IFC's spectacular six-part documentary on Monty Python has gotten me into the Python spirit all over again. (Thanks, IFC!) As a result, here are my top 11 favorite Python moments, in no particular order.
Upper Class Twit of the Year
Absolutely hysterical. From the door slamming bit to the removal of the debutantes' bras to the not-so-surprisingly difficult leap over the wall made of match box, this is pure gold.
What Have the Romans Done For Us? from Monty Python's Life of Brian
As a former classics major with a thing for Romans, this bit cracks me up every time.
Four Yorkshireman from Live at the Hollywood Bowl
For anyone who's ever sat through a particularly appalling pity party, consider yourself lucky it wasn't this one, where four Yorkshiremen recount their poverty-stricken childhoods living in boxes, lakes and, well, whatever was handy really.
French Taunter from Monty Python and the Holy Grail
An oldie but a goodie -- and perhaps every geek child's favorite inspiration for insouciant insults.
Killer Rabbit from Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Oh, the vagaries of rabbit rage! Who knows why rabbits attack? I'm just grateful they do in this wonderful scene where King Arthur's knights don't quite take this fearsome bunny seriously -- "What's he do? Nibble your bum?" -- with rather dire consequences.
Little Red Riding Hood from Live at the Hollywood Bowl
While the stoutly masculine casting for Little Red Riding Hood is a hoot, it's really the Wolf that makes this one work.
The Parrot Sketch
What can I say about this sketch? It's just perfect -- a brilliant mix of rage on Cleese's part and absurdist excuse making from Palin. This one's a classic for a reason.
Argument Clinic
There's nothing particularly spectacular about this one -- it's just silly and it works.
I Want to Be A Woman from Monty Python's Life of Brian
Stan wants to be called Loretta from now on...oh, and he wants to have babies, even if they will have to gestate in a box.
Exploding Penguin
This is one of my all-time, absolute favorite sketches for one very simple reason: the way Graham Chapman shouts "Burma!" That and "Intercourse the penguin!" reduces me to a giggling mess every time I see it.
Fish Slapping Dance
Not only is this bit my favorite Monty Python moment, it's also potentially one of my very favorite bits of comedy ever devised. It's so simple, so ridiculous and just wordlessly perfect.
So there's my 11 cents. What are your favorite Python bits?
Showing posts with label Monty Python. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monty Python. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Thursday Odds & Ends: Nobels, vooks, Tudyks, Phantoms and origami
+ The Nobel Prize for Literature was announced today, and yet again I was shut out, apparently disqualified for not actually having written a "book" of any kind. Luckily, the Swedes had a back-up author handy and awarded the prize to Herta Mueller, a Romanian-born German writer. Her win prompted what I find to be a hilarious headline from Entertainment Weekly: "Another obscure Nobel Prize literature winner! Sigh." I know, I can't believe J.K. Rowling and Nora Roberts were shut out again this year either. Damn it!
+ While we're on the subject of books and such, have you guys heard of a Vook? It's a book that incorporates video into the narrative. So if you're reading "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" on your Kindle or iTouch, you might see Quasimodo pop up on your screen and wave seductively at you. Or something like that. As the reviewer mentions in the linked article, you can see how this might work well in a non-fiction or how-to book, but it seems really weird and unnecessary to me for fiction. Don't you think?
+ Time Out London has a nifty list of the 50 Greatest Animated Films, compiled with help from director and former Monty Python animator Terry Gilliam...so you know the list will probably be very odd and go on for at least 10 films longer than it should. (I say that with love, of course. "Brazil" is one of my favorite movies.)
+ Speaking of Pythons, have you ever wanted to see Alan Tudyk doing a Monty Python sketch in drag? Of course you have! And now's your chance because he's starring in a show called "An Evening Without Monty Python" at the Town Hall in New York. I think the purse goes quite well with his eyes.
+ And while I was reading about Tudyk and Python and Broadway, oh my, I also stumbled upon this little newsy nugget: an "Addams Family" musical starring Bebe Neuwirth and Nathan Lane is opening in March on Broadway. It could be fun -- although to me, no one will ever top Raul Julia as Gomez Addams. He was dreamy in those movies.
+ Okay, I seem to have turned into a theatre obsessive this morning, but I promise this is my last piece of news about the Great White Way or Shark or whatever it's called. I had no idea this was happening, but apparently, there's a "Phantom of the Opera" sequel set to debut in London on March 9, 2010. It's called "Love Never Dies," it takes place after the events of "Phantom" and I swear this is what the article says, it "continues the story of the obsessive Phantom, who has moved from the Paris Opera House to haunt the fairgrounds of New York's Coney Island." Somewhere, Gaston Leroux is triple-lutzing in his coffin. I don't think I'll be seeing this show unless it stars a pantsless John Barrowman and even then, well...okay, I'd be pretty interested in seeing that.
+ In other ridiculous news, Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody has decided to further tank his career by signing on to star in the new series of "Predator" movies, produced by Robert Rodriguez. Oh man, as if "King Kong" wasn't bad enough...
+ Check out this trailer for a documentary called "Between the Folds" which profiles 10 artists and scientists who have devoted their lives to origami. Really some gorgeous work...
