Monty Python and the Holy Grail – Special Features

The Blu-ray release of ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ is cause for celebration. Just like every issue of this comedy classic is. The DVD had nice animated menus and a separate disc with extras. The Blu-ray not only has improved picture and sound quality, but also adds a few extras for fun. For one of these, the viewer must be in possession of an iPad, but that should not spoil the fun. Furthermore, the “golden old” extras, which were already on the DVD, are also included on this Blu-ray release. For people who do not yet own the film at all, purchasing the blu-ray is a no-brainer anyway.

‘Lost animations with Terry Gilliam’

The nicest new extra is the compilation of unused or long-lost animations by Terry Gilliam. Absurdistic, grotesque, jolly, and, especially with the soundtrack referred to here, often very dryly comical. Watch the videos first with commentary from the ever-vibrant Terry Gilliam, and later with the original sound effects. We see crumbling, collapsing castles, a big head with mustache on legs with huge buttocks, little knights chopping this giant to pieces, and a snail shell with the aforementioned head with bulging eyes, and a slippery body underneath. And many more medieval and absurdist fantasies of Gilliam, who by the way based his creations to a large extent on illustrations from some old book. The animations sometimes resemble the work of surrealists such as Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí, but always bear Gilliam’s own stamp.

As mentioned, there are also previously released extras on the Blu-ray disc. An anthology:

‘How to Use Your Coconuts’ (‘How to use coconuts (educational film)’ (2001)

Anyone who has seen the (main) film knows the hilarious role coconuts play. Call it financially attractive alternatives for horses. Michael Palin, dressed in a suit and wearing learned glasses, is standing behind a table demonstrating how to make two empty halves of a coconut. A close-up of the coconut is regularly shown while it is being pierced, chopped in half, or scooped out, but always by someone’s hand: a woman, or a gorilla for example. Somewhat bland, but if you’re in the mood, it’s still fine. And that’s part of Python humor, after all. It only gets really fun when he and an assistant show how convincing horse riding can be achieved with the help of coconuts. The last half of these few minutes ensures that as a viewer you end this video with a big smile on your face.

‘The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations’ (‘In Search of the Locations’) (2001)

Twenty-seven years after ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’, Michael Palin and film co-director Terry Jones set out in search of the film’s ancient locations, in Scotland and England. This concerns, for example, the few castles where they filmed and the cave where Arthur and his knights encountered the murderous rabbit. Although such a reunion can potentially be very entertaining and, also for the viewer, a feast of recognition, the experience is frankly a bit disappointing. For starters, it’s a bit unfortunate and strange to see only two of the Pythons there walking around and reminiscing. It’s as if the rest have died and the film is a kind of respectful tribute to a bygone era. Also, these two men aren’t exactly hilarious. The Pythons mostly work well together as a group and the attempts at humor are a bit lukewarm. That doesn’t mean that this journey through the past isn’t interesting or entertaining at all. Anyway, it’s nice to hear details about the locations and particularities during filming, and when Palin reenacts some of the dialogue, including the original intonation, it immediately gets back to being good old-fashioned fun. Furthermore, the director of this 45-minute documentary has fortunately been smart enough to insert scenes from the film in as many relevant places and moments as possible. You’ll immediately feel like watching ‘The Holy Grail’ in its entirety again.

Lego Knights: Monty Python and the Holy Grail in Lego

Anyone who has seen ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ thinks of at least three things: the black knight in denial who fights on with all his limbs severed; the cuddly white bunny who turns out to have unexpected strength and speed; and the catchy song by the “Knights of the Round Table”, which has become (or has become) an outright karaoke and party hit. A bunch of creative animators and Lego fanatics – who have already cast several movie moments and characters into Lego form – have been inspired by this scene and have been imitated by Lego puppets. And, it must be said, the film turned out very well. The original shots are often very faithfully imitated, and props such as cups and ladles also return in Lego form. Funny is the way in which the clapping prisoner in the dungeon is imitated – with a skeleton – and how the same rhythm is maintained with editing. The close-ups on dancing feet also work well. Ultimately, of course, nothing beats the original scene, but the Lego version is a great homage.

And this is far from all. For example, there are still: audio commentary on the film, karaoke versions of the songs, outtakes and extended scenes (exclusive to the blu-ray disc), and a piece of Japanese dubbed ‘Holy Grail’. Extras ranging from nice to thigh-slapping.

Contrary to what Gilliam says in the commentary for his lost animations, this extra feature is not the only reason why you should buy the blu-ray. Because even though higher definition seems to have added value for beautiful, cinematographic pieces of art, and to be hardly relevant for dingy low budget productions, ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ is indeed very much improved in its HD presentation. It’s just even more enjoyable when the silly facial expressions, postures and gestures can be observed in all their details. And because the low budget content is part of the charm of the film, being able to see the primitive decorations and props better is an advantage. When there are also nice new extras with the film, for the real fan it is not a question of if, but when the Blu-ray will arrive.