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The meaning of Life Die Mutter aller Filme von Monty Python. Review by Andrew Hicks MEANING OF LIFE stands in this reviewer's opinion as the best of the
three Python films, a collection of sketches tracing the journey and meaning
behind this life we all lead. Pythonites John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry
Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin once again play multiple
roles, male and female, beginning with a birth sequence and continuing into a
family with at least fifty children.
We find out why they have fifty children during an elaborate production
number detailing the Catholic view of sperm as sacred. (Isn't it though?) We
also find out what else Catholics hold sacred in the next sequence, with Father
Cleese teaching a class all about sex. He goes far beyond the biological details
the rest of us were subjected to in high school, favoring instead a
demonstration with his wife. In the grand tradition of school, though, even this
doesn't interest the kids, who continue staring into space, passing notes and
falling asleep while Cleese gets it on with his wife... For those of you who
still harbor any doubt, this movie is rated R.
We continue through the journey with sequences handling the meaning of war,
middle age and later death itself, in which the Grim Reaper claims the lives of
six dinner party guests and takes them to heaven. Apparently, we will all be
subjected to an eternity of lounge singers doing production numbers about
Christmas. (Before the Monty Python troop told us differently, this scenario was
known as hell.) Then there's the most memorable portion of the film, where the
world's fattest man comes to dine and regurgitate in a restaurant. How fondly I
remember the day we filmed that scene.
Preceding the movie itself is a short film about a small, family-run
accounting firm that's been taken over by faceless bureaucrats. But they're
taking it back, by force. Though this piece doesn't star any of the Python
troupe, it definitely fits in with the rest of THE MEANING OF LIFE, and is later
reprised in the feature presentation itself. As with LIFE OF BRIAN, this movie
isn't for the easily-offended, but for those of us with strong stomachs (and
I've definitely exercised mine enough over the years), it's mostly a very funny
movie. Sure, it has its misses too, but so does any work attempting comedy. This
review, for example... |
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Wenn Katelbach kommt Ein frueher Polanski, mit einer herrlichen franzoesischen
Blondine in der weiblichen Hauptrolle. Ich hatte
ihren Namen vergessen, aber nicht ihr Gesicht.Kein
Wunder. Sie ist die Schwester von Catherine Deneuve. Leider
fiel sie 1967 einem Autounfall zum Opfer. Hier das
Ergebnis von Google:
Wenn Katelbach kommt • DF
Cul de sac GB 1965, Roman
Polanski, 112 min. Mit Donald Pleasance, , Lionel
Stander Polanskis tragikomische Geschichte handelt von einem ältlichen
Fabrikanten, der sich mit seiner liebeslustigen jungen Frau in ein altes
Insel-Kastell zurückgezogen hat. In die erhoffte Idylle, die keine ist, brechen
zwei flüchtige Gangster ein. Der eine erliegt seinen schweren Verletzungen, der
andere übernimmt das Kommando in dem Kastell. Während er vergeblich auf den
Gangsterboß wartet und seine unfreiwilligen Gastgeber drangsaliert, treiben die
Dinge auf der Insel einem blutigen Ende zu.
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Best
of... Laut Otto 'Clemens' Buchegger
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Zabriskie
Point Eindrucksvolle Sprengung einer Luxusvilla,
Regie Michelangelo Antonioni, Soundtrack von
Pink Floyd
| Zabriskie
Point, director Michelangelo
Antonioni's only American film, is an unusual, visually stunning examination
of youthful rebellion against the Establishment. The film, initially presented
in quasi-documentary style, presents a group of college activists discussing key
issues of their political agenda. Mark (Mark
Frechette) steals an airplane and flies over a desert where he meets Daria
(Daria
Halprin). She is the pot-smoking secretary to businessman Lee Allen (Rod
Taylor), while he is a rebel searching for a worthy cause. In the midst of
the arid surroundings, Mark and Daria fall in love. Antonioni's
nonrealistic approach to American counterculture myths and his loose and
sluggish narrative slow the film, and the uneven dialogue (credited to Fred
Gardner, Sam
Shepard, Tonino
Guerra, Clare
Peploe, and Antonioni) caused it to be poorly received when it was first
released. However, Antonioni's handling of compositions and moods is haunting,
and the score -- featuring songs from Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, Kaleidoscope,
The Rolling Stones, John
Fahey, The Youngbloods and Patti
Page -- as well as the beautiful apocalyptic finale, overcomes those flaws
and makes Zabriskie
Point well worth seeing. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide |
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