He didn't even penetrate the surface of what I saw there.His two most logical guests, ironically, are Vatican priests, who with pleasure write off large parts of widely perceived Catholic beliefs, including the existence of Hell. But it’s also very funny, which trumps everything else. Later in the film, there is an interesting moment where Maher walks out on a rabbi who favorably attend a Holocaust denial conference in Iran.Persistently, Maher's altercations regard logical inconsistencies of holy books. The documentary Filmmaker Michael Moore explores the roots of America's predilection for gun violence. J. Spurlin. Granted, religion is the worst thing that ever happened to this world, because Satan uses religion to deceive … View production, box office, & company info. [44] Louis Peitzman of the San Francisco Bay Guardian wrote that "It doesn't even matter that he goes out of his way to be offensive, as he's consistently funny enough to pull it off. Funny and informative, Bill Maher takes a person journey through the major, and many of the minor, religions of the world. Did Jesus exist? Maher finds the unlikeliest of believers and, in a certain Vatican priest, he even finds an unlikely skeptic. "You can't get saved if you don't play." "Heaven help us." [51], Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, "Religulous - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information", "Bill Maher Discusses Religulous on Larry King", "Review: Maher takes on religion but sounds like he's preaching to the agnostic choir", "Bill Maher takes politically incorrect look at faith in 'Religulous, "Religulous: A Conversation with Bill Maher and Larry Charles", "Movie review: 'Religulous' -- 4 out of 5 stars", https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/evangelist-jeremiah-cummings-blames-bill-mahers-religulous-misfortunes/story?id=8653902, Bill Maher Talks To Ex-Gay Pastor John Westcott, "Bill Maher hates your (fill in the blank) religion", "Maher takes on religion, but some interviewees cry foul", "HBO's Bill Maher and the plot to deceive AiG", "Creationism leader not laughing at comedian's visit", "Bill Maher's Religion Documentary aims for Easter Release Date", "Mumm at the Movies: Religulous & An American Carol; 10/9/08", "Audiences adopt 'Chihuahua' with $29M weekend", "Box Office Mojo Weekend Box Office October 3–5, 2008", "Political films can't compete with real thing", "Bill Maher travels the globe challenging religious belief in 'Religulous, "Maher preaches to choir with religion film", "Bill Maher questions religion, God in 'Religulous, "Religulous - A movie review by James Berardinelli", "Believers, Skeptics and a Pool of Sitting Ducks", https://web.archive.org/web/20140401031837/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/movies/08mv156.htm, When You Ride Alone You Ride with bin Laden, New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer, The New New Rules: A Funny Look at How Everybody but Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Religulous&oldid=997485073, Documentary films critical of Christianity, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2019, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 31 December 2020, at 18:57. Comedian and political satirist Bill Maher discusses topical events with guests from various backgrounds. Directed by Larry Charles. Only 1 left in stock - order soon. Muslims, Jews and Christians of many kinds pass before his jaundiced eye. Not only does this refer to. The other remarks that Jesus is polled sixth person to which Italians pray in crisis. An unflattering look inside America's corporate controlled food industry. Maher also takes a tour around Creation Museum and the Holy Land Experience. He talks to a Muslim musician who preaches hatred of Jews. Add our editors' Netflix movie and TV picks to your Watchlist, including "Bridgerton," David Fincher's Mank, and more. I saw Bill Maher's Religulous with a fellow Christian who occasionally offers to get me into press screenings. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Religulous, a documentary created by Bill Maher, is a film that discusses Judeo-Christianity and faith.The most pervasive question levied by Mr. Maher throughout the film is, “How do you know?” Bill Maher travels to religious locations world-wide under the implied pretext of objectively interviewing people of faith as well as agnostics and atheists. Religulous makes a pilgrimage across the globe with political humorist and author Bill Maher (“Real Time With Bill Maher,” “Politically Incorrect”) as he opens our mind to the ultimate taboo: questioning religion. Its per-screen receipts were almost three times those of a competing film to which it has been compared in the media, the politically conservative An American Carol,[18][19][20][21] which edged out Religulous to finish at #9 over the same weekend, but had a per theater average of only $2,325. Although “Religulous” is intended to be a comedy, Bill Maher concludes the movie with some very serious and powerful images and messages that really penetrate deep into the meaning of our existence – past, present and future. Faith is the benefit of not thinking. 