a a semi film buff and i have hear of this infamous movie a long time ago . i have hear that it be basically a 15 million dollar film about the tyrannical rule of the roman emperor caligula and complete with hard core pornography . what strike me be that it be a porno movie yet it have great thespian like peter otoole and john geilgud and malcolm mcdowell and hellen mirren in it . a week ago i saw a documentary about caligula on the history channel and this film come back into my head and finally my curiousity get the best of me and i foolishly rent the dvd and even more foolishly watch it . within the first 30 minute i be see act of sex and especially violence that would earn an nc 17 even by today standard . be it really necessary to have a scene of a man have his urinary track close and then have gallon of wine pour into him and then have his stomach cut with a sword ( all in very graphic detail ) . and a scene where a guy get his d cut off and feed to dog ( again in very graphic detail ) . and this just scratch the surface . the argument for this movie from those who like it seem that it be the only film that honestly portray pagan rome and it excesses . when in fact what this movie really be and be sheer exploitation . from begin to end you see nothing but endless torture and and decapitation and every kind of violence and crude behavior imaginable ( sadomasochism and rape and necrophelia and it just never stop ) . there be no insight into caligula himself and what might have propel him to go mad and the horrible childhood he have that mold him into a sadist a an adult . this be not a historic film and it be sleaze . even the porn in this movie stink and and through much of this when i wasn not gag i be just incredibly bore . by the time it be over i be depress and do not feel much like eat and this movie do the impossible and it actually can turn you off of sex . what be these great actor think when they get into this . i do read that the porn segment be film after the principal shooting be complete ( which explain why none of the main actor be in any of these scene and why the quality of these scene be so poor ) . but still and all these actor must have know what they be get into . right at the opening credit it say penthouse magazine and bob gucionne present . and the scene that the famous actor actually take part in be completely repulsive in and of themselves . apparently director tinto brass want his name remove from the complete film entirely and a do the screenwriter ( gore vidal of all people ) . even john geilgud and peter otoole be beg people not to see this when it open at the cannes film festival . for the amount of money the producer spend on this and the movie quality be terrible . everything be underlit and murky a if the film be drop in a swamp prior to be develop and and that when youre lucky enough to view a scene that actually in focus . the sound be poorly dub and much of the music be awkward and the editing be god awful . anyway and i bring this movie on myself . my advice . do not watch this and do not watch this and do not watch this . a for myself tomorrow night i be go to watch something lighter . like dawn of the dead .