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Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Awesome Movie

There are women in the film, but none has anything you could call a personality.

I would like to make this clear: I did NOT like the series. I am well aware that it is much praised as it is awarded, but I simply cannot see this. I could start by pointing out that the series was filmed in a limited space area, giving the impression of claustrophobic but this not my primary concern. The main objection I have is about the characters. While watching the first seven episodes, there was one and only one thing in my mind: When is this person going to die (or at least stop doing what she is doing); And, of course I am talking about Livia. This character is portrayed in such an evil, manipulative, poisonous way that I found it difficult to concentrate on anything else. We were seeing such a malicious person that makes Hannibal Lecter look like an altar boy. Now, looking up the historical figure of Augustus' wife, I found that there are many suspicions that she may indeed have been involved in several "accidents" of imperial family members. However, I think there is a great distance between this and the series' affirmation that she single-handedly orchestrated the annihilation of dozens of prestigious royalties. And on top of that she murdered Augustus himself!!! Unfortunately, this does not end with Livia's death. Later, on the series, we see the same thing pretty much going on with Caligula... Overall, I would like to make a comment concerning the so called historical accuracy of it: I am well aware of the fact that there was a lot of plotting and conspiring within the Roman Empire's court. However, I can't help wondering: Was that Roman Empire all about? I frequently recall a great film, Cleopatra (1963) by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, where we could actually enjoy grandeur as well as more than satisfying accuracy of historical facts. I really wish it would take a few ideas from that one.

I understand why this series is disliked by some reviewers here. It's too talky at times. Its historical accuracy is occasionally dubious. The make-up is sometimes not very good. There's a crying need for a few extra dollars in budget to generate some convincing crowd scenes. Livia (Sian Phillips) sometimes rattles on for too long. All of that said, this is excellent TV. At its best it's extraordinary - John Hurt's performance as Caligula (the best Caligula ever, exceeding even Jay Robinson's in "The Robe"), the stunning death of a Roman matron who has been debased by Tiberius, the rise and fall of Sejanus, the rise and fall of Messalina, and the many perfect performances in small roles (for example, John Castle as Agrippa Postumus and John Rhys-Davies as Macro). And, at the heart of things, the truly wonderful, eminently human Claudius as portrayed by the great Derek Jacobi. I would think even the famously touchy Robert Graves found this series to be eminently watchable. (By the way, I found Graves' novel "I, Claudius" to be unreadable. What a disappointment. What a feat by Jack Pulman to take that thicket of prose and turn it into a fine teleplay.)

When this film (entire series) is viewed by any student of history or for that matter, anyone " wishing to see Rome, . . .as it truly was " will hardly be surpassed for enjoyment. The story told here is that of the first five emperors of Ancient Rome. Brian Blessed plays Augustus and is very accepted as the benevolent dictator. Siân Phillips plays Livia, his scheming wife. George Baker is Tiberius, who waited too long to become emperor and was despised during his tenure. John Hurt plays Caligula who garnered more praise for his role than nearly everyone else. Christopher Biggins plays the fiddle playing Nero. James Faulkner is Herod Agrippa, the jovial friend from the East. His was a particularly sympathetic soul and friend of Claudius. But it is Derek Jacobi as Claudius who tells the tale of his family and does such a fantastic job, that this series has created such a high plateau, he may never surpass it. An excellent series which should also establish for itself the crown of Classic. *****

like all TV and movies based on historical events they add things that are quite untrue.the two most glaring examples of this in i Claudius is the portrait of Livia and her son Tiberius.and the problem with this is Livia drives this story mostly so her character is so important as this murderous evil woman. i went and read many historical books on Augustus after seeing this great TV series.mind u it is one of the best I've seen besides shaka Zulu.according to most historians Livia was a devoted and loyal wife of Augustus till the end and had nothing to do with his death.Augustus lived a long and healthy life for a person back then and died old age and some aliment he caught at his old age.all these murders Livia is supposed to have done in this series has no proof of any kind.Livia by the way had all the power she could want as the wife of Augustus.he was devoted to her.Tiberius did become emperor through the death of wounds Germanic's had from battles and these became infected causing his death leaving Tiberius next in line as emperor.in his early life Tiberius was a competent general on the battlefield and was a pretty good emperor most of his early reign.only as he grew old he became feeble and what we would call a dirty old man.no one is sure if his death was by Caligula or not.and again at the beginning Caligula was a competent emperor.when he caught this unknown fever is when he became mad.so i understand the liberties taken in this great series about Livia and Tiberius but remember this is done all the time in historical facts in movies and TV series. this is still a great TV series with great performances.