The Life of Python

Starring:Life of Python
Studio: A&E Home Video
Product Type: DVD

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

Customer Reviews:

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.

British for sure but aging fast.......2007-04-26

Monty Python has a tendency to use, reuse and even overuse some tricks when he has invented them. Here he will definitely overuse and abuse the after-dinner mint. And yet, even if I have never thought Monty Python to be the genius of the second half of the 20th century some think he is, the film has some marvelous scenes that are worth the watching, for example the attack of the old City of London clerks against the super-tyrannical City of New York Stock Exchange, generally known as Wall Street. It becomes a pirate tale and it is funny, even as a satire of the excessive power of the financial market in and on our ordinary lives. A new slavery? Probably. The restaurant scene is overdone unluckily and the vomiting is by far too much to be just funny. It is disgusting, gross, funnily gross for sure but not in any way, at least for me, hilariously gross or funny. And we all know in a way or another this famous after-dinner mint that has been used or hinted at in so many occasions. It is a classic and like all classic it loses its edge, it becomes a little bit blunt or dull.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine & University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne

Eric Idle and John Cleese present.......2007-04-01

To me, this is not a Monty Python movie. The humour might be intact, but its not really a Python movie. I've watched the series and seen The Quest for the Holy Grail, this is not Python. Where was Graham Chapman? I dont know the history behind the troupe, but where the hell is Chapman? He is usually in every sketch and he was absent for most of the movie. I saw Cleese and Idle alot, but not enough Chapman. The movie just seemed to be a attempt to make Python look cool by swearing and adding nudity. Didnt really work for me. All and all, the worst Python ive seen yet.

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

Average customer rating:

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:

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!

Monty Python's Life of Brian - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Monty Python is always a pleasure to watch.
Funny, funny, funny
Monty Python
First Try At Python....What Took Me So Long?
Controversial?

Monty Python's Life of Brian - Criterion Collection
Starring: Terence Bayler , Peter Brett , John Case , Graham Chapman , and John Cleese
Manufacturer: Criterion
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ASIN: 1559409010
Release Date: 1999-11-16

Amazon.com essential video

"Blessed are the cheesemakers," a wise man once said. Or maybe not. But the point is Monty Python's Life of Brian is a religious satire that does not target specific religions or religious leaders (like, say, Jesus of Nazareth). Instead, it pokes fun at the mindless and fanatical among their followers--it's an attack on religious zealotry and hypocrisy--things that that fellow from Nazareth didn't particularly care for either. Nevertheless, at the time of its release in 1979, those who hadn't seen it considered it to be quite "controversial." Life of Brian, you see, is about a chap named Brian (Graham Chapman) born December 25 in a hovel not far from a soon-to-be-famous Bethlehem manger. Brian is mistaken for the messiah and therefore manipulated, abused, and exploited by various religious and political factions. And it's really, really funny. Particularly memorable bits include the brassy Shirley Bassey/James Bond-like title song; the bitter rivalry between the anti-Roman resistance groups, the Judean People's Front and the People's Front of Judea; Michael Palin's turn as a lisping, risible Pontius Pilate; Brian urging a throng of false-idol worshippers to think for themselves--to which they reply en masse "Yes, we must think for ourselves!"; the fact that everything Brian does, including losing his sandal in an attempt to flee these wackos, is interpreted as "a sign." Life of Brian is not only one of Monty Python's funniest achievements, it's also the group's sharpest and smartest sustained satire. Blessed are the Pythons. --Jim Emerson

Description

After slaying the Arthurian legend in their now classic Holy Grail, the Pythons set their sights on the Greatest Story Ever Told. Blind faith, virgin birth, crucifixion-nothing is sacred in this epic send-up of ancient times, which draws on the cornball biblical blockbusters of the 1950s to lampoon celebrity culture in any era. Criterion has gathered the guilty parties-including John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin-for two commentary tracks as provocative and hilarious as the film itself. Available for the first time in a 16:9 enhanced transfer, Monty Python's Life of Brian can finally be viewed in all its - ahem - glory.

Customer Reviews:

Monty Python is always a pleasure to watch........2007-05-26

The cast of The Life of Brian seemed to have as much fune making the movie as I did watching it. There is always a touch of the sacreligious in th e work of the Monty Python team and the Life of Brian can strik some people harshly. But as in most of their works the tewam seems to be having fun with a story that could have been.

