Caligula: Uncut Edition [DVD]

Good film

For those who enjoy watching storyless porn, this film will suit very well. It has long, pointless, gratuitously sordid scenes revealing that both directors concerned obviously have serious problems with voyeuerism and ought to go and get some very heavy-duty treatment.It is entirely artless, the music poorly chosen, the camera work dull, the sets childish. And they've tried to cash in on the sets, as though sets make story - obviously they have a lot to learn about screenplay. Neither does endless porn make story. In fact, it's very putting off. The only merit being about either in this case being they inform us of what sort of depraved little men they were who conjured this piece of drivel up. Unable at any point to let go of any opportunity to cash in on some cheap shot they have done so with unerring precision: again and again, we are confronted with full-on hard core stuff, this really is the work of very grubby, low grade minds. It is disjointed, ill-thought out and actually, very boring. The first part drags - you can tell the actors have had enough already - the rest lurches along in wholly disunited form. I have never seen such a nauseous yawn, ever. How on earth the people who made it got the funding baffles the mind, but certainly it was nothing to do with artistic merit. One can only imagine them revelling in the smut in their dirty little offices. Well, I hope they're proud of it. For certain, it's the best testament they're going to get. Very nasty indeed.

As expected

This 1979 epic was directed by Tinto Brass, an Italian film maker well-known for his cheap titillation films, on the borders of soft porn. It was funded by Bob Guccione, head of the Penthouse magazine and blue film empire, and had to be cut to ninety minutes for cinema showing, because of its nudity, and pornographic content. It is now available uncut, in a full version, running just under three hours.What's to like then? Well, pretty much everything, and for one good reason, the cast. As they say in poker, read `em and weep. Peter O'Toole, John Geilgud, Helen Mirren, a clutch of Italy's finest, and Malcolm McDowell, playing the lead role of Caligula, in a manner so crazy, it was a wonder he wasn't banged up in a nuthouse as soon as filming ceased. Even a hammy script, dubbed Italian hunks, and completely shameless sex and full-frontal nudity, cannot detract from the quality of the performances.There are mad set pieces too. A huge machine that cuts off the heads of prisoners buried up to their necks in the sand. A scene in an Imperial brothel, where the wives of senators are forced to take on all comers, to raise money, is filmed on a vast set, with a huge cast of fornicating extras, indulging in all kinds of unspeakable perversity. There is rape, murder, buggery, torture, execution, incest, and even abortion by disemboweling. No degradation is too low to sink to. But this was Rome, at the time of its most depraved emperor; that was pretty much what it was like.I feel I should apologise in advance, but I just can't resist it. Make sure you get the uncut version though, and don't watch it with your Mum.

is a 1979 erotic historical drama film about the rise and fall of the controversial Roman emperor Caligula. The film stars Malcolm McDowell in the title role, alongside Teresa Ann Savoy, Helen Mirren, Peter O'Toole, John Steiner, and John Gielgud.Original screenwriter Gore Vidal and film director Tinto Brass disavowed the extensive contributions changes, with Brass dismissed before editing. Financier producer Bob Guccione, founder of Penthouse magazine, engaged Giancarlo Lui to film post-production scenes featuring hardcore sex, significantly altering the film's tone and style.Initially released to Italian cinemas in 1979, and then screened in America the following year, Caligula was met with legal issues and controversies over its violent and sexual content. Different abridged versions were released worldwide, while its uncut form remains banned in several countries. Despite a generally negative reception, the film has gained notoriety as a cult classic with significant merit for its political content and historical portrayal. A 178-minute Ultimate Cut, approved by McDowell and containing new footage not included in the theatrical release, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023, receiving more favourable reviews from critics.Another mad Roman emperor's rise and fall with the film's primary theme is "absolute power corrupts absolutely". and with this film's history being a drama itself. This is supposed to be a "clean" version with all the "naughtiness" removed closer to the script which I haven't seen as of yet so I can't make a comparison but this is pretty close to X as you can get and as Roman epic go, its as goods as most of them if that what you are after. It is a cult classic and deserves a second go-round.

I only fell asleep twice. Some appalling acting, especially 'Drusilla", and even Helen Mirren can't save this borefest. I saw it years ago but didn't really remember much about it probably because there's not much to remember. Beautiful sets, but tacky costumes and props. Watch 'I, Claudius' !