Reviews (1)

This double DVD set is worth conjuring up!
This is a review of the set and not the movies. You can find them elsewhere. This is more about the quality picturewise of the DVDs in this set and the extras.

Unlike my other review of the double offering by Anchor Bay (The Satanic Rites of Dracula/Dracula, Prince of Darkness) this one is sure to please. One sided disks instead of easily scratched two sided ones, contains two non repeating World Of Hammer episodes and commentary on both films! :) Much better than the other one.

The only problem I had with this was that one of the poster cards contained in the DVD set was cut too big for the case and was bent. I cut it to fit, but I don't know if this was only my DVD or many were made like this. The poster/chapter cards are one of the best things about this set and to have one bent is disappointing. But both movies play well with no weird cuts or anything (unlike Rites/Darkness--read my review) and it definately superior to the other releases as far as content and quality of the movies. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Rasputin movie review...from a true follower
This movie is very well put together, with many facts and so forth...yet the one negative is the assassination scene. It is NOTHING like the REAL assassination poor ole' Grigory Rasputin had to face...in this movie...he's just poisened and thrown out a window...THE END. In real life, much more had to take place to take down the "Saint Who Sinned".

Rasputin, the clever manipulator
An attractive film by Hammer and a wonderfully powerful performance by Christopher Lee. Lee, an actor who always appears to put his "all" into his characters, doubly delights fans in this version of the Rasputin story. Rasputin is portrayed as an evil, manipulative, slick opportunist who delights in an over abundance of booze (just call him old pickle head!), sex (he can't have just one), and generally irresponsible behavior. He is deliciously amoral and "pig-like." It is a bit odd that everyone in this part of the world sports a British dialect, but no matter -- it's fun!

I do believe this demonstrates the great range of Christopher Lee -- an actor who has never been given ample credit for his tremendous acting talent and distinguished demeanor. A must see for all fans of Christopher Lee and the Hammer films.

Christopher Lee Saves Another Poor Movie
I rented this movie because I have recently become a big fan of British horror film actor Christopher Lee. Lee is the saving grace of this film.

The brutal and hypnotic monk Rasputin(Christopher Lee) is expelled from his monastery and temporarily gains great power by manipulating his way into the royal family of Russia.

This movie is a disappointment. "Rasputin and the Empress" could have been a thrilling period piece about Grigori Rasputin and his impact on Russian history. Unfortunately, this film pays little attention to history and doesn't become much more than a mediocre Hammer horror film masquerading as a historical period piece. Christopher Lee saves this movie. "Rasputin and the Empress" offered Lee one of his better roles. He is forceful and frightening as this ruthless historical figure. Richard Pasco and particularly Barbara Shelley give fine supporting performances.

Lee's peformance makes "Rasputin and the Empress" a must-see for all horror fans.

