Rating-8 out of 10
Holy Grail is not only the Pythons first real film, but it's also their first attempt at a plot without breaking it into sketches, something that they'd perfect in Life of Brian. Most Python fans are introduced to Monty Python through this film, and while it isn't their best, it certainly does give a good impression. It's not as controversial as Life of Brian, or offensive as Meaning of Life, but it is edgy.
Graham Chapman stars as King Arthur, seeking knights to join him at his court of Camelot. When he meets up with a various assortment of knights that are worthy (Some more than others) he's given a quest from God in a typical Gilliamation. God, in a irritated been-there-done-that voice, gives Arthur a nearly impossible task- find the Holy Grail. Arthur and his knights split up to search for the Grail, and each Python goes off and does his stuff. While it still feels like it's written in sketch form, everything is connected nicely.
John Cleese is an ultra-violent Sir Launcelot that stabs first, and asks questions later. He's determined to find a young princess to rescue, but things don't exactly turn out the way he had planned it, in one of the films more brilliant scene's.
Opposite Launcelot is Eric Idle's Sir Robin, a knight that would rather run to fight another day. Or run again, he's not much of a fighter. He travels through the woods with his band of minstrels (In another of the films best scene's) trying his best not to run into trouble. When trouble runs into him, he proves beyond any doubt that he is, in fact, a coward.
Michael Palin's Sir Galahad is a "pure" knight who's put under the spell of an entire castle (the oddly named Castle Anthrax) of lonely, horny, and rather dirty women. At first he resists their offers, but as time goes on, he becomes a bit less pure and more willing to forget that whole grail thing and have a nice long stay in Castle Anthrax.
Arthur travels to the ends of the Earth, meeting up with the dreaded Knights of Ni, a crazy bridge keeper, an aged and bent old crone, a castle of rude Frenchmen, and several other obstacles. Finally, all the knights meet back up for the last leg of the trail involving killer rabbits and a large, animated menace. It all leads up to a rather disappointing climax.
Overall, the film is beautifully done with some scenes of sweeping epic quality. The characters feel paper thin with little depth, but it's probably all for the better. The acting is, of course, perfectly on target with John Cleese giving the movie it's best performance. The biggest let down was Graham Chapman, who is a fantastic actor and is never given enough room to show off his talent. He sort of just stands there while the others dance around him.
Some of the films best scene's include Cleese's stubborn Black Knight that never really knows when to give up, Idle's Sir Robin being taunted by his minstrels, Cleese as Sir Launcelot interrupting a peaceful wedding party, and a very odd cave inscription. ("The castle arrrrrgggghhhh.")
Holy Grail doesn't have the emotion or depth of Life of Brian and you truly don't care when a character dies, but it's still an enjoyable romp, if a bit subdued for a Python creation. The telltale violence is there, as is the zany, surreal humor and Gilliamations, but Holy Grail doesn't do anything new. It's not controversial or very offensive and it doesn't push the envelope in any way. But, as an introduction to Monty Python, it'll do nicely.
Eric Idle content: For a Python production, this film has a very scary lack of Eric Idle. Sir Robin is his largest part, and even that is a rather small bit. He has a few memorable character's including the Dead Collector, Roger the Shrubber, and a clueless villager. But really, this is John Cleese and Michael Palin's film, so don't expect much of Eric.
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