"We are no longer the knights who say ‘Ni!’ We are now the knights who say ‘Ecky-ecky-ecky-ecky-pikang-zoop-boing-goodem-zoo-owli-zhiv’!’ We must give you a test."
"What is this test, oh Knights of . . . Knights who until recently said ‘Ni!’"
-Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Night before last, Ryan and I got some take out for dinner, and ended up spending about three hours sitting at our dining room table, talking about all sorts of things. Our relationship grew several levels, and while I’m keeping the details of that to myself, I will do something I rarely do: I’ll take some credit for being a good parent. I will also do something I quite often do: I’ll marvel at how wise Ryan is. Both of the kids have their pod-people days, of course, but over the last several months, those days are fewer and farther between than ever before, and I’m grateful for that.
Late on Wednesday night, while we cleaned up our dinner dishes, Ryan said, "You know, I’ve wanted to watch Monty Python for a really long time."
"I have Holy Grail in the living room," I said.
"Do you think I’ll like it?" He said.
"Well, I’m not sure. It’s a blend of absurdity and dry British humor. It’s one of those things that you either grok right away, or just don’t respond to."
"Will you watch it with me?" He said.
"Sure," I said, "we’ll watch it tomorrow after dinner."
And that’s what we did. Anne and Nolan went back into our bedroom to watch TV, and Ryan and I fired up Monty Python and the Holy Grail on our home theater.
I was unsure if he’d like it or not, because his generation has been raised on the comedic stylings of films like Anchorman and televison shows like MAD TV — not exactly the type of humor you’ll find in Flying Circus.
I dimmed the lights, and hit play.
"Why are there subtitles?" He said.
"Just watch."
Around the time "a moose bit my sister once . . . " came up on the screen, he was holding his stomach, convulsing in giggles.
"Ah, good. He gets it." I proudly thought.
He loved all the things I loved when I was his age: the French Taunter, The Black Knight, The Castle Anthrax, and the Killer Rabbit.
"I can see why you liked this so much," he said when it was over. "How many times have you seen this?"
"Between eighty and a hundred, I guess," I said.
"Will you watch it with me again?" he said, "I feel like I missed some funny stuff that I’ll catch next time."
"Of course," I said.
"Okay, I’m going to bed now," he said.
He walked back to his room singing, "Brave Sir Robin ran away . . . bravely ran away, away . . ."
He laughed to himself as he closed his bedroom door.
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This is a tough one for me. I had heard of Monty Python when I was younger, but hadn’t ever seen any of it. The closest that we got was “History of the World Part II”.
My best friend Wendy is a Pythonaholic. She LOVES ANYTHING to do with MP. She convinced me to watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I did NOT get it. I didn’t think that it was funny at all. I tried, I really, really did, but I just didn’t find the humor in it.
But even though I don’t get it or find it funny, for Christmas I got her Monty Python’s Flying Circus Box Set. ALL of the orignal episodes that ever aired on the BBC in chronological order.
I am just glad that she isn’t making me watch them.
I do have a feeling that my son will probably love it. He is only 8 now. Maybe when he is 10 I will let him watch it and judge for himself.
I have a friend who was into Monty Python. He was always quoting it for some reason or another. Finally, a few years ago, I watched it. After the frist two minutes, I decided that the ‘horse sounds’ were getting old and it went down hill from there. I got most of it, but I thought it was stupid.
*dodges the various tomatoes I know are being mentally tossed*
Im not done yet!
Even though I didnt think the movie was that great, when my friend randomly quoted and made the jokes, I thought they were hilarious, and have, to a point ‘quoted along’.
Ive enjoyed reading the comments just as much as your post. About half way through I went downstairs and got HG. Watching it as we speak. Exscuse me whilst I watch Arthur fight hte Black Knight.
So, sense I didnt like the movie the first time, but I find it hysterical when its quoted, how bout we not bicker and argue about who killed who and call it a draw. Okies?
P.S: When I watched it the first time, I turned on the subtitles. That made all the difference in the world. The rest of my family find subtitles distracting, so they dont use them. My hearing impairness + accents made everything go over my head.
Im better now =D
P.S: When I watched it this time, I turned on the subtitles. That made all the difference in the world. The rest of my family find subtitles distracting, so they dont use them. My hearing impairness + accents made everything go over my head.
Im better now =D
Have been reading your blog for only a short time after a friend pointed the way. Love it… Is part of my daily routine now. Am also geek and proud!
I have always loved Monty Python, and find phrases entering my everyday conversation – it even became part of an RPG – how many quotes could you get in? It all got a bit silly when the game halted and the entire Rabbit of Caerbannog scene was recounted.
“I warned you, but did you listen to me? Oh, no, you knew it all, didn’t you? Oh, it’s just a harmless little bunny, isn’t it?”
A younder memebr of the same looked in amazement and confusion so a rummage round and DVD was pulled out… We’re showing him The Life Of Brian next.
And, oh, The Princess Bride! ShannaKA – you’re so right. “Drop your sword. Have a seat.” Cheers, everytime!