Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Monty Python and the Holy Grail, known for being one of the most famous British comedies ever made, is one of my all time favorite movies. Originally I didn't understand the film; however the more I grew and the more times I watched it the better it got. The first time that I ever saw this film was with the entirety of my extended family, it was almost as if it was a right of passage. I was expected to sit there in complete silence other than when a joke was told, in which case I was expected to laugh. To be honest the first time I watched through the film I really did not get the humor at all. I sat there in silence pretending to get the jokes, as to not insult a family favorite, but I just didn't get it.

Written and produced by the Monty Python comedy group in 1975, this film is a cult classic known for its goofy humor and extreme quotability. Constantly breaking out of the narrative and taking the viewer down unexpected and exciting plot paths, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is considered the troupe's first real film.  Co-directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones this film was a colossal success with a gross of over 130 million dollars as opposed to its tiny budget of around 400 thousand dollars.

This film follows King Arthur as he seeks the Holy Grail, along the way gathering companions that later become the Knights of the Round Table. The tale follows their quest through different dangerous locations and past deadly foes until they eventually reach the castle in which the Grail is known to be held. Due to its small budget the film is infamous for its cuts and tactics to save money. For example, there is an ongoing joke in the film in which the actors clap coconuts together and gallop as if they are riding on horses because the production could not afford actual horses.



This film is an absolute gem. It has endless quotes and re-watchability, personally I have seen in countless times. I would recommend this to everyone who is in need of seeing a good comedy.

Labyrinth

Being at home for fall break has put me in a nostalgic mood so I thought I'd write about Labyrinth. It was a favorite of mine when I was little and apparently it was the first non-animated film that I had watched as a child.

Labyrinth is a coming of age story about a girl, Sarah, played by Jennifer Connelly, who wishes for her baby brother, Toby, to disappear. Jareth, the Goblin King, played by none other than my favorite artist: David Bowie, grants Sarah's wish by kidnapping the baby and taking him to the Goblin City. Once Toby is actually gone, Sarah realizes her mistake and wishes to have her brother back. However, in order to bring her brother home, she has to make her way through the Labyrinth and surpass all of the plots and schemes devised by the persuasive Goblin King who tries to distract her from her objective. Jareth does this by offering her a crystal ball which would show her her dreams, sending Hoggle to misguide her through the Labyrinth, making her solve logic puzzles, changing the Labyrinth's orientation, and trying to seduce her during a masquerade ball.
While on her quest, Sarah realizes very quickly that things are not always what they seem and advances through the Labyrinth until she storms the Goblin City with the help of her friends Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus. At the end of the movie, Sarah must face Jareth herself and decide whether to return home with her baby brother or stay with the Goblin King who offers to give her everything she's ever dreamt of.
One of my favorite scenes of the movie is the scene leading up to the finale where Sarah is trying to retrieve her brother from a room that was closely based off a lithograph by M.C. Escher called 'Relativity,' shown below.

In this scene the set design, special effects, and camera angles completely disorient the viewer, which helps to show Jareth's wavering hold on Sarah and her persistent determination and frustration with wanting to retrieve her brother and finally return home.

Although Labyrinth only made about thirteen million in the box office from the U.S. theatrical release, it has become a cult classic that has been adored for decades. With Jim Henson as the director and the person who was responsible for the incredible puppeteering, George Lucas as the producer, Terry Jones, from Monty Python, as the head writer, and David Bowie as a lead actor, it is unfortunate that it did not have more success in the box office.
Labyrinth is a cute movie and I would recommend it if you like The Dark Crystal or Princess Bride.