2013-08-15
Extremely one sided
Way too simplistic.
Updating
Released: 2009-04-03
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Preview
Description
Can we be good without god? Is religion a calling or a mental illness? What have talking snakes, immaculate conceptions, walking on water, extra-terrestrial travellers, a container load of truckers, Islamic hip-hop and the natural highs of the Cannabis Ministries got to do with spiritual salvation? These are some of the questions director Larry Charles (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Borat, Bruno) and comedian, commentator and all round religious sceptic, Bill Maher (Politically Incorrect, Real Time With Bill Maher) seek answers to in "Religulous." Award-winning Maher reflects on his own religious upbringing and travels to Jerusalem, Egypt, London, Amsterdam, The Vatican and across the United States exploring the role of religion in today's society. Along the way he talks to believers, non-believers, religious leaders, self professed messiahs, atheists, extremists, politicians, agnostics, academics and the average man on the street looking to lift the lid on their beliefs.
Apple TV: Customer Reviews
2013-06-06
Important movie, must see it
I rented it from iTunes, now I'm gonna buy it.
2013-04-04
philsooren
Excellent *****
2012-12-27
Funny and Worrying
This is an excellent film and a must watch for all. The brave work of guys like this should be commended, putting their lives on the line to raise awareness of how damaging religion is to society's across the world.
2012-05-05
brilliant
thought provoking and an amazing documentary
2012-04-04
This film is a trinity
It's thought provoking, funny and scary at the same time. Everyone should watch this.
2011-07-07
Not very good
I am an atheist so i was very interested in watching this film. However the way in which the interviewer and editor have structured the film really doesn't strengthen atheism.
The questions are poorly constructed with a very narrow view point and the interviewer refuses to look at things from a broader perspective. Also the way in which Bill is constantly interrupting people who are trying to get their point over becomes really frustrating to watch.
If you are also an atheist you will enjoy this film for the 1st half and then will start to dislike Bill and his childlike, narrow minded and often quite disrespectful attitude towards the people he interviews.
Its not a film about religion. Its a film about Bill Maher's self righteousness. I hope he can see the irony in criticising peoples unquestioning beliefs when he seems so self assured that nobody should question his.
2011-01-05
intelligent, daring and extremely witty!
I purchased this documentary and have watched it several times! Bill Maher travels the world searching for answers, ever sceptical of the existence of God and Religion.
One of the most entertaining films I have seen in a long while, you can expect to see a sarcastic yet sharply honest Bill interview people of all faiths and backgrounds in search for the truth, being provocative towards and humiliating his subjects... it will have you laughing out loud!
If you are easily offended the don't watch this, otherwise.... enjoy!
2010-07-31
Irreverent, funny & insightful.
Take Richard Dawkins, remove the apparent arrogance, add a sense of humour and some rude words. Brilliant.
2010-06-19
Brilliant!
Very entertaining although he does go a bit out of his way at times to "attack" certain targets. However, his point is very valid and I think the only way to bring the points across is to be blunt. I myself went to a Christian school in South Africa for the last few years of high school, boy did it point me in the opposite direction, it truly did show me the light! A must see for the open minded people who already know religion is a load of rubbish...
2010-05-30
why the joke?
The movie shows why the joke will be here forever, in a way that it's fun entertainment. A must see!
The joke has been and will remain here, it answers questions that cannot be answered with facts or proof, it creates lots of "jobs" and money. It gives hope to hopeless people and even to "intelligent" people (don't know why). It's a big customer for guns, petrol, shares and land businesses.
2010-02-19
Fantastic and hilarious
Brilliant -- he doesn't give anyone a free pass. Good to see hypocrites called out. Wish he was as sensible about alt-med!
2009-10-19
A bit too one sided...
I'm not religious in any way. Never have been. However, even I would admit that this film is somewhat one sided. Bill Maher seems to go out of his way to find religious people to just say stupid things about either themselves or their religion. Some are surprising - the senator and scientist. However, the film isn't particulalrly thought provoking and doesn't present the other side of the argument to stir debate. For those serious about this topic I'd recommend Louis Theroux's documentary on the Phelps family. It's presented by a more intelligent individual who allows the subjects to direct the discussion, leading to a much more thought-provoking debate.
2009-10-05
Religulous
This is not a bad movie at all. My only criticism is that the ending arrives discontinuously, it doesn't really follow on from the previous context and takes you by surprise. Other than that, it's excellent. It's funny, informative and worth renting. I might even buy it.
2009-10-04
Fantasic
Bill's fantastic commentary, the brilliant editing, the unbelievable cast. This movie has it all.
Watch it - you'll be glad you did!
