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Search - The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus Megaset with Bonus Life of Python on DVD

The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus Megaset with Bonus Life of Python
Actors: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones
Directors: Terry Jones, Elaine Shepherd
Genres: Comedy, Television

NR 2004

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 ow... more »n 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

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Movie Details

Actors: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones
Directors: Terry Jones, Elaine Shepherd
Creators: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
Genres: Comedy, Television
Sub-Genres: Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Comedy
Studio: A&E Home Video
Format: DVD - Color - Closed-captioned
DVD Release Date: 11/09/2004
Release Year: 2004
Screens: Color
Number of Discs: 16
SwapaDVD Credits: 16
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 7
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Movie Reviews

Stop and have a break to look!

redwood | TALLINN, Estonia | 10/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Offcourse for fanatics it is not necessary to tell what it is and is it good or not. Everybody knows what is Monty Python.
But, I would dare to suggest this also for not yet fans.
Our everyday life is full of stress, routine and doing stupid things. This is socialisation.
But please, take a moment to stop and allow yourselves a brake. Just take a moment to admire the wonders around you, which you have never time to look at before you are to old to enjoy it anymore.
Look at this dvd-s and maybe you will start doing something differently, just maybe you will find something..totally different.
Warm regards!"