2/5 And now for something mediocre at best
  by HH (Sherman Oaks, CA USA)
I've seen I think every Python documentary ever produced, the best still being the one produced by the BBC roughly 10 years ago which in the UK was hosted by "the boys" (but in the USA on A+E was cut up with new hosted footage by Meatloaf of all people...) In ANY case, I had high hopes for this, and my little hopes were shattered by a very unfunny opening by a "lawyer's disclaimer" then another 2 minutes wasted with a new vocal to the Life of Brian theme song with witless new lyrics. This MIGHT be new material by the Pythons but considering it's quality, I doubt it.

As for the rest of the documentary, there's very VERY little here that hasn't been seen in the previous extensive one from 10 years prior, nor from the "Before" and "After" Python documentaries which can be found on a 2 dvd A+E set. I didn't want some dry, talking head expose of the most influential comedy group of the 20th century, but I would have preferred that to a documentary produced and linked by NON Pythons trying to come up to their level, and causing nothing but ulcers to the audience in the process. Perhaps to people completely ignorant to Python, they'll love this, to me, a completest, this is no longer in my collection because it's redundant and not as good.



5/5 A great overview of the life of the Pythons, provided by the Pythons themselves
  by Robert Moore (Chicago, IL USA)
As they are intent to point out, this is an overview of the career of Monty Python's Flying Circus from the point of view of the five surviving members of the team. The various members are interviewed separately (except for some bits from an interview of Terry Jones and Michael Palin as they take a train to Aardman Animations, Nick Park's studio). Together they tell the story of the team from their individual childhood's to the present.

If you love all things Python, this is a great way to work through their career from the first episodes of MONTY PYTHON until the present, with their explanation of why there will be no new Monty Python projects featuring the final five. I learned a lot of new things about them and loved hearing them all talk about their various joint projects. For instance, I was not aware that John Cleese originally wanted to play Brian in LIFE OF BRIAN, but was talked out of it by the other members.

My only two complaints about the set are that many of the interviews with non-Pythons were sometimes not terribly illuminating. Did we really need any contributions from Russell Brand (he remains a mystery to me - the next interesting thing that I hear coming from his mouth will be the first interesting thing I hear coming from his mouth)? My other complaint comes from the set. There were not very many interesting special features. We do get extended interviews and several of their most famous clips from the show. I saw this on Blu-ray and I was mildly disappointed with the visual quality of the clips (thought definitely not the documentary). If the transfers are not any better than this, then I will certainly not be getting MONTY PYTHON on Blu-ray when that comes out. Hopefully they did not do their best work on the transfers. I remain hopeful that they can do new transfers that would justify doing Blu-ray editions. That aside, let me point out what a huge week it was for Blu-ray. There were three major new Blu-ray releases that drew my attention: this set, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN, and THE PRISONER. All three were simply outstanding releases. You simply don't get many weeks this exciting, an embarrassment of riches.