I saw this movie last night and almost grinned myself to death! And the thing is, it isn't only funny it makes you think!.....well not about the meaning of life :-D You start laughing and then you start thinking..I think that's what makes a real comedy! The war-scene is so funny!!!!!!
-Any comments on this movie?
I have often though it's probaly the best film Monty Python has ever made.
"Can we have you liver?"
"Well, allright I suppose."
This is my favorite Monty Python movie. I love it. (never thought Holy Grail was that great). I could have done without the overeating scene and the fish scene, but everything else was incredible stuff. Especially the Live Organ Transplant.
The overeating scene is great!
Had Gilliam already started his solo directing career at this point? I forget when it was made. It really bears his visual trademark.
Quote from: GhostboyThe overeating scene is great!
Had Gilliam already started his solo directing career at this point? I forget when it was made. It really bears his visual trademark.
He had already directed Holy Grail (with Terry Jones), Jaberwocky, and Time Bandits. He directed the opening sequence with the accountants on Meaning of Life which is where you can really see his style.
Damn i like that war-scene with the clocks and the cake :-D
it's my favorite, i liked it lots better than grail. no one ever agreed with me, until now. :)
"Right, off you go!"
How can you want to lose the overeating scene?!
I love all the Python films, and have to defend The Holy Grail, which is a masterpiece of avant-garde. "Now we see the violence inherent in the system! Help! Help! I'm being repressed!" How can you not love that, JB?
My favourite part of the Meaning of Life is the Gilliam short. Otherwise the song with Idle emerging from the fridge.
Quote from: budgieMy favourite part of the Meaning of Life is the Gilliam short. Otherwise the song with Idle emerging from the fridge.
i like the naked chicks chasing the dude off the cliff.
I've always thought "The Meaning of Life" would have been better if they had ended it with the scene of Eric Idle as the waiter telling the audience that he's going to tell them the meaning of life. They could have even ran all that footage of Idle walking, saying "Follow me", over the end credits. Then Idle tells his stupid story, "And that's when I decided to become...a waiter". Then he gets all pissed off "I can live my life my own way.....fuck off. Don't come following me"
That would've been the greatest ending to a movie of all time, Eric Idle telling the entire audience to "fuck off" and then fade to black. The ending on the movie now is OK, but you can't tell me that wouldn't have worked better as an ending.
Quote from: budgieI love all the Python films, and have to defend The Holy Grail, which is a masterpiece of avant-garde. "Now we see the violence inherent in the system! Help! Help! I'm being repressed!" How can you not love that, JB?
Okay, there are some great moments, but I think the movie as a whole trips over its own antics. Maybe it's just the fact that everyone loves it so much, and I see it only as a "good" movie (
with some "great" moments)
Great Great Movie. Anyone know if it is coming out on DVD, or if it is on DVD? I think there is a barebones edition, but I would like to see it get the treatment Holy Grail and Life of Brian got on DVD.
Meaning of Life is on DVD. It was one of those Image/Univeral titles. In fact, it was one of the first that I rented way back in 1999. It features a 1.85:1 non-anamorphic transfer and no extras, not even the original trailer. The Pythons hate this movie, so I doubt they would do an SE of it, so the most we can probably hope for is a new 16:9 enhanced transfer.
Why do they hate it? Expand....
They hate it for two reasons. The first is because of the experience of writing it. They made it because their manager told them that if they made another film right away they'd never have to work again, and this resulted in them really scraping the bottom of their ink wells for ideas. Unlike on the other films, the writing process was much less organic, and much more obligatory. They went off to Bermuda knowing that they
had to write something; not the best conditions undre which to write. They had no thread or idea of what the film was really
about, and as a result the film took a very "sketch show" sort of format, which after
And Now For Somehting Completely Different [which was anything but] they had promised never to do again; in a greedy sort of shot at making money, they had turned their back on their younger selves. Second was the process of making it. Gilliam went out of control, over budget and mad with "the pirate bit", and this caused much more friction than when he was just making aniations. That and they just didn't like the film in comparison to [primarily]
Life Of Brian, which they thought reflected better on them, and was much more of a movie. They felt that, artistically more than anything, they had taken a step backwards, and just for a little money. Of course, the film won the Jury Award at Cannes and some have called it not only the best Python film of the four, but one of the best [not to mention philosophical] comedy films of all time. So. There you have it. I personally love the thing too. I put it ahead of
Brian and
Grail. And
Completely Different doesn't even count...
