I love Ricky Gervais' intelligent comedy, and this time, even though his movie doesn't offer anything artistically incredible, his satirical theory on how religions started thousands of years ago is quite amusing. His comedic skills are in full force during a 10-minute sequence midway through the movie, where he confabulates for a crowd how "The Man in the Sky" works; and cameo appearances by a multitude of stars makes The Invention of Lying even more enjoyable. You'll find yourself taking strong positions for or against the message Gervais is trying to make here. Reminds of Monty Python's Life of Brian.
Mo says:
I also enjoyed this movie, and its message that from a utilitarian standpoint religion, even if it is a lie, provides comfort and calm to the masses.
ReplyDeleteExactly. When religion provides "hope", it works really well. And I guess that's what its primary purpose was in the first place; to make people feel more comfortable with their lives. How successfull it's been to reach that goal? That's another story.
ReplyDelete10 Commandments on Pizza Hut boxes as tablets! :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd Mo (as in Mohsen, it's hard when there are two Mos in here!), I kinda liked your closing sentence! Indeed that's another story!
And I also liked that little innocent "even if" conditional clause of Mohi's comment too!
Let's keep the door open, even if slightly, shall we?
Cheers both!
Agreed! Opening to the possibility that anything is possible, makes life much easier.
ReplyDeleteI have nearly always been anti religion and god but I have some good friends who are very religious and I now have to admit that god is at least a possibility. A god that cares and loves everyone, I just cant see that.
ReplyDeleteAs Dawkins once said: The presence of a God is not impossible, but is highly improbable.
ReplyDelete