What makes it different from others?

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

While many people continue to directly compare it to Life of Brian, they do not notice that it is done in the oratorio style, which they nail.While I did not find a lot of it completely hilarious, there were plenty of great toe-tapping numbers that uplift the spirit and still gives you a huge smile. The soloists all seemed to have a great connection with each other and even managed to joke with the director from time to time. The BBC symphonic orchestra managed to nail everything, although with such a well-known orchestra, I'd expect nothing less.Just to help jog everyone's memory, an oratorio is an extended musical composition that lacks action, scenery, costumes. So while yes, this is Life of Brian, they go at it in a completely different approach.If you can only think of Monty Python in the terms they drew up when they first came out, you will find this thing a huge waste of time. However, if you can accept that they like to do different things and you enjoy some mighty fine musical numbers, than this is definitely going to be a show you love.I just wish they didn't choose to do it just once. I'd love to get to see this show live.

I'm a big fan of Monty Phyton. In the series as well as in the movies. Also the life of Brian was funny and innovative. But not not the messiah. So I would like to add to Vincent's comment the following. If you are a big python fan, don't watch it! It might influence your perception of the earlier works. There was one thing that could have been good in the movie. The location of the sublime Albert Hall. Unfortunately it was completely wasted by the poor, uninspired performances! I can understand why Cleese didn't want to take part. They should have hired Neil Innes to create a more of everything show. Maybe the 50th anniversary?

I'll try to be kind - an American with an attitude and no sense of humour. What a surprise. Don't give Jay Harris' review any credence whatsoever. Sophisticated cerebral humour just seems to elude some people. Audiences don't give elated standing ovations for nothing, so you decide who to trust - 5000 lucky spectators at the Royal Albert Hall, or poor humourless Jay Harris...When I first saw that this had been produced, I feared that it would be one more try to exploit the Monty Python legacy that reached its pinnacle with The Life of Brian movie. Instead, it turned out to be a triumph, that soared, and incredibly managed to exceed the movie itself, although it could never have done so without the ground breaking, risk taking humour of the original movie.The idea of a Life of Brian opera certainly sounds stodgy and ill-advised, and the first few numbers were perhaps a bit too low-burn, really doing nothing to set the scene or re-acquaint fans of the movie.After that, highlights from the movie are performed magnificently, with the scoring and the lyrics working in hilarious and perfect harmony. Whilst the oratorio covers a wide range of styles, from Dob Dylan folk mumble to Mexican cantina band, it is primarily classical and operatic. Don't let that put you off though, it's not performed in pretentious style, and in fact the juxtaposition actually enhances the piece. At no time is this more brilliantly demonstrated than when Brian and Judith have sex, operatically. If that doesn't bring tears of laughter to your face, then I have serious doubts about the presence of your sense of humour. It's incredible that it can be puerile and high-brow at the same time, and that is the oratorio's incredible magic.The piece is littered from start to finish with in jokes that Life of Brian fans will enjoy, but many pay homage to the greater Python body of work. The audience was particularly appreciative of the repeated intrusion of the lumberjack song.Some of the key moments played out musically include:Popular People's Front Popped by? Swarmed by more like! Brian and Judith Biggus Dickus Bwian You lucky bastard Crucifixion Always Look on the Bright Side of LifeWhen the original movie came out, it caused a religious outrageous amongst stuffy Christians the world over, and hopefully, this fantastic show will stick a cracker up their butts again. On the one hand, it's not actually disrespectful of the whole Jesus story, yet it manages to point out the hypocrisy of religion. My favourite lines come at the end of the piece called Hail to the Shoe, where the singers have decided that the shoe is a sign of Brian's divinity:Hail to the Shoe. Death to those who Have different views Concerning his Shoes And while we kill him let us all prayI'm not fortunate enough to be as well versed in classical music as Adam Wilde, so there may be even more sophisticated jokes lurking for some of you, but I know this, there has not been a movie in two decades that I watched three or four times in two days, as I have with He's not the messiah. If you're a Python fan, treat yourself to the treat of two decades!

This 'film' is an absolutely amazing treat for any Monty Python fan! Being a big Python fan myself, this came a treat on my first watch and gets better the more I watch and listen to the show.This concert film should NOT be compared to Life of Brian, it is a retelling of the story in a completely different way, it is more of an enhancement of Life of Brian than anything else.The film is very, very funny by referencing the jokes everyone loves in Life of Brian as well as adding new ones, which makes it feel completely new and fresh, whilst still keeping within Python guidelines.All the surviving Python's return (apart from John Cleese) which is a bonus for any Python fan.If you are a fan of Python, you will LOVE this... if you ain't a Python fan, chances are you won't be converted to the Python way. But personally - I LOVED IT!