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Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life (Special Edition)

Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life (Special Edition)

List Price: $14.98
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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A tiger? In Africa?
Review: A word of warning to Monty Python neophytes - do NOT start with this movie! Even though it has some quite amusing bits, MOL is a bitter, ugly, savage piece in comparison to Flying Circus and the earlier movies. Throughout most of their extraordinary career, the Pythoniotes managed to mercilessly satirize virtually everyone and everything around them, but to do so with a nudge and a wink, as if they revelled in the absurdity of life. Here, they seem sick of it all - a bunch of disappointed old men - and good-humored Brit intolerance is replaced by a dismal Scandinavian ferocity. (Imagine Strindberg trying to imitate Shaw and you'll get the idea.) And unfortunately, that ferocity translates into some extremely heavy-handed humor like the Live Organ Transplant. Compare that to King Arthur hacking up the Black Knight in Holy Grail and you'll see what I mean. Twice the gore and none of the sublime silliness.

Nonetheless, for those already well-versed in Pythonalia, there are of course some good bits (but you knew that already): The Crimson Permanent Assurance, Death and the Salmon Mousse, the Tiger in Africa. And I occassionally sing the Universe Song in the shower. On the whole, though, I'd say don't bother buying this - rent it if you get the urge. And for Pete's sake, don't watch it by yourself on a rainy afternoon!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Quite funny, but not the greatest (4 1/2 stars)
Review: Monty Python remains the greatest source of irreverent intellectual humor this side of The Simpsons, and Monty Python's the Meaning of Life is no exception to the rule. The only problem is that the film isn't quite as funny as one might hope. It's good, but Monty Python and the Holy Grail remains an all-around funnier movie.
Which is not to say this movie does not contain great bits. Things such as an animated bit with a leaf (my favorite Monty Python gag ever) and a song about Roman Catholics are some of the most hilarious stuff the Pythons have ever mounted. The rest of the movie is amusing, such as Mr. Cresote, but some bits fall a little bit flat.
Still, this is a must-own. This DVD made my must-buy list immediately -- ...

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: very unfunny and boring
Review: I'd heard so much about Monty Python. I just saw this movie - I got the regular edition dvd from the library - and it was a waste of time and money. The supposed humor ranges from juvenile to asinine.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not funny, stupid!
Review: This movie is 20% comedy, 40% gay, 10% funny, and 30% of a waste of your life. There is barley any comedy, or stuff thats even funny. The best part is watching a group of naked girls chase a stupid man for 10 seconds.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: disapointment
Review: I have a history of buying things for a cheap price, and getting cheap value from it. This is one of those items. This movie has many problems and disapointments:

There are a few disgusting scences such as the worlds fattest man, where he continuasly barfs on people ,and then blows up. We then see his insides.

There is a totaly uncalled for scene, in which a bunch of topless women chase this guy.It makes no sense. But of course, the python group has a history of showing boobs on tv. It's what makes it so much more contreversial.

A short film having nothing to do with the meaning of life, dipicts of old men rallying and rebeling against stock brokers, and blowing up buildings. It's just dumb.

Another uncalled for scene has Terry Gilliam, having his liver yanked out on the spot, while not given pills to sleep or anything.

There are many abrupt things not having to do with the scene, such as Eric Idle singing about the solar system,while in the same scene, a man has his liver ripped out. It's a nicely made song though, that's full of facts.

I don't know how you can make a soundtrack out of this movie, since there are maybe 3 songs, throughout the whole movie.
There aren't to many funny scenes, unlike the holy grail.

There is alot of cursing(which i'm not very worried about) but this movie definatley should be rated "R" at the least.

Bottom line, my favorite scene"The Grim Wrepper". I also like the scene of talking about the meaning of life. I give the movie 3stars ( one and a half, for having the monty python's flying circus actors in it.)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great stuff as usual and always!!
Review: I loved this film and it made me laugh until I cry. Terry Jones, though he seems to be my least favorite Python, was hysterical and funny as the woman dressed in drag and Mr. Creotose. I love Eric Idle's singing and John Cleese making love to his wife in front of his students! Terry Gilliam's animation is wonderful and Terry J's and Michael Palin's having a bunch of children was a riot!Graham Chapman, God rest his soul, was the perfect straight man and there had to be a straight man in Python and he was it!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Ages well
Review: When I saw this in its original release 20 years ago, my reaction was rather lukewarm. But I saw it for the second time last night and revised my opnion sharply upward - I thought it was bloody brilliant! Either the film has aged well or I've become more demented. My advice: take a second (or first) look at this one.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Hillarious! Very, very gross at times, but hillarious!
Review: I am an avid Python fan. Now, I am far from a real expert on the greatest comedy team of all time by far, but I do delight in all that is Monty Python. I own "The Holy Grail" and "Life of Brian", and am saving up for "The Complete Flying Circus". I had heard of this certain film, but had never seen it. So, not knowing exactly what to expect (heck, who does when dealing with the Pythons?), I rented it the other night.

My life was changed forever. My whole existence had new meaning.

Okaaaaay, maybe not.

However, contrary to common belief, this film DOES infact tell what exactly the meaning of life is. To quote Michael Palin, it's "nothing special, really", but it does make sense. Now, the real fun is actually getting there. Witness what really goes on in the delivery room...........see and hear a whole town burst out in song "Every Sperm Is Sacred"........watch and learn (sort of) from a very, um, educational (?) lesson in sex.......gaze at a man literally blow up. Listen to Eric Idle perform both "The Meaning of Life" and "The Galaxy Song", both masterpieces of music, in the tradition of "Life of Brian's" "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life". And so on and so forth.

In other words, one helluva good time!

Sadly, this was the crew's last true Monty Python film, but it prooves to be a worthy conclusion to the Python (Monty) Pictures screen outings. Heck, with the title subject matter, how could it not be?

Note: Not for anyone who is easily (or very rarely, for that matter) offended.
Second Note: That prelude story of "The Crimson Permanent Assurance" is just so cool!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: No surprise here
Review: it's bloody hilarious! Food sketch with Cleese being "upset" is low brow hilarity! If you like funny films, GET IT ASAP!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Boys Push the Envelope on this One!
Review: The members of Monty Python apparently decided to pull out all the stops when they made their final motion picture. Even more bawdy, naughty, reckless, and wickedly deprived, MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE pulls no punches and takes no prisoners as it explores, unravels, and tramples upon the stages of life, from birth to death. This film is Python with ADD, rumbling and bumbling from one sketch to the next. And it's darn funny.

For me, the film hit a homerun with its opening short feature, "The Crimson Permanent Assurance Company," followed shortly by a grand musical number--a hilarious spoof on Catholicism--entitled, "Every Sperm Is Sacred." By now, the viewer is tweaked, alert, enthralled, giddy, and laughing. Most of the ensuing sketches are firecrackers of irreverent humor and relentless satire. Alas, the movie ended rather anticlimatically, and the film's overall unevenness prohibited this reviewer from giving it five stars.

If you like Monty Python, you'll enjoy this film. If you're unfamiliar with Python, yet willing to get smacked between the eyes with X-treme comedy, give THE MEANING OF LIFE a try. (Not on a full stomach; the "Mr. Creosote" sketch might have you reaching for some Alka-Setzer.) Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam give new meaning to the meaning of life!


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