Rating: 
Summary: Exciting, if you have adventurous tastes
Review: While the plot was somewhat lacking, you couldn't ask for more steam to be generated by a non-pornographic movie. As a woman nearing middle age, and a rather conservative woman at that, I can say that I was flushed and stimulated by the time the movie finished. The "name" actors legitimize the movie, but the "adult film" actors give the movie it's zest. I watched the film by myself, and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I was able to fully devote my attention to it, shall we say. One scene between two female lovers was so exquisitely executed, it literally took my breath away.Truly a film intended for mature audiences.
Rating: 
Summary: You REALLY Have To Want This One
Review: ...I had always been curious as to what exactly is in Tinto Brass' full "uncensored" film. Let's just say that I am glad that I didn't pay retail price. Why? First off, this particular version is being been blatently misrepresented by it's distributors [Penthouse Magazine] as "the fully unsencorded version", which simply isn't true. A five second Google search for "Caligula Full Uncut Version" will reveal that the movie, as it originally existed, was 160 minutes long. Penthouse has presented us with a 152 minute version and are foisting it off as "uncut", which is just factually untrue. Not that you are missing much ... six to eight minutes of additional hardcore footage and sadistic torture scenes won't make my life any more complete, and according to the thirty minutes of research I did, that's all one would be missing. Perhaps someday a more complete DVD will be offered, but until then this is the most you can find in the United States. In the end, Caligula is a somewhat disheatening portrayal of sick, debased fantasies masquerading as a period historical epic. The sole reason to see the film at all is the notorious scenes of sex and violence, which are still potent today some 23 years after the movie was released. If you are looking for a perverse slog through the history of Ancient Rome as filtered through the eyes of Bob Guccioni, this disc has your name written all over it. But if you are a casual viewer looking for some jaded, twisted little thrills, Caligula will either deliver the goods to the point of excess, or disappoint you by not being just as graphic and lurid as you may have heard. A college roommate had a VHS tape of the film back in the 1980's and I don't see anything new or more compelling about this version, and the film remains what it was all along -- a curiosity piece for viewers with a taste for the lowest common demoninator of trash currently available on DVD, and this is it. I would prefer to rate it a two and a half star effort, but am rounding down.... Find an outlet chain brave enough to offer it for rental first.
Rating:
Summary: Good Porn, Bad Movie
Review: This film is a great example of Malcom McDowell's finest acting. Even Helen Mirram does quite well (if not up to par with her later roles)....however, the script is just terrible, the supporting cast is horrible, and the plot is just ridiculous. I give props to Guccione, Brass, and etc. for realistically visualizing Rome at the time of Caligula, and for the truly outrageous and elaborate sets, but everything else just doesn't cut it.
As a porno, this movie is just dandy. There is a 10 minute lesbian scene, and a roughly 10-15 scene that features an orgy. This is only about a total of 30 minutes of hard-core material, and for a movie that goes on for nearly 3 hours....well, what can I say? I didn't watch the movie solely for the adult material (I did find out about the film from Penthouse magazine, so I knew what to expect, though!): Malcom MacDowell, Peter O'Toole....people like that just elevate the films that they appear in, and this is the case. In THIS case, an abyssmal flick is raised to the status of tolerable flick.
As far as extras go, i'll give the film an extra star. A lengthy 'behind the scenes' featurette from the late 70's is informative and fascinating, particularly for giving the viewer an oppurtunity to see what went behind the construction of the massive, multi-million dollar sets. It also offers a rare oppurtunity to see Bob Guccoine in person, speaking about the film (even if he is garbed in chains and a leisure suit!). The actors' perspectives are also great. Beyond this, not much else....you can listen to the soundtrack without the speech, and it is truly a massive and powerful score to the film, nearly on par with the 40's-50's epics. A commentary track with either Guccione or McDowell would be great, but I suppose that perhaps the latter may have dis-associated himself with this picture over the years?
Watch it for the quality acting. Watch it for the `adult' material. By no means should you watch it for the gratuitous violence (it's just horrible to look at, and i've seen plenty a gruesome movie....seeing a man gutted isn't my idea of entertainment), grainy film transfer and appaling screen play. I hope to see Mr. McDowell one day star in a big-budget film of his own...it's been much too long.
