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

The Eagle (2011)

Director: Kevin Macdonald
Writers: Jeremy Brock (screenplay), Rosemary Sutcliff (novel)

In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian's Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia - to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father's memory, and retrieve the lost legion's golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.

I finally got around to watching The Eagle.  If you read my blurb about Centurion, you'll know that I knew the storylines were similar with the whole Roman 9th Legion thing.  I have to say, I wish I could jam these two movies together.  The Eagle has a more dramatic take, while Centurion has more action.  I liked them both in their own way, but I'd say I have to give the edge to Centurion.  Not necessarily because it's a better movie, but I just enjoyed it more.

The Eagle's storyline seems a bit more dramatic.  I enjoyed the story, although I did find myself being a bit bored at times.  The acting is very good, and the characters are pretty believable.

There's a decent amount of action to be had here and it's very well done, but I could have used a bit more.  There's no nudity here and really not any female eye candy of any sorts.  It's a very testosterone-heavy film.

I did enjoy the comradery between Tatum and Bell.  It provided some of the more entertaining parts of the movie.  The film looks great and has great cinematography.  As I said, I enjoyed the movie, but would recommend Centurion a bit more If you like movies for the same reason as I...entertainment.

Verdict: recommended









The Cast

Channing Tatum ... Marcus Flavius Aquila

Jamie Bell ... Esca

Donald Sutherland ... Uncle Aquila

Denis O'Hare ... Lutorius

Mark Strong ... Guern

Lukács Bicskey ... Druid

Dakin Matthews ... Claudius Marcellus

James Hayes ... Stephanos

Ned Dennehy ... Seal Chief/The Horned One

Pip Carter ... Servius Placidus

Tahar Rahim ... Seal Prince



Centurion (2010)

Director/Writer: Neil Marshall

A splinter group of Roman soldiers fight for their lives behind enemy lines after their legion is decimated in a devastating guerrilla attack.

Centurion is one of the fairly recent movies about the Roman 9th legion.  This movie came out just before the movie The Eagle, which I haven't seen yet, but aparently it's a similar story.  I think this movie gets a pretty bad rap, but I was quite entertained.

It's a mainstream film with a pretty high production value.  The film looks really good in production and costumes.  The effects look good, although there is a fair amount of CGI blood here, which I'm usually not a big fan of.  It looks good in over-the-top, stylized films like 300, but I'd have preferred classical blood and gore effects.

The cast is very good here.  I really enjoy Michael Fassbender in most everything he is in, and Olga Kurylenko is fucking beautiful and plays a really good bad-ass chick here.  It's probably a good thing that she doesn't speak at all in this movie.

The story itself is pretty straightforward and simple.  And, of course, don't expect an oscar winning movie here, but I think it does what it set out to do.  The pacing slows down a couple times.  I wasn't really a fan of the "sit in a cave and talk for character development" scene, but I lived through it.

If you're looking for some good action with swords, arrows and spears, and good blood and gore, then this movie is for you.  It can get a little slow at times, but picks up nicely.

Verdict: Recommended

The Cast

Michael Fassbender ... Centurion Quintus Dias

Olga Kurylenko ... Etain

Dominic West ... General Titus Flavius Virilus

Liam Cunningham ... Brick

JJ Feild ... Thax

David Morrissey ... Bothos

Imogen Poots ... Arianne

Noel Clarke ... Macros

Ulrich Thomsen ... Gorlacon

Riz Ahmed ... Tarak

Dimitri Leonidas ... Leonidas