Funny, funny, funny.......2007-05-24

A slight bit of deep tongue-in-cheek stupid slap stick humor, but, hey, that's what these guys are all about. Laugh a little, laugh a lot.

Monty Python.......2007-05-07

at their best. a Laugh out Loud movie. Irreverent, yet pleasing.

First Try At Python....What Took Me So Long?.......2007-04-23

On a friend's strong recommendation, I just got done viewing the Life of Brian. I am glad I did. He had raved about how funny the movie is, so I finally relented and gave it a try. There are many laugh out loud moments in this film. Very witty and smart dialogue, and satirical looks at the way people donduct themselves when in a large group of people. From Brian's "mom" to the song that closes the movie, this film boasts some sheer hilarity. I enjoy smart films, even when the smart is in the form of satire. A movie like the Lif of Brian further illustrates how mediocre many of the new Hollywood comedies are (Talladega Nights, R.V., etc.).

I recommend this movie. Granted it can be described as an acquired taste, yet I found the taste fast to acquire. Four stars.

Controversial?.......2007-03-26

With by far the majority raving over this trite and predictably British schoolyard humour since its release, I would hardly ever have called it 'controversial'.
Seems the vocal Christians were surprisingly mum over this one. Could have sent this 5 star rating down a few pegs if they'd spoken up against what they would have called mockery and blasphemy.

Average customer rating:

Someone please take it out of my hands!
Typical Monty Python Hilarious Satire
Great Laughs
British for sure but aging fast
Eric Idle and John Cleese present

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
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ASIN: B0000A0MFJ
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

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.

British for sure but aging fast.......2007-04-26

Eric Idle and John Cleese present.......2007-04-01

Average customer rating:

Monty Python Rocks!
An absolute must for budding Pythonites
A potpourri of priceless python
Some Brilliant New Material
The Pythons still got it!

The Life of Python
Starring: Life of Python
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
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ASIN: B00004Y7TA
Release Date: 2000-10-31

Amazon.com

And now for Monty Python fans who think they have seen everything, the BBC commemorates the 30th anniversary of the debut of Monty Python's Flying Circus with this treasure trove of new sketches performed by the Pythons (minus spoilsport Eric Idle, and, of course, ex-Python Graham Chapman); new interviews with all the surviving members; classic clips; and recently discovered and rarely seen Python material unearthed from the BBC archives. Volume 1, It's... the Monty Python Story, is a sketchy history, recalling the highs (the first two seasons of the groundbreaking TV series and The Life of Brian) and the lows (the death of Chapman, who in a poignant clip from his memorial service is eulogized by John Cleese as a "freeloading bastard"). Volume 2 really delivers the goods, including a long-lost 10-minute film Monty Python created for the 1971 Pan-European May Day Festival. Michael Palin spoofs his travel shows by giving viewers a tour of "Pythonland." He revisits the actual locations where such classic Python sketches as the Ministry of Silly Walks and the Fish Slapping Dance were filmed. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone offer an animated tribute (the Dead Kenny sketch), while Meatloaf goes behind the music to reveal the inspiration behind the Python's most memorable songs. Volume 3 contains "The Lost German Episode" of Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, which was created for German television (don't worry; it's in English) and has never been broadcast in the United States. This is comedy's equivalent to a surviving-Beatles reunion, and though the new sketches and animations are hit and miss, it is heartening to see that the Pythons are still loony after all these years. It is a particular pleasure to see the Gumbys banging bricks once again. And Python sexpot Carol Cleveland is holding up rather well, if you know what I mean, say no more, nudge nudge. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews:

Monty Python Rocks!.......2007-06-08

I LOVE Monty Python. I have several of their specials taped off the TV. So when I saw Life of Python available on DVD, I jumped @ it. It wasn't really the one I wanted. Monty Python tends to make a lot of minor changes to each of their shows, so that people will buy more than one version trying to get the one they remember. But all in all I was very happy with my purchase.

An absolute must for budding Pythonites.......2007-02-10

While I must confess that I did not particularly enjoy the Fliegender Zirkus episode, the first disc alone is well worth the price of the entire product. Eddie Izzard narrates the "Life of Python" segment, which documents the development of the Pythons' wacky sense of humor and their previous jobs on programs such as "The Frost Report" and "Do Not Adjust Your Set", through the Python series, movies and their various post-Python projects. Michael Palin's "PythonLand" is more for diehards, but for the newbie Pythonite it offers some insight into the filming process the Pythons used. "From Spam To Sperm" is my personal favorite, which covers the many Python songs popularized through the series and movies. Anyone who has not seen "The Meaning of Life" will want to run out and get it after seeing the segment on "Every Sperm Is Sacred".

