Monty Python's the Meaning of Life

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Perhaps only the collective brilliant minds of the Monty Python film and television troupe are up to the task of tackling a subject as weighty as the Meaning of Life. Sure, Kierkegaard, Wittgenstein, and their ilk have tried their hands at this puzzler, but only Python has attempted to do so within the commercial motion picture medium. Happily for us all, Monty Python's the Meaning of Life truly explains everything one conceivably needs to know about the perplexities of human existence, from the mysteries of Catholic doctrine to the miracle of reproduction to why one should avoid the salmon mousse to the critical importance of the machine that goes ping! Using fish as a linking device (and what marvelous links those aquatic creatures make), The Meaning of Life is presented as a series of sketches: a musical production number about why seed is sacred; a look at dining in the afterlife; the quest for a missing fish (there they are again); a visit from Mr. Death; the cautionary tale of Mr. Creosote and his rather gluttonous appetite; an unflinching examination of the harsh realities of organ donation, and so on. Sadly, this was the last original Python film, but it's a beaut. You'll laugh. You'll cry (probably because you're laughing so hard). You may even learn something about the Meaning of Life. Or at least about how fish fit into the grand scheme of things. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

A Classic Comedy.......2007-09-10

If you like Monty Python you will love this movie.If you don't like Monty Python try it it anyway it will most likely make you change your mind.

Terry Jones delivers a real winner..........2007-08-23

First off, I would like to preface my review by stating that I have not seen the DVD version of this film -- only the VHS -- so I have no idea about its quality and features. Secondly, I am not a dyed-in-the-wool Python fan. I have never seen either the "Life of Brian" or the "Holy Grail," and am only somewhat familiar with their television offerings. In a way, this makes it easier for me to appreciate the merits of this film itself.

The "Permanent Assurance" short which opens the film is, as others have stated, quite symbolic and pertinent to modern times. The fantasy of the segment is quite evocative of Gilliam's later "Adventures of Baron Munchausen" and is potentially just as off-putting for those who do not appreciate bits of whimsy. It is quite a spectacle and I really enjoyed seeing the later reference to this segment in the middle of the movie. It was fun to see and identify a young Matt Frewer/Max Headroom as well.

The movie proper opens with fish discussing life's meaning and a cute little animated intro featuring a fun song by Eric Idle. The Miracle of Birth is an apt way to begin a film about life and we are treated to a hilarious hospital scene of a woman about to give birth and the attendant physicians. Anyone who has actually given birth in a hospital will probably identify with the depersonalization inherent to the situation. I laughed when the husband was shooed away and the mother of the child was told to do nothing because she is not qualified. Funny, yes, and oh-so-true.

The second segment continues the birth scenario with a vignette taking place in the Third World (ha!). A Roman Catholic couple has just been blessed with yet another bundle, but, unfortunately, the father has lost his employment and will no longer be able to support the family. The musical number which follows (Every sperm is sacred) is outstanding and is perfectly juxtaposed by the Protestant couple of Graham Chapman and Eric Idle. Chapman's delivery is so spot on and Idle's facial expressions are priceless. The kicker for me is the punchline after the scene which leads into segment 3: Growth and Learning.

John Cleese's performance as headmaster is equally brilliant and I have to admit I get a big kick out of the sex education class. I would like to be a fly on the wall for that one. It segues nicely into a rough-and-tumble rugby scene which is followed by an equally-violent wartime scenario (Segment 4). This sketch is quite amusingly played by the cast. Turn up the volume a bit to hear all that they are saying. Next, Michael Palin gives a quirky turn as a drill sergeant and then they are off to South Africa for a skirmish with the Zulus. (Psst, there really are no tigers in Africa.)

Terry Gilliam announces the middle of the film and we are swept away to a surreal scenario incorporating the fish again and other creatures of the night. Next, follows the middle years (#5) featuring a minor discourse on existential philosophy which transitions into scene 6: Live Organ Transplant. This scene is a bit gory, but leads to a fun song/fantasy animation segment starring showman Eric Idle.