Watch it for Christopher Lee's performance alone.
Christopher Lee as Rasputin.The film opens in a small russian village Inn.The Inn keeper's wife is near death,and the local Doctor can do nothing to save her.Suddenly,the door at the entrance to the Inn burst's open,and in storms Rasputin,demanding a drink,immediately."There's sickness in the house" cries a local resident."I can see that" shouts Rasputin,"nothing a couple of litres of wine won't put right". Inevitably,Rasputin takes the fever from the Inn-keeper's wife,into his own hands,and asks for only wine as his reward.But eventually the drink goes to Rasputin's head,and with it a desire for more than wine,so taking the Inn-keeper's daughter into a nearby barn,Rasputin commits rape.Having disgraced his cloth and the Holy Order,Rasputin is banished from his Church.Penniless,he sets out on the road,to central russia,a place where Rasputin can fulful his desires;wealth,power,and to seduce beautiful women.Eventually he gets greedy,and has visions of a link between himself,and the sophisticated royal classes,and ultimately to have all of Russia as his own,and meet his fabled destiny.Christopher Lee's performance adds a great deal to an otherwise mediocre Hammer production.Adding a new level of excitement is this transfer from Anchor Bay.A sharp,clear,and clean picture throughout.My only complaint about this transfer,is a minor one;Rasputin-The Mad Monk was filmed in Hammerscope (a Cinemascope variant),it's original aspect ratio being 2.35:1.However,Anchor Bay have presented this film at a ratio of 2.10:1,so a little information is still missing on either side.4/5 for this transfer.The sound quality on this DVD is presented in Dolby Digital.2.0 Channel,it is crystal clear throughout.The only minor fault being slight distortion on very high tones,i.e:church bells,some parts of the orchestrated score,but on the whole,a good overall effort.3.5/5.Having finally seen this film in a widescreen ratio,and so clearly,it adds,on it's initial viewing,a new level of excitement,especially to Hammer-Horror fans,like myself.Some memorable scenes include Rasputin dancing,and every time Rasputin talks down and belittles a member of the royal court.Some interesting extras on this DVD include an Audio Commentary with Actors Christopher Lee and Francis Matthews,and Actress's Barbara Shelley and Susan Farmer.Also a "World of Hammer" episode entitled "Christopher Lee".So,overall this DVD is great for any Christopher Lee/Hammer Horror fan's collection.

Mr. Lee excels
Revered Mr. Lee's apt portrayal of holy man Rasputin came as no surprise, as he himself has made abundantly clear his intentions in matters spiritual. None of us is perfect, but Rasputin was further than most, yet closer than others. He did not desert God and the feeling was apparently mutual, as Rasputin was blessed with the gift of healing, which he owned till his demise. For those of us who share Russian heritage, it is both a necessity and a delight to see vivid details of Russian opulence, and our traditions. Brutality is also rooted in our history, and its portrayal herein lends a bitter taste of credibility. Mr. Lee is fascinating as Rasputin, as we know him to have been: brash, drunken, and at the same time holy. The fact that Rasputin tarnished his Christianity by misusing his most powerful gift, is a testament to his human nature. The fact that Mr. Lee had accepted the offer to play the part of Rasputin, and did so exceedingly well, should make one rush to see it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

World War II aviation buffs may quibble with details in Mosquito Squadron, but they'll love it just the same. It's an average war movie, capably directed by Boris Sagal, who thrived in television before he was tragically killed by a helicopter rotor in 1981. At the peak of his post-Man from U.N.C.L.E. success, David McCallum plays a melancholy RAF ace, leading his squadron of De Havilland "Mosquito" bombers on low-altitude strikes over Nazi strongholds in Germany and France. His ground-based dilemma involves the grieving wife of his best friend, a fellow pilot presumed dead but later discovered alive with other POWs held at a French chalet where the Nazis are developing advanced V-class bombers. The RAF employs bouncing "highballs" capable of penetrating difficult targets, and the rousing climax doubles as a rescue mission and treacherous bombing run. Explosive action compensates for predictable melodrama, and Rocky Horror fans will enjoy seeing Charles ("the Criminologist") Gray as a stuffy RAF Commodore. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Great RAF film.......Cool DVD!!
Mosquito Squadron is a good rip-roaring adventure of a war movie to watch on a rainy summer day. David McCallum is great in his role of Quint Monroe, a RAF pilot who fights one war in Europe and a personal one in his heart. During a bombing raid, Monroe's best friend, the squad's CO is shot down by German fighters who jumped them. Monroe tells his friend's wife, Beth, that her husband has been killed, sparking a romance that they had before the war. While Monroe is trying to get over the loss of his friend, the RAF Command learn that the Germans are close to completing their new V-3 rocket at a secret testing center near a ruined church. When Monroe and the squad get ready to bomb the church, a new threat comes their way, the Germans are holding a group of British POWs hostage, including Monroe's friend, who didn't die. Monroe becomes conflicted with himself, he must bomb the church before the rockets can be fired at London, but he also wants to save his friend and the other POW from massacare. Monroe manages to cool down and stages a daring raid on the prison with the help of the French Resistance and other RAF squadrons. One of Monroe's planes will bomb a section of the wall which the French will be able to make a daring raid on the prison compound and free the POWs. Will Monroe and the Mosquito Squadron pull the raid off? Will he be able to save his friend?
I have this movie on DVD and it plays great. If you liked the Battle of Britain with Micheal Caine and Trevor Howard, and 633 Squadron with Cliff Robertson and George Chakiris, you'll love Mosquito Squadron. Give this movie a try, you won't be disappointed.

