Fantasy Flix: Real-World Fantasy

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Caligula (1979)

Director:

Tinto Brass

Writer:

Gore Vidal (original screenplay)

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, organizes elaborate orgies and embarks on a fruitless invasion of England before meeting an appropriate end. There are various versions of the film, ranging from the heavily- truncated 90-minute version to the legendary 160-minute hardcore version which leaves nothing to the imagination (though the hardcore scenes were inserted later and do not involve the main cast members).

So after all these years, I've finally gotten around to watching the movie Caligula. I'm guessing most of you are expecting me to love this movie. But, frankly, I didn't. Yes, I'ts got a whole ton of naked hot chicks running about, and even the hardcore scenes (which weren't all that appealing to tell you the truth), but that couldn't overcome the fact that I was bored out of my mind.

I have no qualms about the acting in this film. Malcolm McDowell plays the tyrannical Caligula pretty well. Other excellent actors appear such as Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, and Helen Mirren, but most of them aren't in this film very much. The rest of the acting is decent.

My biggest problem with this film is the complete lack of action. I was pretty bored most of the time. I went so far as trying to decide if I should even include this in the blog. But, I finally figured it was a historical Roman piece and should be here.

I had no problem with the over-the-top gore and craziness, or the hardcore explicit sex and nudity, but I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone who is not prepared for these things. If the above bothers you at all, skip this movie.

Verdict: Not recommended

The Cast

Malcolm McDowell ... Caligula

Teresa Ann Savoy ... Drusilla

Peter O'Toole ... Tiberius

Guido Mannari ... Macro

John Gielgud ... Nerva

Helen Mirren ... Caesonia

Adriana Asti ... Ennia

Bruno Brive ... Gemellus

Giancarlo Badessi ... Claudius

Paolo Bonacelli ... Chaerea

Mirella D'Angelo ... Livia

John Steiner ... Longinus

Leopoldo Trieste ... Charicles

Donato Placido ... Proculus

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Crociati (2001) AKA Crusaders

Director: Dominique Othenin-Girard

Writer: Andrea Porporati

I could not find a trailer for this movie.

Towards the end of the eleventh century, Pope Urban II announces a crusade against the Saracens, who have occupied the holy city of Jerusalem. Three young friends # Richard, Peter and Andrew # set off to join the crusading army. The three friends come from very different backgrounds: Andrew is a shepherd; Peter is a poor bell founder, and the illegitimate son of a Christian woman and a Saracen man; and Richard is the deeply religious son of Baron William of Aurocastro, who was murdered by his rival brother Corrado. The violent methods used by the crusaders soon cause the three friends to fall out with each other, and after a bloody attack on a Jewish monastery, they go their separate ways: Andrew remains with the crusaders, while Peter and Richard accompany the attractive Jewess Rachel whose teacher, a rabbi, was killed in the raid to Jerusalem. Andrew is very reluctant to see Rachel go, having like Peter fallen in love with her at first sight. In Jerusalem the situation is very tense: the Saracen governor is having the Christians expelled from the city, out of fear of crusader spies. Peter, Richard and Rachel manage to trick their way into the city, but shortly afterwards Richard is arrested. When the crusaders, with Andrew at their head, arrive at the gates of Jerusalem, the former friends now face each other as enemies because to save Richard, Peter has joined the side of the Saracens. The city cannot withstand the onslaught of the crusaders and their fierce fighting spirit, and soon falls into Christian hands. Peter prepares an escape route for himself and Richard. Rachel has decided to stay with Andrew, however, who has also confessed his love to her. Peter and Richard return to their homeland. Richard, already seriously ill, dies on arrival. Peter marries his childhood sweetheart Maria and works as a bell founder again. Years later he meets Rachel and Andrew again. Andrew is now the feudal baron of Aurocastro. He has built an enormous cathedral and wants Peter to make the bells for it.

I knew nothing about this movie before I started watching it. What I got was a pretty epic tale of three dudes joining the crusades and picking sides. I generally love me some epic adventure story telling, but I am not too sure about this one. The plot overall is pretty straight-forward. It does have some nice moments story-wise. But frankly, I was a little bored.

Even though the movie is nicely paced, I couldn't help but watch the clock. I guess I just didn't care that much and the action wasn't very good. Perhaps I am too "used to" the over-the top violence of such movies as Braveheart and 300 that the action sequences here just seemed ho-hum. I'm not saying they were badly done, they were just a bit boring.

I suppose my other prblem with the movie was the acting... or was it? Frankly, I couldn't tell if the acting was any good or not because the over-dub was atrocious. I suppose I should have expected that in an Italian made movie, but most of the actors appeared to be speaking english, but their voice just didn't match well and the "voice" acting was not very good and sometimes laughable.

To keep up with my routine, I suppose I have to talk about the women. The women (there were only really 2) were fairly attractive, but nothing to write home about. There is one quick moment of nudity in this film, which surprised me because without it, this would be pretty much "family-fare".