Hannibal

Rating:
Summary: Interesting....
Review: Let me start by saying this was a well-made, intelligent thriller. The cinematography was exquisite, the music was beautiful and eerie at the same time, and the entire film had a feeling of impending doom. It actually made me jump about four times, and I usually don't jump that much during a horror movie. The thing that makes this really good is, despite me having already seen this previously, and all ready kind of knowing what shocks were about to occur, they STILL shocked me seeing it again! That is a good mark of a horror director. Those are some of the pros, but there are definitely some cons to this film. 1. No chemistry between Hopkins and Moore: As most fans of "The Silence of the Lambs" know, Julianne Moore played Clarice in this version, because Jodie Foster turned down the part. While she portrayed this version of Clarice very well, she and Athony Hopkins did not have any chemistry together. 2. Too much gore and disgusting scenes. This movie was WAY over-the-top, and some of the scenes of disgusting gore weren't necessary at all. The hanging scene was well-done, not too over-the-top, but the scene with the brain, not to mention the gross scenes with the hogs, and the whole way Mason Verger's face looks, is basically too the extreme. It would be far scarier, and less silly, if the film would have just used eerie scenes rather than so much gore. 3. Clarice just didn't seem to be Clarice. True, Julianne Moore and Jodie Foster are two different actresses, and Clarice has changed a lot over the years, but she didn't really even have the same personality. She didn't seem as concerned, as obsessed with trying to catch the villain as she did back when she was working on Bufallo Bill. She seemed more fascinated with Hannibal than genuinely concerned with endeavoring to capture him. I don't know if this is the way the character is supposed to be or not (I haven't yet read the book), but I believe that a character should not chance that much, or if she does, explain in more detail why she changed. All in all, though, this was an intelligent thriller that has you screaming (at those jump-out-of-your-seat moments), laughing (dark humor moments), and rolling your eyes or even getting sick (those gross-out, over-the-top moments). Good job, Ridley Scott, with creating such an atmospheric, darkly funny, and very scary movie. I would recommend it for fans of disgusting horror, but as for fans of "Silence of the Lambs", some like "Hannibal" and some don't. It all depends on your taste.....So to speak.

Rating:
Summary: I give it 3 stars
Review: It will grab you and hold on to you from the opening scene to the end. A thrilling movie full of all the things which make "horror" so great. Anthony Hopkins is Hannibal Lecter.

Rating:
Summary: Better than "Silence"
Review: I would argue that HANNIBAL is the best of the Lecter movies. While "Silence of the Lambs" and "Red Dragon/Manhunter" tried to bridge a naturalistic crime procedural with the boogeyman-like Lecter parts with its always spooked FBI agents, Ridley Scott made it all one big, operatic fantasy. As a result, it is by far the most unpredictable, stylish, and least pretentious of the trilogy. In this film, Hannibal is more like Highsmith's Tom Ripley, an extension of our own hidden desire to take on all that stands in our way or in the way of all that's dear to us.

Rating:
Summary: Hannibal
Review: Viewed as a separate entity and not a sequel,"Hannibal" is easily one of the greatest films of the last decade. Shot partially in Florence, Italy, this gorgeous, pristine production is a movie and a half. Director Ridley Scott doesn't just film these lovely vignettes as much as he caresses every scene with his camera and paces the movie so perfectly it almost lulls you until another scene of horrifying violence occurs. Anthony Hopkins is the most convincing monster ever seen on film and is impossible not to watch, this man is an actor's actor. Whenever Dr. Lecter appears on screen, you listen carefully to every word he utters and can't wait to see what happens next. The most brilliant thing about the film is the tension throughout, you just keep FEELING like something terrible is about to happen and that's scarier than anything you actually see. Julianne Moore is a great choice for Clarice Starling, she lends the character a cynicism, toughness and world weariness that comes with a decade of service in the F.B.I., this is a mature, smart Clarice and her development and growth is a marvel to behold. Much has been made of the violence in this film and while "Hannibal" is quite graphic at times, it's not the unwatchable gore-fest people have made it out to be. The second disc of special features is indespensible, a veritable feast of interviews, deleted scenes, movie premiere featurettes, special effects documentarties, a terrific Director's commentary and a host of other bells and whistles. This is how a DVD should be done. The total package; film, cast, direction and extras are all flawless. A must-have for any film library

