Hannibal

Rating:
Summary: An well made sequel.
Review: It`s has been Ten years that Hannibal"Cannibal"Lector (Oscar-Winner:Anthony Hopkins) has been escaped from his Cell. Now he has been tracked down by a rome Corrupted detective (Giancario Giannini) instend bringing to Jail, He has contacted a man by the name of Mason Verger (Gary Oldman) wants Lector Alive and he wants him for Revenge. When FBI Agent (Julianne Moore replacing Jodie Foster from The Silence of the Lambs) finds out that Lector`s location and she wants to bring him in But Lector is stalking her instend.

Directed by Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Legend) bring a well respected sequel, which is different from the Original-The Slience of the Lambs. The guilty pleausre of this Sequel is watching Anthony Hopkins chews up the scenery in this one. Directed:Scott gives Ray Liotta a supporting role in this film. Moore is quite good replacing Jodie Foster from the Original. DVD`s has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and an strong DTS 5.1 Surround Sound including also in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD Extras are:An running commentary track by director:Scott, Deleted Scenes with/without commentary, Behind the Scenes featurette and more. Gary Oldman only gets credited in the end in a key supporitng role. Grade:A-.

Rating:
Summary: Keep the title in mind...
Review: when you watch this movie, and you'll understand it. I loved Hannibal...and had several friends who hated it, because they expected a true SOTL sequel. If you understand that Hannibal is from the viewpoint of Lector, and the imagry is lush and refined, much like Hannibal would demand. If you think you are getting a by the book sequel, you will be dissapointed. If you think you are getting a look into the mind of one of the most intriquing characters created in the 20th century, you will NOT be dissapointed.

Rating:
Summary: 90%
Review: Good movie. Hopefully you make a good desicion and buy HANNIBAL on DVD. The movie itself gets four stars but the extra features are so good I gave it an extra star. Same case with THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, only I'd give the movie 5 stars. BUY NOOOOOOOWWWWW!

Rating:
Summary: Exciting Final Entry in the Hannibal Lector Saga.
Review: Anthony Hopkins reprises his role as Hannibal Lector, this one features Clarice and Hannibal after another insidious Criminal mastermind. Can't tell you the rest, you have to watch it for yourself.

Final in the series with Manhunter and Silence of the Lambs.

Rating:
Summary: Not that great...
Review: I absolutely loved Silence of the Lambs, so I was highly looking forward to Hannibal.

And when I first saw it, I was less than thrilled. I'm not saying that it's horrible...it's just...not that good.

You take Julianne Moore (who isn't as good as Jodie Foster) and the incredible Anthony Hopkins, who are both terrific actors, and you put them in a movie that is less than stellar.

Hannibal is filled with too much gore, distasteful innuendos, and a horrible plot. It could be difficult to follow for some. Silence of the Lambs was a masterpiece, but Hannibal slanders the name masterpiece.

If you truly love suspense, you will NOT like this movie...However, if you're into the whole blood/guts thing, you'll probably love this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Purchased for completeness sake...
Review: Let me start by saying that unlike most who have reviewed this film, I am a huge fan of the movie Manhunter. As far as I am concerned, Michael Mann's adaptation of Thomas Harris' Red Dragon is by far the best of the 3 films based on Harris' novels. To this day I do not know how Silence won 5 academy awards while Manhunter was completely forgotten.

All that being said, I purchased Hannibal at a video rental shop for $10. I purchased this film mainly to complete my collection of Harris Films. Now I will tell you that there is no other real reason to purchase this film.

Hannibal is the third book in a series of novels by Thomas Harris, all of which feature FBI agent protagonists tracking Serial Killers. In the film version of Hannibal, Anthony Hopkins reprises his academy award winning role as Hannibal Lecter, believed by basically everyone in Harris' world to be the most dangerous man who has ever lived. If you loved Hopkins outrageously over-the-top theatrics in Silence, then will still like him in this film. Hopkin's lecter was apparently perfect the first time around, because he hasn't changed a lick in 10 years. Julianne Moore takes over the role of naive FBI cadet Clarice Starling, now 10 years into a career at the FBI. Moore is a very beautiful and talented actress who is completely thrown away in this movie. Aside from doing a very good Impression of Jodie Foster's accent from Silence, She doesn't figure into this film very much. Hannibal is basically the story of Lecter's only surviving victim, A mutilated cripple named Mason Verger, who is hunting lecter for revenge.

