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Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Not perfect, but a tasty shriek from the modern wilderness.
Review: Some people don't get Monty Python. They immediately focus on the flaws. Sure, some of the sketches go on a bit too long. Okay, way too long. Some of the humor is grotesque, offensive, and, in this outing, downright disturbing. Even I struggle a bit with the humor in a skit about a in-home service that specializes in having dim witted guys remove organs from people who are still alive--and without the benefit of anaesthetics, pain killers, or personal hygeine. Of course, it all comes together in a Vegas-style rendition of a song which puts our minor, unlikely, and bizarre existences into perspective as a middle-aged housewife takes a tour of the universe with a singer who is a cross between Wayne Newton and Billy Idol.

The Pythons speak to all of us who have this lingering, nagging feeling that the universe, and society in particular, is one big, strange joke. It is a wake-up call to those who think for a moment that they actually mean something. Ha ha. Joke's on you!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Funny, but no Holy Grail
Review: This film will never top Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail, but still deserves applause. The reason for it's second billet is that there are too many filler scenes that simply aren't funny. The Universe Song was just boring and stupid. The World War 1 trench scene was predictable and got old fast. There was obvious anti-Catholicism in the opening scene as well.

But apart from that, there were plenty of hilarious acts to keep this movie well above the red line. The Zulu Wars, the French Restaurant, and the Grim Reaper scenes are plenty reason to give this movie a chance...

Funny and worth the money, but for Python's best, check out Holy Grail.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An absolute Must see
Review: This is the greatest achievement of the Monthy Python, any real python fan knows that, the sperm song is an historical moment (you shouldn't miss that).
This is high-class humour, and the most sophisticated the python have done, so beginners might prefer to start with holy grail or better, the flying circus.
If you like Wayne's World, don't watch that, this is not for you.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: UnEven, UNeven UnEvEN
Review: The Pythons followed the very controversial and successful Life of Brian with the ambitious and controversial Meaning of Life.

They had more money than ever before, and it shows, with varying results. The big budget is put to good use in Crimson Permanant Assurance, the mini-movie about a truly hostile takeover, and in the famous-infamous blast against Roman Catholicism with its beautiful, vibrant dancing and singing. They never could have afforded all those extras in their Holy Grail days.

Sometimes, the money works against them. In the Sex Education scene, the authentically teen-aged extras make it quite obvious that the Pythons are way too old to be in school. (In the old days, when it was only them, it was easy to suspend your disbelief and accept that they were schoolboys.)

There are some good moments (the Universe Song, the Toadying Priest, the Protestant Wife) when the humor and the intellect are apparent.

There are also some just-plain-stupid and/or disgusting parts. (Subjective as that is, I won't list mine.)

But the worst part for me was that this was an offensively sexist movie. Now, I know that Monty Python has never borne a standard for feminism. However, their best moments transcended race and gender. ANYone who has ever gotten a bad sales clerk can laugh at the Dead Parrot Sketch. It could have played as well with a man and a woman, or two women.

But THIS? What in the world possessed them to think that Heaven (which, in their version, was populated by both men and women) was staffed by topless Vegas Dancers? And so on and so on. Nothing artistic, witty, or insightful, or--and this is important--FUNNY about that.

They seem to have gotten so carried away with the money, they didn't focus on what they do best--which is make funny things out of ordinary experiences. Michael Palin himself said that he thought they were better when they had to improvise (remember the cocoanut horses?)