Long story short: something for everyone and well worth the price.

A potpourri of priceless python.......2004-10-22

This 2-disc set features fantabulous material. Disc one contains all sorts of oddball stuff including Graham Chapman's funeral, A python tribute from the South Park creators (including appearances by Cartman, Kyle, & Kenny), a documenatry on filming locations, songs from Python, and other bits of rubbish culled from BBC archives.
Disc 2 is even better, featuring one of the 2 "lost" German episodes. This episode was done in English (unlike the other episode, which was actually in German) and features some truly, truly ridiculous bits including "Chicken Panning" and the dumbest fairy tale you'll ever see (featuring a Hammond Organ).

Well worth it, believe me.

Some Brilliant New Material.......2003-02-28

In 1999, the Monty Python team marked their 30th anniversary with a big TV special on BBC2. It featured a ton of brilliant new sketches, the lost Python Mayday Special, a one-hour history of the team, a documentary about their music, a South Park tribute, a Michael Palin travel documentary (about Python locations), and "Life of Brian." The special came about after the team couldn't make agreements about a tour or a movie, and while both of those would have been excellent, this TV special manages to capture much of the original Pythonic brilliance. With the exception of "Brian," the 30th anniversary show is presented in this DVD, along with one of the two "lost" German episodes (this one is in English). It has some great stuff, especially the Fairy Tale scene.
On DVD, the anniversary show looks broadcast quality, showing no visual flaws (except in old clips and the lost Mayday special.) The German episode looks fairly grainy, but that is to be expected from a rarely restored show. DVD features are on the second disc with the German episode (unless you count the weblink on disc one.) There is a preview of the first German episode, as well as a quiz and clip show from the "Monty Python's Flying Circus" Season Four discs.

The Pythons still got it!.......2002-09-11

I was very pleased to view this documentary and other various programs on this 2 disc set. First off it includes BRAND NEW sketches with all of the cast except for Eric Idle, who although does not appear in the sketches, he does appear at the end of the mock interview sequence (which only lasts about 1 minute). It also would have been nice to see Graham Chapman but of course that was impossible. Most of the new sketches are good except the timing on the jokes was not quite as sharp or quick. Even Carol Cleveland appears and she still looks great. There is a rare 10 minute short film made in 1971 celebrating the Mayday Festival that was lost for years. A Pythonland tour with Michael Palin covering some the original areas where the classic Python sketches were filmed is also a plus. But the big attraction is a Monty Python episode that was made specifically for a German audeince. It was 1 of only 2 ever made. Very Rare Indeed! It is the second show of the two shows. The first show is not included although there is a clip of it in the bonus features are of the dvd.

Average customer rating:

Someone please take it out of my hands!
Typical Monty Python Hilarious Satire
Great Laughs
British for sure but aging fast
Eric Idle and John Cleese present

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

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ASIN: 6305077584
Release Date: 1998-03-18

Product Description

Excellent condition, includes the original DVD, case, and paperwork, fast shipped, ask me for my DVD List! :)

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

Customer Reviews:

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.

British for sure but aging fast.......2007-04-26

Eric Idle and John Cleese present.......2007-04-01

Monty Python's Graham Chapman - Looks Like A Brown Trouser Job

Average customer rating:

Skiing In A Wretched Wooden Gondola And Other Dangerous Sports
Superb!
Hilarious! A Rare Find!
Where's the subtitles?
Best Comedy DVD 0f The Year!

