Monty Python's Life of Michael

Advantages: Candid, revealing insight into the reality of 'the nice one'
Disadvantages: Sometimes hard to keep track of who's who; strangely short on humour

...And now for something completely different?Never meet your heroes,? goes the old adage. ?Never read their diaries? might be equally sage advice. That?s probably why I didn?t tackle Michael Palin?s collected daily journals until now. Along with the rest of the Monty Python team, he was without doubt a hero of my teenage years. Today, when so much television is disposable pap, such admissions stretch credulity. But I derived more enjoyment, education and social acceptance from Monty Python?s Flying Circus than any other influence on my nerdish adolescent self. Even now, 30 or more years later, I was wary of anything which might demolish the façade of those shows, which could reveal that my telly gods had feet of clay. So I opened this hefty, 600-page distillation of the Python years (1969-1979) with trepidation. I came here...

Silverback 21.11.2009 (25.11.2009) · Read review
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Review of Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years - Michael Palin

Meeting Michael Palin

Advantages: Got to meet Michael Palin
Disadvantages: Didn't get to speak much.

...I thought everyone knew who Michael Palin was. I have found, though, that not everybody does, but a hell of a lot do. Yesterday I was in Leeds city centre and I went into Borders, a book, CD, DVD and video store. Huge it is. I saw some people setting up a table near the back (between poetry and history and the magazines), onto which they put a board stating that an author would be signing his new book. What book I hear you cry (unless you have read the title). Well it was Sahara, based on the TV series of the same name, presented by Michael Palin. If you don?t know, Michael Palin was a comedian with the group Monty Python (John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle) who had a wacky off the wall comedy show called Monty Python?s Flying Circus. They made a few films (Life Of Brian, Holy Grail...

Heidavey 28.10.2002 · Read review
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Review of Everything that starts with M ...

Python and Beyond - the Palin years

Advantages: funny, humanising, informative, insightful
Disadvantages: Not enough of it!

...As someone who has grown up with Michael Palin's influence I am astounded at this book. It brings to life someone who we see regularly on TV acting like the kind of friend or brother we all wish we had. Somehow though, you imagine that no-one can be as nice, as funny and as thoughtful as he appears. There must be a dark side to him! Well there isn't. This book brings to life the comedy background of the seventies. It covers the period of the Python series and brings to life the characters we became familiar with during those years. Then we move seamlessly towards the Holy Grail film, Ripping Yarns and eventually Life of Brian. What makes this book great though is Palin's ability to make his growing fame seem so 'normal'. We are taken through his sadnesses, his joys, his successes and his frustrations. Household names are made to...

fightgear 12.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years - Michael Palin

Around the world in 80 DVDs*

Advantages: Hours of fun for all the family
Disadvantages: not as funny as Monty Python

...First of all apologies for the title, the small print should read *product may contain less than 80 DVDs. But I just had to! What you do get with this amazing boxed set is all seven of Michael Palin's globe trotting travel experiences, namely: Around the World in 80 days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Great Railway Journeys, Hemingway Adventure, Sahara and Himalaya. You actually get 16discs, containing around 40 hours of televisual viewing pleasure. If you've never heard of Michael Palin, essentially he is a very pleasant, easy going chap, who was asked back in 1988 if he would like to recreate Phileas Fogg's fictional journey around the world in 80 days. Following the success of that series, someone at the BBC must have decided that his relaxed presentation, mild bewilderment and genuine amazement at the foreign places and customs...

Clara 25.01.2005 · Read review
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Review of The Michael Palin Collection (Box Set) (DVD)

On top of the World

Advantages: Wonderful photos of exotic places.
Disadvantages: You might get more from watching the series.

...Michael Palin does it again! His sixth travelogue 'Himalaya' is a fascinating day by day diary account of Micheal Palin's six month, 3,000 mile journey across central Asia and the World's greatest mountain range between 12 May 2003 - 7 April 2004. Palin travels through some of the most diverse and interesting countries in the world:- Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet and Bangladesh and his account of this trip makes for a fascinating read. This wonderful hardback illustarted book complete with stunning photography and maps detailing the journey makes an excellent coffee table book and even if you arn't interested in reading it the pictures alone make it worth a look. What makes Himalaya and Micheal Palin's other adventures stand out is his comical streak, his immense likablity and his ability to pick up on the randomest...

nickyturnill 07.01.2005 (18.05.2005) · Read review
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Review of Himalaya - Michael Palin

"Do You Sell Bath Plugs?"

