Monty Python's the Meaning of Life
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DVD details
Actor: Andrew Maclachlan, Carol Cleveland, Matt Frewer, Monty Python, Simon JonesComposer: Graham Chapman
Cinematographer: Peter Hannan
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 108 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-08-23
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
DVD Reviews of Monty Python's the Meaning of Life
DVD Review: Typical Monty Python Quirkiness
Summary: 3 Stars
If you like the Monthy Python style of humor, then you'll enjoy "The Meaning Of Life". It's as simple as that. On the other hand, if you don't care for jokes about vomiting, sperm, penises, vaginas, and menstrual periods, liberally sprinkled with profanity, and with men playing the women's parts, then you should probably skip this.
In my opinion, the movie's best feature, by far, is "The Galaxy Song" which is sung by a man who steps out of a refrigerator a little more than halfway through the movie. That song is brilliant! That one brief, shining moment, however, isn't enough to merit a five-star review for the movie as a whole. There's too much other stuff, much of it not funny at all. The fat man vomiting at his table in an elegant restaurant is the worst. I suppose humor is in the eye of the beholder. The vomiting scene just didn't work for me.
I would recommend that Americans play the movie with the English subtitles on. The actors all have British accents, which can be a little hard to understand at times.
One thing I would warn against is the "Soundtrack For The Lonely." Whoever came up with that idea should consider a different line of work. It is just not funny at all. It is completely boring all the way through.
The movie begins with a short film about The Crimson Permanent Assurance Corporation. It isn't funny. It's dumb. Like the restaurant vomiting scene, it basically has nothing to do with anything.
Besides "The Galaxy Song", the movie's only other really good moment is "Every Sperm Is Sacred", which occurs near the beginning of the film. The song (Every sperm is sacred... every sperm is great... if a sperm is wasted... God gets quite irate) is charmingly sung by cute kids who are part of an enormous Catholic family. (Their mother is seen with a baby dropping out of her body while she's doing the laundry.) Across the street, a Protestant couple converse about how lucky they are to be allowed to use birth control, even though they don't bother with it since they never have sex.
I can't think of much more to say about this movie. It definitely has some great moments, but also has a lot of drivel. There is a French soundtrack, and subtitles can be activated in English, French, or Spanish. The humor will definitely not be to everyone's taste.
If you want to get some serious insights about the meaning of life, I would recommend reading _The History Of Western Philosophy_, by Bertrand Russell. If you just want to see a really funny movie, then I would suggest "Knocked Up", with Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl. On the other hand, if profanity bothers you, but you want to see something funny, stick with "The Simpsons" on DVD.
DVD Review: Excellence!
Summary: 5 Stars
This was one of the best movies that I have seen in a long time. I rolled with laughter from the beginning to the end. Wonderful!DVD Review: The Meaning of Laughter
Summary: 5 Stars
It's Monty Python at their best. Very funny lengthy sketches and musical numbers that have you rolling on the floor. Absolutely hysterical. They show silly, yet intelligent humor that is sure to be appreciated by their audiences.
Get it and you will want to own all of the Monty Python's movies... but that's a good thing.
DVD Review: The weakest of the Python films, but it's hardly unfunny
Summary: 4 Stars
Out of all three Python films (Holy Grail, Life of Brian, Meaning of Life) this one is by far the weakest. But just because it's not as good as the other two doesn't mean it's highly unfunny. There are some many great sketches here that'll make many fall on the floor laughing. My favorite skits here are "Mr. Creosote", "Live Organ Transplants", "The Protestants' View", "Find the Fish", "Galaxy Song", and the prologue of the film, "The Crimson Permanent Assurance". The Actors/Writers never cease to amaze (Graham Chapman with his straight-faced attitude, John Cleese with his authoritarian madness, Eric Idle with his verbal wit, Terry Jones with his shrieking pepperpot impersonation, and Michael Palin with his diverse acting abilities; and let's not forget Terry Gilliam for his imaginative animations).
The only flaw I can find here is the DVD transfer. I have to turn up the volume very high so I can watch the movie, and the screen quality is just above average. With that flaw aside, "Meaning of Life" is yet another classic from the Python team.
A-
DVD Review: Decent transfer for a 25 year old movie
Summary: 4 Stars
Don't expect this to be your refrence HD material. While in my opinion this is the best of the Monty Python movies, none of the movies were visually stunning. That does not mean that this got a bad transfer, quite the opposite, but if you are looking for something to impress your friends about your expensive HD set, this is not the disc.
If you are a film purist, you will be happy to know that you can still see the film grain in the picture in places. Colors seem to be natual, and may be a disappointment for those of you who are used to more vibrant things in your HD. Washed out comes to my mind, but that is really more of the style of the film, and not a problem with the transfer. In fact, the animated scenes are quite vivid and brilliant, so while not breathtaking, I will say that the transfer is faithful to the original source.
There is no high-res audio track, but do not let that disappoint you. The Monty Python movies were not known for having the subwoofer pounding, full surround emersion experience, and the Dolby Digital Plus soundtrack faithfully represents the movies soundtrack without giving up anything.
Bonus features seem to mirror previous DVD releases, and nothing special is really added.
If you are a fan of this movie, this is probably as good of an HD transfer as you will ever get, and I would highly recommend it. If you are not a Monty Python fan, pass over this one.
Description of Monty Python's the Meaning of Life
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 EmersonPerhaps 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
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