Caligula 4K UHD (1979/2023) [Unobstructed View Exclusive]

[nekromantik]

Nice!
I will get whatever one is cheaper to import most likely.
Even though they said its coming to UK they not sure if its gonna be 4k or just blu ray.
Depends on who releases it really.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

The Australian set will have three cuts of the film, though I expect the archival versions will be on Blu-ray. Thomas Negovan says a UHD of the 1979 cut is unlikely.

Blu-ray was expected I guess for the original version. Do we know yet if they're using the latest remaster for the original version? The Australian 3-cut set is by Umbrella? Did I miss the announcement for this or is there no pre-order yet? I'm wondering which version to go with - the US presumably doesn't include the other cuts, but may have new extras the Australian set won't?

[Schu]

up

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Blu-ray was expected I guess for the original version. Do we know yet if they're using the latest remaster for the original version? The Australian 3-cut set is by Umbrella? Did I miss the announcement for this or is there no pre-order yet? I'm wondering which version to go with - the US presumably doesn't include the other cuts, but may have new extras the Australian set won't?

I'm not sure which masters Umbrella are using. They announced their release back in February when they posted art and described it as a 4K collector's edition, but there's been no updates since. Only reason I know it'll have three cuts is because they spoke about it on a podcast. I wouldn't be surprised if they were gonna release it sooner but decided to postpone it to accommodate the new interviews/commentaries.

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by KcMsterpce

A long time ago, a video store was going out of business. So, I perused the shelves for the deeply discounted VHS tapes (which was mostly empty by that point), but they had CALIGULA. I was like "Woah. That's hard to find."

I got to the counter and had CALIGULA, DEEP THROAT, DEBBIE DOES DALLAS, and WESTWORLD.
(If they had BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR, I would have gotten that as well.)

Guy at the counter was like "Have fun."
I merely thought, "Huh. Never thought I'd get to see these classic titles. And WESTWORLD is great."
The other three movies I bought that day weren't great.

Ummm...they were smut. Honestly, what did you expect?

[SpacemanDoug]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

The Australian set will have three cuts of the film, though I expect the archival versions will be on Blu-ray. Thomas Negovan says a UHD of the 1979 cut is unlikely.

any reason why?

Also I hope this release for the earlier cuts restores the original mono audio

[IdeaOfEvil]

So, I've never seen any version of Caligula before. Do I need to see any particular cut before watching any next particular cut before watching the Ultimate Edition? Or does it not matter?

[Infallible Presence]

Originally Posted by IdeaOfEvil

So, I've never seen any version of Caligula before. Do I need to see any particular cut before watching any next particular cut before watching the Ultimate Edition? Or does it not matter?

If it helps...
https://www.movie-censorship.com/list.php?s=Caligula

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by SpacemanDoug

any reason why?

Also I hope this release for the earlier cuts restores the original mono audio

IIRC he said he doesn't think the materials are up to it. If the best surviving element is the interpositive then I see no reason why it shouldn't be presented in 4K tbh, but it depends on the label and whether Penthouse would permit another round of scanning/grading/clean-up (though it'd be much cheaper and quicker than the work that went into The Ultimate Cut).

Originally Posted by IdeaOfEvil

So, I've never seen any version of Caligula before. Do I need to see any particular cut before watching any next particular cut before watching the Ultimate Edition? Or does it not matter?

You don't need to watch any particular cut beforehand, no, but if you're gonna watch one, I'd recommend the unrated theatrical cut. The 2007 alternate cut is essentially an earlier, less ambitious attempt to do something similar to The Ultimate Cut. It omits the hardcore inserts (clumsily IMO) and shuffles a few scenes so that they're actually in the correct order. It's worth preserving for the audio commentaries, though.

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by StarFuryG7

Ummm...they were smut. Honestly, what did you expect?

Oh My God

[KcMsterpce]

Originally Posted by Kyle15

Oh My God

Pretty much the thought that went through my head as well.
I mean, I didn't add a smiley face or "lol" at the end of my comment. I just figured the humor was inherent in the post itself. lol

[FatherDude]

Interesting reaction to the new cut over at caligula.org.