QuoteThe ending on the movie now is OK, but you can't tell me that wouldn't have worked better as an ending.
The editor of the film actually wanted to either end the film with this, or reprise the Frenchman after the Grim Reaper. The moment you have told an audience to "fuck off" you cannot keep them in that movie. He really wanted to have the Frenchman come back again and say, "Oh, so sorry. I overreacted, my fault, I really, relaly do want to tell you the meaning of life. Very much. So follow me." And then have him the lead the audience through traffic and what not for ages, the length of the credits,
beyond the credits, like a minute
past the end of the credits, so that they're all standing at the back, near the door, waiting to leave, and then have him turn back and say, "FUCK OFF!"
And wouldn't
that just have been the absoloute perfect end to Python as a filmmaking force?
thanks for the info. appreciated.
Quote from: Satcho9Great Great Movie. Anyone know if it is coming out on DVD, or if it is on DVD? I think there is a barebones edition, but I would like to see it get the treatment Holy Grail and Life of Brian got on DVD.
I own it on DVD...but that's Region 2.
Quote from: Satcho9Anyone know if it is coming out on DVD, or if it is on DVD? I think there is a barebones edition, but I would like to see it get the treatment Holy Grail and Life of Brian got on DVD.
Universal is set to announce the DVD release of Monty Python's The Meaning of Life: Special Edition on September 2nd! Look for anamorphic widescreen video, both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 audio, a new introduction by Eric Idle, audio commentary, deleted scenes, The Meaning of Making the Meaning of Life documentary and a slew of featurettes (including The Songs, Snipped Bits, Un Film de John Cleese, Songs Unsung, Education Tips, Fish, Re-mastering a Masterpiece, Song and Dance, Virtual Reunion and Selling the Meaning of Life). SRP will be $26.98
Quote from: RaviThe Pythons hate this movie, so I doubt they would do an SE of it, so the most we can probably hope for is a new 16:9 enhanced transfer.
Bah!
I really do love The Meaning of Life. I'm one of those who prefers Holy Grail but I personally see no need to call Meaning of Life lesser in the sense both gave me laughs equally. I have the $6.99 DVD which is barebones and this news of a special edition has me pleased.
As for the find the fish scene...God, I love that but my friends and I share a common love of comedy that makes no sense such as.
Well, that's the End of the Film, now here's the Meaning of Life...
[An envelope is handed to her. She opens it in a
business-like way.]
Thank you Brigitte. [She reads.]... Well, it's nothing
special. Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a
good book every now and then, get some walking in and try and
live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds
and nations.
And finally, here are some completely gratuitous
pictures of penises to annoy the censors and to hopefully
spark some sort of controversy which it seems is the only way
these days to get the jaded video-sated public off their
fucking arses and back in the sodding cinema. Family
entertainment: bollocks! What they want is filth, people doing
things to each other with chainsaws during tupperware parties,
babysitters being stabbed with knitting needles by gay
presidential candidates, vigilante groups strangling chickens,
armed bands of theatre critics exterminating mutant goats -
where's the fun in pictures? Oh well, there we are - here's
the theme music. Goodnight.
Quote from: MacGuffin
Universal is set to announce the DVD release of Monty Python's The Meaning of Life: Special Edition on September 2nd! Look for anamorphic widescreen video, both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 audio, a new introduction by Eric Idle, audio commentary, deleted scenes, The Meaning of Making the Meaning of Life documentary and a slew of featurettes (including The Songs, Snipped Bits, Un Film de John Cleese, Songs Unsung, Education Tips, Fish, Re-mastering a Masterpiece, Song and Dance, Virtual Reunion and Selling the Meaning of Life). SRP will be $26.98
Fantastic. Can't wait.
