Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Rating:
Summary: Ever wanted to learn how to use your Coconuts? Now you can.
Review: Columbia's first DVD release of this Python classic was quite disappointing, but now they are setting things straight.

Disc One: -"21st Anniversary" cut of the film running an extra 24 seconds; -Anamorphic Widescreen; -Dolby 5.1 track; -Original Mono Track; -Audio commentary with Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Eric Idle and Michael Palin; -subtitles "for people who don't like the film" (you get the text from Shakespeare's Henry IV instead); -an "on-screen screenplay" feature which lets you read the screenplay as you watch the film; -"Follow the Killer Rabbit" feature;

Disc Two: "Three Mindless Sing-Alongs"; -"The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations" featurette; -"How to Use Your Coconuts" educational film; -"Monty Python and the Holy Grail in Japanese" (with English subtitles); -the BBC Film Night special "On Location with the Pythons; -an interactive cast directory; -still galleries with Terry Gilliam's original sketches and behind-the-scenes photos; -"A Load Of Rubbish" with mystery items; -unused ideas and other material; -two trailers and weblinks;

Rating:
Summary: The Special Edition is Special
Review: Certain individuals have erroniously indicated in these reviews that the Special Edition will not have commentaries or other special features. They are wrong.

The special edition will contain the following:

A "21st anniversary" cut of the film that is 24 seconds longer, Dolby digital 5.1, a subtitle track for people who don't like the film (with text from Shakespeare's Henry IV), an onscreen screenplay option, audio commentary with Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Eric Idle and Michael Palin, and Follow the Killer Rabbit option. Disc 2 contains "Three Mindless Sing-Alongs" and "The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations" featurette, "How to Use Your Coconuts" educational film, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail in Japanese" (with English subtitles), the BBC Film Night special "On Location with the Pythonos", an interactive cast directory, still galleries with Terry Gilliam's original sketches and behind-the-scenes photos, "A Load Of Rubbish" with mystery items, unused ideas and other material, and finally two trailers and weblinks.

There will be no special features with the special edition? RUBBISH! This is not simply a reissue of the older DVD with new sound and audio as some have implied.

Rating:
Summary: Monty Python -- An Acquired Taste
Review: Monty Python and The Holy Grail has enjoyed a cult status since its release over a quarter century ago. Disciples of the comedy can often sing its tunes or recite the fast moving banter among the characters. Critics have overwhelmingly praised the low-budget film by one of Britain's best loved comedy teams.

Nizam Ahmed said of the film that they are "the only comedy team since the Marx Brothers who are able to perform such clever material and yet remain so riotously funny." He called it a "classic." Andrew Hicks also praised the film, though with less enthusiasm. Other reviews are equally positive.

Monty Python offers a kind of humor you either like or don't. In one case, I recall a very sharp college classmate who would with an equally bright assistant librarian act out scenes involving the Knights of Ni. It was rip-roaring funny to them. I've watched other disciples talk endlessly about the "killer rabbit" who defends the cave believed to house the chalice.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoy silly humor. But Monty Python is an acquired taste. It was like a third rate Gilbert and Sullivan operetta that needed to close after the first act on opening night. With this said it's still a film that every serious movie buff needs to see - the majority of views by both professional and amateur reviewers underscores a level of brilliance to it.

As the title suggests the plot centers around finding the Holy Grail. King Arthur (Graham Chapman) rides on his invisible horse, with the accompaniment of clapping coconuts dutifully sounded by his servant, to assemble an eccentric group of knights, the most notable played by John Clesse, Eric Idle, and Michael Palin. God appears as a cartoon figure and charges the group to find the chalice used at the Last Support. They feel inspired, relevant, and important in the universe.

The humor is often crass without ever rising to the wit of Benny Hill or the BBC show "Are You Being Served." In one scene a French defender of a castle threatens King Arthur - "I'll fart at you." I did laugh thinking "this is really dumb." There are a series of disjointed scenes frequently interspersed with high quality animation. In one such scene horn blowers play their instruments from their buttocks. Crass. Hardly clever.

The dialogue bordered on annoying. The banter has strong similarities to the technique used by Bud Abbot and Lou Costello. Their most famous skit was the "Whose on First" baseball routine. Abbot and Costello, however, had a genius that is not apparent in The Holy Grail.

Some will find the film irreverent albeit a stretch to suggest there was any intentional attack on religion. If anything it should represent a hopefulness that God has a sense of humor. The brief scene of God shows the cartoon figure as a cranky divinity with a pretentious crown on his head. I didn't interpret it as God being mocked, but did wonder if the Almighty can tell and enjoy a good joke.

Often the God-fearing need to see and touch faith. In some ways it's a false faith - relying on that which can be seen rather than felt and embraced within. I can have 20 icons hanging on my wall, but it doesn't make me 20 times holier than the Protestant who is not inclined to rely on religious art during worship. I can keep a prayer rope with me to recite the Orthodox Jesus Prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.") but it won't necessarily make me more righteous if I lack faith in the heart.

Is the heavy reliance on an object - rosary, statute of the Blessed Mother, etc. - a manifestation of doubt? They can often give the worshiper a misplaced security. Suppose I had the actual Holy Grail in my home. If I go through the motions of prayer, but still have a crisis of faith would a historic relic make me holier? No. It doesn't make for a one way ticket to heavenly salvation. At one level, this odd ball comedy is a gentle reminder that faith can only come from within. Spirituality is a parallel universe that is experienced on a level far removed from temporal manifestations like a chalice which, in the final analysis, has historical, not spiritual value.

