:
Malcolm McDowell,
Malcolm McDowell,
Teresa Ann Savoy,
more...
:
Tinto Brass,
Tinto Brass,
Giancarlo Lui,
more...
see all cast/crew...
: Not Rated
: Image Entertainment
: Biopics, Erotica, Sexploitation, Vintage
: 156 min.
: English
see additional details...
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This lavish big-budget epic was the pinnacle of a uniquely Italian subgenre, the historical hardcore gore/porn extravaganza. The star-studded cast, perhaps lured by the high-profile involvement of producer Bob Guccione and screenwriter Gore Vidal, includes such luminaries as John Gielgud, Peter O'Toole, and Helen Mirren. Director Tinto Brass, whose similar treatment of Nazi Germany in Salon Kitty won him the job, did his best with the mammoth enterprise, but numerous production problems and re-edits took their toll on the finished product. When Caligula works best, it works because of Malcolm McDowell, whose crazed portrayal of the title Emperor is the embodiment of villainous corruption. McDowell raises his performance level to match the gaudy spectacle around him, which led to charges of overacting, but there are moments when he is absolutely riveting. Some of the cast doesn't fare as well, as O'Toole makes a particularly unsubtle Tiberius. The sex is graphic and steamy, particularly a feverish lesbian interlude between Penthouse Pets Lori Wagner and Marjorie Thorsen (using the pseudonym "Anneka di Lorenzo"), and the various carnival freaks used as atmosphere imbue the film with a grotesque, Fellini-like opulence. There are many memorable scenes and a magnificent score by Paul Clemente, but the heady brew of historical epic, hardcore sex, and gory violence proved overwhelming to many viewers. Still, Gore Vidal's script is surprisingly accurate, and manages to be entertainingly vulgar while bringing a rather loathsome slice of human history to vivid life, warts and all. The more explicit scenes were directed by Bob Guccione and Giancarlo Lui, causing both Vidal and Brass to remove their names from the credits. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
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| REQUIRES A GOOD SHOWER AFTER VIEWING
by stypee
April 27, 2004 - 11:34 PM PDT
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7 out of 9 members found this review helpful
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You have to experience CALIGULA (UNCUT) at least once in your lifetime. The images on the screen are so blatantly depraved, wicked and perverse that even your most repulsive and disgusting sexual fantasy couldn't comprehend or dish up this visual mess.
The film is probably notorious for what everyone wanted to know went behind the scenes as did went in front of the camera. The argument with screenwriter Gore Vidal (who still quotes his original vision today) and producer Bob Guccione led a credit "based on a screenplay by" (both Vidal and director Tinto Brass wanted their names removed from the film, so much so that they sued over it) as well as my personal favorite "edited by the production" credit.
After that you think to yourself "well it can't be all that bad", it is, but for some perverse reason you can't stop watching it, even when it slows down.
The sex in this version is extremely graphic (yeap, it's porn and it's got the money shots to boot) but that's really not the focus. It's the graphic violence and the incredibly bizarre scenarios the actors (who were probably paid handsomely) put themselves through. For example, Malcolm McDowel (Caligula) sticks his fist in what appears to be whip cream and directly into a mans anus, there's a sperm bath, loads of heads getting cut off, a penis being fed to dogs, a man forced to drink wine until his stomach is literally ripped open (his penis is tied so he can't urinate) and well, you get the idea.
CALIGULA is the type of film you want to experience with your friends and make a pact that your not going to hit "stop" on the DVD player no matter what.
Technically, CALIGULA is a mess. The D.P. should have been shot, it looks like my nephew was handed the camera and told to point and shoot. There are sequences that just "linger"; including one that was shot while the director was sleeping and the set was shut down for the night (think really, really long lesbian scene but really dull).
In reality CALIGULA is a film that should be listed as an unforgivable piece of trash. It made it's money back in theatres (Guccione actually renovated a theatre in Manhattan and charged an additional admission to see his "masterpiece") and yet there are still people that say it's the most accurate portrayal. Hard to tell but it is truly an awful yet fun loving experience, if you can handle it.
Fun Fact: It's rumored that the UNCUT version has a few snippets that never made the final cut, it's floating around somewhere. Hard to believe with such a long running time!
Good luck and have some wine.
**NOT FOR THE TIMID
Probably the only film you can compare to Passolini's SALO:120 DAY'S OF SODOM... |
| Caligula - unrated version
by Scooter
December 29, 2003 - 4:33 PM PST
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11 out of 12 members found this review helpful
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OK, you've heard about Caligula but have never seen it.. but should you? There are folks who feel strongly about this movie (some, who have not seen it). There isn't space here to cover both a plot review and a note about the legend/controversy around Caligula. I'll skip the plot-review.
Depending where you stand you can describe Caligula as a crude MacBeth-like Shakespeare tragedy, or a depraved, high-budget porn. Shakespeare might spin in his grave at that comment, but oh well he's dead.
Adult-movie fans will not automatically like Caligula for the sex scenes because it is only part of the story (and probably not the type of sex you are used to watching). At the time of release this probably was considered a lot of sex... but today I suspect this would be closer to NC-17. There are 3 porn-style sex scenes where the camera stays with the actors until, um, they arrive but that's it for watchable consensual sex. That's not to de-emphasize the sexual or violent nature... there is an excess of extreme violence, torture, rape (female and male), assorted sexual deviancy (about 1 of each...), twisted relationships and betrayal throughout the entire movie.
Be warned... even if you can sit through other brutal movies such as American Psycho, Clockwork Orange, etc. I think you will still be provoked. The unrated version is considerably shorter, but I have not seen it and with that much cut, I am not sure you will view the monster Caligula in the same way as having watched the Unrated version.
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 5.62)
156 Votes
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