The
Monty Python team followed their hugely popular TV show in the 70s with
three feature films- "The Life of Brian", "The Holy
Grail" and "The Meaning of Life". Based very much
around the often surreal, but very funny, Python comedy, these films
were very successful and controversial in their own right. They were all performed principally
by the same group of people, namely Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael
Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam- the six
"Pythons", and all three also featured Carol Cleveland (the
pseudo- Pythonette) and Neil Innes. Each film can be judged on its
own merits, but all three are inexorably Python and if you didn't like
Monty Python, I wouldn't bother watching any of them. As for me, I
love it, and these three films to boot.
THE
LIFE OF BRIAN See the movie that's controversial,
sacrilegious, and blasphemous. But if that's not playing, see The Life
of Brian.
The
most controversial and still as offensive as ever to many people, Life
of Brian is the Python take on the story of Jesus. Chapman is
Brian Cohen, born in the stable next door to Christ, and whose life is
entwined with that of his more illustrious peer. Mistaken by many
for the Messiah, Brian is an unfortunate soul, destined throughout the
film to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and doing the wrong
thing. Much of this is classic Python- always the unexpected, and
it is very very funny. There is no malice of forethought in Life
of Brian, and the "blasphemous" accusation, though probably
intentional provocation on the part of the Pythons, never really comes
through as fiercely as you can imagine it could have been. Classic
characters abound- Cleese's Roman Centurion, Gilliam's jailer, Palin's
Pilate, Idle's "Loretta"; these, coupled with Terry Jones as
Brian's harlot mother and Chapman himself as the tormented Brian make
for a really enjoyable romp through Biblical Pythonism. There will
always be those who will not deign to watch Life of Brian, for whatever
reason, but don't be one. If you like Python, you will love this.DJY
STORYLINE:
85% ACTING: 88% SPECIAL EFFECTS: n/a CINEMATOGRAPHY: 88%
Overall:
88%
BEST
QUOTE:
Brian's Mother: He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy!
King
Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table and the Holy Grail get the
treatment in this medieval Monty Python effort, and an extremely funny
treatment it is too. King Arthur (Graham Chapman) is sent
on a quest by God to find the Holy Grail and is accompanied by some of
his trusty knights, including Sir Lancelot (Cleese), Sir Galahad (Palin),
Sir Robin (Idle) and Sir Bedevere (Jones). To say they meet some
strange situations on their quest is the understatement of the decade.
Classic characters, indeed- The Knights Who Say "Ni", Tim the
Enchanter, The French Taunting Knights, Roger the Shrubber, The Black
Knight; the Pythons wheel them out one after another. Quite apart from having one of the
most surreal endings to any film, Holy Grail, I think, is by far the
funniest of the trio. Strung along an unnecessary, but tangible,
plot, the heroes lurch from the ludicrous to the sublime, while all the
time in the background, a "serious" historian is trying to
make a documentary about them. You just have to watch it, really,
that's the bottom line. Then you'll understand about the speed of
an unladen African swallow, the intricacies of a huge wooden rabbit trap
and the undeniable power of the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch. An
absolute classic. DJY
STORYLINE:
87% ACTING: 89% SPECIAL EFFECTS: n/a CINEMATOGRAPHY: 86%
Overall:
90%
BEST
QUOTE:
Dennis: Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some
moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!
THE
MEANING OF LIFE It took God six days to create the
earth, and Monty Python just 90 minutes to screw it up.
The
Pythons third effort at feature is not so much a film as a collection of
sketches based around the central theme of the title. Although not so coherent or as fluid
as the first two, this film has some extremely funny elements in it, and
some of the skits have become classics in their own right- the
"Sperm" song, the Grim Reaper sequence, and Mr Creosote
("It's only waffer-theen"). Disjointed it may be, but at
times the Meaning Of Life hits some deep chords and actually pokes the
odd philosophical nerve, as it were. The Monty Python team were
always ones for their philosophy references, and this is a good vehicle
to get them in. It relies more on a musical slant
than the other two and also is probably the crudest of the three films.
Where Life of Brian could be offensive to some, The Meaning Of Life
probably offended more in terms of language and subject matter.
There is no lack of surrealism here, either- witness "The Middle of
The Film", together with its "where did that fishy go?"
Hmm, yes, well you'd have to watch it and despite all, I'd have to
recommend you do so. Again, if you like Python, you'll love this-
if you couldn't get to grips with it the first time, don't even try
again, as it many ways this is Python at their most obtuse, yet comedy
best.DJY
STORYLINE:
n/a ACTING: 82% SPECIAL EFFECTS: n/a CINEMATOGRAPHY: 81%
Overall:
87%
BEST
QUOTE:
Father: I'm afraid I have no choice but to sell you all for medical
experiments.
