Mattlog

The MOST Holy Grrrrrail

I have been able to quote Monty Python and the Holy Grail since I was about ten. The PBS station in Chicago WTTW used to have a great night of British television. 10pm was Monty Python 10:30 was Dave Allen and at 11 was Dr Who.

Now Dave Allen was this British joketeller. He would split the show 50/50 between sketches and joke telling. Between sketches Dave Allen would sit in his chair smoking a cigarette and a would sip his drink and tell these great jokes. Probably one of the greatest story tellers on the planet. The jokes were old but you loved his telling of them.

And, of course, thanks to my father, my own Captain Kirk, I've always loved sci-fi. And Doctor Who was it at it's finest, if not a little british.

But Monty Python was the biggity bomb to use the vernacular of o ur time. This is about the time my comedy horizon expanded from Abbot and COstello to George Carlin and far more adult humor... and though I never got Benny Hill, Python to me was hilarious. In fifth grade at a talent show my friend JOsh and I did the infamous Parrot Sketch. I played the Cleese part. it went over fantastically.

I've seen Holy Grail probably 20 times in my life. I own the 2-disc DVD. I can quote about 80% of it. It's a mainstay. And tonight it was at the Alamo.

I've talked about the Alamo before. It's where you can wat and drink IN THE MOVIE! So my buddy Jonathon and I decided to hit the midnight showing of Holly Grail.

Now remember how well I know this movie... when I tell you seeing it on the big screen presents itself as a much better film. The scenes are far better looking than on TV and the opening credits jokes work so much better on a giant screen.

Another lucky thing about this showing.... no one was "singing along." No one was quoteing along. I mean it seemed we all probably could but luckily no one did. We were seeing the movie.

So I tried to but myself in the frame of mind of someone who had never seen tit before. And I think our new millienium sensabilities this movie practically stands up. However I think we've learned to expect anything in a comedy. Look at Autin Powers. It's genius.

But back in 1975 almost 30 years ago this movie must have confused alot of people, especially the British viewers. And that ending, I imagined confused viewers watching the film unravel and the organ music start playing expecting more.... but 10 minutes of the organ music probably drove everyone out and went thinking "The hell was that?"

This, of course, makes me wonder about what I missing by not seeing some of the most famous films in history on the big screen. As Hot Sauce always says I see a shiny object and I'm distracted... but in the theater you got nothing else... it's you the screen and a story. So it's official... if some of the classics make to Alamo or the Aboretum or any of the other fine classic film showers... I'm there. Some of the greatest films in history I have yet to see why not see them the way they were meant.

Anyway, If you get the oppertunity to sit down in a theater and watch the Holy Grail on the big screen the way it was meant I highly advise it.

Posted by matty at March 14, 2004 02:30 AM