Advantages: Palin, interesting interviewees, more insight than 'Around the World'
Disadvantages: None if you yearn to travel and like Palin.

...DETAILS Genre... ...Travelogue Rating... ...PG Format... ...3 Discs with 10 episodes Production... ...1997 Duration... ...487 minutes Language... ...English (subtitles an option) Presenter... ...Michael Palin As an introduction to 'Around the World in Eighty Days', Michael Palin reflected that with the hectic pace of modern life and convenience of travelling by air, much time seems to be spent passing through countries where the only glimpse of the nation beyond the airport is to be gleaned from travel books in the terminals' shops. In that fine series, Palin attempted to beat the record set by the fictitious Phileas Fogg, following the same route set down by author Jules Verne. Whilst the ex-Python was able to reveal something of the countries he passed through, some of the focus was apportioned to...

zyxwv 16.04.2007 (28.07.2007) · Read review
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Review of Full Circle With Michael Palin (DVD)

Fancy a walk?

Advantages: Amazing scenery, facinating
Disadvantages: Is there any?

...Himalaya - Michael Palin I am reviewing this 3 disc set on DVD, obviously, otherwise it wouldn't be a disc set. There are some extras on this DVD, they are: - Exclusive Pre-Trip Introduction on all three discs Extended Scenes Scene selection, There is over 90 minutes of Bonus Footage on this DVD It is rated 12, as there is moderate sexual detail. Running time approx 352 minutes. Also with subtitles, in English. Series producer & Director - Roger Mills Written and Narrated by Michael Palin The Packaging The man himself Michael Palin, the great man, and also a fantastic view of the Himalaya mountains. Well as you can guess from the title it is about the journey of one man, Michael Palin, who at his age is remarkably fit, and needed to be to go on this amazing journey. Rather than...

gollum3273 18.01.2006 · Read review
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Review of Himalaya With Michael Palin (DVD)

FREE DVDs

Advantages: Free trial, large choice, post included,new realeases
Disadvantages: see review

...I like movies and I like freebies, so when you get offered both in one swoop you?re bound to accept! I used my two week free trial with this company and remained with them for a couple of monthsbefore moving on to try many other companies free trials (and winning a new DVD player on Tesco DVD rental site on their free trial offer). I then had an email from DVDs 365 asking me to go back, and offering me a free DVD if I did so. I had just left Tesco (with my new DVD player) so I chose to go back with them. ∆◊◊ THE SERVICE THEY OFFER ∆◊◊ Basically it?s like going to a video shop and hiring films on DVD, except you don?t pay for each film you chose ? rather a monthly fee for which you can watch as many movies as you can fit in, for us this is usually around 8 a month (2 a week usually weekends...

dabmim 15.11.2004 · Read review
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Review of dvds365.com

Explore The World From The Comfort Of Your Sofa

Advantages: The best travel documentaries ever.
Disadvantages: Finding enough time to watch it all.

...There are travel documentaries and there are those featuring Michael Palin. This superb box set is not so much a who's who of travel, but more a where's where. Palin's gentle manner and off-beat humor if as much part of the entertainment as the destinations he visits. Even if you don't like geography, you'll be hard pressed to find exploration of our planet from the comfort of your own sofa any better than this. Tech Spec: 16 discs covering seven Michael Palin television series filmed for the BBC. A total running time that runs into days not just hours. Box set contents: Hemingway Adventure - retracing the footsteps of writer Ernest Hemingway Around The World In 80 Days - Jules Verne fiction put to the test Pole To Pole - from North to South across Northern Europe, Russia & Africa Full Circle - a 50,000 mile trip around...

stevieray 10.09.2007 · Read review
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Review of The Michael Palin Collection (DVD)

It's better to travel well, than to arrive

Advantages: travel the world from the comfort of your sofa
Disadvantages: none

...The words of Buddha that I have used as a title here really sum up Michael Palin's current career path. I guess you could call him a professional traveller, an Alan Wicker for the modern age. Except for the initial series where he set him self the task of following the mythical Phileas Fogg around the world in eighty days, Palin is a traveller with out purpose other than to enjoy the journey. What better job can there be? Shows such as these rely immensely on the presenter and many stand or fall on that factor alone. Mark Williams show "On The Rails" opened up the world of steam to many, solely through his enthusiasm and nature. Palin shines through in a similar way. He is the perfect host and travelling companion, a mix of old school English charm and off beat humour with an intelligent mind and a sharp view of the world around him. His...

steerpyke 03.12.2005 · Read review
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Review of The Michael Palin Collection (Box Set) (DVD)