January 11, 2006
Monty Python Gut-Check Time
Life of Brian or Holy Grail? Discuss.
Personally, I've got to go with Grail. And I think I figured out why this evening:
Brian is funny. Especially for us Latin Geeks, for example, the whole graffiti lesson bit is hysterical. But Brian also depends on many crowd scenes with lots of people shouting at each other. Grail, on the other hand, has far fewer characters and therefore lets individual Python members strut their stuff more, what, dramatically, Sir.
Anyhoo, that's MHO. What's yours?
UPDATE: Is it my imagination, or in one version of Brian did Pilate's wife come out of her room and start kicking arse on the rival kidnap squads? That bit isn't in Netflix's copy, but for some reason I seem to recall seeing it elsewhere.
UPDATE DEUX: Oh, and no write-in votes for Meaning of Life. It's not nearly in the same class.
Posted by Robert at January 11, 2006 11:00 PM | TrackBackGrail. Absolutely. Way better Python.
Posted by: caltechgirl at January 11, 2006 11:42 PMGrail. No doubt about it. Brian is funny, and the musical take on the crucifixion is OUT THERE to the Nth degree, but Grail is the "gold standard" of Python movies.
Posted by: Russ from Winterset at January 11, 2006 11:45 PMDefinitely Grail. I couldn't finish Brian the one time I tried to watch it. But I can watch Grail over and over.
Speaking of, we will be going to see Spamalot on Broadway next month. Can't wait!
Posted by: jen at January 12, 2006 05:49 AMGrail.
Posted by: Steve the LLamabutcher at January 12, 2006 08:27 AMGrail #1
Brian #1A
Meaning #1A+
The only negative on Grail is that I don't like its ending, it's too abrupt and doesn't really flow from the rest of the movie. The whole "investigate the murder of the professor" thing seems disjointed.
And why netflix these? I own all three.
Grail, hands down. It was my introduction to Monty Python, and I loved it.
I don't like Spam! Ha ha ha...
Posted by: GroovyVic at January 12, 2006 08:54 AMGrail. What are you thinking? One is the gold standard of Python and the other one is just a good movie.
BTW:
The only negative on Grail is that I don't like its ending, it's too abrupt
I really wanted a HUGE LOTR style battle scene as a kid.
Posted by: Gordon at January 12, 2006 09:09 AMGrail [and I actually *liked* the ending (which may say more about me and my aesthetics than I should perhaps admit to)]. For some reason I've not spent the time and effort to examine in depth, I've never been able to watch Brian for more than five minutes at a stretch, meself...
Posted by: Rex Ferric at January 12, 2006 09:23 AMNo gerunds, Grail all the way!
Posted by: Kathy at January 12, 2006 09:51 AMI agree the ending was a bit abrupt, but I love the bit where the knight rides down the professor that set it all up.
Posted by: Robbo the LB at January 12, 2006 09:52 AMGrail
Posted by: Brian B at January 12, 2006 10:25 AMI hate to compare the two. It's like apples and oranges.
Grail is hilarious, no question, and it has that first-in-the-field advantage. But Brian is much the angrier of the two movies, which helps a lot in my book. Basically I'd hate to have to give up one for the other.
Incidentally, one running joke in Brian that went right past me was that the Jews were portrayed to fit the English stereotype of the Welsh--hence the name "Brian," among other things. I read an interview with the Pythons several years back where one of them--Cleese, I think--explained this.
Posted by: utron at January 12, 2006 11:09 AMGrail. Hands down. Many more memorable characters. More quotable.
Posted by: Gary at January 12, 2006 12:04 PMGrail. Ending stinks though. I get it, but it bugs me. Kinda like Andy Kaufman, get it but don't enjoy it.
Posted by: LB buddy at January 12, 2006 12:29 PMGrail.
Is there really even a question?
Oh and Jen (and other localites) - Spamalot is coming to the National Theater in June. Yay!
Posted by: beth at January 12, 2006 12:31 PMGrail...hands down! A true classic that never gets old.
Posted by: Gwynne at January 12, 2006 01:19 PMI have seen Brian first, but I like Grail a tiny bit more. More zany. Better titles. And I *loved* the ending.
Posted by: lemuel at January 12, 2006 04:35 PM
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