief is bad.

I did enjoy the film, though. DH and I laughed through a lot of it because we were both raised in southern Baptist churches and a lot of it was familiar to us.
post #19 of 22
10/16/08 at 6:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by minkajane View Post
I saw this yesterday. I very much disagreed with his little diatribe at the end - he seems to be equating ALL religion with fundamentalism and extremism and saying that it's ALL bad. I disagree. Extremism is detrimental and bad, yes, but that doesn't mean that all religious belief is bad.
But his point is that its this extremism that causes the hate and war and so in the end moderation is a non-issue because the extremists are ruining the world for everyone.
post #20 of 22
10/19/08 at 7:53pm
Thread Starter 
Finally got see this today!

I thought it was great. I didn't see Maher as ridiculing at all. See, it's funny how just because you ask tough questions or questions that nobody else asks that, somehow, that's a terrible thing and you're being mean. But that's just not the case. I think Maher posed great questions and I think more people should be asking the same things! And besides, most of these people basically handed him things. The senator that was mis-pronouncing his words and saying "but you don't have pass an iq test to become a senator?" ..I mean, come on! Oh and I loved the priest he spoke with outside the vatican! I would like to hang out with that guy. He was hilarious.
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