MY PERSONAL REVIEWS OF CHRISTOPHER LEE'S DRACULA FILMS
As always, all movies will be reviewed on a five skull scale.
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER WHATSOEVER:
RITES OF DRACULA
An espionage ring is suspected, and the government asks an agent to photograph the ring leaers. The five photos are received by the goverment. The first four are very influential people in the country. But the last is indeed the most sinister man ever to pose a threat to humans. This story moved along very nicely and Christopher Lee is diabolic in this movie. It seemed a little short to me (Running time is 87 minutes) and I would have liked to seen he story developed a little more. But all in all, it was indeed spectacular and is indeed a must see for any Dracula fan.
HORROR OF DRACULA
This is my favorite Christopher Lee Dracula Movie. This was Lee's first role as Dracula and he is simply and completely diabolic. I appreciate because Christopher Lee birngs a sexual prowess to Dracula, something that Bela never accomplished. His acting ability is spellbinding from when he first hears the call of the vampire woman, til when the Van Helsing traps him with a cros. The pure horror on his face when he realizes his death is near is absolutely priceless and makes fr a sensational film.
COUNT DRACULA
The two skull rating is probably somewhat harsh, seeinh as this is probably one of Christopher Lee's best portrayl's of the Count. While the movie follows the plot of the book somewhat, I found it to move rather slow.
DRACULA: PRINCE OF DARKNESS
The story kicks off when Dracula's servant revives his master by hanging a victim over Dracula's tomband draining the blood from it so it can trickle into the tomb and restore life to the remains of the vampire. By 1960's standards this is considered bloody and violent. Now, it looks somewhat contrived. The story moves along nicely, however this is Lee's first appearance since Horror of Dracula (almost ten years earlier). Again, he does a superb job.
SCARS OF DRACULA
A young couple meets up with Dracula while searching for the young brother of the man. The special effects are well done...perhaps the best in Chris Lee's Dracula series.
DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE
UTTER BEDLAM! Dracula runs amock in a town searching a churchman's young neice. The special effects ae among the best. The plot is nice and tight. And Chris Lee gives one of hi most convincing performances in this movie. It is in this moie that Lee truly brings out Dracula's more sexual side, which ads a bit of humannes to the film.
TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA
This is my least favorite Dracula film, mostly because Dracula seemed rather out of place in this movie. Dracula is sent to retailiate of a Black Magic Wizards death. The plot was weak and unbeilevable, and Dracula's role in the film could just as easily been fuffilled by The Mummy, Frankenstien, or Janet Reno. This one is only for the true fans.
DRACULA A.D. 1972
Not a bad flick. Actually, it was better than I expected. This is basically Dracula put in modern times. It has its moments, however the idea was D.O.A. before the film even began. It is never wise to take a dated character, such as Dracula, and stick him in a different period. It often looks contrived. And this one suffered for that reason.
DRACULA FATHER AND SON
Good luck trying to find this one. Its a foreign film that was dubbed into English. Even though the dubbing is bad, the movie is fabuolus. A worthwhile rent just for the interesting bloodsucking scenes (and the consequenses of sucking too hard).
IN SEARCH OF DRACULA
I saw this one a long time ago, but barely remember it. I'll watch it again soon and review it.
