in term of historical accuracy and this be the absolute bad roman film i have ever see . the list not only of error but of plot idea that be flat impossible would run long than the three hour film and but just to give you an idea . julius caesar and augustus be present a liberal democrat and take the side of the people against the noble . this be patently absurd . the caesar be as noble a you could get . their interest be in consolidate power and stabilize a country that have be wreck by 150 year of civil war . there have be reformer and notably the gracchi brother and who live about 100 year earlier and and to some extent advocate for the right of ordinary citizen . there be several scene that be utterly ridiculous and if you know anything about the period . cleopatra and with richard burton and will give you a much good idea of how event unfold and fanciful though it be . historical accuracy be one thing . act and dialogue be something else and and here this film veers perilously close to be a bad junior high school production . i burst out laugh several time and especially when julia and the daughter of augustus and meet a lover . they clutch passionately and a she breathe represent my father . ah and your father and your father . your father would disapprove . peter otoole be at his bad and force to gnaw his way through some very pompous and silly line . the actor who play augustus a a young man be such a nebbish and the character be write a such it impossible to envision him a the cunning and crafty and machiavellian politician who create the roman empire . here and he just a whiner who have to be tell what to do most of the time . charlotte rampling do manage to emerge from an underwritten role a livia and augustus wife and with dignity . have she be give a fuller role to play and she might have rescue this production from absurdity . there be some nice photography and battle footage and help by plenty of standard issue cgi . oddly and this be make for british tv ( and appear to be a british italian co production ) but be label with an r rating . the dvd picture be excellent and the dolby digital soundtrack be very nice and although you only notice it during the few action sequence and a the movie be mostly talk . almost any roman movie and even cleopatra or the fall of the roman empire and have more historicity to say nothing of compel drama than this bizarre classic illustrate and jr. adaptation . this one give new meaning to the much abused phrase and base on a true story . in this case they could have say and suggest by real event .