Rating:
Summary: Hannibal
Review: Ten years past the escape of the psychopathic psychiatrist, Dr. Hannibal Lecktor, FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore) is held accountable for a violent drug-bust that went terribly wrong and is condemned to a desk job. Shortly after this, Lecktor (Anthony Hopkins) turns up in Florance, Italy, much to the delight of a deranged, disfigured vengeance-seeking survivor of his work (Gary Oldman), who had put up a 3 million something dollar reward for his capture. Ironically, the reward for Hannibal's capture comes to the interest of a greedy Italian police inspector (Giancarlo Giannini). Clarice Starling is thrown into the situations when Hannibal establishes contact with her in order to utilize the same type of hypnotic psychological ramblings he utilized while speaking to her from his jail cell.

While intriguing and complicated, some may be put off by the overly cumbersome storyline and mostly bland character portrayals. The balance between disturbing violence and actual substance is poorly emphasized. Anthony Hopkins is excellent as Hannibal Lecktor, and while Julianne Moore's characterization of Clarice Starling is weak, it shows an interesting progression of her character in "Silence Of The Lambs".

Overall rating: 3.5 stars.

If you like this film, see From Hell.

Rated R for some language, savage extreme graphic violence, gore, cannibalism, and sexual overtones.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful film.
Review: This cinematography in this film is remarkable. The plot, however, is a bit weak. The absence of Ms. Foster affects the film in obvious ways. On the whole, the film works despite its flaws.

Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Falls well short of "Lambs" with gratuitous terror
Review: I was disappointed in this film, though it is not entirely awful. It misses the uniquely gripping feel of "Lambs" and devolves into scenes of fright and terror meant to shock and revulse in the worst, gratutious way. Hopkins' performance seems thinner in some spots but almost a caricature of his Oscar-winning performance in others. Moore holds her own, but I think the film suffers from the producers' presupposition that no matter what they put on screen would benefit from the critical and popular acclaim afforded the first film. It doesn't happen here. This film is clearly "off-note." I didn't find myself caring more for any of the characters in this chapter. I couldn't wait until it was over. Not one I am likely to watch again.

Rating:
Summary: A high grade slasher film
Review: Basically Hannibal is a high grade and well produced slasher film, it wasn't the psychological thriller the first one was. Anthony Hopkins was entertaining but didnt have anything particularly interesting to say. Julianne Moore who seems to be one of the best actresses working today, was somewhat too low key and devoid of emotion and character depth. Suspense built at an extremely slow pace, and when I start thinking about how my butt is falling asleep I know the movie is not doing a good enough job absorbing me into the story.

(***minor spoilers***) The first scene of the movie (an FBI and DEA drug bust) confirmed my suspicions that this movie was going to contain cliches and stereotypes, which are annoying and usually ruin a movie for me. When was the last time federal agents just started shooting randomly at people in a crowded street? I'm sorry it just doesn't happen. Ray Liotta's character was your typical "bad guy who says and does nothing but bad things". Do bad people exist? Yes but it came off as cliched here and helped ruin the movie. Of couse the FBI top brass were all bad men who want nothing more out of life than to bring Clarice down. She shot at a woman who was carrying a baby, but the woman shot at her first. I believe the FBI would be behind Clarice on this in real life. But it wouldn't have helped the plot device of poooor Clarice everyone is against her.

The film looked absolutely great, Ridley Scott and co. did a nice job. The film had shocking death scenes and I'm not one to be shocked by anything. At certain points I wanted to turn my head but kept watching in perverse fascination. But that's all there was really, the hunt for Lecter by a few people, and gory death scenes. Not much else. On the whole, I still recommend Hannibal because it was an above average movie by todays low standards but not when measured up to the first.

Rating:
Summary: EXTRAORDINARY
Review: This is my favorite of the Hannibal series.
It has the same thrills, chills and surprises
as its predecessors, but in this movie the
music and scenery were fantastic. It was
truly a gourmet's delight. :-)

Rating: 10/10 5/5

Bill Schaefer
Berwyn, PA
[e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Not What I Expected
Review: The movie starts off waaaayy to slow. Hanibal just sits in one area while they are going crazy looking for him. I expected something big to happen. I wanted someone to get brutally murdered or something ya know? But it never really reached a good enough climax for me to recommend this movie to anyone.