Rating:
Summary: Good Acting. Average Movie
Review: I finally got a chance to view this film after so many years. I'll try to consolidate some of my thoughts with those of reviewers before me: Is it a good movie? It's slow. But it has real good acting (a 3.5 out of 5 overall). MM and PO were superb.
Is it true to reality? Don't think so. Lots of "artistic license"
Is it that crude? Yes, very.
Is it porn? Just naked people through out and only a couple of really HC scenes. This is NOT a triple X with content but rather the other way round. In all, I think is a classic and I don't regret seeing it. You have too. Would I see it again? Just maybe.
Rating:
Summary: Almost like I remember
Review: well I saw the unrated but diffrent version while i was overseas and it was alittle better. The copy I have now is good. I have no idea why anyone could say its boring but i guess to each his \her own. Its a good movie to watch but not advised for anyone younger then 18. Have fun and enjoy it. I know I do
Rating: 
Summary: Boring!!!
Review: It is hard to imagine how sex of every description and violence of every sort could be boring, but without feeling, a focused story line, and decent acting, that is exactly what happens in Caligula. I was titilated by the thoughts of what might happen in this movie, but my imaginings were much more exciting than the reality of the film. Buy yourself a good book instead!
Rating: 
Summary: Poor video when compared to the laser disc version
Review: The remake on DVD from a video quality standpoint is poor, its dark
and grainy. The laser disc versions video was excelllent. Nice audio
but it doesn't need it. The film content was everything I remembered
and possibly more. Not for the faint of heart or prudish.
Violence is graphic and gory. Sex seens very explict, including homosexual scenes.
Rating:
Summary: HORRIFIC EXCESS....
Review: Huge, lavish expansive vehicle for depicting every sort of depravity imaginable (or even UNimaginable). Financed by Penthouse (of course), "Caligula" manages to trot out good "name" actors to give a pornographic film some respectability. Too bad. The film is historically debatable on any count and no one's watching this excrement on film for history anyway. I truly believe you can pay Malcolm McDowall to do anything but Helen Mirren is totally debased here. Scatalogical in the extreme, "Caligula" stands as a total embarrassment to one and all. Camera work is downright poor at times. Mcdowall hams it up unmercifully and really seems to be enjoying the hideous things he does. A total gross-out for people who like watching bloody car accidents. Help yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: An erotic masterpiece
Review: I have never seen a movie that has both aroused me and repulsed me simultaneously (well, with different scenes). Alternately, there is some of the most erotic sex I've ever seen captured on film juxtaposed with some of the most graphic violence I've seen outside of an unrated slasher movie, usually inflicted on genitalia. There is also a huge amount of callous brutality, especially towards the end of the movie, which is absolutely accurate as to how the Romans behaved (the strong destroying the weak). Some VERY beautiful girls (and well endowed males, for you ladies) appear in the sex and orgy scenes, no names you'll recognize (aside from the stars, who insisted that they did not know the film was to be sexually explicit), but I doubt you'll care.
If you like erotica, buy this film. I sure will.
Rating:
Summary: Sheer Decadence, raw, explicit, brilliance.
Review: Caligula is unique, in that it, for once, is a movie about decadent Rome, 37AD, when "anything goes" seemed to be the moral attitude, and showed that attitude, on the screen, with NOTHING implied. We see it all, from highly erotic, incredibly explicit ... scenes, to the aftermath of these unions, in the ... that are the spawn of the many incestuous relationships that were a reality back then. We witness the actual birth of the mad Caligula's daughter, and see him make love with his sister. We see horrible tortures, .... , rapes, sodomy, incest, and get to witness (up close and very personal) the orgies, that "Eyes Wide Shut" was deathly terrified of showing. Remember the laughable screenplay, when the couples making love during the decadent costume party in the mansion were "stratigically" blocked out!!? I almost left the theatre. I DEFY any screenwriters out there to make a movie with even HALF of the intestinal fortitude of Caligula. Yes, incest, and .... are ...., vile and disgusting things. But in 37AD, they were prevalent. I am a fan of film, and it nauseates me when anything is "forbidden", or considered too contraversial for the screen. The film is powerful, and over the top with everything, and it works....Highly recommended, and should be seen uncut.
|
