Lionsgate has revealed the theatrical teaser poster for Larry Charles‘ upcoming sure-to-be-contoversial documentary Religulous, which follows Bill Maher on a around the world journey to prove just how ridiculous organized religion can be. I saw a bunch of footage from this doc at Toronto last September, and it’s shocking, laugh out loud funny, and appalling. One thing is for sure, it will get people talking. I love the new tagline “Heaven help us.” but preferred the film festival poster where Maher’s head appeared on a slice of burnt toast. You can check out the poster in High Resolution on Cinematical. Religulous hits theaters on June 20th 2008.
Discuss: How many religious groups do you think will protest this film? Will you be protesting or buying a ticket on opening night?
April 5th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Really can’t wait. Is there a trailer?
April 5th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Sounds interesting enough, I’ll be sure to look for the release.
April 5th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I’d line up for it right now if I knew where it was gonna be playing.
I can’t wait to see the reviews for it on FOX news.
April 5th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
wow that poster sucks.
fine with the idea, but it really looks like some dude photoshoped that in about 30 seconds
April 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I don’t care for the cloud Maher either but I’m sure I’ll see this opening day. Nothing better than making fun of religion imo.
April 5th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
ethanhedman said what I was going to.
It literally looks like something some 15 year old did in less than a few minutes. Not that i’m knocking some of the PS work I’ve seen on the net. Some of it is downright genius. They could have hired any of the talented posters at Worth1000 to do something much better than this.
Is Maher that much of a cheapass?
April 5th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Matt,
Anyone can make fun of religion or any subject for that matter. But to do it “well” (as with anything) it takes intelligence and wit.
My problem with Maher sometimes is that he can be a bit too selective in who or what he chooses to go after. It’s usually because he has “friends” in a particular spot or because he’s rubbing elbows with people in a certain corner. I’ve watched his show since it’s inception and he’s done it many times on his show before. So I hope this film he does his best to put that down and expand enough to tackle every facet having to do with religion.
April 5th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
cant wait to see this
April 5th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Although I do not wholly agree with Mahers opinions on our President, I’ll admit that he is intelligent and that religion is pointless. On that note, I think that this movie will be eye-opening and hilarious. If I can find somewhere near my house that is screening this movie (seeing as it will probably be a limited release), I will definitely be seeing it.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
i enjoyed the earlier poster of his face on a burnt piece of toast.
April 6th, 2008 at 2:11 am
@ Perry
What’s so pointless about religion?
I’m all about people like Maher having their say about religion, go free speech and all that. So it’s not like I’m going to be protesting, I’ll probably even watch it, but I’m not sure that he’s the most reliable source for an actual study of religion.
He’s clearly biased to begin with and in my opinion he’s not all knowledgeable. Maher has a tendency to talk loud and sound like he knows “what I believe”, but when he starts talking about some of my supposed beliefs, he’s way off base. He shoots from the hip as it were, just to play up laughs or prove his point. I know the goal of this movie won’t be to give religion a fair shot, it’s just for laughs at the expense of religion. I’m just saying that this really can’t be used as a real look into religious practices. The editing room is a mighty powerful tool and an even more powerful tool in the hand of a man with an agenda. Just ask Faux News.
April 6th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Agreed that this poster was put together rather poorly. If this is showing anywhere near me I will definitely be there.
April 6th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Sauce,
And that’s really my fear of the overall end feel of this film. He’s a smart guy too which sucks when he gets “stuck” on being the stand-up comic over his politicism and overall view of real world subjects.
I think he’s funny too. But I’d wish he’d use that wit and even humor in a more eye-opening manner to almost “teach” the viewer of why he’s either mocking or has a problem with religion.
April 6th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Sauce,
I never said that Maher is a reliable source on anything (like I said, I disagree with some of his positions on our government. However, he will probably make some good points about why religion is ridiculous.
Oh, and by the way, I have no problem with religious people (other then Scientologists, they’re just loons). Believe what you want to believe. As long as you’re a nice person, there is no beef between us.
April 6th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Maher is right, religion in this day and age is a joke. I can’t wait for this movie. Why can’t there be a church that examines different religions? One day read the Bible, the next day the Koran, and the next day the Gita and so on. It makes me sick when I see superchurches that are bigger than some sports stadiums and “preachers” like Olsteen drive around in luxury cars.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Speaking of strange religious beliefs - I wonder if brother bill will have neo-darwinists in his film speaking about how a tasteless, odorless, colorless gas (hydrogen) - through time - became people?
The religion of macroevolution is taught despite there being no scientific evidence, “Both the origin of life and the origin of the major groups of animals remains unknown” - A.G. Fisher, 2003.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Oi, Windarr. There is no dogma to science. It’s not a religion. Knowledge is power!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmUGJ3Jh7fc
August 21st, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I am psyched… but seeing as it is going to be a limited release… I am not sure I can get out on opening night.
August 26th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
It’s too bad that Joseph Cambell (”Power of Myth” and tons of books) is not alive today. He would have put the world’s religions totally in perspective for Bill in a single, lucid interview. Campbell’s books have done more to help us understand how “religion is the opiate of the masses” than any other person in recent memory.
I’m really looking forward to Bill’s movie…and I can’t wait to see the picket lines of the holier than thou’s at the theaters, or the movie houses that will refuse to show it.