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." 31 of 49 people found this review helpful. His admitted intention behind making this comic documentary is because religious epics that have poured out of Hollywood since the dawn of cinema have endeared audiences to religions that, especially in their organized forms, preach and imply startling aversions to scientific and historical facts, take advantage of certain texts as means of racism, sexism and homophobia and other such things.I am just now getting around to writing about Religulous, which I saw weeks before the Joe Eszterhas book signing, but I can't help but wonder about the differing viewpoints of a hilarious, righteously cynical Libertarian with whom I consistently agree and one of the highest-paid screenwriters who has worked for nearly half a century in the very system that he claims to oppose his newfound beliefs. (2008). Bill Maher - New Rules by Various DVD $9.99. However, it is not - and I guess, Bill Maher neither offers to or makes any apologies for this - a balanced film. Bill Maher. The movie is about organized religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Mormonism, TV evangelism and even Scientology, with detours into pagan cults and ancient Egypt. Mormons believe Missouri will be the place to be, to which Maher quips with impeccable timing, "Branson, I hope." But, really, if you consider the way Bill Maher speaks to his interviewees, the way he comments as director Larry Charles interviews him during the film's road trip, and Maher's overall embitterment towards religion evidenced clearly in his stand-up act and on his show Real Time With Bill Maher, you will see that this film is not made to change minds but to reassure those who already understand that lack of necessity and the danger of futility and bigotry in religion that they are not alone and that there are hit movies like this that defend the viewpoints they are reticent to voice themselves.At a recent book signing at Joseph-Beth Booksellers here in Cincinnati, I spoke with screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, who recently found Christianity through his dilemma with throat cancer. Strife of the Party Bill implores Democrats to use common sense and tone down the hypersensitive wokeness that drove voters to Trump. A Review and Critique of Bill Maher’s “Religulous” General Observations This film made religious people look ridiculous, hence the name “Religulous.” Even though it was an assault on my faith, and it was rather crude in parts (this is Bill Maher after all! examines and challenges religion and religious belief. Bill Maher is back with a new season of Real Time January 15 2021 on HBO Max. "[33] The Canadian Press said the movie "delivers a laugh-out-loud attack on the most sacred of cows. I'm going to try to review Bill Maher's "Religulous" without getting into religion. "[36], The documentary received some negative reviews, with Rick McGinnis of Metro concluding that, "Maher is preaching to the choir with an undisguised dishonesty that only the true believers will forgive. The people he interviews are shockingly patient and tolerant, even most, not all, of the truckers in a makeshift truck stop chapel. 21 December 2010. ", suggesting the possibility of a sequel. You may very well hate it, but at least you've been informed. Bill Maher started his career as a stand up comedian and rose to become a very popular comedian. A documentary comparing the highly profitable American health care industry to other nations, and HMO horror stories including shotgun deaths. With Bill Maher, Tal Bachman, Jonathan Boulden, Steven Burg. "[29] On Metacritic the film has a score of 56 out of 100, based on 31 critics, "mixed or average reviews". Bill Maher, a well-known American comedian, satirist and religious sceptic has added this comedy-documentary to the growing number of voices challenging the rationality of religious belief. We relish his misconduct. William Maher (/ m ɑːr /; born January 20, 1956) is an American comedian, political commentator, and television host. Religulous begins with Bill Maher, standing alone in Israel at a place called Meggido; a worthless pile of rubble where many of the planet’s religions believe the end of the world will begin. It was a large fish! Filmed as an on-the-road journey, Maher travels across America as well as visiting Amsterdam, London, Egypt and Jerusalem. Directed by Larry Charles. Maher finds the unlikeliest of believers and, in a certain Vatican priest, he even finds an unlikely skeptic. He talks to a Muslim musician who preaches hatred of Jews. Bill Maher interviews some of religion's oddest adherents. Really, the truly surprising breadth of this film's release and commercial success (though I do know a few people in St. Louis who, last time we