Did you miss IFC's MONTY PYTHON: ALMOST THE TRUTH, a comprehensive, six-part documentary on the influential British comedy troupe, because your cable/satellite system doesn't carry the network? Don't worry, the doc comes out on DVD Tuesday, Oct. 27. This is a soup-to-nuts oral history of the group from the members' childhoods to their current thoughts on what Python has meant to them. (Graham Chapman, who died in 1989, is represented by archival TV interviews and the remembrances of his partner.) Clips and interviews with comedians such as Dan Ackroyd, Eddie Izzard, Seth Green, Russell Brand and Steve Coogan round out each episode.
What makes ALMOST THE TRUTH so fascinating isn't the behind-the-scenes anecdotes – most Python fanatics know these facts as clearly as they do each word of "The Parrot Sketch" – but listening to the perspective of the living members – John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin – as they talk about one another. Although they never admit it, the members come across as brothers: Cleese, the
eldest brother always trying to be in control; Jones, the iconoclastic and argumentative brother; Idle, the practical brother with a head for business; Palin, the genial, good-natured one; and Gilliam, the weird brother from another country. Yes, they have their disagreements, differing opinions and diverging career paths, but they have a genuine affection for one another and great pride in their work together. The Pythons, though, just characterize it as a good working relationship. How thoroughly British.
I'll admit, in my younger years, I didn't "get" Monty Python. Maybe I resisted because my friends who tried to get me into it were so annoying and tenacious in their attempts. But as I've grown older, I've begun to appreciate their brilliance, if only because so many of my heroes were inspired by the Pythons, and my BFF, Dr. Karma, has taught me the benefits of using their sketches in class, such as this one:
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And watching these episodes has made me want to watch LIFE OF BRIAN again.
Also on October 27, you can pick up Battlestar Gallactica: The Plan
If you're a BSG junkie, then here's your fix to get you to CAPRICA, which is tentatively scheduled to premiere in January on SyFy. However, there is no guarantee that this will help you survive Bryan Singer's inexplicable BATTLESTAR GALACTICA big-screen reboot.
Dropping next Tuesday, November 3rd, DVDs of note include:
GI JOE: RISE OF COBRA
I only mention this so that you are aware of it, so you can be sure to avoid it. Word on the street (from the geeks I know) is that it causes your butt to contract cancer of the AIDS.
STAR WARS: The Clone Wars The Complete Season One
This
I thought I knew him so well, but he runs now. I follow him on Twitter.
show doesn't tickle my fancy (The STAR WARS knowledge I've gleaned comes entirely from Weird Al). Still, it's nice computer animation.
WATCHMEN Ultimate Cut
What? You bought the 10 previous releases of WATCHMEN in DVD format? You own every release of the original STAR WARS trilogy, too, don't you?
Fun fact: Dr. Manhattan's penis also receives the "ultimate cut" treatment in this version.
EDDIE IZZARD LIVE FROM WEMBLY
DRESS TO KILL changed my life, and he only gets better with age and time.
The Shield Complete Series The Sopranos opened up cable TV up for more edginess and grit, and The Shield, I think, was well-received, but I like my protagonists likeable and my cops clean, thank you very much.
WILL FERRELL: YOU'RE WELCOME, AMERICA
If you haven't had your fill of full frontal male nudity . . .
SAY ANYTHING (Blu-Ray) Twenty years of Lloyd Dobbler setting the bar impossibly high for guys everywhere, How many guys have I dumped because they weren't Lloyd Dobbler? Some would say too many, some would say not enough.
Bob and I did the Argument sketch for a talent show in high school! I watched most of the series, but the first half of the Holy Grail episode got screwed up on my DVR which is a pity because I was looking forward to seeing how Cleese was reintroduced to the group after quitting.
Semi-wholesome Midwestern girl and certified Geek Magnet offers her suggestions - often new, sometimes classic - for DVDs that are definitely queue-worthy.