I look forward to getting this on DVD, when I can more easily skip through about half of it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: great movie but it needs a special edition!
Review: Well I can't tell what monty python movie is my favorite,simply because they are all so good!But I will write up the good and bad points in this movie.First the bad:younger viewers should stay away from this because this is by FAR the most offensive python movie!just an example would be a scene with a sex education class where the teacher brings his wife and demostrates right in front of the students!It is usually done in a funny way though.And one scene shows a close up of a bunch of topless women rollerblading in slow motion catching all the movment on the chest!But it's not just sex that makes this tasteless, there is also scenes of vomiting,blood, and even a man exploding!
Now for the good!:It contains the best musical sequence I have ever seen!(while it has rather tasteless lyrics)The opening was done superbly!,and I can't count how many wonderful momments this has!And to tie up the package the acting is great!
About the dvd:It's not a big deal that the dvd format is out of print.It was lacking any real extras and the picture quality isn't suposed to be all that great.So until a possible special edition comes out just get the vhs edition!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THE BEST FOR LAST!
Review: This is the best Python movie. It the most worst for kids to see because it has life through the eyes of Monty Python and if your a fan you know what I mean. The top nasty part is when they take out the man's liver and use saws and it's just sick (but funny.) They have "The Galaxy Song" which is the best part and the fat(est)man in the world throws up on the menu, the waiter's pants, the cleaning maid, and the floor and blows up at the end. The Grim Reaper coming to dinner, the machine that goes bing!, and the wars are funny. And not but not least the sperm song. It's hilarious and gross and funny and silly and eyerything else.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: MY favorite (if not theirs!)
Review: As a 17-year old freshman at the University of Michigan in 1990, I was exposed to Monty Python when someone rented this from the video store. I was immediately blown away. Although this generally ranks below The Holy Grail and Life of Brian not only on most Python fans' lists, but by the Pythons themselves (I suspect that's why it's out of print!), this is by far my favorite Python film. I think the frenetic pace of it is as close to the brilliant TV series as anything they did post-1974. (Three! oh yes, three, sir)

I'm still partial to The Meaning of Life, and I even like the inspiring message Michael (Michelle?) Palin delivers at the end of the film.

By the way, it took me many, many times to find the Pythons in the pre-film flick. Very interesting!

All in all, don't be swayed by the hype. The Holy Grail and Life of Brian may have been more ground-breaking at the time of their respective releases, but I find this one FUNNIER.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best Python Film???
Review: "The Meaning Of Life" - an appropriate topic to the Python's last film. An outragously funny film, and in my opinion, just as funny as the others. The Pythons try to tackle the difficult topic with some very humourous skits, and if you think about it, with quite deep morals. It seems that they have taken everything that's wrong with the world and made fun of it! And good on them! It's just a shame that a lot of people didn't bother to stop and think about the messages that have humourously been put into this film.

As the Python's most musical film, it features a lot of funny songs such as, "Every Sperm is Sacred", "The Galaxy Song" and "Christmas In Heaven". And Terry Gilliam's Short Feature Film at the start is very cleverly done.

So that leaves us to the question, What is the Meaning of Life? Is it:

*Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations?

*42?

*Don't eat too much or you'll explode?

*So that fish all over the world will live together in harmony and understanding, and put aside their petty differences, cease pursuing and eating each other and live for a brighter, better future for all fish, and those who love them?

Well, the answer is: Buy the film and work it out yourself!

"And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space, 'cause there's bugger all down here on Earth!"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Classic Python
Review: The few missteps in this film are more than made up for by such brilliant sketches as Mr. Creosote, the boy's school football match between the students and the masters, and the organ donation scene, not to mention all of the hilarious (and hummable!) musical numbers. Can't these guys get back together for one more film before any more of them pass on?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Perfect Delight!
Review: I couldn't believe how entertaining this movie was! I've never laughed so hard or so long in my life (and haven't since). What's most intriguing about this film is the fact that it actually contains the meaning of life. No kidding! Buy or rent the film and see for yourself!

That's what I find so compelling about the Python series---that in all its absurdity it holds a very human truth, that none of us will ever know the meaning of life and the best we can do is laugh at ourselves and our meager attempts to make sense of it all. My favorite skit--and if you see nothing else, see this one---is the one where Death comes to dinner. Completely existential, completely hilarious, completely....well....Python.

Just try it!


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