What is there to say about Cicciolina that hasn't already been said? In her hayday, Ilona Staller (better known as Ciccolina) was the most famous pornstar in Europe (if not the world). She was married to the postmodern lameass and professional poseur still unfortunately known as Jeff Koons and had already successfully crossed-over and become a member of the Italian Parliament. It seemed that her public notoriety as a pornstar is what drew people to her campaign rallies. That, plus the fact that her speeches always included a glimpse of her left titty, and sometimes even a complete striptease.
Yes- life for Ciccolina couldn't be any better- and she couldn't wait for 1987. She was going to pair up with John Holmes; another famous pornstar from across the pond. When Riccardo Schicchi told her he had an idea for a film called Carne bollente starring the two stars, it only seemed right that these two big stars of blue movies come together in a film worthy of their stature.
"I will do it ofcourse" purred Cicciolina.

Rise of the Roman Empress isn't so much of a film as it an excuse to have Holmes fuck Ciccolina. The plot is quit simple- Ciccolina goes to her agent (or some agent), offers to make a new movie but requests to have "her favorite actor in Hollywood stop by her place".
When John arrives, the two waste no time shacking up and getting down to the real biz, then strangely enough, following this encounter with some really strange romantic dinners and lunches around Milano.
Later, different friends of Ciccolina start to have problems in their relationships and Cicciolina and John act as "councilors" of some sort to these couples- going to their homes and having sex with their better halfs.
In the end- Ciccolina's only regret is that she was unable to spend more time with Holmes and now he has to go back to Hollywood.
This film was ofcourse followed by Rise of Roman Empire 2, but by this time AIDS had claimed Holmes (who had already shot the first film diagnosed with the disease).
The thing to remember however is that this is European so it's definately very different- probably bordering on the early Private videos.. the cheesyness is never quite intended, its more just euro honestly.
Definately one of the best Ciccolina flicks around- if not a little bizarre knowing Holmes was a corpse.

Rise of the Roman Empress: APPROVED!