Review of Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) by Stefan G — 21 Dec 2014

Nearly 40 years after its initial release, this surreal spoof of the King Arthur legend is a film that has aged superbly. This was the film that introduced me to Monty Python in the first place, and with its instant appeal - stoked by cleverly written humour, brilliant set-pieces, charismatic acting, and a whole host of memorable moments - it became my favourite comedy film of all time, and without hesitation, I can say this is simply the greatest film ever made.

I could go on and on about my favourite moments from the film, but that would take forever. What I will comment on is how the Monty Python group has made incredibly effective use of their skills at playing numerous roles.

They fit so well into the plethora of different roles that it's as though each role was a different pair of clothes. The film brandishes an excellently impersonated medieval style, blended with the group's signature style of surreal humour and farcical twists.

It ultimately concludes in the total opposite of how every other re-telling of the King Arthur legend is told, with the knights being thwarted in the silliest possible way. The ending is only slightly jarring, but in such a way that it actually works well with the rest of the film.

A well-aged classic, this is the kind of film that, sadly, can never be made again. After all, you can only make the greatest film of all-time once.