While "Rasputin" tends to drag a little in some parts, it is definitely worth a look for the performances of Ian McKellen, who lends a subtle but breathtaking elegance to Czar Nicholas II, and especially Alan Rickman, who plays the role of Rasputin to the hilt. It is also an incredibly gorgeous (and historically accurate) portrayal of pre-revolution Russia, which could be very valuable to history teachers. Given how little Americans in general know about Russian history, a film such as this could interest quite a few people into reading up on the subject.
