>>213517463 (OP)
I saw the new cut of Caligula last year at the IFC center in manhattan. Had never seen it before. Then afterwards watched the original theatrical cut on my own. It's interesting how the recut makes such extensive use of what seem to be master shots to really show off the incredible sets they built. It's absolutely crazy to me how much the theatrical version cuts around them. Didn't they want you to see all the millions they spent on this thing? I guess the producer figured nobody who was seeing this movie cared about that. But mostly I walked away thinking trying to recut Caligula to find the masterpiece hidden within it is a fool's errand. It just isn't a good movie.
It's really remarkable how much they blew it, there's no meaningful narrative arc. Caligula is already an insane fool at the start of the film. Even the ancient Roman historians who wrote about him tried to build a rise and fall narrative into his short reign where he starts off doing well, then gets corrupted. But if that was intended to be in the movie, it's not at all readable. I will say that the wedding scene where Caligula brutally rapes both the bride and groom is really stomach turning. That was well done.
Here's the ultimate indictment though. At the screening I went to there was some grubby looking obese boomer who showed up 10 minutes after the movie started, and went all the way into the front row. When there was the first on screen sex act he bellowed out YEAAAAAAH. 30 minutes before the end of the film he was loudly snoring. If they couldn't keep THAT GUY entertained, what hope is there for the rest of us?
I will say this though, Helen Mirren had a fat ass.
