Rating: 
Summary: Universal is in CYA mode
Review: Was excited to get the DVD, but really angry when I saw that Disc 1 is defective! It's ridiculous to think for a second that Universal would institute a recall effort for a DVD that has problems with "a small minority" of DVD players. I tried it on 4 different players, all different brands, and the problem was evident in all of them. My guess is that this is the line Universal is using so they only have to replace a small number of DVD's - just for us squeaky wheels.As for the DVD features, they're OK but not outstandingly funny. Worth owning once Universal finally puts a non-defective version out. I would wait to buy until then.
Rating: 
Summary: DISC RECALL UPDATE!!! Possible relief on the way!!!!
Review: Universal has fessed up to the bad discs, but are blaming the problem on all of our lousy dvd players, which they insist simply can't handle the extremely high-tech quality of their discs! Uhhh...okay....Anyway, what you need to do if your disc is bad--excuse me, I mean, if you have a dvd player which doesn't live up to their standards--well, here is their official statement:
"...With the advent of cutting-edge technology in the DVD format, a small number of DVD players do not have the technical capability to take full advantage of the Monty Python's The Meaning of Life disc format. Universal Studios Home Video has become aware of a player specific issue which results in the appearance of jagged video interlacing, on disc 1 only. Disc 2 is NOT affected. Consumers with an incompatible player may mail back Disc 1 to Universal and receive a replacement. To obtain a pre-paid USPS envelope in which to mail back the original Disc 1, please call 1-800-433-4673. Replacement discs are currently scheduled to be available mid-November 2003. We appreciate your patronage and hope you continue to enjoy our products." Hey, it's only a couple months away. Thanks to everyone who complained to them about your subpar dvd players.
Rating: 
Summary: So-so extra's.
Review: In response to "viewer from Atlanta GA" the movement lines you mentioned were also evident when I played this DVD. I changed my TV settings on my DVD player from PAL to NTSC and they disappeared. You might want to change your TV settings too. Now down to business- the extra's on the second disc are truely absurdist and not all rib ticklingly funny but to see the surviving Python's "collaborating" is a great thing. The John Cleese version of the film (consisting of a trailer with all of the Cleese scenes) is a notable exception- this is a real hoot! The actual movie does not look fantastic- there are some scenes with a lot of surface 'noise', the 5.1 sound is great however. There is a Jones / Gilliam commentary and also a soundtrack if you are watching the movie alone! I must admit I have not listened to the director commentary but if it is on par with those done for Brian and Grail you will know what to expect. Shame Cleese, Idle and Palin did not contribute this time. The director's cut of the movie places three deleted scenes as shown on disc 2 back into the running sequence. Not essential and the quality of the deleted scenes is noticably poor- but still worthwhile to see them edited back. There is an modern introduction by Eric Idle reading a poem he wrote to the studio exec's way back when which is excellent! I am now stuck with a single disc version with no extra's of The Meaning of Life. Anyone want it??!
Rating:
Summary: Heavy visual distortion! Transfer is UNWATCHABLE!
Review: I bought this the first day it came out, and could not wait to get it home and pop it into my dvd player. But when I did, I found the same problem the other reviewers describe above: Everytime an image moves on screen, it breaks up into a series of distorted lines. Given the fact that this is a MOVING PICTURE, this happens a GREAT DEAL! At first, I thought I had a bad disc, so I returned it for a replacement, but the same problem existed. Then I started doing some research online, and found other fans experiencing the same thing. Check out some of the talk on pythononline, and you'll see this isn't a small problem with just a couple of discs. Also, for those who believe it might be my TV/DVD player - I've tried to play the disc on three different players (including one PC DVD plaer), but the problem is present every time. To make matters worse, Universal isn't even answering e-mail related to this problem. Granted, I'e never had problems with my other Universal DVD's, but you would figure that their customer service department would address the problem, considering they print their website address on the back cover of the DVD.
The movie is completely unwatchable in this transfer. Universal should have asked/allowed Criterion to release the disc instead of screwing over so many Python fans. Sorry if this sounds like a rant, but I have all the Python dvd's, and had been waiting for this to be released in a special edition in order to cap the whole set off for so long that it is irritating to discover it is the worst of the bunch. Especially a pity when you consider it has some of the best Gilliam and Idle work put on film.
Rating: 
Summary: Transfer problems on disc 1
Review: Hello,
I too have had the picure problems on Disc 1. It seems to be a digital transfer issue. I have emailed Universalstudios.com to complain and recommed all others that have this problem do so as well.
Rating:
Summary: Monty Python's Meaning of Life
Review: Do not buy this DVD !! I bought the DVD on the first day and found that in every scene where there is movement, an obnoxious blur happens in the action along the edges of the actors, etc. Although I am a huge Monty Python fan, I was incredibly disappointed. I hope that there is a recall. If not, I'm going to return my copy because I consider unviewable....
Rating:
Summary: A real disappointment - DO NOT BUY THIS VERSION
Review: I was really excited to finally get a full-featured DVD of this movie, but while the special features are really great, the transfer quality on the main movie is horrible. This is NOT a problem with my DVD player - I have tried it on three different ones with the same results, and read many similar accounts on this website. Buy Holy Grail or Life of Brian instead until Universal fixes this.
Rating:
Summary: same problem with transfer quality
Review: The movie and the features are great, but the transfer on my copy is also horrible. Do not buy this. I thought at first that there was something wrong with my DVD player, but it was definitely the movie. Sadly, the problems last throughout the entire movie. Huge disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: "The Meaning of Liff"...uh, I meant "Life"!
Review: Being the last Monty Python film, "The Meaning of Life" is certainly not the best one overall, but still has some unbeliveably funny moments worth seeing. Such highlights include a sex-ed course unlike anything ever seen, a pirate movie full of accountants, an explanation into the sacredness of well, life, a man with an insatiable appetite for food (and vomiting), and of course, a visit from Death at a dinner party (something to do with the reaping...). This 2-disc set has many extras, including interviews with the above-ground Pythons, deleted scenes, and an intimate look at restoring the film (albeit in some reader reviews, that's the least of the problems with this release) and remastering it to its original semi-glory (by any means cheaply). All in all, a great package for a good film (expect for that minor image quibble...).
Rating:
Summary: The movie is a five the spec. ed. dvd is a big fat zero....
Review: Do NOT i repeat DO NOT purchase this sepcial edition dvd... The feature film has major transfer problems... Every time an actor moves in any signficant way all theses didgital lines and transfer problems appear rendering the film to be almost unviewable... Read the other reviews.. It is not just one copy it is all!!! BEWARE wait until universal recalls them and corrects this if they even do.. I say e-mail them and complain...
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