The Atheist Blogger

After writing my satiric review of Expelled, I am compelled to write a proper review, but I’m afraid the result would just be a mess of obscenities. In the course of writing the review, I watched the movie twice (once the whole way through, and then second partially to get plot “info”). Watching the movie in it’s entirety almost twice was a pain (believe me), and I really couldn’t say more about it than I did in the satirical review. When you know the facts that are being either lied about or misused, Expelled really does play more like a science fiction piece than anything.

That said, it was quite a well written piece of intolerable propaganda. I suspect it would have been more interesting if they hadn’t chosen the dullest voice in film to narrate and star in it. Of course, a lot of stars in Hollywood actually support science and accept Evolution. Matt Damon nicely brought the subject up in a election video^[1], where he stated “it’s like a really bad Disney movie…I really need to know if she thinks dinosaurs were here 4000 years ago…because she’s gonna have the nuclear codes.”

Since writing the review, I have watched Expelled an extra time, and it was this time that I actually enjoyed the film. Why? Because it had lie-correcting subtitles. If you want to watch this film, I suggest you download the subtitles file first, because it really makes a difference.

Lets suspend from atheism, religion, and related topics for a few moments. I have an announcement that could possibly change your life.

WATCH TROPIC THUNDER

Seriously, go to the movie theater, download it, I don’t care how you get it. Just go and see this film. It is quite possibly the comedy of the year, perhaps the decade. I kid you not, it is GENIUS!!! Robert Downey Jr. OMFSM!!! Sooooo good!!!

Ok, back to normal now. God sucks, religion is evil. Atheism FTW!

(Just go see the movie)

Many people will recognise the above title as a line from Monty Python’s “Life of Brian“. Well, that is most people except those in the Welsh town of Aberystwyth where the film has been banned from viewing since its release, 29 years ago. The current Mayor, Sue Jones-Davies, starred in the movie as Brians girlfriend and now wants the ban lifed.

However, she might have to fight through some angry Christians to do it. Local reverend Stuart Bell says that attitudes amongst Christians have not changed (well when have they ever).

The film at its root is poking fun at Christ and we don’t want that to happen. I don’t think that the film should be shown. Why should the ban be removed?

Why? I’ll tell you why. It’s hilarious, has a great plot, and appeals to all ages. 30 years ago it was a breakthrough for freedom of speech and expression, making an obvious challenge to the countries blasphemy laws. It also outlined the irrational sheep-like followers of religion:

Brian: Look, you’ve got it all wrong! You don’t need to follow me, you don’t need to follow anybody! You’ve got to think for yourselves! You’re all individuals!
The Crowd (in unison): Yes! We’re all individuals!
Brian: You’re all different!
The Crowd (in unison): Yes, we are all different!
Man in Crowd: I’m not…
The Crowd: Shhh!

Of course Mr Bell has good reason to oppose the film, having only seen “a small clip, that’s all“. I doubt very much he saw the sermon on the mount part, or that he knows that Brian repeatedly tries to shake off the attention. No, Mr Bell just assumes the entire movie is about mocking Jesus.

Un-ban the movie, and make a whole new generation laugh.

I mentioned two weeks ago about Bill Maher’s new film “Religulous” which come out later this year. It seems that the studio went all out designing a website for the film.

A direct parody of Beliefnet, Disbeliefnet.com has the slogan “You won’t believe what people believe”, and at this current moment has a poll on Christian Morality. You can’t actually vote in the poll so I decided as a tribute to the genius of Bill Maher, I’d recreate it here:

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I highly recommend going over and checking out the “Blasphemy Box“, which contains links to website, videos, articles that are absolutely brilliant!

Thanks to Friendly Atheist!

A friend sent me this today:

Release date is 3rd October, 2008. I can’t wait!