Round One: Monty Python and the Holy Grail vs. The Shining

In this match-up, we have a British comedy legend in Monty Python and the Holy Grail going head-to-head with the horror/thriller of the 1980's in The Shining.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

• Directed by: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
• Written by: Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin)
• Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
• Rotten Tomatoes
• Critics: 95%
• Audience: 94%

Starring, written and directed by Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin), Monty Python and the Holy Grail ...

...starts out with Arthur (Chapman), King of the Britons, looking for knights to sit with him at Camelot. He finds many knights including Sir Galahad the pure (Palin), Sir Lancelot the brave (Cleese), the quiet Sir Bedevere (Jones), and Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir Lancelot (Idle). They do not travel on horses, but pretend they do and have their servants bang coconuts to make the sound of horse's hooves. Through satire of certain events in history (witch trials, the black plague) they find Camelot, but after literally a quick song and dance they decide that they do not want to go there. While walking away, God (voiced by Chapman) comes to them from a cloud and tells them to find the Holy Grail. They agree and begin their search. While they search for the Grail, scenes of the knight's tales appear and why they have the name they have. Throughout their search they meet interesting people and knights along the way. Most of the characters die; some through a killer rabbit (which they defeat with the holy hand grenade), others from not answering a question right from the bridge of Death, or die some other ridiculous way. In the end, King Arthur and Sir Bedevere are left and find the Castle Arrrghhh where the Holy Grail is. They are met by some French soldiers who taunted them earlier in the film, so they were not able to get into the castle. (From IMDB writer Zucco)

The Shining (1980)

• Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
• Written by: Stephen King (novel), Stanley Kubrick (screenplay)
• Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers.
• Rotten Tomatoes
• Critics: 88%
• Audience: 91%

Based on Stephen King's novel of the same title, The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick (director of Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange, Dr. Strangelove), tells the story of Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), the new caretaker of the Overlook Hotel in Colorado, and his family (Shelly Duvall and Danny Lloyd), as they spend the winter at the secluded resort. The son, Danny Torrance (Lloyd), telepathically sees horrific images of the hotel's past through "shining," which he learns about from the hotel's cook, Dick Hallorann (Scatman Crothers). As Jack writes his novel, he slowly succumbs to cabin fever, ultimately goes insane, and attempts to kill his family (as a previous caretaker had done). This thriller will have you at the edge of your seats until the end; but be careful, the horrors displayed in The Shining are not for the weak-of-stomach.

Vote now for your favorite movie: Monty Python and the Holy Grail or The Shining

Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZFYHYS7