Monty Python Live (Mostly) (2014)

Too many fans seem to be blown away

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Nobody expected the Spanish Inquisition back all those years ago. And nobody expected a reunion show of one of the greatest comedy troupes to ever grace the screen. That's right. After 34 years, the iconic and brilliant actors of Monty Python, came together once again to give us their unique and loud out loud dose of comedy. This performance, which was broadcast in the US and UK, certainly hits you in all the right nostalgic parts. If you're like me, you grew up watching 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' or any one of their hilarious films whether it be 'The Meaning of Life' or 'The Holy Grail'.You can rest assure that skits and segments from those movies make it into this excellent performance. The group did 10 live shows at London's famous O2 arena in front of sold out crowds, and did some of their famous skits as well as some new material. This almost feels like a farewell tour and a Greatest Hits album all rolled into one big performance that is almost three hours long. Every member of the Monty Python crew is here, including Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Terry Jones. And yes, the late Graham Chapman makes a few appearances in the form of some video skits and messages.It's amazing how all of these men have not lost their comedic beat and continue to entertain and make us laugh still to this day. Full of music, comedy, and vintage skits that we all love, this performance is one for the books for every Monty Python fan. Keeping with their unique brand of humor, which at times can confuse us and go into the wacky and way out weird genre, the live performance starts out with of course, some llamas. It's quite funny in that "what is really happening" kind of way.Through songs, dances and other comedic skits, we get that old and familiar taste of this unique brand of humor, which is at times, modernized for this day and age, complete with some excellent cameos throughout. Yes, the Yorkshiremen show up, along with the Spanish Inquisition, Bruces, Spam, and even some of Terry Gilliam's animated skits make it into the show. One of the only downsides to this show, which is only relegated to this Blu-ray is that the camera-work is kind of a mess in places, which leaves the home audience missing some of the jokes, because the camera is not focusing on some of the key players during some of the punchlines, hence we miss out. It's not a big problem throughout, but it is somewhat annoying in a few places.'Monty Python Live (Mostly)' is a lot of fun, yet it kind of sad in a way that we all know in the back of our minds, that this is the last time we will see all these guys perform together again. It's a solid farewell in style and comedy, furthering their legendary status into the entertainment and comedy world.

I really wanted to get tickets to this but they were hugely expensive and very difficult to get hold of also I couldn't attend the 'live' cinema screening of the last night as we were on holiday. For both of these misfortunes I can now in hindsight be very glad.A re-union after such a long time is always risky and likely to disappoint, just ask many rock bands that tried to re-capture the old magic, and the Pythons pretty much fail in the expected ways. They're old tired-looking men performing material written by bright energetic young men and it shows. In many of the routines they appear to be simply going through the motions, there's no energy or edge to the performances. The sharp comic timing is generally absent and instead there's heavy reliance on the good will of the audience enjoying the familiar favourites. Eric Idle and his team did put together a cleverly constructed show, with big musical and dance numbers in a Python style to give the Pythons themselves time to change costumes and, presumably, have a little lie down. Very little of it made me laugh out loud and the bits that did were generally the big-screen inserts showing famous sketches from the TV-era Python, such as Philosopher's Football, and their series of spoofs on the Olympics, the hundred yard dash for people with no sense of direction etc. It was great that they included Carol Cleveland, the unofficial seventh Python and the only regular female performer in the shows and films, and there are a couple of funny cameos from Professors Brian Cox and Stephen Hawking at the end of one of the few bits that really did still work, Eric Idle's Galaxy Song from the film "The Meaning of Life". The Argument Sketch, the Dead Parrot Sketch and The Cheese Shop Sketch all worked pretty well as did "Nudge Nudge" but aside from that very little of it would have attracted a paying audience if it wasn't part of an established and historic team. The DVD itself was badly let down by the appalling picture quality; it was often like watching something on YouTube! It was grainy and fuzzy in almost all the close-ups and I wonder if there had in fact been no close-up shots filmed and the close-up was just a computer- enhanced zoom in on an existing wide shot with the usual loss of resolution that this entails? If so then someone from the film production team needed firing.For die-hard Python fans only, and even then you'd be better off watching "Life Of Brian" or "Holy Grail" again.

Its been nearly 50 years since the comedic genius that is Monty Python first appeared way back in 1969, with feature films, television series and live stage shows following suit.Now I will admit that I wasn't that interested in Monty Python in my younger years, although familiar with it I just never got around to watching them. But, I can honestly say after watching their final (possibly) live show only a few hours ago, it was the single greatest comedy show I have ever seen in my entire life!Jam packed with loads of the well known favourite sketches (The Dead Parrot was absolutely hysterical), musical numbers and clips from the original series, Monty Python is STILL a comedic powerhouse! All the Pythons return in this stage extravaganza (excluding Graham Chapman, may he rest in peace), Palin, Gilliam, Cleese, Idle and Jones and by god what a performance! These men, who should really be collecting their pensions by now, are still as funny and perfectly timed as seen in Flying Circus and their motion pictures. This show has it all, I mean REALLY has it all....great musical numbers, perfect comedy, celebrity appearances...Michael Palin and Eric Idle in saucy little numbers you'd buy from a sex shop that leaves very little to the imagination.All in all, the Pythons are still on top form...will this really be their last stage show? I hope not...I want more!!! 10 / 10 - Absolute comedy perfection from the undisputed comedy legends!

it's very hard to go wrong with these guys. they are the funniest comedy group ever! just got back from the live broadcast at my local theater and my only complaint was the sound. the echo was just awful. couldn't catch the lyrics to any of the songs that included more than one voice. wish the whole thing had been subtitled. the good news is that most of the classics are there. I was laughing out loud and clapping along with the rest of the audience. it was especially funny when the cast members messed up or laughed. I can't wait to own the DVD. I'll watch it again and again. hope they can clean up the sound though. MONTY PYTHON IS THE BEST!