Rasputin: The Mad Monk

I've read quite a few reviews of this film shunning it do to lack of historical fact or shoddy scriptwriting. Obviously these people have no clue about what Hammer films are and what they're meant to be. This film is another Hammer classic, hilarious and well-acted, excellent quality cinematography, and not to be taken the slightest bit seriously.

Christopher Lee is *the* hammer actor (well...with Peter Cushing running a close second;), and he plays the *perfect* Rasputin! The evil dictator laugh down-pat, the eyes are beyond eerie, and even his gait, his posture, his body language all work perfectly. And Barbara Shelley is definitely a solid, stereotypical, 'femi-victim', and she plays beautifully off of Lee.

The only qualm I have about this film is the ending, which was a touch too anti-climactic...although I bought the special edition with trailers and TV spots at the end which improved the ending dramatically (I wish I could find one of those 'free Rasputin beards'...)

Overall: This is not one of the best Hammer films, it's not Blood of Dracula or The Devil Rides Out...but it's up there, and it has all the great elements: cheezy soft-gore effects (love that severed hand!!), *almost* nudity, maniacal laughter, tension-riddled music...it's fun from beginning to end! 7/10.