Cheap The Life of Python (DVD) (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin) (John Howard Davies, Ian MacNaughton) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Life of Python

The Best Python Bio So Far-Lackluster DVD Effort Though
This is a great way to become aware(or re-aware) of just how great the Pythons still are. There are plenty of clips and new interviews with all of them which are informative and funny. There's even on-set footage of "Holy Grail" and a so-so 10 min May Day film. The best parts though, are the new skits performed by the Pythons(except Idle), a Palin tour through Pythonland, and one of the German episodes of the Flying Circus. It's great to see that they have not lost their ability to be completely irreverent and silly, and it's neat to see what the spots where they filmed their most famous skits look like now. Also the German episode is surprisingly one of the funnier episodes of Circus I've seen. Unfortunately this DVD does have a few flaws that keep it from being the fitting tribute that they deserve. First of all, what is Meatloaf doing on here? They could have at least found someone who has something to do with Python to do this-like Steve Martin or Kevin Kline. I don't even want to think of Meatloaf, then alone see his ugly mug on a Python tribute. Also this was made by A&E, who put absolutely NO effort into their DVD's. Why is the other German episode not included? I know it's in German, but I CAN READ SUBTITLES. The fact that they have a second DVD that has nothing but a 42 minute episode on it is ridiculous. This DVD may have flaws, but it is definately worth getting because, unless by some miracle they all decide to give it one last try, this is the best we're going to get.

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Ah, yes....
'Fliegender Zirkus #1' is among the funniest TV programmes the group ever did (among many others, of course). So this means I'll have to hold onto my England-imported Guerilla Films VHS copy of the two German episodes for a while longer. Hopefully this wrong will be corrected one day, and 'Fliegender Zirkus #1' (AS WELL AS "Live at the Hollywood Bowl") will get the DVD treatment. But it's too bad they couldn't get it right the first time.

With that said, this 2-disc set still makes a fine companion piece to the 45 'Flying Circus' episodes. In addition to 'Fliegender Zirkus #2,' it's got an almost definitive documentary of the Monty Python story, a travelogue of the locations of where the group filmed many of their beloved sketches, a Python song review, new material by the surviving boys (though none of it really adds anything to the Python legacy, but it's still interesting to watch), AND the somewhat legendary, long-lost 7-minute May Day special from 1971 (though, again, it adds nothing to the Python legacy [especially since it uses bits from other 'Flying Circus' episodes], but is still interesting to watch -- and, yes, John Cleese's comment after it ends is priceless....classic Cleese). So pick up a copy of "The Life of Python" today. Apart from that glaring omission of 'Fliegender Zirkus #1,' it's still a must for any Monty Python fan.

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The Pythons still got it!
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.