Monty Python Movies

There are now five Monty Python available on DVD:

In 1971, some of Monty Python's famous TV sketches were re-shot as a movie for global audiences who didn't yet have the TV shows.

And Now For Something Completely Different

After 1974, when their last TV series was made, the team concentrated their occasional collective efforts on three movies, all of which are quality viewing, as is their LIVE in concert movie. 

People usually seem to have their favorite, in particular, The Holy Grail...but I tend to like them all just about equally, each having its own merits:

Monty Python And The Holy Grail

The first Monty Python movie directed by the team, thematically far more powerful than And Now for Something Completely Different. Still sketch-based, The Holy Grail looks incredible, considering its miniscule budget...and there are many memorable moments, including:

• The Black Knight
• Sir Bedevere's logic of how a woman could be logically proven to be a witch 
• The Knights who say "Ni!" &
• Tim the sorcerer, warning Arthur & the Knights about the killer rabbit

Monty Python's The Life Of Brian

Far less "weird" than The Holy Grail, The Life Of Brian is the tale of Brian of Nazareth, a man who gets mistaken as the messiah in Roman Judea. Considered blasphemous at the time, The Life Of Brian is a clear attack on gullibility and extremism, with virtually nothing to say on religion, whatsoever! 

There are also a wonderful video about the backlash that The Life Of Brian received received...and a Not The 9 O'Clock News sketch sending up the backlash. 

Monty Python And The Meaning Of Life

Seldom remembered, The Meaning Of Life is a poorly disguised musical, linked by a superb series of sketches. It's perhaps the most demanding of all the Python films...but it's extremely funny and contains the surreal Where's The Fish?, segment, probably the weirdest thing I've ever seen in popular entertainment.

Monty Python LIVE

A reissue of the concert film Monty Python LIVE at the Hollywood Bowl + almost 3 hours of mostly fairly interesting extras, including "Greatest Hits" from the TV shows.

Four of the remaining Pythons (minus Eric Idle) participated in this 2000 reunion for the BBC, celebrating their 30th anniversary...

Monty Python: The Life Of Python