Scene 7: The Autumn Years is next, showcasing our Wall Street group from the opening segment. Their discussion is quite metaphysical and most illuminating. Next, we are taken to the French restaurant with Mr. Creosote. This is my least favorite section of the movie, but I do appreciate it as a lead-in to Gaston's philosophy of life.

The Final Segment 8: Death opens with a cute little animated sequence and goes on to a scene with gratuitous nudity. Somehow it avoids being overly offensive, but if I were younger I would probably have a problem with it. The dinner sequence with the grim reaper follows and further shows the versatility of the principals. The closing segment in Heaven links the film nicely and has another fine musical number starring Chapman called "Christmas in Heaven." This blue-toned sequence smacks of Gilliam's "Brazil" and is a fun way to end the picture. Of course, Michael Palin sums things up nicely afterward, but this is more as an afterthought than anything else.

All in all, if you can keep an open mind and are not easily offended, Python's "Meaning of Life" is highly worth viewing and a special musical treat. Check it out today!

Someone please take it out of my hands!.......2007-06-05

I grew up watching "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," so when I saw this VHS for sale at the low cost of $1 I thought I was in for a treat. Unfortunately it was awful. I know their reputation is built on pushing the limits and nothing is too sacred, but this was disgusting and stupid. I have to be honest in admitting there were a couple of funny parts (when the Yorkshire father says he will sell his children for scientific experiments) but it was not worth the $1 I paid for it and I want it out of my house before my kids find it!

Typical Monty Python Hilarious Satire.......2007-05-23

The revolt of the accountants is one of their funniest skits.

Great Laughs.......2007-05-12

It is Monty Python how can you go wrong if you like humor.

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life [HD DVD]

Average customer rating:

An Eye Opener
Monty Python's: The Meaning of Life (HD DVD) Review by Justin Sluss
Great film, not that necessary on HD-DVD...

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life [HD DVD]
Starring: Carol Cleveland , Matt Frewer , Simon Jones , Andrew Maclachlan , and Monty Python
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000OHZL2G
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Description

Those six pandemonium-mad Pythons are back with their craziest adventure ever! John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin have returned to explain The Meaning of Life. These naughty Brits offer the usual tasteful sketches involving favorite body parts and bodily functions, the wonders of war, the miracle of birth and a special preview of what's waiting for us in Heaven. Nothing is too sacred for the probing Python crew. You'll never look at life in quite the same way again. Time pronounces it "an exhilarating experience!" Newsweek agrees, calling it, "the best movie from England's satirical sextet." Winner of the 1983 Cannes Film Festival Special Jury Award.

Customer Reviews:

An Eye Opener.......2007-08-23

I've had this movie years ago on a VHS Tape. I just wanted to make sure it was in my HD collection. It is really an eye opener with a different viewpoint. It is funny, entertaining, informative & has an unconventional viewpoint all wrapped up in one movie. It is my favorite Monty Python film. It definitely will stay in my collection.

Monty Python's: The Meaning of Life (HD DVD) Review by Justin Sluss.......2007-06-21

The Movie Itself is in my own personal opinion the best of the films by the British comedy troupe Monty Python which included (the late) Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Michael Palin. The group made a total of four motion pictures aside from their widely popular television sketch show Monty Python's Flying Circus. This was the last of those films and was released in 1983. The whole plot to this movie as you guessed even if you're not a Python fan is obviously about The Meaning of Life. And it's pieced down into 8 stages with a little bit of fun thrown in before, during and after. The film has a lot of musical numbers that are absolutely hilarious and extremely catchy to boot (refer to my audio quality review for song titles).

