This classic Monty Python comedy, directed by Pythons Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, is a hilarious send-up of the grim circumstances of the Middle Ages as told through the story... more
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only to the same team's masterpiece, The Life of Brian (1979). Even though most of this film's set-pieces are now indelibly inscribed in every Python fan's psyche, as if by magic they never seem to pall. And they remain endlessly, joyfully quotable: from the Black Knight ("It's just a flesh wound"), to the constitutional peasants ("Come and see the violence inherent in the system!") and the taunting French soldier ("Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!"). Not forgetting of course the migratory habits of European and African swallows... The film's mock-Arthurian narrative provides a sturdy framework for the jokes, and the authentic-looking production design is relentlessly and gloriously dirty. The miniscule budget turns out to be one of the film's greatest assets: Can't afford horses? Use coconuts instead. No money for special effects? Let Terry Gilliam animate. And so on, from Camelot ("it's only a model") to the rampaging killer rabbit glove puppet. True it's let down a little by a rushed ending, and the jokes lack the sting of Life of Brian's sharply observed satire, but Holy Grail is still timeless comedy that's surely destined for immortality. On the DVD: Disc One contains a digitally remastered anamorphic (16:9) print of the film--which is still a little grainy, but a big improvement on previous video releases--with a splendidly remixed Dolby 5.1 soundtrack (plus an added 24 seconds of self-referential humour "absolutely free"!). There are two commentaries, one with the two Terrys, co-directors Jones and Gilliam, the other a splicing together of three separate commentaries by Michael Palin, John Cleese (in waspish, nit-picking mood) and Eric Idle. A "Follow the Killer Rabbit" feature provides access either to the Accountant's invoices or Gilliam's conceptual sketches. Subtitle options allow you to read the screenplay or watch with spookily appropriate captions from Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part II. The second disc has lots more material, much of it very silly and inconsequential (an educational film on coconuts, the Camelot song in Lego and so on), plus a long-ish documentary from 2001 in which Palin and Jones revisit Doune Castle, Glencoe and other Scottish locations. Perhaps best of all, though, are the two scenes from the Japanese version with English subtitles, in which we see the search for the Holy sake cup, and the Ni-saying Knights who want... bonsai! --Mark Walker
Monty Python And The Holy Grail (Ultimate Edition)
Main specs
Actor(s): Terry Jones, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Michael Palin
Director(s): Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Genre: Comedy
Classification: 15 years and over
Production Year: 1974
Running Time: 1 hour 26 minutes
Franchise Name: Monty Python
Video Category: Feature Film
Country Of Origin: United Kingdom
Plot: The complete Python troupe is cast in this parody of the legend of the Holy Grail. The Knights of the Round Table battle dismembering foes and killer rabbits on their perilous quest.
Release details
DVD Region: Region 2 (Europe)
Studio(s): SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date: 09/10/2006
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: CDR 14164DX
Barcode: 5035822416499
Composer: Eric Idle
Screenwriter: Terry Jones, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Michael Palin
Featured: John Cleese, Terry Jones
Producer: Terry Jones
Author: John Cleese, Graham Chapman
Voice: John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones
DVD Description
This classic Monty Python comedy, directed by Pythons Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, is a hilarious send-up of the grim circumstances of the Middle Ages as told through the story of King Arthur and framed by a modern-day murder investigation. When the mythical king of the Britons leads his knights on a quest for the Holy Grail, they face a wide array of horrors, including a persistent Black Knight, a three-headed giant, a cadre of shrubbery-challenged knights, the perilous Castle Anthrax, a killer rabbit, a house of virgins, and a handful of rude Frenchmen. In addition to the set pieces, the film also includes the same kind of surreal animation that Gilliam contributed to the television series. Throughout the irreverent adventures, the Python crew eschews realism in favor of anachronistic social satire, a recipe it later returned to in the 1979 biblical farce MONTY PYTHON'S LIFE OF BRIAN. Melding the ridiculous with the sublime, the film quickly inspired a cult following, generated a host of quotes, and even inspired a computer game 20 years after its release. The numerous songs and hysterical vignettes are sidesplittingly unforgettable.
Advantages: hillarious dispite its age Disadvantages: the special effects
...If you love special effects, action, romance and sci-fi then you are reading the wrong opinion as the holygrail is just a non stop comedy film. The movie starring John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin and the rest of the 6 members of the MontyPython crew, are on a royal quest to seek the holyGrail, a high and imperial trophy made out of pure gold. Aurthor, king of the Britans is sent on a quest by God to seek the holyGrail and on the way he must invite brave knights to help him along his way. As he attempts to find the Grail, he has to overcome certain obsticles such as killer rabbits, the police, the knights who say ni, a bridge of death and the French who are also after the Grail. Many of King Arthurs men are killed along the way in what can only be discribed as hillarious deaths. All the way through this movie there are some...
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Advantages: typical monty python random humour Disadvantages: storyline may be morally offensive
...The Life of Brian is a typical MontyPython film, with its rather off the wall but amusing humour. Any Python fan will appreciate the familiar characters and who can forget to 'always look on the bright side of life?' I did not find it as good as the search for the HolyGrail, which I think anyone wanting to experience the pleasures of MontyPython for the first time should try.
However, I feel it has a contentious storyline, taking liberties with and seemingly mocking the story of the crucifiction of Jesus, which people may find offensive. It is a shame that the subject matter unsettled me somewhat while I was watching, and thus made the MontyPython experience less enjoyable....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: full of laughter Disadvantages: jabawokki isnt there
...for all you montypython lovers out there like me you deffinatley want to buy this box set as it includes.holygrail,life of bryan and the meaning of life and a extra dvd special which is full of the flying circus best comedy strips,such as the dead parrot and more...
the only reason i got into montypython is because my grandad loved them and he would cry with laughter and watching john cleese do what he does best makes you laugh. but its not all due to john cleese but the whole python crew.
you can get the box set around about £20 - £30 and you can get them from,HMV,MVC,TESCO ETC.
the reaon i reckon you should get this is because its full of laughter all the way through you cant even breathe for 5 minutes without laughing.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\|Story lines|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
the life of brian...
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helpful 28.08.2004
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