Rating: ![1 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-1-0.gif) Summary: Totally disgusting! Review: When this movie first came out in the theaters (we were stationed in Germany at the time) my husband and I went to see it thinking it was another romans and christians type movie like Quo Vadis and The Robe. Granted, Caligula was a brutal and demented emperor of Rome, but boy were we in for a shock! We couldn't believe our eyes! Here were some highly accomplished actors like Malcolm McDowell and Shakespearean actors Peter O'Toole and Helen Mirren in the most brutal [scene] I have ever seen. After witnessing a lawnmowerlike thing chop off the heads of a bunch of people buried in the ground up to their necks, some beastyality and the so-called *blessing* of the bride and groom by the emperor - complete with a daisy in the [rear], my husband and I left the movie early in total horror and disgust! It should be rated XXX
Rating: ![1 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-1-0.gif) Summary: Gross & Disgusting! Review: I remember hearing about this movie when I was 14 and was intrigued by some of the reviews listed here. So I ordered it and watched it. Well, I've never seen any movie with so many utterly repulsive and disgustingly sick images and scenes as in this piece of trash. I think I've seen Hell! I also was completely amazed and flabbergasted by watching actors that I've always admired and respected perform their "craft" while others around them masterbated, ejaculated, and endlessly performed much, much more unimaginably twisted and demented sexual and violent acts. How do these people get up in the morning and go out in the world? Helen Mirren? I used to love Helen Mirren. Now... violated in every decadent way with joyful glee; and Malcom and John Guilgood and Peter O'Toole?? It's completely unbelievable that this was ever a real movie. I'm getting sick just writing this review, but if it helps save just one innocent out there, then my pain will be eased. Stay away, unless you're incureably happy and naive, and view that as a medical problem that needs this as some sort of reverse therapy...or maybe an Al Qaida guy needing some new ideas.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Only open minded people need apply! Review: This is the meter of openmindedness in moves. This movie messes with your mind on multiple levels and is honest as can be about the very things we americans fear and even more shutter at talking about, SEX SEX SEX! This movie is dramatic as a porn can get with one exception there is more to this porn than just sex and it has thought to it. Not just some movie where one person says hello then the other and 5 min latter you have a sex scene and a money shot. This movie is not for anyone under 18 I would never let a person under the adult age see this movie but if you want a movie in your collection that like Moulin Rouge is something completely different and unique than this is your movie.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Insanity of Caligula Review: This is a hard film to watch. But, if you consult your history, you'll find that much of who Caligula was and what his personality was like, is portrayed pretty darn well in this film. This movie has things you can't imagine, but it all remains true to the insanity that was Caligula during the 4 years of his reign. In fact, compared to the history books, believe it or not, this film may actually be a bit tame by comparison! Malcolm McDowell does a very credible job as Caligula. I don't doubt that Penthouse jumped all over this project to display men and women, but, as it happens, much of this was actually true from a historical perspective. I don't think that Peter O'Toole and John Gielgud would have lended themselves to a film that was nothing short of a sex-fest. No, they're too brilliant to have done something such as this. English cinema and theater pride themselves on their biographical depictions...just ask Shakespeare! They are very good at doing this. This is a very hard movie to watch, but you get a nightmarish idea of what it must have been like to have lived under the tyranny and insanity of Caligula. If you want to prepare yourself before watching the movie, I highly suggest looking up Caligula's biography, and you may discover that the film isn't that far off!
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: Disappointment Overall Review: I have heard the hype surrounding this film for years and my curiosity was always aroused to see it. The film borrows heavily from Fellini's Satyricon and Kubrick's Clockwork Orange and attempts to shock us more than educate or entertain us. The "shock value" is all that can really be said for this film.The portrayel of Caligula is one-dimensional and predictable. One never learns where Caligula got his childhood nickname "Little Bootinkins" nor learns much of his illustrious father Germanicus or any other details of his upbringing. McDowell is unconvincing as a Roman nobleman and statesman, nor is his portrayel of insanity very convincing either. One gets the feeling that Malcolm McDowell is just reprising his role of Alex from Clockwork Orange in a toga. My only positive remarks would go to Peter O-Toole in the role of the aged and degenerate Tiberius. It is an inspiring performance that seems out of place in the context of this film. The camera work is amatuer and the acting is rather flat. The sets look [poorly made] and manufactured instead of solid and real. Indeed, Ancient Romans spent much of their time outdoors and this film is set almost entirely in indoor settings that look like bad science fiction sets left over from Barbarella. There is not a single scene filmed on location nor did the production take advantage of the city of Rome where it was filmed. There was not enough depiction of Caligula's mental insanity and personal insecurities in my opinion. Suetonius tells us that no one was alowed to look down upon his balding head nor mention a goat in his presence. Caligula's obsession with his own divinity was also not shown to full effect. Why did they neglect to show his decision to erect a statue of Zeus at the temple in Jerusalem? The DVD transfer is rather grainy and the picture quality is fuzzy. The sound is also not the best. This also adds to the "cheapness" and "sleezy" feel that I initially objected to at first. There is a lot of potential to this film that sadly, does not satisfy in the end. In a nutshell, this film uses the story of Caligula to make a bad film about degenerate sex, rather than using degenerate sex to make a great film about Caligula!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: The funniest movie ever made Review: I know this may sound strange...but this is one of the funniest films ever made.First of all Peter O Toole does a William Shatner imitation throwing his voice at the end of each line to show emotion. John Gielgud makes an appearance and seeing perhaps the early rushes of the film commits suicide within 5 minutes.And Malcolm Mcdowell does everything, incest, rape of men and women, getting jiggy with a horse, fornicating with a corpse... I mean he does Everything.And as if that wasnt enough, you have cut scenes(thats what they are like ) of sexual acts with absolutely no relation to the main story(dont worry there isnt one).All in all this is one unique film...it seems like a spoof of all Roman films ever made. No wonder Macdowell from Clockwork Orange had his waterloo in this film...he overacts,hams and haws. And everyone seems to be hamming for all he/she is worth.Punctuated with hot sex scenes here and there.... It got 4 stars for the sheer ridiculousness. 1 star is for the DVD extra of the producer..an Italian slick Jim with chest hair showing and half a dozen chains explaining how this was high art.......the sheer pretentiousness of this pimpy guy was tooo much...