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by FatherDude

Interesting reaction to the new cut over at caligula.org.

Yeah, the dude who runs that site is... a character. There's a lot of great stuff on there but you do have to wade through the bizarre rants. I remember in 2016 when he junked everything for, er, reasons, but thankfully he saw sense and reuploaded everything.

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by IdeaOfEvil

So, I've never seen any version of Caligula before. Do I need to see any particular cut before watching any next particular cut before watching the Ultimate Edition? Or does it not matter?

Look, just know what you're getting yourself into before sitting down to watch it. It's graphic, it's gory, and it's not an artistic film in any respect. It's a porn film, and a bloody one at that besides, bottom line. If you're interested in how the film was originally released to theaters, then see the theatrical cut. Don't expect an art film though, because that's not what you'll be seeing. And if you prefer to avoid gore, or porn, then you should go with the R-rated version. However, a lot of people would argue then what is the point?

As for The Ultimate Cut, according to what I've heard, it's basically a different movie pretty much altogether. It's not what Tinto Brass would have intended, or the butcher, Bob Guccione, either for that matter. So, expect something...else...if you actually decide to watch that new version also once it's released. However, my guess is you might now want to bother.

[IdeaOfEvil]

Originally Posted by StarFuryG7

Look, just know what you're getting yourself into before sitting down to watch it. It's graphic, it's gory, and it's not an artistic film in any respect. It's a porn film, and a bloody one at that besides, bottom line. If you're interested in how the film was originally released to theaters, then see the theatrical cut. Don't expect an art film though, because that's not what you'll be seeing. And if you prefer to avoid gore, or porn, then you should go with the R-rated version. However, a lot of people would argue then what is the point?

As for The Ultimate Cut, according to what I've heard, it's basically a different movie pretty much altogether. It's not what Tinto Brass would have intended, or the butcher, Bob Guccione, either for that matter. So, expect something...else...if you actually decide to watch that new version also once it's released. However, my guess is you might now want to bother.

It's kinda sounding like you're telling me to not watching anything

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by IdeaOfEvil

It's kinda sounding like you're telling me to not watching anything

I'm telling you that if you do decide to watch it, know what you're getting yourself into. The theatrical film, the Uncut version...they're graphic and not for the fainthearted. It's also pretty trashy stuff, and you may feel all icky just for having watched it once it's over.

Guccione was a crass guy. The movie and his editing and direction, to the extent that happened, makes that rather clear. What he also did by pushing Brass aside and taking creative control over the film also serves to illustrate that he wasn't really interested in producing an impressive film. He was just fine with it turning out to be a piece of trash once done.

It also put good high profile actors in a rather awkward position once he chose to go that route, but he didn't care.

[Telemachus]

I feel like this film is something James Woods' character would have tried to buy in Videodrome

[RalphoR]

So will there be a nudist/orgy commentary? Seems fitting.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by StarFuryG7

Look, just know what you're getting yourself into before sitting down to watch it. It's graphic, it's gory, and it's not an artistic film in any respect. It's a porn film, and a bloody one at that besides, bottom line. If you're interested in how the film was originally released to theaters, then see the theatrical cut. Don't expect an art film though, because that's not what you'll be seeing. And if you prefer to avoid gore, or porn, then you should go with the R-rated version. However, a lot of people would argue then what is the point?

As for The Ultimate Cut, according to what I've heard, it's basically a different movie pretty much altogether. It's not what Tinto Brass would have intended, or the butcher, Bob Guccione, either for that matter. So, expect something...else...if you actually decide to watch that new version also once it's released. However, my guess is you might now want to bother.

Wow. You are completely, absolutely wrong here.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by IdeaOfEvil

It's kinda sounding like you're telling me to not watching anything

Ignore everything that poster said about this film and judge it yourself. The production and set design and costuming is incredible, and McDowell puts in a stunning performance, even more so in the ultimate cut, which is in a way the same film but in another way a totally different film (I've seen it as opposed to the poster that responded to you).

As long as you're not offended by the graphic nature of the film, I'd say it's well worth a watch. To say it has no artistic merit is absurd.