If you're a fan of British sketch comedy or even Canadian sketch like The Kids in the Hall you're going to love this if you've never seen it before. This is sketch comedy at it's finest in the form of a film. The film was directed by Terry Jones who was a member of the comedy troupe and obviously acted quiet a bit in this as well as bossed everyone around. It's obvious that some people will clearly argue the best Python film would be "The Quest for the Holy Grail" or "Life of Brian." They are all great films by me and I look forward to the three others eventually making their way to High Definition disc release. This is encouraging to see one being released you have to admit either way.

Video Quality on this release is presented in 1080p VC-1 encoded on a 30gb disc. First off, yes this is an improvement over the DVD version(s) of this film available in the past but at the same time it's not really the best video transfer to High Def. Don't get me wrong, I mean yes this film is from 1983 for starters and has it's obvious original film grain to it and that's cool in it's own way. The thing I'm really trying to say is that don't expect it to look amazing. Just instead expect it to look better than before. There are some artifacts and pixilatation problems in rare occasions but nothing really to complain about that much.

Audio Quality on this release is in Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. This is only a small improvement over Dolby Digital 5.1 on the latest DVD release of this film. As Python Eric Idle says in one of the bonus materials "the film is a disguised musical" so the songs of this film are really important to the sound mix. I mean after all who can forget such classics as "Isn't it awfully nice to have a penis?", "Every Sperm is Sacred", "Galaxy Song", "Christmas in Heaven" and of course the opening track "It's the Meaning of Life."

Bonus Materials are primarily all in 16:9 (Widescreen) standard definition and ported over from the latest DVD release of the film. There's loads of material here, first off an introduction from Eric Idle before the film, audio Commentary by both Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam. There's also another audio commentary track called "Soundtrack for the Lonely" which is sure to keep you company if "Terry and Terry" don't.

"Snipped Bits" (18 minutes) is basically deleted scenes with occasional commentary introductions or comment from Terry Jones. There's some laughs here but you see why some scenes were obviously deleted. "The Meaning of Making The Meaning of Life" (49 minutes) is your obvious "making of" documentary featuring interviews with the entire Monty Python... cast (even clips of the late Graham Chapman). Eric Idle says "... the film is a disguised musical." in this and we also learn that John Cleese isn't too fond of this film. He argues "Life of Brian" is the better of the Python films. Some would argue "Holy Grail" is but that's to be debated elsewhere, not in my review of bonus materials. "Education Tips" (6 minutes) is a series of skits done by John Cleese, Eric Idle and Michael Palin. I like Cleese's last character "Dr. Ken Enron Chaney." He cracks me up with just his name alone but there's some really hilarious stuff here overall. Including Michael Palin as the world's worst voice over narrator. It's ironic because he actually does voice over narration now on a nature television show.

"Un Film De John Cleese" (1 minute) is absolutely hilarious. It's nothing more than his edit of the film with only him in it. "Written, produced, directed, conceived, edited and probably projected by John Cleese." To only be a minute long it's definitely worth the minute for a good laugh. "Remastering A Masterpiece" is a spoof restoration documentary narrated by Michael Palin. It offers some goofy interviews with Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam as they try to restore the film by washing it. Gilliam and Jones both seem to have no luck as Jones resorts to a local British laundromat washing machine. Eventually Terry Gilliam gives up and says "I hate this film!" I guess this explains the video quality rating I gave this HD DVD doesn't it? Just kidding. There's a bit more material to be found but they really don't prove to be worth watching to even the most die-hard fan like myself. This is about where it stops for the bonus materials worth watching on this release. Nothing too bad but it is nothing more than the bonus materials from the DVD release ported over.

-- Review written by Justin Sluss of HighDefDiscNews.com

Great film, not that necessary on HD-DVD..........2007-06-18

Although this is probably the most inconsistent film that Monty Python made, it's still fantastic. It ends up being a series of sketches loosely tied together around the meaning of life. Some are the absolute highlights of the Monty Python canon (e.g. the sex education scene and the disgusting Mr. Creosote), while others are much less successful. This was essentially the last material made by the Python troupe.