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: good film overall Review: as far as how politically correct this grand epic may be in depicting roman decadance, i completely lose points on that. but then again, most of us here who have seen or will see the film probably could care less about how historically accurate this film was. do i like caligula as a film? indeed, i think it's one of the most handsome historical films i've seen in quite a long time. while definately not for all tastes as caligula can easily be construed as graphic, i strongly believe this film is very well done and deserving much more credit than it's received. when discussing the violent content of this film, i found it no more appalling than any conan films or the majority of medieval films which have been made. what i would really like to know though is how on earth the oscars could ever overlook the flawless performance from malcolm mcdowell as the lunatic ruler of rome? would i consider this film pornographic? i believe there are scenes which are equivalent to or rival those of any classic porno films of the seventies but it should be blatantly obvious that this film is not a porno flick. for those who are wondering just how much was restored for the unedited version, we have a grand total of 45 minutes here not shown in the r-rated version which amazon.com also offers here and i don't recommend purchasing that one by any means. please note however that the majority of the hardcore scenes are not shown with major actors such as peter o'toole, malcom mcdowell, or sir john geilgud. here we have amazing costumes, sets, and again great performances by all with the exception of the character claudius. just exactly who told this man he could act and how did he wind up in this film? in many ways, this film reminded me of another great tragedy made in recent years called titus. while maybe not as visually stunning, caligula's great performances can easily be compared to those in titus and/ or gladiator. for those skeptical viewers out there, try renting this one first before investing twenty some odd bucks into it.
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: Only good for the nudity. Review: I can't imagine why anyone would want to watch this movie aside from the sexual content. Overall, it has a very poor script and is very boring. There is no real plot at all besides from showing sex scene after sex scene, and they can't even get that right. The girls are not the most attractive and it's downright disgusting to watch sometimes. Not recommended.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Uhhh.....Okay! Review: I saw this movie a few years ago, whenever it was released on DVD. I had seen the ad in Penthouse, but anyways....this movie is quite disturbing. There are scenes of incest, a man being cut open while wine is being poured down his throat, a scene of someone being anally penetrated by Caligula's fist, etc. etc. There are a few interesting scenes with orgies and a lesbian scene with at least one of the women being one of the Penthouse pets of the late 70's-early 80's. This movie is very lavish, the sets are enormous, the acting is alright I suppose. I honestly cannot remember much of the movie: it was very very long, and I just basically watched to see what all would happen. Malcolm McDowell, a fine actor, best known for "Clockwork Orange" plays Caligula, and he does a great job as a psycho Roman fellow. Peter O'Toole plays a fairly small role as his predecessor Emperor uncle, and is very cruel towards practically everyone. It's amazing to see Caligula go from a fairly normal guy, you know, who has sex w/ his sister and all of that sort of thing (sarcasm!), to a completely deranged lunatic. However, the movie is just wayyyyy too long. Unless your'e a fairly reserved person who dislikes seeing pornographic materials and extreme violence, i'd say go for the unrated version. Is it worth buying? Hmmm....I don't know, it's a very twisted movie, and more than likely you'll have images of the more disturbing scenes in your head for a long time, but I like to be shocked every now and then. Worth AT least a rental. Oh yeah, the DVD transfer is fairly good, kind of dark as I recall, and the documentary was very well made, if a little lengthy, yet the color is kind of dull. I don't recall their being any other special features, other than a flashy menu and a list of other movies the actors have been in. Anyways, if you have a DVD player and want to see something different, look into this movie. Historically accurate.
Rating: ![1 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-1-0.gif) Summary: Sickest movie ever made Review: This is one sick twisted movie. it made me throw up
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