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Monty Python Live Customer Reviews (10 - 12 of 13 Reviews)

ok.... DISAPPOINTED!
Synopsis: no apparent effort on behalf of A&E has been spent on this DVD. It is a great disappointment, the only consolation being mere presence of Live at Hollywood Bowl, and the Aspen interview.

These DVD's leave you with a feeling that A&E just didn't bother putting too much effort into them.
First off, neither one of the two DVDs has subtitles. And with the quality of acoustics of this Live at Hollywood Bowl recording, believe me, you will feel the need for them at times. The first simply doesn't have them, while though the second DVD allows you to set English subtitles, they appear to be either 100% transparent, or 0% opaque.
The choice of material is also quite questionable. While it's great to finally have Live at Hollywood Bowl, it's obvious that it's suffered a letterbox conversion - the "built-in" subtitles (prerecorded ones) are chopped off at the sides, during the Bruces' Beer song. The recording looks like it was directly taken off of a VHS tape.
The Aspen interview is a great piece to have, and has very presentable quality - probably the only recording without flaws (except for lack of subtitles).
Parrot Sketch Not Included is a rather daft "Greatest Hits" bit, basically a continuous bunch of snippets from Flying Circus, and features a very bland and distasteful intro by Steve Martin. Even if one ignores its obvious misplacement (it's not live, and features a 5-second shot [literally] of the Pythons, including Graham Chapman's last appearance), this is nothing the average Python fan hasn't seen, and is nothing but filler.
The German Episode.... Much has been said about A&E's mishandling of these episodes... Not enough, in my opinion. First the obvious - episode 1 does not belong on a Live DVD - for one thing it's not live. Second - it would have been much better to subtitle them properly ("hidden" DVD subtitle format, and NOT permanently altered video). Both episodes (the other one is part of A&E's documentary, and is not on this DVD) would have been much more appropriate as part of the Flying Circus collection.
Back to my original point - these DVDs look like a bad prototype. At least I hope that's what I got (hardly). The extras are hardly useful at all (they're just snippets of FC and usual FC collection biographies). The DVD introduction animation is straight off of the Flying Circus collection, yet another indication of how much effort A&E has spent on this item. The DVD is a significant disappointment, and the only reason I'm giving it two stars is because Live at the Hollywood Bowl finally made it onto a DVD. Also, the Aspen interview presents some interesting insights (as well as a little Python humor on the side). PSNI is practically useless, and the German episode.... well... it's good to have, but it just doesn't belong here.

Great comedy but....
It lacks replay value.You watch a few times and then,all of the funny is sucked out the next time.You can watch it about 3 times before you stop laughing.Only half of it is actually live and the live parts aren't even the best.The best part on the entire set is 20 years of Monty Python,which is the greatest of Monty Python's Flying Circus(I really enjoyed "How Not To Be Seen")I was disapointed that only part of the Parrot Sketch is shown,it is shown during Live at Aspen so you know.Alltogether, it is a good compilation for a Pyhon lover,or a comedy lover but,like I said,it lacks replay value.If you like this set, you'll LOVE Search For the Holy Grail because that movie is so funny,you can watch that one over and over and over and laugh.

And Now For Something Not Completely Live!
A&E has done a great service to Monty Python fans the world over by finally releasing rare, out of print, or otherwise unavailable Python material. Disc # 1 starts with Monty Python Live At The Hollywood Bowl. The group opens with the song "Sit On My Face" wearing long aprons and, when they turn to go off stage, reveal their bare buttocks! This is followed by Graham Chapman, playing Colin 'Bomber' Harris, who wrestles himself to a pinfall. The Crunchy Frog skit concerns the Whizzo Chocolate Company and their choice of chocolate-covered confectionaries, such as anthrax ripple and cockroach cluster. This sketch is highlighted by Terry Gilliam throwing up in his policeman's hat and then being forced to wear the hat! The Custard Pies sketch involves demonstrating the history of physical comedy with pratfalls and pie throwing, with Terry Jones getting the worst of it. Truly, this is Monty Python at their subtle best. The concert ends with a rousing version of the Lumberjack Song. That concert is followed by Monty Python Live At Aspen, hosted by comedian Robert Klein. The group members talk about their early days at the BBC and their transition into movies. For their film work in particular, they receive an American Film Institute Star Award. Since this show was taped in 1998, Graham Chapman sadly had passed away. An urn supposedly containing his ashes represents him and also gets the biggest laughs at the event!

Disc #2 starts with a 1989 retrospective of the group, hosted by Steve Martin. Steve talks about Monty Python for a few minutes, followed by an hour of sketches from their classic TV series. This is very much a hit or miss affair, as some of their weaker skits are included and some of their best sketches are not shown in their entirety. Steve Martin appears at the end of the hour, opens a door to find the Pythoners huddled in a closet, and then promptly shuts the door on them. That retrospective is followed by Monty Python's German Episode #1. Apparently, German TV paid for the Pythoners to perform two episodes of their series in Germany! Naturally, the sketches are in German with English subtitles. It's surreal to hear the Lumberjack Song sung in German! Some of this footage appears in various collections, particularly the Olympic events and the Little Red Riding Hood sketch. It's great to finally see the 45 minute German show in its entirety. For completists, Monty Python's German Episode #2 is included in A&E's "The Life Of Python" boxed set. With 2 DVDs clocking in at 4 1/2 hours, "Monty Python Live!" is an essential addition to every Python fan's collection.

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