Rating: 
Summary: No problems w/ my copy - a great film & great set
Review: Not that I want to encourage folks to gamble with their money, but the copy I purchased of this 2-disc "Meaning of Life" set plays just fine. So, it appears that the defect is either A) not across the board on all copies, or B) the first disc will play fine on some DVD players and play poorly on others. Anyway, the film itself is hilarious and certainly the most extreme comedy Python even produced. It's as if they knew this was their last feature (they didn't, of course) and decided to push the envelope as far as they could. Some bits fall flat, but the winners far outnumber the losers. And, the winning scenes (i.e., "Growth & Learning," "Autumn Years," "Death") are simply unforgettable. The extras are good, too. The deleted scenes are amusing though one can see why they were cut - the main advantage being that, as this is a sketch film, you're getting to see more than just an incidental scene but an entire sketch ("The Adventures of Martin Luther," in particular). The featurette on the making of the film is fine and Terry Jones & Terry Gilliam's commentary is quite informative and fun (though one wishes the other three contributed to the commentary as they did on "Grail" and "Brian"). The other extras are absurdist but not particularly funny. Still, a good set... if it works properly on your player!
Rating: 
Summary: Hmm...should've checked the recent reviews
Review: I will be receiving my copy of the Special Edition DVD of The Meaning of Life, but I do wish I had read the reviews...I have found multiple places on the internet complaining of the same problem, notably severe interlacing-type lines, which I have seen for myself with a friend's copy. He returned his to the store. The defect is pretty bad, and is completely unacceptable by ANY standards. Universal has to recall these discs, as they are useless mini-frisbees at this point in time. Disc 2 is fine, it is the feature film disc that is the problem. Universal recalled discs from the Back to the Future boxed set because of mis-framing, so they should definitely recall this error. To see the problem, go to: http://www.shortfatguy.com/weblog.php
scroll down to the header "Warning of Life" and click "expand". There he has a screenshot of the problem. The movie itself is hilarious. This rating is based on the defect problem. I rate the film itself *****.
Rating: 
Summary: Disc problem...
Review: Glad it isn't just me with the disc/picture quality issues... The movie itself is a masterpiece. Some of their best work. I can't wait to own the special edition. I'd just like one that has decent picture quality.
Rating: 
Summary: Dear Universal: Please let me know when you fix this disc
Review: First, THANK GOD for online reviews! I was all set to buy this film for the second time on DVD (I have the earlier Image edition) but will now wait until the Disk 1 problem is corrected. You'd think somebody at Universal would have popped this into a DVD player before pressing a gazillion fawlty copies. Well, you'd THINK that, anyway. The good news for owners of the old, out-of-print Image edition is that they apparently have a superior DVD version of the film. Not only that, but its value, which plummeted upon the announcement of this new edition, is certain to rise again (until Universal gets its act together). As for the film, I'd give it 4 stars. Certainly not as good as Holy Grail and Life of Brian, but LIGHT YEARS ahead of what tries to pass itself off as comedy these days. I'm sure it'll make a great Christmas present to myself ... that is, if a corrected pressing is issued.
Rating:
Summary: Warning! Poor transfer!
Review: Just a word of advice... a lot of people are reporting problems with Universal's new Monty Python's Meaning of Life DVD. Disc Two of the set is fine, but the movie disc is plagued by strange picture artifacts - blurring of movement, etc. It could very well be an encoding problem with the disc itself.
Rating:
Summary: The best way to watch the Meaning of Life
Review: A rabid Python fan of many years, as I am, already has the other version of this DVD. This version, however, is more than worth the price of admission for the extras as well as the fact that the other DVD won't play anymore due to a terrible accident that is prone to remind one of the fate of Eric the Half a Bee... Anyhoo, The Meaning of Life is a very odd film that is more a loose collection of sketch ideas that have been formed around the common theme of life's purpose. While some of the material is not terribly funny (the clock section), and some is just plain wierd (O, Fishy fishy fishy fish! Fishy fishy fishy O!), there is some seriously funny material in this film. The extras are good too, especially the little documentary about making the film. The virtual reunion is great as well, and Palin totally steals the show. But the whole "What fish think" section is a little too outlandish even for MY rather twisted sense of humor. Though this is often panned as the worst of the Python efforts, I find that it contains some of the most outrageously funny material the Pythons ever put on film. Where else can you see a part Jewish Rastafarian having his liver removed while still alive? You just can't find that kind of humor anywhere else. I like the Pythons and enjoy everything I have ever purchased that has their name on it. Even the special edition glow in the dark Monty Python official boxers, and the super special-platinum rendering of Conrad Pooh's dancing teeth. So in short, buy this DVD. If not for the fact that it is funny, then do it because I get kickbacks from the group's profits, and I need money. Also, John Cleese has threatened to try a singing carreer if he does not get enough Python money. So unless you want to hear him singing "Hit me baby one more time", you had better buy this. Right now. Stop reading this and click "Add to Cart" Do it. What is your problem? Are you still here? DON'T MAKE ME GET THE HOSE!!!
Rating:
Summary: The movie is 5 stars, but the transfer is terrible
Review: There are numerous problems with video transfer on this disc. The progressive scan seems to be off in every three out of five frames, causing weird blurring and shifting of scan lines. On some players (mine, for example) the disk is pretty much unwatchable. It looks like a badly deteriorated VHS tape. Wait til Universal studios offers a reissue with the transfer problems corrected.
Rating:
Summary: Pure Monty Python
Review: A pleasure to watch and typical Monty Python. I will comment on some of the highlights and shortcomings of the special edition on DVD. The short feature on how the copy was restored is pure Monty Python nonsense, and a joy to watch, with many chuckles. However, the directors cut is really just the deleted scenes inserted (and those deleted scenes are raw copies, with none of the post production clean up. Edited, yes, but jarring in the quality.) Another short feature on schools was great, and up to date with the reference to corporate misdeeds, with barbs at Cheney/Halliburton. This DVD belongs in a Monty Python collection. The lonely person's commentary left me cold.
Rating:
Summary: Unwatchable
Review: First off, I LOVE this movie. It's one of my all time favorites and I couldn't wait for its release. However, I have never seen such a bad transfer onto a DVD. It takes away from the movie itself and makes it unwatchable. TV and VHS showings of this put the dvd to shame. I couldn't bring myself to finish watching it. I took it back to the store (blockbuster) and they were kind enough to let me look at their remaining 2 copies in store. They were both messed up as well. I guess anyone wanting a real copy of this will have to stick to VHS copies for now.
Rating:
Summary: Do not buy! Universal is distributing a faulty product...
Review: The rating given reflects the new special edition DVD, not the film. Disc number 1, which contains the movie, is corrupt and the image is blurry. This makes most of the movie unwatchable and makes the viewer dizzy. I've owned the VHS version for over 10 years, and the video quality on it is still much better than this new DVD edition. The surviving members of Monty Python and their fans deserve better than this. Universal Home Video owes their customers an apology, and Amazon.com should stop selling this product until a recall is issued so the discs can be replaced.
| 
