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Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not quite so good as the others
Review: I'd still reccomend these geniouses for any Christmas stocking, birthday gift or Easter Basket. Hey look, I'm my own marketing campaign!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Python at their most excessive
Review: As you can see, opinions on this film are extremely divided (even amongst the Pythons). This is due to the fact that this is Monty Python's most excessive film by far. Even for a troupe who has made jokes about cannibalism, extreme violence, and doing horrible things to animals like turning cats into fish, they go pretty far in this one. As Terry Jones said at the time, they wouldn't have been terribly upset had they been slapped with an "X" rating, they just wanted to do whatever they thought was funny. As always, the boys come through with flying colors! The film has a bizarre momentum all it's own, which carries you through some weaker sketches . And, even the weaker bits have a definite point and are by no means completely unfunny. Plus, the good stuff far outweighs the so-so stuff. There are many memorable set pieces and the performances are loaded with energy and wit without seeming as if they're trying too hard (a recovered-from-alcoholism Graham Chapman comes off especially strong). But, perhaps the greatest triumph comes from Terry Jones, who does a great job directing some of the most outrageous comedy scenes in history with style and panache, even essaying what might be the most over-the-top roles of all time, as the grossly obese Mr. Creosote. However, wait on purchasing this DVD, as I would bet everything that a "Special Edition" DVD is just around the corner (they've done deluxe versions of "Holy Grail" and "Life of Brian," so it's just a matter of time... plus, they'll want to record commentary from the Pythons before another one of them kicks off).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good News?
Review: First off, let me address why I hope this DVD is out of print: could they be creating another wonderful DVD release with commentary and special features? Why else would they stop making this film? I could be wrong and the eventual release will be little more than a remaster (the film already looks great).

Anyhoo, I love this film. My girlfriend and I disagree, though. This is her favorite of the Python films in its resemblance to the show's format, and how much fun it is. For me, although it is funnier then Life of Brian, the developed story of that film makes it my favorite, followed closely by Grail. And while this is my least favorite of the three (Completely Different just doesn't count--buy the shows!), this is still a worthwhile purchase. I, too, had to buy this used, so if you're a fan, snatch 'em before they're all gone!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not the best, but certainly one that gets repeated play
Review: The only boring part about this movie is the Crimson Permanent Assurance, and there should have been more with the fish!! And Death for that matter. But it is the last of the Python films, so it does have its bright spots: the large Catholic family, the schoolchaps disinterested in sex. ed, Mr. Creosote...and don't forget Find the Fish!!! I never knew Magenta from Rocky Horror Picture show played the wife of the schoolmaster!

This movie taught me a very valuable lesson...every sperm is sacred, even though I'm a female.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Python at their best
Review: It's hard for me to decide which of Python's three feature films is the best, since they are all excellent. But this movie certainly contains some of Monty Python's best material. A classic mix of the cerebral and the silly.

Some people complain that there's too much sex in this movie. Did they perhaps walk out after the hilarious Sex Ed scene? Because sex is just one of many, varied subjects lampooned in this movie. Some complain that it's disgusting, or that there is too much vulgar language. Wimps! People with backbones and an appreciation of satire will find themselves doubled over in laughter at the incredible lengths these five Brits and a Yank go to poke fun at all of us. If this movie offends you, you deserve to be offended!

I'm giving 4 stars due to the lack of any special features on the DVD. Either wait for the Special Edition to come out (Special Editions of Holy Grail and Life of Brian are already available), or buy the videotape.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's no longer available, does that tell you something?
Review: I have searched high and low for this on DVD to purchase. And I had to buy it used, it's not available anywhere new. Nowhere, not on the net or in the stores. I believe the distributors underestimated how popular this movie is and didn't produce enough. This is my favorite Monty Python movie, and for someone who knows every word to "Knights of the Round Table" that's saying a lot. This is a great movie, and it's even better on DVD. Sick, twisted and just about perfect.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not the Best Python
Review: I would suggest doing to things before buying this dvd. First, see the movie to make sure you like it. It has some of the most disgusting moments in Python's history. Some of it is absoulutly hilarious, but not all of it is that funny. Secondaly, don't pay to much for it. The movie itself isn't that amazing, but in my opinion it is worth having; but the DVD has literly no special features. The only thing on there besides the movie istself is a chapter list.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: LIKEABLE, BUT NOT THE BEST PYTHON EFFORT
Review: This movie has some misteps in it, but nothing too bad. Overall it's a funny, entertaining movie with a lot of classic scenes. I enjoy the scene in which a professor at a boy's school uses himself and his wife as an example for a sexual education class. He scolds members of the class for snickering as he makes love in front of them, occasionally asking questions of the class and making comments on the act.

Mostly, though, there are two things to recommend this movie by:

1) Terry Gilliam's short film which accompanies the movie and finds its way into the body of the narative. It reminded me of Gilliam's "Brazil" and has one of the most comically brilliant endings of any piece of film-making that I have ever seen.

2) There is also an almost ten minute long singing, dancing, old-style Hollywood dance number in which a Catholic father explains to his LARGE family that "every sperm is sacred." The number is genius, as is the way that the parade of dancing children continues into the background of the next scene.

See the movie. You'll be entertained, but not as much so as by some of Monty Python's other work.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I thought this film wasn't as good as Holy Grail or Life of Brian. I think it was too sexual with too much swearing. The show was funny and so was Holy Grail without that content. It detracts from the experience.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Hilariously Disgusting (and vice-versa)
Review: I have to agree with many of the comments made previously, along with the film critics. There are some overlong scenes, particularly the Crimson Permanent Assurance which precedes the film's opening credits. But fans of Python will certainly not be disappointed. My personal favorite sequences: the birthing scene, John Cleese as a schoolmaster teaching sex education (with the rigor of quantum physics!), live organ transplants, and the middle years (with Terry Jones as the world's fattest man); the latter two are both a laugh riot as well as gross and revolting! The musical numbers are also wonderfully amusing. One sad fact is that this is last film made by the complete Python troupe and will remain so since Graham Chapman passed away.


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