Rating: 
Summary: "how can you give this 5 stars?"
Review: People ask me this all the itme, and I have to say: rather effortlessly. Yes, this movie is trash, but it is the king of all trash. We need to experience trash now and again to remind us what good art looks like. When I first saw this film it was at a midnight showing, and I'll admit I went expecting the worst. Well, I had no idea what I was in for. After it was over I walked home through the seedy streets of a near 3:00 AM Chicago, devoid of any fear or trepidation, for I had endured a pain far worse than anything reality could inflict. Those with me decided to never speak of the movie again, but now that some time has passed I must admit that anything that disquieting should be recognized. Buy this movie simply to remind yourself of the depths humanity can sink to. Enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother with the edited version!
Review: I have not yet seen the unedited version of this film but I made the mistake of renting the edited version a few years ago. Don't do it, people! They must have had to cut out so much footage, the plot is completely hard to understand and all of a sudden it's all over. However, it was almost worth it to see Bob Guccione at the end come on screen and say, "Hello, I'm Bob Guccione. What you have just seen is a drastically edited version of my movie Caligula. I do not approve of censorship. If you would like to order the unedited version through the US mail, where FEDERAL laws, not LOCAL laws apply, please call..." Believe it or not this short little spiel actually inspired a lengthy intelligent discussion amongst me and my family concerning censorship, etc. But otherwise, stay away!
Rating: 
Summary: Interested in Roman history? You need this movie!
Review: I'll admit, when this movie first came out, I was mainly interested in the sex scenes (what can I say; I was a teenager). But, as I got older and read more about Roman history, I came to find out that this movie is based on acknowledged facts. If you read "I, Claudius" by Robert Graves (also available from Amazon.com), he mentions many of the things that happen in the film (Caligula's love affair with his sister; the death of Nerva and Tiberius; the brothel he started with the senator's wives). So this movie is actually based on fact. Even though there is a lot of violence in the movie, I definately recommend the unrated version. I was both fascinated and appalled by this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Overrated
Review: I thought the "gory" violence was pretty tame (just watch "Hellraiser" to see REAL violence). And I think a lot of these sex scenes were merely put in for shock value. (See Playboy's film production of Shakespeare's Macbeth for a tasteful use of sex.) Was this film dubbed? I HATE DUBBED FILMS! McDowell is great, but I thought his dance scene looked silly. I loved Gielgud, and O'Toole's character was really creepy!
Rating:
Summary: Caligula
Review: Great Movie! It is a shocker! It really makes you think about politics and the people with power.
Rating:
Summary: Erotic, repulsive, fine entertainment!
Review: A very entertaining portrail of Roman times. One must be into rather dark humor to appreciate it. It does have one of the hottest Lesbian sex scenes I have ever seen!
Rating:
Summary: Very interesting
Review: I heard about this movie from an old drama teacher that said it was the most horrid thing he ever saw, so naturally when I saw that it was released on DVD, I had to buy it (and make sure you get the unrated version if you do decide to get it!). First of all, the movie quality was a little grainy, but I don't think it could be helped given the original source. This movie is definately not for the squeamish or prude, as the boxcover suggests. There is a lot of explicit sex, and plenty of bloodshed (though sometimes it seems corny unintentionally). Storywise, there really isn't much there. A young man becomes emporer through assasination and slowly becomes contaminated by the power that he has given himself. One can see a hint at his psychological breakdown, but there are other psychological movies that do it better. I guess this movie would be best classified as porn that seriously wanted to have a plot, but ends up failing in it's pretensiousness. And the big orgy scene is near the end, and it is comparible to most porn in the 70's, nothing special. If you want to get this for the sex, I think you are better off renting a full fledged porno. Malcom McDowell does give a pretty good performance, but many parts of it reminded me of his Alex character in Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange", and you'd probably be better off seeing that one. Now you are probably wondering why I gave it four stars... I happen to be a fan of campy cheese flicks (John Water's Pink Flamingoes is right up my alley), and this in a way, isn't too far from that camp. One last thought, you have to wonder how they got "big" name stars to be in this movie (didn't they know who Bob Guccione was? )
Rating:
Summary: Good for what ails ya.
Review: I've heard all about Caligula. So I figured "What the heck!". The story was typical at best. The sets were elaborate. The acting...well typical McDowell. Don't waste your time with this. Unless of course you've run out of "material" to work with.
Rating:
Summary: Realism At Its Best
Review: I must give props to the makers of this film. It took guts to make a movie so realistic of the represented time. After watching the unrated version, for me to see the rated version would be a waste. After all it would probably only be about 45 min. long. This movie is not for kids, or people with weak stomachs. It is not a porno, it is art. Pornos are made so people can pleasure themselves. Caligula was made to show us a time in world history. A time before christianity, before modern day morals. This is a great buy for the simple realistic art.
Rating: 
Summary: perverse, but interesting
Review: Yes, I have to admit that the real reason why I watch this movie is the sex that Penthouse magazine kept advertising about. Yet, sex turned out to be, with the exception of a few scenes, the boring part of the movie. There is only so much one can take of seeing nude people prancing around, or performing various acts of simulated and real copulation. The decadent Rome and the deranged Caligula as portrayed in this movie are fascinating, making the unwieldy 150+ minute movie watchable (provided that one can stomach the gratuitous violence). The performances are mixed with outstanding work by the pros such as Malcolm McDowell, and very weak job by the half-naked (or naked) actresses (with the notable exception of Helen Miren). The DVD image quality is poor at times - the opening titles are simply horrible. The accompanying documentary is a must-see howler.
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