The biggest problem with this film is that it has no substance. All of the secondary characters are black-and-white cardboard cut-outs without so much as the depth of a kiddie-pool. We have the Male-chauvanist Justice Dept. rep who is intent on destroying Clarice because she has rejected his sexual advances. We have the greedy, immoral older policeman in Italy who is forever trying to fulfill the desires of his beautiful young wife and pays the price. We have the higher-ups at the FBI who crucify Starling immediately upon her very public participation in a wild-west shootout for which she is IN NO WAY RESPONSIBLE. We have the never-ending series of tough, male G-men who insist on treating Starling (who by all rights should be an FBI living legend after the events of silence) like an insipid little girl. But in the final analysis, what we are missing is the consummation of a formula that has worked in the past, and always will work...in this movie, the guilty are not punished. Manhunter and Silence work so well because of the fact that they are straightforward morality tales of using a pet monster to catch a monster that is on the loose. Hannibal Lecter works much better as a dangerous insect under glass who can be consulted when his unique and terrifying knowledge and viewpoint are needed. In this movie, we have no heroes and no villian. Is Verger a villian? It seems to me that twisted as he is, he is bent on doing the world a HUGE favor by ridding it of Lecter. What we have here is a movie that does not follow the formula of good guys chase bad guy, catch bad guy, and punish bad guy. The film simply breaks down on multiple levels.

Now I've had the discussions with people that this film is all about Lecter and Starling, and their mutual fascination with one another. If this were the case, they might actually be expected to share more than one scene together. If this is the story that Harris was trying to tell, either he or the screenwriter failed utterly.

OK. So I have massive problems with the plot and structure of the film. There is an upside. This film, like all of Scott's films, is both absolutely gorgeous, and technically wonderful. If there is a film-maker alive today with a better command of the art of making films look good than Ridley Scott, I could not tell you who that person is. The sets, locations, costumes, lighting, color, framing, composition, yadda, yadda, etc. are amazing. This is one of the best looking films of the year. What a shame that this basically means it is exquisite wrapping paper with an empty box inside.

In conclusion, I have to say that as hard as I have been on this film, I did not hate it. I sat through a film that was pleasant enough, all the while bemoaning the masterpiece that might have been. In the final analysis, this movie turns out to be a B-movie thriller with an A-list cast, and that is it's final shame. Unless you saw this movie in the theater and loved it so much that you cannot live without owning it, pass on the DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Completely Beautiful....
Review: Most movies are either good or bad. This one was beautiful. I have never seen a movie so utterly romantic. By romantic, I do not necessarily mean "involving love." It is a rare view of a man (Hannibal) wanting nothing more than an idealized society full of classical art and refinement. The movie is a wonderful combination of mystery, action, and beauty. Even the most grotesque scenes have an odd sense of beauty and intrigue; their images will leave lasting impressions on you forever. I know they have on me. The ending is somewhat of a disappointment though. The book (read it if you haven't already, it's better than the movie) has a much more unexpected ending. The film's ending was much more predictable, and much less of a shock. After reading the book, the movie's ending was not as good as I had expected, but that is not to say it did not have any merit. Compared to other current movies, this one far surpasses the others in its artistic quality. This movie will have you watching with your eyes glued to the screen until it is over, and you will probably cry at the end. I highly recommend this film as one of the best I have ever seen.

Rating:
Summary: The DVD/VHS of Hannibal isn't as good as it's novel
Review: Well, here it is, after about ten years, we finally see the sequel to Thomas Harris' novel and Jonathan Demme's film Silence of the Lambs. To me the Director Ridley Scott hasn't captured the exquisitly written essence of Thomas Harris' novel. It's set a few years after the silence of the lambs, where the facsinating Dr. Hannibal Lecter ( who else, but Anthony Hopkins) has escaped to italy from the US. He has found a new residence in beautiful florence, safe from the horrors of his previous dungeon in baltimore. All of a sudden everyone seems to be out for his capture, which leads to a cat and mouse game with his love, Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore, who came in because Jodie Foster stayed away from the sequel).

To those who have read and enjoyed the book, the film may seem rushed. To me'Hannibal'(the film) seems to hurry along with out ever stopping to admire itself in the mirror. Ridley scott described some of the deleted scenes in the DVD as taking too much time, but i felt the film needed lots of slow movement to get the tension going, which was done so well in the silence of the lambs.

