chatwithmichaelmac
Joined Nov 2015
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chatwithmichaelmac's rating
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chatwithmichaelmac's rating
From the opening credits, the tone is set for this stunning restoration and re-assembling of arguably the most stunning, divisive and controversial film made up to this point.
The sense of drama this new prologue creates is a perfect entree to the shocking, lushly produced, explicit cinematic orgy that follows.
This version plays out more coherently than the original and presents extended performances from the big name actors though the producers decision to exclude some sub-story lines and characters is a slight disappointment, as is the censoring of the more explicit sex scenes. The decadence and violence of many of those scenes made it a tour de force and should not have been cut out. Perhaps it should have been a 4 hour film. If only foot the cinephiles.
Despite those misgivings 'Caligula the Ultimate Cut' holds its own as a remarkable and disturbing film like no other.
Peter O'Toole's performance as a psychotic, syphilitic monster is so fabulously over the top it is worth watching for that alone.
Malcolm McDowell gives a unique performance so disturbing and utterly mad, it's at times challenging to watch.
John Gielgud is as wonderful an actor in this as you would expect but Helen Mirren, perhaps thankfully for her, is barely part of the horror-show.
It sears into your brain.
The sets are amazing and provide the perfect backdrop to the nightmare unfolding upon them.
There are buckets of blood and explicit sex, including multiple rapes of females and males and bestiality, in Caligula, the likes of which have never before or since been depicted in a film. It makes Pasolini's 'Salo' look tame. It's at times stomach churning to watch.
This is not 'entertainment' by any stretch. But it is Art. For some, High Art. And art can sometimes be deliberately confronting.
The sense of drama this new prologue creates is a perfect entree to the shocking, lushly produced, explicit cinematic orgy that follows.
This version plays out more coherently than the original and presents extended performances from the big name actors though the producers decision to exclude some sub-story lines and characters is a slight disappointment, as is the censoring of the more explicit sex scenes. The decadence and violence of many of those scenes made it a tour de force and should not have been cut out. Perhaps it should have been a 4 hour film. If only foot the cinephiles.
Despite those misgivings 'Caligula the Ultimate Cut' holds its own as a remarkable and disturbing film like no other.
Peter O'Toole's performance as a psychotic, syphilitic monster is so fabulously over the top it is worth watching for that alone.
Malcolm McDowell gives a unique performance so disturbing and utterly mad, it's at times challenging to watch.
John Gielgud is as wonderful an actor in this as you would expect but Helen Mirren, perhaps thankfully for her, is barely part of the horror-show.
It sears into your brain.
The sets are amazing and provide the perfect backdrop to the nightmare unfolding upon them.
There are buckets of blood and explicit sex, including multiple rapes of females and males and bestiality, in Caligula, the likes of which have never before or since been depicted in a film. It makes Pasolini's 'Salo' look tame. It's at times stomach churning to watch.
This is not 'entertainment' by any stretch. But it is Art. For some, High Art. And art can sometimes be deliberately confronting.
The amount of reviews here of this stunning film that complain about the language being "Shakespearean" and therefore incomprehensible, demonstrate clearly the moronic and ill-educated level of American culture.
If it's really that big a stretch for you to understand what the actors are saying, then the quagmire of absurdity America has become is laid bare.
It is not only NOT the land of the brave or the home of the brave, but rather a collapsed cultural wasteland.
If it's really that big a stretch for you to understand what the actors are saying, then the quagmire of absurdity America has become is laid bare.
It is not only NOT the land of the brave or the home of the brave, but rather a collapsed cultural wasteland.
20 years after its release, this fun movie holds up remarkably well.
Despite some truly corny moments, (the "gay strike" really is over the top but at least offers a storyline anchor for the second half), 'The Marriage Wars' remains a good watch that spreads cheer and joy through its storyline. Oddly enough it's as much some of the straight characters as some of the gay ones who are stereotypes but it's all forgivable as it weaves its merry way through a storyline that calls out homophobia and bigotry and ends with lessons leant on all sides.
It has many tender moments which are deeply moving and provides lots of smiling moments.
It's hard to believe how long ago this film was made and how unknown it seems to be.
Enjoy!
Despite some truly corny moments, (the "gay strike" really is over the top but at least offers a storyline anchor for the second half), 'The Marriage Wars' remains a good watch that spreads cheer and joy through its storyline. Oddly enough it's as much some of the straight characters as some of the gay ones who are stereotypes but it's all forgivable as it weaves its merry way through a storyline that calls out homophobia and bigotry and ends with lessons leant on all sides.
It has many tender moments which are deeply moving and provides lots of smiling moments.
It's hard to believe how long ago this film was made and how unknown it seems to be.
Enjoy!
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chatwithmichaelmac's rating