Jabberwocky (1977 film)

Between 1975 and 1979 the members of Monty Python did as the Wu Tang Clan would do from 1994 to 1996 and that was embark on endless solo projects featuring some work by other members to establish individual fame before reuniting to follow up on a breakthru. Monty Python And The Holy Grail led straight to 3 new BBC series featuring John Cleese (Fawlty Towers) Eric Idle (The Rutland Weekend Television) and Michael Palin and Terry Jones (Ripping Yarns) and while Graham was working on films of his own with the help of people like Bernard McKenna and Peter Cook, Terry G. called on the help of the Oxford team particularly Palin to establish his serious film career but his first three featuring Palin and a fourth with Idle Terry G. would maintain strong comedic elements. What I mean by that is the films don't play like they are trying to make you laugh although it is meant to be funny causing those who like straightforward humor to find it just plain strange (even more so than a typical Python film). But Jabberwocky is largely less popular now than it was when it was released because Terry Gilliam made consistently cult classic films with consistent quality that alienates mainstream potential fans and the fame Jabberwocky is diluted with other well liked Gilliam works. However with Time Bandits and Brazil Terry G.'s early comedic films worked splendid as Michael Palin was kind of a crossover and kind of a cult favorite giving Terry G. market appeal without selling out and this film relies on Michael Palin the comedic actor and Time Bandits Palin the screenwriter and bit actor and Brazil the dramatic minor character. Jabberwocky is like Holy Grail entertainment in a Life Of Brian/Time Bandits tone. Like the Holy Grail it has an anti-climatic ending which does weigh this film down more considerable than it did with Monty Python And The Holy Grail. However subtle zaniness and a contemporary look at olden times as a statement of the modern age make this film as good as anything else anyone from MP made from 1975-1985, maybe just less universally accepted.