Yeah, I love this movie. It's my fav Python flick.
Quote from: MacGuffinQuote from: Satcho9Anyone know if it is coming out on DVD, or if it is on DVD? I think there is a barebones edition, but I would like to see it get the treatment Holy Grail and Life of Brian got on DVD.
Universal is set to announce the DVD release of Monty Python's The Meaning of Life: Special Edition on September 2nd! Look for anamorphic widescreen video, both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 audio, a new introduction by Eric Idle, audio commentary, deleted scenes, The Meaning of Making the Meaning of Life documentary and a slew of featurettes (including The Songs, Snipped Bits, Un Film de John Cleese, Songs Unsung, Education Tips, Fish, Re-mastering a Masterpiece, Song and Dance, Virtual Reunion and Selling the Meaning of Life). SRP will be $26.98
Quote from: RaviThe Pythons hate this movie, so I doubt they would do an SE of it, so the most we can probably hope for is a new 16:9 enhanced transfer.
Bah!
What's your source? This is surprising.
Why do they hate the movie?
Nevermind, I saw it on davisdvd.com.
Quote from: SoNowThenWhy do they hate the movie?
http://xixax.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=947&start=15
Hmmm, interesting. Strange situations produce sometimes brilliant work.
Cover art:
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedigitalbits.com%2Farticles%2Fmiscgfx%2Fcovers2%2Fmpythonmeaningoflifedvd.jpg&hash=7e99c87c92b5fcd5d21eca3b8a66d52e5c885139)
second fave. life of brian kills me.
Get out your buckets. Universal Home Video has announced a special 20th anniversary edition of Monty Python's The Meaning of Life on a two 2-disc special edition due September 2.
The fully-restored video will feature all of the original endings for each skit as well as alternative endings and deleted scenes from each skit. Some of the songs, like Every Sperm is Sacred and The Meaning of Life that have been re-recorded by their authors just for the DVD.
The disc will come with new commentaries by the actors, which should prove a gem alone. Also, a sequence with Martin Luther (the religious figure) that had been removed from the film before its release has been included, and he will pop up sporadically during the movie, demanding to have his sequence included.
There will also be a 50-minute featurette called The History of the Meaning of Life, which is "guided" by animated versions of movie characters Mr. Creosote, A Fish, The Headmaster and The Man in Pink. John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin and the film's co-writers/co-directors Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam offer their comments on the making of the film in this featurette.
There is also a segment called The Re-Mastering of the Meaning of Life, which attempts to be serious for more than ten seconds (you can pretty much bet that won't happen) to document the restoration of the film from its originals.
There will also be DVD- ROM extras, featuring the original screenplay, lost scenes, song sheets of music and lyrics from the film, Creosote cooking tips, and the Python's Good Death Guide.
The disc will be available for a suggested price of $26.98.
Quote from: ewardsecond fave. life of brian kills me.
me too.
live at the hollywood bowl is great too.
Its gotta be
1 Holly grail
2 Life of Brian
3 Meaning of Life
Meaning of life i find a bit too random, all though i probably Quote the fat man in the restaurant scene more than any other Python sketch.
Buyer beware. There are some bad reports floating around about the quality of this release.
http://www.dvdreview.com/coffee/CoffeeArchive.html
and
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=7480
Quote from: DVDtalkVarious reports have included problems such as a blurry or shaky image during pausing, and more major problems with fast-moving objects during playback.
My theories:
1) The disc is not encoded at 24p. Extra fields are encoded instead of having two fields per frame and flagging the fields that should be repeated for NTSC playback.
or
2) The disc was converted from PAL to NTSC. It's possible. It turns out that the Warner/MK2 Chaplin DVDs (http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86265&pagenumber=12) were :shock:
You receive the following reply from Universal based on inquiries to the studio on the issue of the Meaning Of Life DVDs:
"Thank you for contacting Universal Studios. With the advent of cutting-edge technology in the DVD format, a small number of DVD players do not have the technical capability to take full advantage of the Monty Python's The Meaning of Life disc format. Universal Studios Home Video has become aware of a player specific issue which results in the appearance of jagged video interlacing, on disc 1 only. Disc 2 is NOT affected. Consumers with an incompatible player may mail back Disc 1 to Universal and receive a replacement. To obtain a pre-paid USPS envelope in which to mail back the original Disc 1, please call 1-800-433-4673. Replacement discs are currently scheduled to be available mid-November 2003. We appreciate your patronage and hope you continue to enjoy our products."
