Home > Categories > Movies > Comedy > Mel Brooks' History of the World - part 1 review

Mel Brooks uproarious version of history proves that nothing is sacred as he takes us on a delirious romp featuring everything from a wild send-up of the film 2001 to the real stories behind the Roman Empire (Brooks portrays a stand-up philosopher at Caesar's Palace), the French Revolution (Brooks reigns as King Louis XV1) and the Spanish Inquisition (a splashy song-and-dance number with monks and swimming nuns).
It's Mel and company at their hilarious best.
Fur
The December Boys
The Conjuring
Keith Lemon The Film
Veronica Mars (the movie)
Rainman
Tucker & Dale VS Evil
The Little Mermaid
The Loft
Room
Super Troopers 2
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!
The Addams FamilyProduct reviews...
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Having grown up with Mel Brooks being a major player in the comedy arena, it was great to get a chance to look back on it with older eyes and reassess the humour... I see a lot more of the layers nowdays, and the jokes that had me giggling as a kid because "...they look funny..." now has me sniggering for quite different reasons... and under today's M rating, of course, I wouldn't be showing it to any little eyes nowdays.
Made back in 1981, this was supposed to be part 1 of a 2-parter, as this volume really only covers the early years, and nothing after the French Revolution... but as far as I know part 2 was never made, leaving this as a bit of an open-ended orphan really. Bit of a shame, but threse things happen, and let's face it, it's unlikely part 2 will get made these days, what with the demand for blockbuster hits, rather than movies made for the sheer fun of making something whacky.
However, if you like Brooks' genre of humour, or just want to see what your (grand)parents were on about, then this is a great title to explore, along with some of his other classics such as "The Princess Bride", "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" or my personal favourite, the 1974 classic "Blazing Saddles". If you haven't already experienced his humour, but can appreciate the British Wit, then you'll quite possibly enjoy some of these movies.
overall, this really is a fun movie, but only if you enjoy comedy musicals. With appearances by MANY famous faces including Dom DeLoise, Madeline Kahn, Gregory Hines and even Pamela Stephenson (Kiwi, wife of comedic genius Billy Connelly) plus the narration talents of Mr Orson Welles... this is a great one to pass the cold winter nights with. Put it on, snuggle up warm and enjoy some great laughs.
Random listing from 'Movies'...
Meet Georgia Nicolson...Bridgit Jones at 14, but with way more attitude!
Georgia struggles through life seeking out her two main desires:
1) To get a gorgeous sex-god as her boyfriend
2) To throw the greatest 15th birthday party ever
When handsome brothers Tom and Robbie arrive at school, Georgia thinks her boyfriend dreams are answered. But Georgia soon finds she has some competition on her hands with her arch rival, Slaggy Lindsay.
So, Georgia begins to devise a plan, which partly involves snogging lessons, to score the boy of her dreams.
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Mark Twain