Caligula (DVD, 2007, Unrated Version)

I bought this item to replace an old RCA video disc which was a cut version to bring it to an R rating. If you know anything at all about the video disc it was quite an archaic system and not so good quality. Although I had seen the original in full length on video tape I had forgotten just how graphic the nature of this film is. I am quite a history buff and do like anything concerning the Roman Empire. It was a decadent time and bloodlust, sex (pedophilia, homosexuality, incest (which was common place in royalty)) and power where at a premium as this film does bring the above mentioned to life. This version in its remastered digital state brings this film to a whole new level. It has a great cast and acting but is not for the faint of heart. In addition, this film has a historical value as well, for it was the first of its kind and put out by Penthouse. In 1979 it was one of the year's most advertised (especially through Penthouse Magazine which devoted one of its covers and contained quite an extensive spread) and most anticipated films of its time. If you are thinking about buying this film please keep in mind that by saying it is a graphic film, that means....alot of violence, alot of sexual content and language. This is unrated but it is an X to really pushing a XXX film and definately not for underage viewing. It is truly a one of a kind film.

Malcolm McDowell's Caligula is an extremely graphic version of the short-lived and cruel reign of, Roman Emperor, Gaius "Caligula." It begins by establishing Caligula's disturbing relationship with his sister (Julia) Drusilla. From his succession as Emperor (following the untimely death of his 77 year-old uncle, Tiberious) to his eventual and anticipated death, the majority of the film focused on Caligula's latter and notoriously-decadent, cruel, and bizarre behavior. Though the 156-minute feature is disturbingly-accurate, much of the film is pornography. Caligula is very well-made with realistic and elaborate scenery to mirror any modern major motion picture that, with hard-core sex and, often-times, unnecessarily-gratuitous and deviant behavior, will show some of the most violent, sexual, and diturbing acts in cinema history. Though it accurately displays Gaius' succession, late-tenure as Emperor, flu and death of his sister, Drusilla, and (brief) preceding by (Uncle) Claudius, much of the details were modified for entertainment-value and would be difficult to see exclusively for its historic appeal. Reluctantly, it has entertainment-value as one of the most memorable and violent films ever made.

It's not the graphic sexual content that makes this film difficult to endure, it's just a very BAD movie. The obvious hardcore sex scenes added to this unrated version make you wish for the theatrical release, and as far as it being a faithful representation of the events of Caligula's Rome... horsepucky! These folks lost their story and their direction. AVOID THIS!

We bought this DVD because we had the VHS and we wanted to upgrade. This movie is an historical play about the depravity of the last days of the Roman Empire. It is written for the very adult audience by the producers of Penthouse Magazine--not for prudes. There are well-known actors portraying the history of the Roman Empire with enough x-rated scenes to please the aficionados of that genre. It is also historically realistic. It is a great story done in an excitingly graphic manner.

Bob Gucionne marketed an interesting product with this movie. Considered hard-core porn when it was produced; by today's standards, it would be considered soft-core. Caligula was considered to be one of the most decadent of
Rome's Caesars; yet Bob G. didn't cross that line in making this film. While quasi-orgie scenes are numerous, brutality and beastility are left by the wayside. The fact that he got such a world-reknown cast to star in his movie was quite an accomplishment. Giving the devil his due, his movie does have historical accuracy in it. The actobatics one sees in the film reminds me of some of the acts at Circus-Circus in Las Vegas.