Rating:
Summary: one of the best comedies ever and dvd extras to rave about!
Review: This is what dvds were invented for -- there are so many great features here! So in addition to seeing one of the funniest movies ever made, you can be entertained for hours with the extras, and the extras are terrific: subtitles in English, French or Spanish; audio track choices -- English (the original mono or a brand new full stereo version), French, a directors' (Gilliam and Jones) track or a commentary track with Cleese, Idle and Palin; a copy of the script overlaid on the film; a painstaking, hilarious Henry the IV-ish subtitle for those who don't like the film; a hard-of-hearing feature; killer rabbit easter eggs; animated menus using Gilliam's original animation; karaoke renditions of 'Knights of the Round Table', 'Sir Robin' and the 'Monks Chant'; a delightful 45 minute visit to the locations with Jones and Palin; an educational film about the 'other' uses of coconuts; Japanese versions of the French Castle and Knights Who Say Ni scenes, including references to the 'holy sake cup'; a 1974 BBC Film Night visit to a location site during filming; photos of tickets, press releases, reviews, posters, production stills and original artwork; trailers; cast credits (Palin played over a dozen parts!) with pictures of each character; a Lego knights version of the Camelot scene; pictures of sketches that were never used (a killer snail?!); a web link.

A lot of effort went into this special edition dvd, and it shows. I particularly enjoyed seeing Jones and Palin visit locations. They were in a jolly mood, their comments are interspersed with film footage, and they meet affectionate and funny fans along the way.

If you like this film you will love this dvd version; if you love the film, you wil adore this two-dvd set. An essential item for your collection.

Highest recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: A perfect DVD for one of the funniest comedies ever made
Review: The whacky bunch behind Monty Python's Flying Circus got together in 1974 and crafted one of the most absurdly hilarious films ever made with Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Python vets Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin weave together a series of skits involving King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table's search of the Holy Grail; and on the way they encounter an invulnerable Black Knight ("I'll bite your legs off!"), a killer white rabbit, three headed knights who say "Ni!", and a castle full of swooning, virginal seductive maidens. Whether you are a fan of the series or not, you will find this film one of the funniest movies you'll ever see, and it is an essential comedy to anyone and everyone. The DVD features are more than worth noting as well; the double disc DVD features a laugh out loud commentary by Gilliam and Jones along with Cleese, Idle, and Palin, three karaoke-esque sing alongs, Gilliam's original artwork, fantasticly designed interactive menus based on Gilliam's art, and tons more. If you own this on video or own the older edition DVD, then you should immediately pick this Special Edition up right away.

Rating:
Summary: The best, funniest (and silliest) comedy ever
Review: Monty Python has always been funny. In this film they're at their laugh-out-loud best!

This is the "grand tale" of King Arthur and his knights as they quest for the Holy Grail. Watch as King Arthur faces the Black Knight ("All right, we'll call it a draw") and the stupid French soldier ("I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries!"). Laugh as the knights battle the Killer Rabbit ("Run away! Run away!") and buy a shrubbery to save themselves from the dreaded Knights Who Say Nee. And gasp for air as they face the Bridgekeeper and Sir Lancelot kills... the wedding guests!

This is a slapstick comedy that will keep you laughing for an eternity. It's worth every penny!

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a non-sacreligious Monty Python
Review: This movie is very funny without mocking personal and religious beliefs. It was enjoyable and entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: Ever wanted to learn how to use your Coconuts? Now you can.
Review: Columbia's first DVD release of this Python classic was quite disappointing, but now they are setting things straight.

Disc One: -"21st Anniversary" cut of the film running an extra 24 seconds; -Anamorphic Widescreen; -Dolby 5.1 track; -Original Mono Track; -Audio commentary with Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Eric Idle and Michael Palin; -subtitles "for people who don't like the film" (you get the text from Shakespeare's Henry IV instead); -an "on-screen screenplay" feature which lets you read the screenplay as you watch the film; -"Follow the Killer Rabbit" feature;

Disc Two: "Three Mindless Sing-Alongs"; -"The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations" featurette; -"How to Use Your Coconuts" educational film; -"Monty Python and the Holy Grail in Japanese" (with English subtitles); -the BBC Film Night special "On Location with the Pythons; -an interactive cast directory; -still galleries with Terry Gilliam's original sketches and behind-the-scenes photos; -"A Load Of Rubbish" with mystery items; -unused ideas and other material; -two trailers and weblinks;

Rating:
Summary: So funny.
Review: I'm a High school senior. I just saw this movie in my AP European History class. In an industry that releases so many bad comedies, this actually stands as a superior work. It is not only funny. The jokes are enjoyed more by those that are a little more cultured. Specially those jokes that are related to politics. For example when Arthur has that funny "debate" with a peasant. The detalis. The way they make fun of the sad medieval ages. It stands so much higher in quality than the american comedies of the 90s and of this decade.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: Amazingly awful. Putrid. This film is so unfunny it isn't even funny. Its effrontery is not amusing. The only good part (that I saw) was when Karl Marx appeared as God. But, like most of the reviewers here, I didn't get much past the Exocet rabbit, since I couldn't bear to watch the rest, and just punched my way through the chapter beginnings. All the extra features on Disc 2 were absolutely excellent, but I haven't watched them yet, and probably never will. The only part of myself that I wet was my head, when I dipped it in a cold basin of water in order to revive my brain. Your review is a joke, Jeff Shannon. If they couldn't afford horses, why didn't they get some donkeys? This film isn't British.