Life was always going to feel less ambitious and less coherent than their cinematic masterpiece, The Life of Brian. And inevitably given the format, some sketches are better than others. But, for a movie that has been much-maligned, The Meaning of Life actually features some of the Pythons' most memorable set-pieces: the exploding Mr Creosote has to be the most wonderfully grotesque creation of a team whose speciality was the grotesque; while the sublime "Sperm Song" mixes satire and lavish visual humour in a musical skit of breathtaking audacity. Elsewhere, Eric Idle produces another musical gem with "The Universe Song" ("Pray that there's intelligent life somewhere out in space / 'Cause there's bugger all down here on earth!"), while the Grim Reaper's appearance at an achingly tedious dinner party is the Pythons doing what they do best: mocking their own middle-class origins. Best of all, perhaps, is Terry Gilliam's modest introductory feature, "The Crimson Permanent Assurance", a 20-minute epic tale of the little men rebelling against the corporate system, a theme and a visual style that foreshadows his own masterwork, Brazil. Admittedly too many sketches sacrifice subtlety for shock tactics (the organ donation scene in particular requires a strong stomach), but when this film works it's nothing less than vintage Python. --Mark Walker
are up to the task of tackling a subject as weighty as theMeaning of Life. Sure, Kierkegaard, Wittgenstein, and their ilk have tried their hands at this puzzler, but onlyPythonhas attempted to do so within the commercial motion picture medium. Happily for us all,Monty Python's the Meaning of Lifetruly 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 Lifeis 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 theMeaning of Life. Or at least about how fish fit into the grand scheme of things. --Jim Emerson
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
Lifewas always going to feel less ambitious and less coherent than their cinematic masterpiece,The Life of Brian. And inevitably given the format, some sketches are better than others. But, for a movie that has been much-maligned,The Meaning of Lifeactually features some of the Pythons' most memorable set-pieces: the exploding Mr Creosote has to be the most wonderfully grotesque creation of a team whose speciality was the grotesque; while the sublime "Sperm Song" mixes satire and lavish visual humour in a musical skit of breathtaking audacity. Elsewhere, Eric Idle produces another musical gem with "The Universe Song" ("Pray that there's intelligent life somewhere out in space / 'Cause there's bugger all down here on earth!"), while the Grim Reaper's appearance at an achingly tedious dinner party is the Pythons doing what they do best: mocking their own middle-class origins. Best of all, perhaps, is Terry Gilliam's modest introductory feature, "The Crimson Permanent Assurance", a 20-minute epic tale of the little men rebelling against the corporate system, a theme and a visual style that foreshadows his own masterwork,Brazil. Admittedly too many sketches sacrifice subtlety for shock tactics (the organ donation scene in particular requires a strong stomach), but when this film works it's nothing less than vintage Python. --Mark Walker
naughty lads 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. Nothing is too sacred for the probing Python crew. After seeing them in action you'll never look at life in quite the same way again. It's far-out frank and jolly good fun.
Advantages: Really funny Disadvantages: Not for everyone
...The Bright Side of Life
Every side of life has a bright side and between October 1969 and December 1974 the MontyPython team, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idol, Terry Jones and Michael Palin shared theirs with us. With classic scenes like 'The cheese shoppe!' and 'The dead parrot scene' (It's just resting) and films like 'The life of Brian' and 'The Holy Grail' (We are the knights that say Ni!) their rather silly brand of humour is forever part of our culture.
Now in amidst all of this silliness, there were a number of silly songs, and these have all been brought together on the album 'MontyPython Sings'. Now you know that being MontyPython it is going to be an excessively happy album, and in some cases a little close to the line but its all just good Python fun, the music is always very apt for the scene...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Very Catchy Disadvantages: Not the most thought provoking lyrics ever (but who cares?!)
...gets in on the vocals again because it certainly adds a different element to their sound. There’s a fairly funky section in the middle, but the real star of the track is the melody and Monique’s voice.
Spam (2.28)
Odd, very odd. This is about spam. Not the thousands of junk emails you get, the original spam – the one that’s pink, edible (well almost edible) and was mentioned in a now infamous MontyPython episode. This is (against all odds) a fantastic track, particularly when Monique is joined by the Starpool Elementary School Choir, as hearing a bunch of kids singing “S.P.A.M. Don't you know it's my best friend” is strangely appealing! This track also features one of the best ever lines from a song – Spam, It's pink and it's oval….Spam, It's made in Chernobyl”. Punky, ska...
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Advantages: You will a nice sing-a-long Disadvantages: You will get strange looks from other car drivers
...While some old favourites are on here - Always look on the Bright Side of Life / The Meaning of Life / The Lumber-Jack Song - there are some lesser known songs from the TV programmes which are very very silly.
Never be Rude to an Arab / and I like Chinese would perhaps not be allowed today - despite it being good advice.
What needs its own paragraph is the song I know as "An Infectious Song" but to keep it a surprise I will not tell you the actual name. Tis is not a song to play in front of your granma, and proves that only MontyPython can make a joke about every sexual disease under the sun.
It is a shame that the painfully slow song "Traffic Lights" is not on this album nor is "I bet you they won't play this song on the radio" but this is certainly worth it's weight in alternative Xmas songs.
In conclusion - lacking...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
somewhat helpful 28.10.2004
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