+ While we're on the subject of books and such, have you guys heard of a Vook? It's a book that incorporates video into the narrative. So if you're reading "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" on your Kindle or iTouch, you might see Quasimodo pop up on your screen and wave seductively at you. Or something like that. As the reviewer mentions in the linked article, you can see how this might work well in a non-fiction or how-to book, but it seems really weird and unnecessary to me for fiction. Don't you think?
+ Time Out London has a nifty list of the 50 Greatest Animated Films, compiled with help from director and former Monty Python animator Terry Gilliam...so you know the list will probably be very odd and go on for at least 10 films longer than it should. (I say that with love, of course. "Brazil" is one of my favorite movies.)
+ Speaking of Pythons, have you ever wanted to see Alan Tudyk doing a Monty Python sketch in drag? Of course you have! And now's your chance because he's starring in a show called "An Evening Without Monty Python" at the Town Hall in New York. I think the purse goes quite well with his eyes.
+ And while I was reading about Tudyk and Python and Broadway, oh my, I also stumbled upon this little newsy nugget: an "Addams Family" musical starring Bebe Neuwirth and Nathan Lane is opening in March on Broadway. It could be fun -- although to me, no one will ever top Raul Julia as Gomez Addams. He was dreamy in those movies.+ Okay, I seem to have turned into a theatre obsessive this morning, but I promise this is my last piece of news about the Great White Way or Shark or whatever it's called. I had no idea this was happening, but apparently, there's a "Phantom of the Opera" sequel set to debut in London on March 9, 2010. It's called "Love Never Dies," it takes place after the events of "Phantom" and I swear this is what the article says, it "continues the story of the obsessive Phantom, who has moved from the Paris Opera House to haunt the fairgrounds of New York's Coney Island." Somewhere, Gaston Leroux is triple-lutzing in his coffin. I don't think I'll be seeing this show unless it stars a pantsless John Barrowman and even then, well...okay, I'd be pretty interested in seeing that.
+ In other ridiculous news, Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody has decided to further tank his career by signing on to star in the new series of "Predator" movies, produced by Robert Rodriguez. Oh man, as if "King Kong" wasn't bad enough...
+ Check out this trailer for a documentary called "Between the Folds" which profiles 10 artists and scientists who have devoted their lives to origami. Really some gorgeous work...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
News of the Day -- Wednesday, March 26
+ If you love the Fish-Slapping Dance as much as I do -- and who doesn't? -- then check out this Monty Python quiz from Mental Floss. If it asks you your favorite color, just go with your first instinct. Trust me.
+ No Wednesday is complete without the quiet contemplation of evil robots. Luckily, we have a list of naughty robots right here.
+ The New York Times has an interesting report on rodents being taught to use rakes to grab food. I think it would be more productive to teach them to use rakes to do lawns, but whatever. I love this line in the story -- "This is first time rodents have been trained to wield tools...." Doesn't that sound like the prologue to an apocalypse in which the cute little critters learn to wield cheese-propelled chainsaws, eat through your slippers and wreak havoc on all of humanity? No? Okay, it's just me then.
+ No Wednesday is complete without the quiet contemplation of evil robots. Luckily, we have a list of naughty robots right here.
+ The New York Times has an interesting report on rodents being taught to use rakes to grab food. I think it would be more productive to teach them to use rakes to do lawns, but whatever. I love this line in the story -- "This is first time rodents have been trained to wield tools...." Doesn't that sound like the prologue to an apocalypse in which the cute little critters learn to wield cheese-propelled chainsaws, eat through your slippers and wreak havoc on all of humanity? No? Okay, it's just me then.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
The tell-tale signs
You Know You're a Girl Nerd When...
* You find Dwight Schrute attractive but know enough not to tell anyone.
* You get vertigo wearing three-inch heels. You take the shoes off and give them to someone you hate.
* You DVR the Scripps Spelling Bee...and spend weeks memorizing all the words in case someday they create an adult spelling bee which you will enter and ultimately conquer.
* You know that the string theory has nothing to do with kittens.
* You’re not shocked at all when scientists discover a genetic link between nerdiness and Anglophilia. You wave your Union Jack in celebration.
* You know what an Eames chair is and you would sell your sister to own one.
* You have opinions on fonts.
* You watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail and laugh before each joke.
* You know that George Washington did not fight in the Civil War.
* You may have lit a Barbie on fire. Once. Or twice.
* You find Dwight Schrute attractive but know enough not to tell anyone.
* You get vertigo wearing three-inch heels. You take the shoes off and give them to someone you hate.
* You DVR the Scripps Spelling Bee...and spend weeks memorizing all the words in case someday they create an adult spelling bee which you will enter and ultimately conquer.
* You know that the string theory has nothing to do with kittens.
* You’re not shocked at all when scientists discover a genetic link between nerdiness and Anglophilia. You wave your Union Jack in celebration.
* You know what an Eames chair is and you would sell your sister to own one.
* You have opinions on fonts.
* You watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail and laugh before each joke.
* You know that George Washington did not fight in the Civil War.
* You may have lit a Barbie on fire. Once. Or twice.
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