Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1033 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-09-30
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 5
• Running time: 648 minutes

Customer Reviews

Simply buy it
Absolutely bloody gripping. Like a soap opera on steroids, except without the bad aftertaste (of soap operas I mean - don't know if steroids have an aftertaste, honest).

Be surprised at how blessed well Brian Blessed could act - puzzle over why Sian Phillips is not a fully fledged dame, as she gives an old-school masterclass in acting as Livia, inspiring to hate and later move to tears - find out why John Hurt and Derek Jacobi are allowed to spend a comfortable but still-respected old-age in bad movies - gasp at the dodgy make-up which upstages all the actors and later I think is allowed speaking parts on the Young Ones - gawp at Patrick Stewart with hair (wig) - thrill to the naughty bits, safe in the knowledge that you are indulging only in fine art.

This is grand theatre - the sets never make you miss on location filming - although the sound tape of the crowds might. A clear inspiration for Blackadder only this is diabolical history played straight and you will find your laughs to be evil cackles at the ingenious deviousness of it all. But better than any history lesson, watching this you will effortlessly be able to list the next 5 Caesars after Julius (in effect you will be aware of the entire Julio-Claudian dynasty)

Nevermind it was made in the 70s, it won 3 Emmys, 4 Baftas and puts anything new out there to shame.

A masterpiece!
I remember seeing thie series on the TV many years ago, and I wondered how it would compare to my memories.

The bad stuff first: this dates from the time when the BBC used videotape, rather than film. Everything is studio-bound, and all the sets, even the most ambitious, are obviously just that, with multiple shadows. The picture quality is also soft, though the colour isn't too bad. As for the box, it contains precious little about the production: shame on you, BBC.

The good stuff: the artificiality actually helps, as you start to see this as a theatrical production, rather than a realistic one. And as such, it is tremendously gripping, with Graves' words impeccably transferred to the new medium, and a dream cast, with no weak link. Almost immediately you are drawn into the plot (Claudius doesn't actually appear for ages, but you don't care), and you are held until the end. Yes, it really is that good!

I CLAUDIUS
I HAVE WATCHED EVERY SHOWING OF I CLAUDIUS EVER SINCE THE FIRST TELEVISED PRODUCTION. NOW I CAN WATCH IT ANY TIME I WANT TO. FANTASTIC!!!