spoke, claimed it had yet to show there) should affirm Eszterhas's viewpoint, but actually seeing Maher's film is a different story.This admittedly and purposely biased documentary is about Bill Maher's view of religion. Bill's first aim is to entertain, make his viewers laugh, I thought he succeeded (there's a priceless scene were Bill interviews a creationist politician, I won't spoil it … No surprise there, but my point is this: There is little to zero chance that they, who tend to believe what this film ridicules, will see this film, and every chance that those of us, like me, who already love him, will rush to see this because essentially, it turns out to be a rallying of secularists who should be more alarmed and more active than they are. Mythology and belief in society today, presenting uncommon perspectives of common cultural issues. Richard Dawkins' highly critical documentary attacks the pulsing heart of all mainstream religion- faith; with special focus on Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. The title of the film is a portmanteau derived from the words religious and ridiculous. That's only human nature. A singer, whose career has gone on a downward spiral, is forced to make a comeback to the performance stage for a benefit concert. Written by [13][14][15], The documentary was produced by Thousand Words and distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment. He speaks to a rabbi in league with Holocaust deniers. Bill Maher's Blasphemous And Ridiculous Film RELIGULOUS Bill Maher says that he doesn't ridicule religion; but rather, he says that religion ridicules itself. Contains repeated ... See full summary ». Okay." Answer: In his 2008 film “Religulous,” Bill Maher makes the argument that belief in God is ridiculous. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 69%, based on 154 reviews, with an average rating of 6.31/10. Religulous. In October 2008 Bill Maher came back to the limelight with the movie “Religulous”, directed by Larry … The film's preaching to the converted and alienating of the non-converted is not a misstep by Maher and director Charles, but rather the intention. Originally slated for an international release date coinciding with the Christian Easter holiday 2008 (March 23), post-production delays resulting from a screenwriters guild strike pushed the release date back. "[35] John Anderson of Newsday wrote: "much that's funny, insightful and thought-provoking. It then falls to his tape recorder, among other things, it describes guidelines the simple to do. This film starts with that question, then goes on to examine Christianity as a whole. [41] Muslims, however, are portrayed as relentlessly anti-Semitic and as holding views on freedom of speech and of religion incompatible with Western culture. [24][25], For the second weekend, Religulous had a 35.5% drop in box office receipts and dropped to #13 with a gross of $2,200,000 at 568 theaters for a per screen average of $3,873. Documentary, Music, Sport & Biography. He goes to a theme park called Holy Land in Florida. Religulous (/rɪˈlɪɡjʊləs, rɪˈlɪdʒʊləs/) is a 2008 American documentary film written by and starring comedian Bill Maher and directed by Larry Charles. He goes to a theme park called Holy Land in Florida. A rather decent U.S. senator thinks so. Bill Maher's take on the current state of world religion. Details. "[42] Claudia Puig of USA Today wrote: "those with a taste for irreverent humor and clear-eyed analysis will find it funny, enlightening and disturbing. Common accord. The choir may hum along with Maher but the rest of those watching this movie will be singing the blues. Meeting the high and low from different religions, Maher simply asks questions, like "Why is faith good?" Religulous Bill Maher Larry Charles Bill Maher (2008) Comic Bill Maher visits Jerusalem, Vatican City and other religious destinations to question believers about their different faiths. He talks to truckers at a Truckers' Chapel. In his review Stephen Holden also wrote that "the movie has the same loose, on-the-road structure" as Larry Charles' previous film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan and commented: "Much of Mr. Maher’s film is extremely funny in a similarly irreverent, offhanded way. Will the Rapture arise in our lifetimes? Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. "[38] Nick Schager of Slant Magazine called it an "atheistic wannabe-dissection of modern faith."[39]. The title of the film is a portmanteau derived from the words religious and ridiculous. Rated R for some language and sexual material, Hulu in September: Here’s Everything Coming and Going, Hulu Announces Over 100 New Movies/TV Shows For September, Everything Coming to Hulu in September 2020, 07. On January 4, 2015, Maher tweeted a photo of himself and director Larry Charles with the caption: "Director Larry Charles on the Hawaii trip this year...was "Religulous II" discussed?? 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