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Ok I tried so many times to watch this after so many people recommended but I just can’t get it! There are some parts I feel the jokes. Most of the time, I’m cl

Ok I tried so many times to watch this after so many people recommended but I just can’t get it! There are some parts I feel the jokes. Most of the time, I’m clueless about why they are even funny. Is this just the culture difference between the old Brits and American?

__s 3y ago
You don't need to get it. They're memeing
- chucksta 3y ago
  It is a cult following. They even turned it into a musical in 2005. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spamalot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spamalot
swivelmaster 3y ago
Lots of Americans love it too, but it’s definitely not for everyone. That’s fine, humor is subjective! (For my part, I’ve seen every Python movie and TV episode.)
- ahazred8ta 3y ago
  And now for something completely different (they filmed episodes in German) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHs45_EQvO0#python-de https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHs45_EQvO0#python-de
bombcar 3y ago
So much of Monty Python depends on a "classical education" to really get all the jokes - for example, the 'philosopher's drinking song' is quite amusing when you know who all the people referenced are. Or in other words, it was designed for people in Britain who went through a British education of the time.
- bigstrat2003 3y ago
  That's probably true for some of their works, but I think Holy Grail works without that background knowledge. I first saw it when I was 13 (so, very much not educated yet), and I didn't feel like anything went over my head.
  - dylan604 3y ago
    Do you still feel that way? I would honestly be surprised if anyone catches all of the things on a single viewing.
    - bigstrat2003 3y ago
      Hard to say. I haven't watched the movie in a decade or more.
- gedy 3y ago
  I find it interesting that my (at the time) low class, uneducated American family thought it was hilarious.
jansan 3y ago
I am a huge fan of Monty Python's Flying Circus (watched all episodes and own it on disc and as a book), but I never understood why people go crazy about The Holy Grail. The humor feels different, more silly with less wit to it.
- foldr 3y ago
  A lot of it is just silly, but when it’s on it’s on. The “political peasants” scene is a perfect jewel.
didsomeonesay 3y ago
It might just not work for you because Monty Python don't do punchlines. They just dial the absurdity to 11. There is some element of surprise, but rather at the beginning of a scene than at the end of it. Then it's a matter of "how far can you take this situation", e.g. a knight losing all limbs and still claiming "it's just a scratch" (Sorry for the spoiler but it's been 48,5 years...). Part of it could also be missing cultural context. Taking the same scene as example, it's a comment on the British "stiff upper lip".
CoastalCoder 3y ago
Maybe another factor is being the right age when you first see it. I really liked it in my early 20's, but I've found that my taste for silly / absurdist comedy has diminished over the years.

__s 3y ago

You don't need to get it. They're memeing

chucksta 3y ago
It is a cult following. They even turned it into a musical in 2005. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spamalot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spamalot

swivelmaster 3y ago

Lots of Americans love it too, but it’s definitely not for everyone. That’s fine, humor is subjective! (For my part, I’ve seen every Python movie and TV episode.)

ahazred8ta 3y ago
And now for something completely different (they filmed episodes in German) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHs45_EQvO0#python-de https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHs45_EQvO0#python-de

bombcar 3y ago

So much of Monty Python depends on a "classical education" to really get all the jokes - for example, the 'philosopher's drinking song' is quite amusing when you know who all the people referenced are. Or in other words, it was designed for people in Britain who went through a British education of the time.

bigstrat2003 3y ago
That's probably true for some of their works, but I think Holy Grail works without that background knowledge. I first saw it when I was 13 (so, very much not educated yet), and I didn't feel like anything went over my head.
- dylan604 3y ago
  Do you still feel that way? I would honestly be surprised if anyone catches all of the things on a single viewing.
  - bigstrat2003 3y ago
    Hard to say. I haven't watched the movie in a decade or more.
gedy 3y ago
I find it interesting that my (at the time) low class, uneducated American family thought it was hilarious.

jansan 3y ago

I am a huge fan of Monty Python's Flying Circus (watched all episodes and own it on disc and as a book), but I never understood why people go crazy about The Holy Grail. The humor feels different, more silly with less wit to it.

foldr 3y ago
A lot of it is just silly, but when it’s on it’s on. The “political peasants” scene is a perfect jewel.

didsomeonesay 3y ago

It might just not work for you because Monty Python don't do punchlines. They just dial the absurdity to 11. There is some element of surprise, but rather at the beginning of a scene than at the end of it. Then it's a matter of "how far can you take this situation", e.g. a knight losing all limbs and still claiming "it's just a scratch" (Sorry for the spoiler but it's been 48,5 years...). Part of it could also be missing cultural context. Taking the same scene as example, it's a comment on the British "stiff upper lip".

CoastalCoder 3y ago

Maybe another factor is being the right age when you first see it. I really liked it in my early 20's, but I've found that my taste for silly / absurdist comedy has diminished over the years.