Quote from: MacGuffinYou receive the following reply from Universal based on inquiries to the studio on the issue of the Meaning Of Life DVDs:
"Thank you for contacting Universal Studios. With the advent of cutting-edge technology in the DVD format, a small number of DVD players do not have the technical capability to take full advantage of the Monty Python's The Meaning of Life disc format. Universal Studios Home Video has become aware of a player specific issue which results in the appearance of jagged video interlacing, on disc 1 only. Disc 2 is NOT affected. Consumers with an incompatible player may mail back Disc 1 to Universal and receive a replacement. To obtain a pre-paid USPS envelope in which to mail back the original Disc 1, please call 1-800-433-4673. Replacement discs are currently scheduled to be available mid-November 2003. We appreciate your patronage and hope you continue to enjoy our products."
Seems like they have the whole system down pat after the Back to the Future fiasco.
I also love "The Meaning of Life".
The war scene with the clock from switzerland is so fucking hilarious as the catholic father with his 40 children is. :P
But curiously I always hated the beginning section with the old accountants. I just purely hate it.
Quote from: Find Your MagaliQuote from: MacGuffinYou receive the following reply from Universal based on inquiries to the studio on the issue of the Meaning Of Life DVDs:
"Thank you for contacting Universal Studios. With the advent of cutting-edge technology in the DVD format, a small number of DVD players do not have the technical capability to take full advantage of the Monty Python's The Meaning of Life disc format. Universal Studios Home Video has become aware of a player specific issue which results in the appearance of jagged video interlacing, on disc 1 only. Disc 2 is NOT affected. Consumers with an incompatible player may mail back Disc 1 to Universal and receive a replacement. To obtain a pre-paid USPS envelope in which to mail back the original Disc 1, please call 1-800-433-4673. Replacement discs are currently scheduled to be available mid-November 2003. We appreciate your patronage and hope you continue to enjoy our products."
Seems like they have the whole system down pat after the Back to the Future fiasco.
So what you're saying is Don't Buy this until after November?
Also, what's wrong with the BTTF box set? I haven't watched mine yet...
Quote from: SoNowThenAlso, what's wrong with the BTTF box set? I haven't watched mine yet...
Some scenes in BTTF 2 & 3 were misframed in their letterboxing transfer:
http://www.bttf.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=001337;p=1
A New Monty Python movie in the works
Source: Moviehole
This floated in the inbox this morning. Don’t usually whack up casting notices or press releases, but this is priceless. Someone’s making a - How intriguing - a young “Monty Python” film!
I also checked in with the PR department for the film to see what the deal is. They say “That is correct, this will be major film. If you have a few bucks lying around you can also check out the book by Graham Chapman called 'Gin and Tonic'. At the present moment, the original Pythons are not involved in the project, but it’s not like the film cannot go on with out them, because it is based on Chapman's life in the swinging 70's. But of course it wouldn't hurt to get them involved in it.”
WORLDWIDE OPEN AUDITIONS FOR YOUNG MONTY PYTHONS
Los Angeles, CA (February 2, 2004) – Hippofilms, a Los Angeles-based film production company, has announced a worldwide casting call for the roles of the young members of Monty Python, the famed British comedy troupe.
The first open audition is scheduled in Hollywood, California, on March 20th, 2004. It will be supervised by Hippofilms’ president, David Eric Brenner. Subsequent auditions, in New York, London and Tokyo will be announced in the near future.
Hippofilms will work closely with The Graham Chapman Archives to select six young actors to portray the world-famous comedians (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin) in the upcoming theatrical film, GIN AND TONIC, a comic-drama based on the life and memoirs of late Python Graham Chapman.