Monty Python's Graham Chapman - Looks Like A Brown Trouser Job
Starring: Graham Chapman
Director: Richard S. Miller
Manufacturer: Rykodisc
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ASIN: B0007YMUJ8
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Amazon.com

In what is surely the most laconic comedy concert film ever made, Graham Chapman of the Monty Python troupe entertains worshipful audiences of college students during a 1988 tour of the United States. Chapman proves a warm and delightful raconteur as he recalls skiing down a Swiss mountainside in a wooden gondola, Keith Moon (drummer for rock band the Who) using explosives to chastize a hotel manager, and appeaing naked during the filming of Monty Python's Life of Brian. Be warned: As the packaging is quick to note, the film and audio quality are not professional; this is virtually a home movie. Nonetheless, Chapman's relaxed poise and impeccable deadpan delivery give his stories a dry wit that any Python fan will enjoy. The extras, in addition to having further samples from the question-and-answer sessions with the audience, includes footage of Chapman being hurled into the air by industrial elastic and an Iron Maiden video in which he appears as a stern schoolmaster. --Bret Fetzer

Description

In the early 1980s, Monty Python's Graham Chapman embarked upon a second career as a public speaker. Throughout the decade he toured hundreds of North American colleges delivering "comedy lectures" which consisted of tales from his life, adventures with an ad hoc group of adrenaline junkies called the Dangerous Sports Club, equally dangerous friends like the Who's Keith Moon and, of course, his fellow Pythons. In the spring of 1988 he launched his final college tour before his death in 1989, the best of which is presented here, videotaped under Graham's supervision and taken from his personal archives. It's a historical - and hysterical - document, capturing Graham at the peak of his comedic powers, at ease and at home before a crowd of Chapmaniacs.

Customer Reviews:

Skiing In A Wretched Wooden Gondola And Other Dangerous Sports.......2005-12-28

Graham Chapman was, I believe, the most deranged and probably funniest of all the Pythons, and this DVD, though occasionally marred by technical shortcomings, showcases his amazing sense of humor perfectly. These presentations were taken from various live speaking events at US college campuses in 1988. The first two thirds of the DVD is material that is largely a series of recollections and reminiscences some of which involve Monty Python, and some of which do not.

The breadth of the material is staggering, but my favorite recollections involve his participation in a group called the "Dangerous Sports Club" which sponsored insane activities like hang gliding above active volcanoes, catapult-related events, and downhill skiing whilst attached to inappropriate objects, in Graham's case a "wretched" wooden Italian gondola appropriated from a local restaurant and containing Graham, a dubious member of the aristocracy, and an inappropriate club mascot in boxer shorts. This event gave rise to the DVD title, as it apparently was a real "brown trouser job."

The last third of the DVD is devoted to questions and answers, and Graham really delivers with outstanding spontaneity and wit. The audience asked interesting questions, and the answers were both funny and insightful.

Any fan of Graham Chapman, Monty Python, or humor in general will love this DVD. I give it five stars for some of the funniest comedy material ever released on DVD.

Superb!.......2005-10-06

As a historial document this DVD is all we have of Chapman's legendary 'US college tours' in the 1980s and for that reason alone this is worth every penny. As a piece of entertainment, this DVD also delivers. If you only know him from the Python TV series or their movies then it will be a revelation to you. He's warm and funny and a superb storyteller who will have you laughing from the opening salvo of "give me 30 seconds of abuse' to the final goodnight. Chock-a-block with some rare bonus features and a cooler-than-it-had-to-be package and you have a wonderful evening's entertainment as well as a historical record. Obviously, a must for the fan but also a good one for folks who just enjoy some great storytelling. Money, and time, well-spent.

Hilarious! A Rare Find!.......2005-07-29

Man, what a rare find this is! I came to Python late, after they had broken up and so never got to see Graham Chapman live. This amazing DVD makes me feel as if he's still alive and spinning stories! Okay okay, so the video quality is so-so, but it didn't matter really after the first minute, I went with the stories and laughed my bum off! This DVD is so special I can't suggest any stronger that you buy it. LONG LIVE GRAHAM! Hey--ya got anything else in the vaults???

Where's the subtitles?.......2005-07-13

Great stuff! Yeah, it's basically "home video" quality, but so what? There's probably no other extant footage of this that's any better, unless someone in the audience shot it with a better camera!

After reading the joke sticker on the package saying (amongst other humorous things) that the disc had Latin, Sanskrit, & Aramaic subtitles, I was just a little disappointed to find out that the disc has no actual subtitles. I know it was just a joke, but it would've been a great joke if there were actual Latin, Sanskrit, & Aramaic subtitles supplied -- not necessarily actual translations (which wouldn't be worth the effort for the joke, in my opinion!), but just any ol' text, like how, on _Monty Python and the Holy Grail_, they supplied subtitles "for people who don't like the movie" taken from Shakespeare's _Henry IV_!