So this is how we stopped the Nazis
A pitiful extended bore...how many times do you have to see the intrepid pilots fly up the fjord practice run to get the picture. This one ought to be coupled with "The revenge of the Killer Tomatoes"....save your dough from this turkey!

You definitely want to see this one!
I found this movie on Netflix. I was totally unaware that it existed. Normally I am not a fan of war movies. In criticism the film does have a couple of low budget tricks. The plot and the acting are extremely good.It will hold your attention to the explosive end. Fascinating subject matter. David McCallum excellently underplays his role.

Routine war melodrama starring the Mosquito-bomber
Havent seen the DVD, but seen the movie on TV several times in the 70s, wasnt overly impressed then, so would be less so now.
If youve seen 633 Squadron, then watch this, yes, youve seen most of the aerial action in THAT better movie. This time is a hybrid mission involving rockets or rocket-fuel like '633, but with a potentially thrilling resistance-fighter jailbreak facilitated by the Mosquitoes blowing-down the walls with dambuster-style Upkeep/Highball bouncing-bombs as a bonus target: might seem they are borrowing from here and there of previous movies, but there really was an epic RAF operation against Amiens Prison housing French Resistance fighters during the war, known aptly as Operation Jericho, ( the walls came tumbling down)so its ok to overlap other movies when it also reflects fact, of course.

Anyway, its too low-budgety to do much, saves heaps with using the 633 Squadron sequences, much as movies like 'Midway' used the wonderful combat sequences from 'Tora Tora Tora', and has a melodrama that the dreadful 'Pearl Harbor' probably ripped off, the pilot disappears in combat, certainly KIA, brave late pilots buddy hooks-up late pilots foxy squeeze,they both feel bad about it, but they do it anyway, then dead-hero inconveniently has not been killed, is alive, shaken but not stirred,POW, but now pilot feeling bad about being busy with not-so-dead buddies lady, also has to fly-off and probably off the presumed-dead buddy for real this time himself as inevitable collateral damage with the Nazi target he has to drop bombs on to win the ruddy war.

If you like 633 Squadron, this is definately inferior but with many melodramatic similiarities,Cliff Robertson in '633 also had to grease one of the friendlies thanks to those horrid Germans, it lacks 633s stratosperic atmospheric soaring Ron Goodwin theme-music, and really, I wouldnt drop the dough unless you just cant get enough of the admittedly exciting and beautiful Mosquito bomber in any vehicle.

David McCallum is Excellent
MOSQUITO SQUADRON is a very good WW2 aviation movie. David McCallum is one of my favorite actors. I grew up with him on THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. where he was just perfect for that role as he is in this movie. David McCallum leads this squadron to victory in is own great style. I wish David could have made more films like this that showed what a great actor he is. ... Read more

Description

Sci-fi meets hilarity in this wildly adventurous comedy that goes where no man—or moron—has gone before. We can now safely conclude that there is no intelligent life in space. Four holiday travelers from the planet Blob have somehow lost control of their rented spaceship and crash-landed on Earth. At first, the military and scientific teams assume they are higher life forms. But not for long. Idiocy is hard to hide. The stranded wayfarers are complete morons, content to drink their green beer, sing ear-splitting pop songs and talk to trash cans, which they assume are the planet's leaders. But not until an enterprising journalist decides to market their dazed innocence and turn them into glitzy superstars do they find their true mission to Earth. With amusing parodies of famous film classics like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and warp-speed laughs, this is one screwball comedy that's out of this world. ... Read more