Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Retro Review #52: Our feeble attempt to review a film that just sends taunts in our general direction from a lofty perch.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
+ Feature film, £/@ 1h 32m
+ ?/? films in Arthurian Legends multiverse ⭐
+ 2️⃣/5 films in Monty Python multiverse ⭐
+ 1️⃣/2 works in Holy Grail multiverse ⭐
A+v
Grade: A+v (20.0) / HOF: 90
EQ 👍A+ | 📖A+ 👥A+ 📽️A 🎼A
DW 😎😎11.0 | 🌚11 🌝11
POPCAP 💯n/a 🍿n/a 🧢n/a
L-R 💻⬆️1️⃣ 👀⬇️⏬ 🛐⬇️2️⃣
(An Englishman speaking with an English accent) “So, I understand that you intend to write a review of Monty Python and the Holy Grail?”
(An American speaking in unaccented English) “That’s the plan. Yes.”
“You’re daft.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said, ‘You’re daft.’ Just two words. Simple statement, actually.”
"Um, so what you’re trying to say...”
(Interrupting) “Daft. Bonkers. Barmy. Off. Your. Head.”
"Well, I mean, it’s an important movie. In 2011, an ABC special ‘Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time’ named it the second-best comedy of all-time, behind only Airplane!”.
“There. You see? Controversial. Claim it’s better, you get the Airplane! supporters cross with you and death awaits you with big, pointy teeth!”
“That’s absurd.”
“Oh, it is, is it? Suppose you point out, like a total nutter I might add, that the film is basically just a series of sketches, loosely based on Arthurian legend, and sometimes isn’t funny for a whole minute or two? Then you’ve got the Monty Python supporters miffed too, now haven’t you?”
“So I shouldn’t try to make a fine point that I would include this movie in my top three funniest comedies ever, but not in even my top ten best comedy movies ever?”
(Aside to audience) “You see? Daft.”
“And I guess I really should avoid pointing out that there’s a bit of borderline blasphemy in some of the jokes, even if far less than their later film, Life of Brian?”
(Alarmed) “My good man, I beg of you—don’t be a complete git!”
“OK, point taken. And to be fair, the passage about the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch from the Book of Armaments is very funny. I suppose one could weakly argue that it mocks not scripture itself, but merely the archaic language of the King James translation. But I digress. Suppose I praise the movie? For example, it’s one of the most quotable films of all time. Heck, in college I knew several of the famous lines from Holy Grail before I’d even seen it!”
“Very well then, and now I see we’re back to the clever plan of sending Airplane! supporters off to have a strop. Brilliant! Let’s be full-on prats while we’re at it and infuse some of those quotes smack in the middle of the review without so much as a how-dee-do or a spoiler alert mislabeled as a trigger warning! Then when all the nippers grow up and read our review and wish to slit our throats in a charming Sweeney Toddish manner, they can queue up behind the Airplane! supporters, the Monty Python supporters and the dolts who just wanted to be in the queue.”
(Sheepishly) “I guess I could just tell readers if they’ve seen it they should share their favorite quotes in the Chat. And if they haven’t seen the film, it’s perhaps not to everyone’s taste, but it’s non-stop laughs right from the opening credits. And I'm not only talking about the hilarious dialogue—they should keep an eye out for the sight gags, both obvious and background, and pay attention to the running jokes.”
(Suddenly and inexplicably switching from an English accent to a Swedish accent) “A møøse once bit my sister...”
"What?!?"
"No realli! She was Karving her initials on the møøse with the sharpened end of an interspace tøøthbrush given by Svenge - her brother-in-law - an Oslo dentist and star of many Norwegian møvies: ‘The Høt Hands of an Oslo Dentist’, ‘Fillings of Passion’, ‘The Huge Mølars of Horst Nordfink’”.
(Conversation abruptly cuts off)
We apologize for the fault in this review. Those responsible have been sacked.
In lieu of a good review, illustrated with screenshots from the movie interspersed throughout, please enjoy these stills from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, appended here with our apologies.
Onwards!
+ last viewed (~4) 2025-03-05, HDX7, 1.85v, 1M
+ first viewed 1980s, sd2, 1.85vv, 1
+ ⏳⚔️🦄🤴🛡️🥸😛
+ ❌0️⃣ Problematic for teens and sensitive adults. | PGb
+ 😡+1 😵💫+3 🤬-1^ 🤭-0 🫣-0
+ 👀⬇️⏬ ➖(😐)
+ ✝️ -1 ➖🤬💣
+ ✡️ -1 ➖🤬💣
+ 🗽 -0 ➖💻
Last updated 2025-04-14
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