The Big Three(Not the Miami Heat)

   











There are certain films that make many Historians and Critics all time top five list. They make mine as well. These five films are Citizen Kane, Casablanca, and The Godfather.
     It is difficult to label anything the greatest of all time because that's a lot of pressure on a single product. However, these films truly are flawless. Citizen Kane occupies #1 on AFI's renewed 100 greatest films of all time. On said list, The Godfather made #2 and Casablanca #3. Other top tens were Schindler's List, The Wizard of Oz and Lawrence of Arabia.
     Casablanca is easily the most quotable film I've ever seen. AFI agrees on its 100 movies 100 quotes list. This single film had six quotes on an all time list voted by the best of the best. Among the best are "Here's lookin' at you kid", "Play it again Sam", and "I think thsi is the start of a beautiful friendship".
      Possibly the greatest romance film of all time. Today those films are inevitably comedic in nature. This film is much more tragic and realistic to lost love in a lifetime. Humphrey Bogart is considered one of the best actors of his time, the golden age of Hollywood mind you. Is it any wonder he starred in this masterpiece?
       We move now to The Godfather, the quintisential mob movie. Goodfellas gfave it a run for its money, but I'd waste the whole blog tlaking about that. The Godfather embodies the rise, prime, and fall of a crime family known as the Corleone's. Vito's death was the dagger.
       Filled with realistic violence and mafia problems, The Godfather Part One's three hours flew by and hit you over the head the first time you watched it. The one big criticism this film has gotten mainly from protesters, thank you very much amendment number one, is that the movie romanticizes the ugliness and grit that is the Italian mafia.
       It couldn't be further from the truth. The many brutal deaths within the family, the betrayal of trust, and the loneliness Michael Corleone feels in the end by losing everytbody he cared about is very realistic. Almost every aging crime boss will die in prison from a heart attack of some sort. Granted, Vito's attack came from chasing his Grandson through the gardens but the effect was still the same. The Godfather rocks!
       Last but certainly not least Citizen Kane. This is a movie with perfect storytelling. I will give no spoilers but I must warn all who watch it, watch it. Don't talk to other people you may watch it with. You better watch it alone. I learned this the first time. The movie can be confusing if you don't pay attention. If you do, well......
       All three of these movies have iconic legacies not only in America but throughout the world. I thank God every day for TCM and AMC because those are the only channels I was able to find and record these Bucket list films. I have yet to delete Citizen Kane. I have to watch it one more time before I let it go. It's like my kid. All three of these movies were my kids. I hate the delete button. Watch these movies everybody!

Monty Python

     Monty Python is one of those rare phenomenons. Six guys who found eachother and realized simultaneously that they had a knack for writing perfect comedy, albeit aimed at the male gender. The planets must have aligned when their show Monty Python's Flying Circus first aired on BBC back in 1969.
    British people were taken aback by the offbeat, random, satirical and dark comedic themes these Silly Six often used. Their jokes almost never had punchlines, the skits could either be very sophisticated or very simple in humor and nobody can forget the crossdressing most of them would do.
     The Monty Python troupe consisted of Graham Chapman(may he rest in peace), John Cleese(easily my favorite), Terry Gilliam(the creator of the iconic cheapo animations on the show and in the movies), Eric Idle(sang and songwrote in addition to writing and performing), Terry Jones(the notorious crossdresser) and Michael Palin(the most diverse Python).
      In 1974, the show went off the air and this is where my favorite part of the story is. All six had been writing a movie for the last two years that was approved for filming by EMI studios in the UK. Everybody knows how it goes with most TV stars trying to make it on the big screen. Usually it goes horribly wrong. Not these guys.
      Monty Python and the Holy Grail is one of the funniest movies ever made. I defy any Male to tell me they saw that movie and didn't laugh all the way through. The greatest thing about Monty Python is everything is written by the six guys. No staff, no creators, only them. Top that SNL!!!
      In spite of a very modest budget of 175,000 pounds(325,000 dollars) the movie did incredibly well. The Holy Grail proved once and for all that cheap comedy is the best comedy. Too bad Will Ferrell didn't realize that when he did Land of the Lost.
      It seems the best tend to come out of England. What a talented country. The Beatles are the greatest BAND ever and Monty Python is the most talented comedy troupe ever. While making The Dark Side of the Moon, members of Pink Floyd would often laugh their hides off at Flying Circus after recording all day. Pink Floyd helped fund The Holy Grail they loved Monty Python so much.
      Holy Grail wasn't enough. Oh no. The Life of brian came out in 1979 and was a smash. A lot of controversy with the christians, but it was a smash. I personally think Life of Brian is my favorite Monty Python film. It's incredibly well made and the story is shockingly straightforward for MP. The song at the end will have you humming for decades.
     Monty Python were about to break up so they decided to do one last comedy performance Live at the Hollywood Bowl. I've never seen it all the way through but I know they perfromned some of their most famous skits along with their own personal favorites. Like any true comedy troupe, they'd been performing live together for a long time.
     The Meaning of Life happened in 1983. Various gross out gags, random non sequiturs, and mindless violence didn't turn me off in the least. In fact it made that movie all the more addictive. Even the three or four elaborate musical numbers entertained me to no end.
     Along with the show Friends and Linkin Park, Monty Python is the best half dozen human beings working together in the history of Western Civilization. For goodness sake, they met the Knights who say Ni in 930 AD, I think the Python players have outlived that history.