Monty Python and the Holy Grail

If you haven’t seen “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and you’re over the age of 15, I’m so sorry. You’re doomed. You’re just borderline doomed. There are a few movies that culture ruins for you if you haven't seen them by a certain age. For example, if you’re in your 30s and you haven’t seen “The Empire Strikes Back,” the big twist will not be a big deal to you should you ever choose to see it because it has been spoiled everywhere.

A ruined twist can spoil a story, but the same applies to a punchline. “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” remains of the funniest movies I have ever seen. I’m not alone in this opinion, which is why so many of its scenes are quoted and over-quoted during every situation possible.

If you remove all of culture blabbering on about rabbits and flesh wounds, what you have left is still an incredible movie. They are sketches barely strung together with a story about King Arthur rounding up some men to find the Grail, but every sketch is incredible. This six-man troupe created the best sketch show I’ve ever seen with “Monty Python’s Flying Circus" — subverting expectations and creating comedic bits as clever as they were weird.

Comedy often needs to appeal to the largest audience possible in order to be a hit like this, but Monty Python defied all logic. This is a weird, weird movie. There are plenty of tangents and silliness all wrapped around a plot that doesn’t even matter, to the point where its ending is so abrupt its only meaning is to remind you that it’s all a joke.

Sure, “Life of Brian” is the better film with actual characters and themes, but I still have a special place for “Holy Grail.” After all my viewings and all the times I’ve heard people say it, these guys can still make me laugh when they give it their all for lines like, “We are the Knights Who Say NI!”

Should you get this new Blu-ray? Do you own it already? If so, no. Most of these are the bonus features that have repeated on all the previous editions. The only real upgrade is that it’s now on Blu-ray. How much did you really want to see their cheap sets in high definition?

Film: 5 Yaps Extras: 4 Yaps