Best Comedy DVD 0f The Year!.......2005-05-09

You'll hear some minor grumblings from techonerds about the picture quality of this DVD, but who cares? The content matters, and this DVD delivers in spades! This is super cool, super rare footage of the one and only Graham Chapman of Python in his prime in the late 80s. This DVD is so funny with so many hilarious bits that it gets my vote as BEST COMEDY DVD OF 2005. If you're a Python fan--buy it without even thinking twice, and if you just love some well-told stories by a really really funny man, buy it too. Great bonus stuff too! This tour released on DVD has been long-anticipated (for almost 20 years) and now here it is--it's a masterpiece!

The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus Megaset with Bonus Life of Python

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The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus Megaset with Bonus Life of Python
Starring: Graham Chapman , John Cleese , Terry Gilliam , Eric Idle , and Terry Jones
Director: Elaine Shepherd (II)
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00064JWM2
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Amazon.com

The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus Megaset
While more cautious fans may want to pick and choose among the previously released individual volumes of Monty Python for their collection, true Pythonites will want to own this definitive, 14-volume DVD-only boxed set that contains all 45 episodes (in chronological order) of Monty Python's Flying Circus. This "persistently silly" collection encompasses three-and-a-half seasons of dead parrots, cross-dressing lumberjacks, loonies, upper class twits, and spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, baked beans, spam, spam, and spam. Click past the occasional clunker and go directly to such signature sketches as the Ministry of Silly Walks, the Spanish Inquisition, the Fish-Slapping Dance, the Dead Parrot Sketch, the Lumberjack Song, the Cheese Shop, the Argument Clinic, and Nudge, Nudge. Taken as a whole, one marvels at how Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam thoroughly subverted television convention with "something completely different," like sketches with no punch lines ("Your average TV viewer isn't going to understand this"). A warning to the uninitiated: there is much "material that some may find offensive, but which is really smashing." Violations of something called the "Strange Sketch Act" are the least of the troupe's offenses, as witness the Oscar Wilde Sketch, the Dirty Vicar Sketch, and the Most Awful Family in Britain Sketch, all of which achieve "the really gross awfulness" all Python fans are looking for. Say no more. --Donald Liebenson

Life of Python
And now for Monty Python fans who think they have seen everything, the BBC commemorates the 30th anniversary of the debut of Monty Python's Flying Circus with this treasure trove of new sketches performed by the Pythons (minus spoilsport Eric Idle, and, of course, ex-Python Graham Chapman); new interviews with all the surviving members; classic clips; and recently discovered and rarely seen Python material unearthed from the BBC archives. Volume 1, It's... the Monty Python Story, is a sketchy history, recalling the highs (the first two seasons of the groundbreaking TV series and Life of Brian) and the lows (the death of Chapman, who in a poignant clip from his memorial service is eulogized by John Cleese as a "freeloading bastard"). Volume 2 really delivers the goods, including a long-lost 10-minute film Monty Python created for the 1971 Pan-European May Day Festival. Michael Palin spoofs his travel shows by giving viewers a tour of "Pythonland." He revisits the actual locations where such classic Python sketches as the Ministry of Silly Walks and the Fish Slapping Dance were filmed. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone offer an animated tribute (the Dead Kenny sketch), while Meatloaf goes behind the music to reveal the inspiration behind the Python's most memorable songs. Volume 3 contains "The Lost German Episode" of Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, which was created for German television (don't worry; it's in English) and has never been broadcast in the United States. This is comedy's equivalent to a surviving-Beatles reunion, and though the new sketches and animations are hit and miss, it is heartening to see that the Pythons are still loony after all these years. It is a particular pleasure to see the Gumbys banging bricks once again. And Python sexpot Carol Cleveland is holding up rather well, if you know what I mean, say no more, nudge nudge. --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

Episodes: Salad Days, The Nude Organist, The Cycling Tour!

Charlie Rose with John Cleese; Peter Brook; Robert Wright (March 2, 1995)

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Charlie Rose with John Cleese; Peter Brook; Robert Wright (March 2, 1995)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

First, actor John Cleese discusses his sold-out concert at the 92nd Street Y in New York and his book, Life and How to Survive It. Then, a conversation with theater director Peter Brook about his new show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music called The Man Who. Finally, author Robert Wright talks about his book, The Moral Animal: Why We Are The Way We Are. The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology.

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