2009-09-30
Fantabulous
I thought this was an excellent film. Let's face it, it's not hard to take the mickey out of religion, and Bill Maher does a great job. I thought it was laugh-out-lous funny most of the way through. There are a couple of slightly cringy moments, but mostly it's a light hearted p**s-take that's enjoyable throughout.
I think it's a timely film too- it's a subject that needs to be addressed. If I had a criticism, it would be that the film could have exposed more of the injustice that underlies the history of Christianity. It does a good job of pointing out some the absurdity, though, and Maher is as respectful as is appropriate with his interviewees.
The film has been critised by some for knocking down a straw man, in the sense that those interviewed are alleged to be simple-minded extremists who interpret religion very literally (and therefore it's easy to make them look stupid). Whilst I would agree with that characterisation, it seems like a substantial chunk of the USA does think like that (most Evangelical Christians, I would contend), and these people have a lot of political power. Therefore I think they are a legitimate target, and as such the film is well-balanced.
The film concludes with a fairly political message, one that I think all rationalists would firmly support.
Good work Bill. Enjoy.
2009-09-29
if you "worship" Dawkins, you
When telling a story about religion, not to believe is to miss the narrative and to believe is to be biased. I've read Dawkins and Benedictus XVI. There are some funny moments but Bill Maher (main actor) should have made some additional background research as he utters some enormous misconceptions from both sides of the debate.
In short, rent it for the good laughs but if you want serious religion debate material, this is not the place.
2009-09-21
its pretty good
its IS a little closed minded, but other wise funny as any thing
2009-08-30
The truth comes out...
It's about time the ugly truth was revealed. This film documentary takes a bold leap into the underlying teachings of religion and confronts 'enablers' with the real questions that should be asked.
2009-08-26
Not Dawkings, but still interesting and very entertaining.
It might not have the scientific backing and strength of a Richard Dawkings, theory, but it certainly highlights some of the absurdities of Religion in a humorous and entertaining way.
This is a film for anyone who questions the validity of religion.
2009-08-24
Entertaining but a little lightweight
Deals with the nonsense that is religion in an entertaining way. Its a bit light weight and the characters he lampoons are cartoonish stereotypes (with one exception) and pretty much send up themselves.
Good to see that there is some light in the strange fundamentalist nation of USA.
2009-08-23
HAHHA love it
Awesome.
2009-08-21
Not Dawkins
No, it's not a Dawkins style debate on natural philosophy versus religion, it's way more basic than that. Rather than taking science as a basis for rational discussion of our progress from space dust to sentience this is just funny. It starts of where the debate should; let's not assume a god then let the atheist make a case. No, let's assume that the Abrahamic myths are all made up nonsense which have been turned in to a good money maker and force the zealots to explain why exactly it is that they are sure that we should rain war on people because their version of the talking snake story is different. Unsurprisingly this film did not convert me to any major faith or convince me to give them a percentage of my income.
2009-08-19
You cannot hide the truth forever
This film is just fantastic - it should be part of the national curriculum.
2009-08-17
Cheap
A childish and schoolboy level sideswipe at religion.
2009-08-15
Genius!
A beautifully produced piece of film which sticks it in the eye of the crazy people who start wars and destroy nations and people because of the fantasy they believe. What muppets they all are! Watch this film and laugh out loud :)
2009-08-14
This should be shown in every school.
Imagine no religion? Bill Maher makes this an extremely attractive prospect. His issue isn't with a creator or 'God'... but the flaws, plagiarism and incredible claims in scriptures written by men. It's a funny and lightweight, but asks some pertinent questions. The links between the Abrahamic faiths and ancient Egypt show a chronological chain of embroidering and borrowing ancient myths then packaging them with Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
2009-08-10
Excellent!!
A funny film for a Friday night :)
2009-08-09
Funny but shallow critique of religion
A one sided, albeit occasionally very funny, attack on carefully chosen targets, the filmmaker appears unwilling to engage intelligent theologians or believers (yes, there are plenty of them out there) and concentrates on mocking those less able to defend themselves who also follow the more bizarre extremes of religious belief. Which isn't such a bad thing, however, the sniggering behind the back of those being interviewed style employed here cheapens any valid argument and the lack of decent opponents should leave anyone with a sense of fair debate with a very bad taste in their mouths.
2009-08-07
One of the best films of it's type...
Bill Maher's Religulous is an intelligent and comedic look into the huge taboo of Religious interference in modern culture. It's laugh out loud funny and Maher is a warm yet brutally honest interviewer..cleverly edited and broad in it's objective religulous is a must see :)
2009-08-05
Religious
A materpiece using oringinal context bringing religion a new name... a buy for all fans of monkey and a hope.