Monty Python Collection
As influential to comedy as the Beatles have been to music, the Monty Python comedy group ushered in anarchic and silly humor in 1969 that has now shaped three generations of comedians and television writers. They began on British television then moved to Canadian T.V. before appearing on America's Saturday Night Live in the 1970s and in movies, both as a troupe and as individual comedians (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin). If you've never seen these films, do yourself a favor and check them out!
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT (1971) -- features sketches from the troupe's earliest work, including the early television skits. This is the stuff that today's younger grandparents used to rush home on Saturday nights in the 1970s to watch on Saturday Night Live. Rotten Tomatoes score is 90%.
MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (1974) -- this Pythons' cult classic revisits England's Arthurian Legend through absurd and surreal skits full of non sequiturs, over-the-top violence, and biting social analysis. It was backed by investments from rock groups such as Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and Led Zeppelin (according to Wikipedia). Rotten Tomatoes score is 95%.
LIFE OF BRIAN (1979) -- considered in Britain to be the best comedy film of all time, LIFE OF BRIAN lampoons religious ignorance and hypocrisy through the character of Brian, a boy born in a manger next to Jesus. No description will suffice, just watch the film (and look for a cameo by Beatle George Harrison). Rotten Tomatoes score is 96%.
NOT THE MESSIAH: HE'S A VERY NAUGHTY BOY -- this is the 2009 film version of a one-night only stage show based on LIFE OF BRIAN, written by Eric Idle and John Du Prez (creators of Spamalot).
THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN (1988) -- director Terry Gilliam's film skewers the aristocrat, Munchausen, whose extraordinary imagination keeps him in trouble and in the air. Nominated for four Oscars, this film is rated 89% at Rotten Tomatoes.
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS (2009) -- another imagination-rampant comedy starring Christopher Plummer as a gambler who has made too many deals with the devil and now must save his daughter from his promises. Also stars Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell.
