Caligula (1979) (The Imperial Edition)

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Neo

I've never seen this movie and with all of your comments, I wanna see it now.

Is it really as bad as people say?

It is truly as bad as people say.

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by AaronSCH

This film graphically illustrates how even respected talent can demonstrate an incredible lack of judgement. It's such a complete example of poor taste that I just had to add it to my collection.

I agree. It's like a train wreck that can be watched over & over.
Just like the comment/scene in Clerks II, "It's distrubing but I can't look away."

[Ernest Rister]

Buyer's remorse, anyone?

We tried to tell you.

[zardoz]

well the accusation has spoken

now it is the time for Defence advocate

This might be a shock to our dear puritan american friends , but everything (or most of it, at least) that is depicted in this movie is historically accurate. (as crazy as this may sounds today)
This is the best performance of Malcom Mc Dowell, and there are some other very good actors.
While technically the edition is not that great, it is still a movie to see imo
(it was probably a bit of inspiration for the TV show Rome)

if you liked Fellini's Satyricon, go for it.

[P@t_Mtl]

[QUOTE=zardoz;1601381]well the accusation has spoken

now it is the time for Defence advocate

This might be a shock to our dear puritan american friends , but everything (or most of it, at least) that is depicted in this movie is historically accurate. (as crazy as this may sounds today)
QUOTE]

This movie is not very accurate, while there is no doubt that he wanted to be worship as a living god many of the things mention by historians of the time are to be take with a grain of salt. In Roman political culture, insanity and sexual perversity were often presented hand-in-hand with poor government. He was probably crazy yes but to say this movie is historically accurate is pushing it.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by zardoz

if you liked Fellini's Satyricon, go for it.

I have Caligula on DVD, and would consider upgrading to the Blu for a low price....... but I'd never compare it to Satyricon.

[1Fish2FishRedFishBlu]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Well, then here's some more free advertising...


Caligula

Release Date: 1980

Ebert Rating: Zero stars

By Roger Ebert / Sep 22, 1980

I typically do the opposite as those guys recommended and have always been happy. I own the DVD and I liked the over the top scenes. It was what ancient Greece degrated into plain and simple and mostly accurate.

As far as the Blu being a good transfer, I cant comment.

[Russell_L]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I have Caligula on DVD, and would consider upgrading to the Blu for a low price....... but I'd never compare it to Satyricon.

I think whether one would consider the Blu an 'upgrade' is questionable. I haven't seen it myself, but all reviews I've seen say the BD looks pretty horrible. (But then it's probably the best it will ever look.)

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by 1Fish2FishRedFishBlu

I typically do the opposite as those guys recommended and have always been happy. I own the DVD and I liked the over the top scenes. It was what ancient Greece degrated into plain and simple and mostly accurate.

As far as the Blu being a good transfer, I cant comment.

If they were suppose to show ancient Greece then they failed to be accurate, because it's suppose to be a movie about the Roman emperor Caligula.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Russell_L

I think whether one would consider the Blu an 'upgrade' is questionable. I haven't seen it myself, but all reviews I've seen say the BD looks pretty horrible. (But then it's probably the best it will ever look.)

I think it looks terrible. It is superior to the SD-DVD image but not by any amount that would matter to most. I toggled back and forth between the two and saw little, if any difference on my system. The image is still quite dark, although marginally brighter than the SD-DVD rendering - skin tones look redder and detail is decidedly poor. Grain is prominent, but this certainly doesn't look high-definition to me.

DVDBeaver Comparison

There aren't many images that I can copy over, because of their content, so check the link above for more. That being said there appears to be little improvement of the dvd.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

DVDBeaver Comparison

There aren't many images that I can copy over, because of their content, so check the link above for more. That being said there appears to be little improvement of the dvd.

A few shots seem a little bit more clear but there is not a huge difference from the DVD

[Ben]

Originally Posted by zardoz

well the accusation has spoken

now it is the time for Defence advocate

This might be a shock to our dear puritan american friends , but everything (or most of it, at least) that is depicted in this movie is historically accurate. (as crazy as this may sounds today)
This is the best performance of Malcom Mc Dowell, and there are some other very good actors.
While technically the edition is not that great, it is still a movie to see imo
(it was probably a bit of inspiration for the TV show Rome)

if you liked Fellini's Satyricon, go for it.

Uh.... not so much. There are aspects of the film that are accurate, but on the whole, there is a TON of speculative and downright made up information contained within the film. Even one of the most prominent plot points (Caligula's sexual relationship with his sister Drusilla) has been discredited amongst historians with the vast majority believing that this relationship was nothing more than a rumour created at the time to discredit Caligula with the masses. That's one of 100 examples of questionable historical material in the film. Regardless, it really doesn't matter how historically accurate the movie is - - it's horrible either way.

[caheaton]

"If they were suppose to show ancient Greece then they failed to be accurate, because it's suppose to be a movie about the Roman emperor Caligula"

Yes...but buy the time of Caligula's reign Ancient Greece had already been absorbed into the Roman Empire.

Craig

(I own this film and actually, I've seen worse movies. I bought it mainly for nostalgia reasons...it was the first movie I ever rented way back in the days of VHS...mind you I was a teenager at the time so maybe you can understand ).

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by caheaton

Yes...but buy the time of Caligula's reign Ancient Greece had already been absorbed into the Roman Empire.

Craig

(I own this film and actually, I've seen worse movies. I bought it mainly for nostalgia reasons...it was the first movie I ever rented way back in the days of VHS...mind you I was a teenager at the time so maybe you can understand ).

Ok touche I also saw it in 1982 or 1983 can't recall with some highschool buddies. But even then I was sort of by it. It's a weird movie.

[Blu Titan]

Caligula is not a good movie, but it is not as bad as the reviewers indicate.

[Sushisake]

I may be one of the few that actually like this film. It's good, filthy fun...

[HD Man]

"Just Five Gold Pieces!!"

For those who've seen the film

[Bigwayne]

I think I might want this.. LOL

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by HD Man

"Just Five Gold Pieces!!"

For those who've seen the film

I've got my copy of for trade if anyone's interested in taking the plunge.

[Metaliric]

Originally Posted by Blove23

I was thinking about adding "Caligula" to my collection.I just wanted to know everyone's thoughts on this movie. I know its not going to be the best PQ because the movie was filmed in 1979. I just wanted to get some insight from those who are true movie watchers! Rumor has it Malcolm McDowell is pretty insane in this film!

I was managing a video store back when this came out on VHS. It's always been a controversial film. Yes it's graphic, yes it's violent, but for some reason it's something I think everyone should watch once. I'm not saying it's a landmark movie, but in some ways, it's just hard to explain. Of all the actors and actresses who were in it, and yes Roddy McDowell is WWaaaayyy out there, the biggest suprise to me was Helen Mirren being in this. I've always kept a copy around as someone will mention it once in a while and will want to see it. Not sure i'd replace my dvd at this point unless the format goes away though.