Brenner stated, “We wanted to cast as wide a net as possible for the Pythons. Our goal isn’t just to find six look-alikes, but to discover six incredibly talented performers who embody that Pythonic brilliance and lunacy.”
The auditions will also be an opportunity for Python fans to display their unusual brand of fanaticism. According to Jim Yoakum, Director of the Graham Chapman Archives, “We wanted these auditions to be fun, somewhat silly affairs that Graham would be proud of. That’s why we’re giving away prizes for the most absurd costumes.”
Toy Vault, a U.S.-based toy company, will unveil their latest prototypes of Monty Python-related toys -- including a stuffed bunny with huge, pointy teeth -- at the Hollywood audition. Outside the audition hall, local actors and die-hard fans will perform original comic sketches for their peers on a community stage.
Those seeking further information about the auditions can visit the GIN AND TONIC movie website: www.ginandtonicmovie.com.
According to the site, they’re looking to cast the parts of:
GRAHAM CHAPMAN JOHN CLEESE TERRY GILLIAM ERIC IDLE TERRY JONES MICHAEL PALIN
And shortly:
KEITH MOON PETER COOK HARRY NILSSON RINGO STARR MARTY FELDMAN
DOUGLAS ADAMS DAVID FROST
Python's 'Life of Brian' to be re-issued
Film earned protests on original 1979 release[/b]
LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Coming back soon to a theater near you -- a controversial film about a Jewish guy from Nazareth who is worshiped as the Messiah and crucified by the Romans.
No, it's not Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." It's Monty Python's "Life of Brian."
Inspired by the runaway success -- and public furor -- over Gibson's portrayal of the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus, the creators behind the 1979 biblical satire about an anti-Roman activist who spends his life being mistaken for a prophet are planning a 25th anniversary re-release next month.
"Life of Brian" will open at the end of April in Los Angeles and New York before expanding to other cities across the country, Rainbow Film Company president Henry Jaglom, whose distribution arm is reissuing the film, said Tuesday.
Jaglom, a writer-director whose partner, John Goldstone, produced the original film, said trailers for the comedy would appear in theaters starting on Good Friday.
"We decided this is an important time to re-release this film, to provide some counter-programming to 'The Passion,' " Jaglom told Reuters. "I intend it, hopefully, to serve as an antidote to all the hysteria about Mel's movie."
He said marketing for the re-release would play off Gibson's film by adapting such taglines as "Mel or Monty" and "The Passion or the Python" -- "we want to give people a choice."
The members of the Monty Python comedy troupe -- John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and the late Graham Chapman (who played Brian) -- all shared writing credits on the film and won back theatrical rights to it several years ago. Jaglom said the surviving members "all agreed this was a good time" to re-release the film and would help promote it.
Uproars
Owing to a heavy turnout by Christian moviegoers and weeks of intense media attention, Gibson's film opened to blockbuster success on February 25 -- Ash Wednesday. "The Passion" has gone on to generate nearly $300 million in North American ticket sales alone, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.
"Life of Brian," stirred an uproar all its own 25 years ago, with some Christians condemning the film as blasphemous. The film only got made when former Beatle George Harrison stepped in to finance the picture after EMI Films withdrew from the project, fearing that it was too controversial.
The movie focused on the fictional Brian of Nazareth, a Jew who is born in the manger next-door to Jesus and grows up to join an anti-Roman separatist group called the Judean People's Front but ends up being mistaken for the Messiah.
The film's creators have said it was meant as a spoof on Bible films and intolerance rather than Christianity.
But that distinction was lost on some who were offended by the irreverent flavor of the film, including a scene in which several crucifixion victims sing and whistle the tune "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" while hanging on crosses.
Oh, it's gonna get ugly. Can't wait.
Brilliant :lol:
Cinephile, you got a link for that article?
Quote from: RaviCinephile, you got a link for that article?
http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/24/film.brian.reut/index.html
Here's one from BBC News as well:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3563405.stm
Anyone knows if the song from the black and white credits from Holy Grail exists on a CD? I got the Holy Grail album but it's sadly not there..