Terry Jones' Medieval Lives
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Movie Reviews of Terry Jones' Medieval Lives
Movie Review: Totally worth the purchase
Summary: 4 Stars
Though he's best known for his Monty Python stuff don't be fooled into thinking this series is comedy. Terry Jones is an expert on this topic and presents some very compelling detail about roles in medieval society. The real gem of the series is that with each profession you watch another piece of the whole puzzle fits together to give you a broad picture. Finding real information about this time period that isn't about nobility or war is virtually impossible and Jones fills that gap admirably. Invaluable (and very entertaining) knowledge for anyone with a casual or professional interest in this sort of thing.
If I were pressed to find a negative about this series, it feels like a few ends are left dangling- I'm left wanting to see more chapters about the daily life of professional soldiers or lesser nobles. Some chapters, such as the one about kings, is more concerned with interesting trivia over daily life. All in all, minor complaints.
Movie Review: Very well done and so enjoyable - but take another look at monastic spiritual life, and spiritual life in general
Summary: 4 Stars
I echo all the praise of the previous reviews. As a medieval historian turned businessman, and a multimedia producer, I can't say how impressed I am with Mr. Jones' treatment of the subject, with his beloved humor and creativity - challenging our misperceptions and revealing details of medieval life we can appreciate through our shared humanity with people who lived so long ago. Thank you for caring so much about history, and sharing your enthusiasm!!
I challenge Mr. Jones to take another look at medieval monastic life and medieval spirituality. His episode on monks leaves the viewer with no sense of the value of spiritual life in general, or medieval or monastic life in particular. Mr. Jones' criticism of religious institutions and their worldly nonsense is most welcome, but can he look beyond these diversions from spirituality toward the real values and benefits that genuinely attracted people from all strata of society, and still do today? For a very different look at monastic life, I recommend the DVD "Into Great Silence" by Phillip Groning - a glimpse into the lives of Carthusian monks today, at the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the French Alps, founded by St. Bruno and his followers in 1084.
I think one of the most important jobs of a historian is not just to present the facts as accurately as possible, but actually help us see the world through the eyes of the people studied - and most medieval people lived in a world profoundly centered around religious belief and practice. Could he share with us something of the personal experience of devotion and spirituality, in a way that doesn't seem to assume that medieval people were too ignorant to know better? The medieval world was rich with imagination and meaning that, in my personal opinion, makes our modern experience, for all the real benefit of modern science and technology, seem somewhat pale and shallow. I can't think of anyone better able to help us rediscover and appreciate those things about the medieval worldview and medieval spirituality that have stood the test of time, if only Mr. Jones would turn his attention to them. Please do!
Movie Review: Fantastic!
Summary: 5 Stars
Terry Jones' Medieval Lives is funny, informative and great for anyone interested in Medieval history. Movie Review: A New Spin On the Medieval Period
Summary: 5 Stars
After all the classes that I took in school on the Medieval period and from what I've read on my own, Terry Jones has taken something that (to some) is dry, dull and boring and turned it into something interesting and fun to learn about. Just like his series on the Crusades, this series takes all the myths from that period and shows that what you've read about isn't true at all. Take for instance, the Medieval Damsel in distress...She wasn't as helpless as one would seem to be. That was an image the Victorians wanted to show in order to "downplay" female sexuality. All in all, a very interesting and funny take on many of the myths of the Medieval period. Movie Review: Things were better then I thought
Summary: 5 Stars
I like this series a lot! Why? Because it showed me that people were not as miserable as they had been made out be in that period of history. We often think we have it so good and we are so much smarter then our ancestors were in the past. This series by Terry Jones give the viewer a new perspective. I also enjoyed the Humor presented by Terry Jones too. I say buy it because it can be a great educational tool that many peole can watch and enjoy.
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