Watched "Caligula" the other night

[Funkybob2]

I've been wating for 3 years to see this movie, and the wait was worth it. THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME. FUCKED UP AND AWESOME. With its graphic depictions of incest, castration, orgies, "the wine scene", mass beheadings, rape, fisting, child murder, and a whole platter of fucked-up scenes, it manages to please the part of me that loves fucked-up images, and due to powerhouse performances by Malcom McDowell(A Clockwork Orange), Peter O' Toole, and other A-list actors, as well as the lavish sets, costumes, and plot points, it also manages to please the part of me who loves historical fiction.

I've but two complaints:

1. The film was financed and distributed by Penthouse, and founder Bob Guiconne added six minutes of disjointed, hardcore sex scenes that add nothing to the plot. I fast-forwarded through these.(Note: most of these are removed in the "pre-release" version of the film that comes on the 3-disc Imperial Edition, the Italian release, and the R-rated version).

2. Bob Guiconne fired the director and tried to edit the film himself, resulting in some disjointed scenes throughout.(Note: supposedly fixed somewhat in the R-rated VHS*)

10/10

*The reason it is significant that the editing in the R-rated VHS is improved is because it ISN'T improved in the R-rated DVD. Long story short, the R-rated VHS and R-rated DVD are completly different, and overall: R-rated VHS: Supposedly brilliant, R-rated DVD=Sucks

[CBP]

You don't like hardcore sex scenes?

[TheSilverGuitar]

At 11/7/08 05:16 PM, Funkybob2 wrote: "the wine scene"

Oh, do elaborate.

[Funkybob2]

At 11/7/08 05:32 PM, TheSilverGuitar wrote:

At 11/7/08 05:16 PM, Funkybob2 wrote: "the wine scene"

Oh, do elaborate.

A soldier is restrained by some of Emperor Tiberius' men(in the first half-hour, Tiberius is the emperor). A solider then removes his bootlace and ties it around the restrained soldier's gentials, to prevent him from relieving himself. Tiberius then asks Caligula, "Do you think he's been drinking?" Caligula says, "Yes I do, Lord". Tiberius then says, "So do I. More wine". Caligula and Tiberius walk off as we seeing the soliders force at least a gallon of wine down the restrained solider's throat.

About 10 minutes later, Tiberius and Caligula go back to the soldier, who's still being forced to drink wine. Tiberius asks, "Do you think he's drunk enough?" Caligula says, "Yes I do, Lord". Tiberus then says, "Yes, he has", and takes a sword from one of his men, and stabs the drunk soldier in the stomach, which causes and the wine to flow from the wound.

[TheCatsLeotards]

At 11/7/08 05:16 PM, Funkybob2 wrote: ...Bob Guiconne added six minutes of disjointed, hardcore sex scenes that add nothing to the plot.

with the amount of frivolous torture-porn horseshit you listed, I can't see this movie having anything even approaching a plot. I don't see how you could tactfully include all those elements without the plot- at the very least- playing second trombone to that garbage you kids see as entertainment.

Goddammit, I don't understand this subculture. I hope it's novelty wears off soon, and knowing most of your attention spans, it probably will.

[Funkybob2]

At 11/7/08 06:23 PM, TheCatsLeotards wrote: with the amount of frivolous torture-porn horseshit you listed, I can't see this movie having anything even approaching a plot. I don't see how you could tactfully include all those elements without the plot- at the very least- playing second trombone to that garbage you kids see as entertainment.

While you may have a point, I'd also like to point out that it's 2 1/2 hours long, so the explicit scenes are far between. I have the 1981 R-rated VHS waiting at my mother's house, which is supposed to focus on the plot much more.

Goddammit, I don't understand this subculture. I hope it's novelty wears off soon, and knowing most of your attention spans, it probably will.

Might I ask what subculture you are referring to?

[Funkybob2]

Sorry about the bump, but I have a legit reason for it. I finally got around to watching the R-rated VHS of this, and I'd have to say that it's even better! Scenes flowed so smoothly that I didn't realize what scenes were cut until about 30 minutes after I finished watching it. It removes not only the most violent/sexual bits with alternative angles, but it also removes elements not needed for the advancment of the plot, which all in all gives it a more respectable status. Futhermore, thanks to the new editing, the film doesn't feel like it takes place over 2 1/2 hours, but over a period of about 2 weeks.

Overall:

R-rated VHS: 10/10, as it functions much better as a riveting historical drama, though I still loved the uncut version.

I'll also soon be seeing an alternate "pre-release" version of the film, which clocks in at about 150 minutes.

[Gatling]

I saw this movie when I was thirteen in my Latin class. The teacher warned us we couldn't tell anyone of the schoolboard about it, since she could get into trouble. I doubt that anyone would've cared.

[Dromedary]

The uncut version was..Fucked up.
The film wasn't very good, and basically lacking a plot, just some thrown in scenes, that have nothing to do with anything.

[TacticalShoe]

I've always wanted to see Caligula just for the experience of it, really. That and that fact that it would be nice to see it done as a play makes me all the more eager to see it.

[Funkybob2]

At 11/22/08 10:37 AM, Gatling wrote: I saw this movie when I was thirteen in my Latin class. The teacher warned us we couldn't tell anyone of the schoolboard about it, since she could get into trouble. I doubt that anyone would've cared.

Did you see the R-rated version or the uncut verion? Because if it was the R-rated version, I can't see anyone making too big of a deal about it. If it was the uncut version, then believe me, they'd care. Pretty much everyone over 40 has seen it.

[Funkybob2]

By the way, here are some great fan-edits of the film.