Caligula (Three-Disc Imperial Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Caligula (Three-Disc Imperial Edition)
Movie Review: Q: Does Power Corrupt? A: Duh!!!
Summary: 3 Stars
I remember watching Caligula in the movies many, many years ago and falling in love with the actress that portrays Drusilla, Caligula's sister - Teresa Ann Savoy. The movie, I dare say, is somewhat linear in a bad way. By that I mean, there is no crescendo. No high before the fall. It's just sick humor followed by grotesque deaths, surrounded by sex. In a nutshell, the plot is about this ordinary guy, loosely related to royalty, that suddenly becomes ruler of the known world. Caius Caligula, the adopted son of the Emperor Tiberius Ceaser, fearing he is to be killed by the man who killed his family, strikes first and becomes the new Ceaser in one swift stroke. Young and cocky, he plays with his new power by first taunting, later humulating the Senate and the army in a series of ludricous acts. When his sister Drusilla, the only voice of reason he is willing to listen to dies, he really cuts loose. Seen as having gone mad, Caligula, his wife and child are inevitably killed by roman soldiers in a conspiracy lead by the Senate.
The Imprial Edition is a 3 DVD set that offers two versions of the movie, the normal comercial release and another that would have a corrected editing (text inside comments that the original movie was edited out of what should have been the correct order). There's little difference between the two. There is also an assortment of extra material, including various outtakes, picture galleries and some very intresting interviews both filmed at the time of shooting the movie and recent.
My thoughts regarding the movie is that it fails in it's attempt to portray pagen Rome as it states. I have no problems with the sex and orgies. Sex is part of what we are as people. Part of our way of life, like eating or defecating. Such hang-ups do not distract me. But filming people working naked, mallot in hand breaking rocks is not reality. It's just for show (or shock). This is not real life, simply put. Watching Bob Guccione stating in interview that the main concern was accuracy in portraying paegan Rome is a joke.
It could be suggested, that the movie would probably be less controversal, less sex-explicit and more directed to the story, if Guccione was not involved. Having said that, the movie would certainly not have the sets and costumes, let alone the great actors, without Guccione's financial involvment either. One can only wonder how the real movie, as conceived by either the screenwriter or director could have been. The finished product is neither.
It is probably clear to you by now that this is not a movie directed towards family entertainment. Though I wouldn't call it porn (it fails on that too), it most certainly is adult entertainment, much in the same way as Emmanuele or Story of O.
I would suggest this movie for students of the art of film making. The sets and costumes are gorgeous and very well put together. The filming itself is very well done (choise of angles/camera positioning, lighting, contrasts). Some may find that the image and sound may not be top for today's standards but they are very good just the same. And the main reason why a movie that fails on so many levels is still topic of discussion in a serious way. This movie contains excelent acting!
Malcolm McDowell is brilhant! He is completly convincing and has my utmost admiration for pulling off a very difficult acting part that done wrong, would make the movie fall flat on it's face. He is the main reason why Caligula isn't just a bad porn flick. Peter O'Toole and John Gielgud are as good as you would expect them to be, though they take part only of the first third of the movie. Helen Mirren, so young and so sexy is a treat. She, along with John Steiner who plays Longinus, help Malcom carry the movie the rest of the way. And then there is Teresa Ann Savoy. When she is on the screen, it's hard to notice anything else. She may not be a great actress, but she is convincing enough. And she is just soooo beautiful in this picture!!! A first class boner with a face of an angel and a figure of a Goddess. Pity there is no interview with her included. I hear she is happily married and a mom nowadays. Good for her.
To be truely complete, this so called Imperial Edition should have included Gore Vidal's original screenplay and Tinto Brass' italian edition of the movie (that's right, there's still another version out there hidden somewhere in Italy), which is said to be considerably different from the one that was screened in theatres around the world. I know I for one would be curious to see this Italian version.
Movie Review: Caligula (Unrated Versioin)
Summary: 1 Stars
Another waste of money! As porno this is an uninspired piece of crap.In my opinion, it doesn't even qualify as "erotica". As a period piece it is equally a failure. It lends nothing to history, the Roman Empire or even the story of the Emperor Caligula. I can't say if this is the worst movie Roddy McDowell ever made, but it must be close! Considering how highly it was hyped originally, I was VERY disappointed. This movie is definitely not for kids, less because of the nudity and twisted sexuality as because it's just a bad movie. Plot is limp and the cinematography is barely above amateur status.Movie Review: Wow what a classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
Other than the "grossness" and porn, it's quite the story and seeing Helen Mirren in it was crazy! A must see at least once!Movie Review: Please read this
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought this "Imperial Edition" of Caligula to satisfy my curiosity. Sets: Good. Lighting: Moderately good. Direction: Adequate. Screenplay: Poor. Acting: Good.
Personally I found this entire production to be profoundly depressing and a waste of time to view. Also a waste of money.
I have also learned through experience that the majority of films Malcolm McDowell chooses as to appear in are/were awful, with the notable exceptions of "A Clockwork Orange" and "O, Lucky Man." He even admits this in his interviews. Be warned.
Movie Review: Caligula Special Edition
Summary: 4 Stars
I have just received this title which had been lost in the post & replaced. The 3-discs are packaged with an informative booklet which tells the sorry tale of the elements as they survive. There is an Italian version that could not be included because, it supposedly, cannot be shown outside Italy. I find this hard to believe. The picture & sound quality is very good considering the drama over this film back in time. Malcolm McDowell seems to relish this kind of material & Helen Mirren gets an early chance to ge her clothes off. There were various rated VHS version, one with a velvet cover, and a Laserdisc edition over the years