CALIGULA Review On "Violent Maniac's Cage"

CALIGULA

(1980)

US The rise and fall of the notorious Roman Emperor Caligula, showing the violent methods that he employs to gain the throne, and the subsequent insanity of his reign - he gives his horse political office and humiliates and executes anyone who even slightly displeases him. He also sleeps with his sister, marries a notorious prostitute, organizes elaborate orgies and embarks on a fruitless invasion of England before meeting an appropriate end. All of this to show the opulent excess that was common in post Christ Rome. Produced by Bob Guccione and written by Gore Vidal, both of them seem quite disgusted by the film and have distanced themselves from it. The scenes of wild parties and massive orgies make one cringein disgust, these where some pretty sick people and with the very graphic scenes of sodomy and such, it will definitely offend some. There are various versions of the film, ranging from the heavily- edited 90-minute version to the legendary 160-minute hard-core version which leaves nothing to the imagination (though the hard-core scenes were inserted later and do not involve the main cast members). Malcolm McDowell, John Guilgood and Peter O'Toole tarnish their resumes with this pond scum. The only really cool scene is a wicked looking decapitation machine that is used to lob off some traiterous heads. Only for those who really want to torture themselves…… To think that the Romans were the civilized ones!

Review by: Losman

Email: losman@express-news.net

This site is created and maintained by Violent Maniac < CMAYO@THEZONE.NET >