DVD takes Monty Python one step further

Having an African swallow deliver Monty Python and the Holy Grail would make this special edition DVD perfect. Monty Python and the Holy Grail, released in 1975, is the zany and satiric interpretation of the Arthurian legend from the British comedy team Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin). The movie follows King Arthur (Chapman) and his knights - Sir Lancelot (Cleese), brave Sir Robin (Idle), Sir Bedevere (Jones) and Sir Galahad (Palin) - as they seek the Holy Grail. Along the way they encounter, among other things, an unrelenting black knight, the knights of the sacred word "Ni," belligerent Frenchmen, politically active peasants, seductresses, Tim and a vicious little bunny rabbit. The film is extremely absurd and silly but also a comedic masterpiece - arguably the funniest movie ever made. And like the film itself, this special edition DVD is sheer comic genius. There is not a feature or menu on these disks that is not worth watching. The fun, however, doesn't begin with what is in the disks. It begins with the case itself, which is durable, easy to access and a joy to gaze upon, unlike many so-called special edition collector's cases that require directions and as much care as an infant. The first disk features a high-definition presentation of the film, and it looks and sounds great. Also, on this disk are commentaries and general complaints by the cast, subtitles taken from Shakespeare's "Henry IV" ("for people who don't like the film"), an on-screen screenplay and much more. On the second disk, one finds three sing-alongs. Finally, the lyrics to the "Knights of the Round Table" tune are exposed! Also, there is a documentary, The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations, with Palin and Jones; a hilarious short video, How to Use Your Coconuts, from the "Ministry of Food" with Palin; a 1974 BBC broadcast, On Location with the Pythons; and a bizarre home video revealing how Gilliam and Jones used up the film's budget. Additionally, the disk presents two key scenes from the film in Japanese with English subtitles, a "Lego" version of "The Knights of the Round Table" scene and much more. Both disks include exceptional animated menus from the mind of Gilliam, which are in themselves a delight to watch. If there is anything wrong with this special-edition DVD, it is just that its presence absorbs one's mind and makes it difficult to study or do anything other than watch it again and again. Oh, well. Fans will just have to somehow look past this shortcoming. Rating: A