This HD-DVD release contains the exact same features as the recent 2-disc DVD special edition. The extra features are superb with a hilarious and insightful commentary by director Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam, who aren't afraid to admit its faults. The trouble with this release is that the film is now over 20 years old and was shot with a relatively low budget so it doesn't look that good to start with. So by getting the HD-DVD you're just seeing the graininess and clunky special effects more clearly. If you already have the DVD there's really no need to get this, but if you're looking to buy it for the first time and you have an HD-DVD player then it's a no-brainer...

...and yes, the meaning of life is revealed in this movie!

Average customer rating:

A Classic Comedy
Terry Jones delivers a real winner...
Someone please take it out of my hands!
Typical Monty Python Hilarious Satire
Great Laughs

Monty Python's the Meaning of Life
Starring: Sydney Arnold , Imogen Bickford-Smith , Graham Chapman , John Cleese , and Carol Cleveland
Director: Terry Gilliam , and Terry Jones
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000A0MFJ
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

A Classic Comedy.......2007-09-10

If you like Monty Python you will love this movie.If you don't like Monty Python try it it anyway it will most likely make you change your mind.

Terry Jones delivers a real winner..........2007-08-23

Someone please take it out of my hands!.......2007-06-05

Typical Monty Python Hilarious Satire.......2007-05-23

The revolt of the accountants is one of their funniest skits.

Great Laughs.......2007-05-12

It is Monty Python how can you go wrong if you like humor.

Average customer rating:

A Classic Comedy
Terry Jones delivers a real winner...
Someone please take it out of my hands!
Typical Monty Python Hilarious Satire
Great Laughs

Monty Python's the Meaning of Life
Starring: Sydney Arnold , Imogen Bickford-Smith , Graham Chapman , John Cleese , and Carol Cleveland
Director: Terry Gilliam
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Satire | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Farce | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Monty Python Store | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: 6305077584
Release Date: 1998-03-18

Amazon.com essential video

Perhaps only the collective brilliant minds of the Monty Python film and television troupe are up to the task of tackling a subject as weighty as The Meaning of Life. Sure, Kierkegaard, Wittgenstein, and their ilk have tried their hands at this puzzler, but only Python has attempted to do so within the commercial motion picture medium. Happily for us all, Monty Python's The Meaning of Life truly explains everything one conceivably needs to know about the perplexities of human existence: from the mysteries of Catholic doctrine, to the miracle of reproduction, to why one should avoid the salmon mousse, to the critical importance of the machine that goes "Ping!" Using fish as a linking device (and what marvelous links those aquatic creatures make), The Meaning of Life is presented as a series of sketches: a musical production number about why seed is sacred; a look at dining in the afterlife; the quest for a missing fish (there they are again); a visit from Mr. Death; the cautionary tale of Mr. Creosote and his rather gluttonous appetite; an unflinching examination of the harsh realities of organ donation, and so on. Sadly, this was the last original Python film, but it's a beaut. You'll laugh. You'll cry (probably because you're laughing so hard). You may even learn something about The Meaning of Life. Or at least about how fish fit into the grand scheme of things. --Jim Emerson

Description

Those six pandemonium-mad Pythons are back with their craziest adventure ever! These naughty Britons offer the usual tasteful sketches involving favorite bodily parts and functions, the wonders of war, the miracle of birth and a special preview of what's waiting for us in Heaven.

Customer Reviews:

A Classic Comedy.......2007-09-10

If you like Monty Python you will love this movie.If you don't like Monty Python try it it anyway it will most likely make you change your mind.

Terry Jones delivers a real winner..........2007-08-23

Someone please take it out of my hands!.......2007-06-05

Typical Monty Python Hilarious Satire.......2007-05-23

The revolt of the accountants is one of their funniest skits.

Great Laughs.......2007-05-12

It is Monty Python how can you go wrong if you like humor.

DVD:

DVD

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