Caligula (Three-Disc Imperial Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Caligula (Three-Disc Imperial Edition)
Movie Review: great movie poor transfer
Summary: 4 Stars
Great movie -great cast- poor transfer and color which looks rather grainy on my high end lcd tv- compared to films like El Topo this is rather disappointing in the color department. Still a must own film and truly one of a kind. Movie Review: Filth, Porn, totally disgusting movie
Summary: 1 Stars
This is possibly the most disgusting pornographic movie ever made, which tries to get people interested in ancient Roman history to buy it. It is nothing but graphic hedonistic porn from start to finish. It's a slick way for the porn industry to spread their filth where it otherwise would not be able to. If you are a Christian, stay very far from this movie. It will sicken you as it did me.
I bought it only because Peter O'toole is in it. I cannot for the life of me imagine why Peter O'toole agreed to be in this filthy movie.
I have marked on this movie case: smut, porn, filth; not worth watching.
Movie Review: Awesome Extras and Two Cuts of the Film
Summary: 4 Stars
This new Imperial 3 disc edition of CALIGULA from Image and Penthouse is an "everything and the kitchen sink" affair. It should be a must buy for fans of the film, and offers two unique ways of viewing the infamous film known mostly for its peversity.
Disc One contains an unrated X-rated version including all the Bob Guccione inserted scenes of somewhat hardcore sex acts. The editing is a little off as Guccione assembled this cut from what Tinto Brass directed and put some scenes out of order thus blurring the narrative and character development.
Disc Two contains a pre-release cut of the film without the hardcore scenes, and a more logical progression of scenes assembled to depict the order Tinto Brass wanted them in. It runs 3 minutes shorter, and you'll notice alternate footage in many scenes. Three commentaries are delivered over this version with Malcolm McDowell on one, Helen Mirren on the second, and Ernest Volkman on the final track. Each are joined by authors and film critics who help keep the conversation flowing and on topic. Also included are a dozen cut and alternate takes.
The third disc contains featurettes, interviews, and archival footage from the production. A 1980 documentary proves interesting and provides more graphic footage.
The transfer is improved, but still looks blurred and lacking in contrast. The reason for some of this is the movie was shot like a magazine spread with soft focus cameras. It's never super clear, and there's plenty of grain and digital artifacts to contend with.
This is the best the film has ever looked, and has tons of extra material to wade through. A dream for collectors, and a nightmare for the detractors. The film is dispassionate and brutal - depicting every peversity you could imagine and then some. Costumes and sets are amazing - including a five story machine that decapitates heads in a colisseum. Breathtaking for all the wrong reasons, CALIGULA is about ego out of control. Oddly enough those that made it suffered from the same malady.
Movie Review: Negative-5 Stars
Summary: 1 Stars
This has got to be one of the worst films ever made...It is consistently on Ebert's worst-film list, and with good reason.
Terrible setting and background. And its basically only a porn flick.
No wonder all the main characters - and some of the producers - have since expressed regret in having been invloved with it.
1970's trash at its worst.
Movie Review: Choppy editing mars a fun flick
Summary: 3 Stars
Tinto Brass' Caligula is a film with balls; both literally and figuratively. Loaded with over-the-top set design and egregious nudity, Caligula is often unfairly brushed off as an expensive porn flick. In fact, what seems agregious to us now might not even be a slight exaggeration as regards the Roman Empire in the early AD's. Apparently, this film is one of the more realistic accounts of the debauchery of the time. Indeed, the marketing does not shy away from this. The tagline read something along the lines of: "The only film to show the true side of Ancient Rome!" If the film's content is any indication, I would think so!
Caligula has 'cult' written all over it (as well as other 'c' words). This is not a great film, but it IS a great movie. Perfect to pop in in the middle of the night if you are bored, intoxicated, or both. As far as escapist fare goes, Caligula goes well. With the midnight-show dress-up aficionados, it would be just plain fun. Perhaps even a double feature with Rocky Horror?
The sets are outrageous but that's the point. Malcolm McDowell's acting job is surprisingly good, if a bit over the top (but who said that's a bad thing?). Peter O'Toole puts in a decent (albeit short-lived) performance as Tiberius.
My biggest qualm, however, with Caligula is the editing. The hardcore scenes are more than unnecessary and the fluidity of scenes and scene changes is almost incomprehensible at times. Blame Guccione for this; he locked Brass out of the editing room.
Overall I could not give Caligula anything higher than 3 stars out of 5, although I sometimes wish I could. 4 stars is 'Blow-Up' and 'Dirty Harry' territory, and I would feel uncomfortable having them share the glory with such infamy.
***/*****
Fun, over-the-top, visually stimulating (among other things), a good conversation piece, and a great time-capsule artifact.