'Hannibal' has few, but very strong scenes of 'violence' (one of them could be better described as 'dinner'. For those who havnt read the book and are very squirmish, be warned.

The DVD does packs in a huge amount of features which does the film justice. On it, are the deleted scenes, the making, commentary from ridley scott, and much more. If you have a DVD player, and have enjoyed the VHS version, then this is a must.

Overall, 3 for the film,4.5 for the DVD.

Rating:
Summary: A Little Distasteful, If You Know What I Mean¿
Review: After watching SILENCE OF THE LAMBS several years ago, I was "en-grossed" with the brilliance of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and the performances of Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter did not dine much in the first movie as he was more preoccupied with Agent Clarice Starling of the FBI and helping her nab Buffalo Bill, Lecter's former patient and infamous serial killer. SILENCE had enough gore and graphic content, but HANNIBAL makes the former look sheepish. If you like blood and mutilation, you will enjoy this movie, because it is not for the faint of heart. On a more positive note, HANNIBAL is a movie with much intrigue and suspense. You will have to watch and listen closely in between meals or you just might miss something.

The real story is set in motion with one of Dr. Lecter's surviving victims, Mason Verger, devising a plan to get his revenge from a previous encounter that forever disfigured his face. Verger, a multimillionaire, places a bounty of $3m on information leading to Lecter's whereabouts so he can carry out his diabolical plan. Verger hates the doctor so much that he wants to send him to the pig farm.

Meanwhile the celebrated Agent Starling, who cracked the Buffalo Bill case, has innocently been accused for botching a more recent FBI operation with her envious supervisor, Deputy Assistant Inspector Paul Krendler, apparently desiring to remove her from the force. An internal FBI investigation leads Starling a reassignment to the Lecter case, which she finds fascinatingly refreshing. Of course, Lecter has become one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted criminals in the world and has ingeniously escaped their clutches for years; therefore, Krendler thinks it will preoccupy Starling's time.

This is the point where all the characters and subplots begin to converge, and all eyes focus on HANNIBAL. Does he like the attention? I think so, but woe to any that are rude or seek to advance their own cause by using the good doctor. He states this fact simply, "I don't like rude people." Moreover, Lecter (alias Dr. Fell) becomes enraptured that Clarice has entered the investigative fray, for he admires her very much. Could this be love? You will have to discover this for yourself in the myriad of gore and bloodletting. Another observation, "Who is the good guy and the bad guy in this one? Or should I say, who is the rotten apple in a basket of bad apples?" It becomes cloudy as the story progresses.

Ridley Scott has directed another fine film, of course not the caliber of GLADIATOR, which won him Oscar. As far as the cast, one cannot say enough about Anthony Hopkins (Oscar winner) who performs wonderfully as the brilliant and deranged doctor. The character seems to be a perfect fit for him, and one could not imagine another replacing him. Hopkins is arguably the greatest actor of our time, and performs masterfully in everything he undertakes; therefore, one can simply call him, "Sir".

Julianne Moore put in a top-rate performance as Agent Starling; however, who can replace a superior actress like Jodie Foster? It seemed Moore lacked some of the intensity and feeling that Foster portrayed as the Special FBI Agent. In supporting roles, Gary Oldman matches step with Hopkins as Mason Verger, especially having to play the part with a mangled face. Ray Liotta (FBI Deputy Assistant Inspector Paul Krendler) put in good performance, but I was especially impressed with Giancarlo Giannini as Inspector Renaldo Pazzi. He played the part of the disheveled detective looking for a break out of his profession by making it big on bounty money.

In conclusion, a word of advice when viewing HANNIBAL: Be careful of what you eat before, during, and after the film. This one is not for children under 17.

Rating:
Summary: My final verdict
Review: Hannibal is a horror masterpiece. It is an exotic, sensual, and sensory experience in which beauty reigns over decadence. Unlike The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal is a genre film, which is essentially why it has been so cruelly dismissed. The film by Jonathan Demme is a "psychological thriller" while Hannibal is a gore film closer to the films of Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci than say Alfred Hitchcock. But unlike the wave of teenage oriented slasher films of the last few years, Hannibal is made for adults with a sense of aesthetics.

Director Ridley Scott cared about this film and it shows. Hannibal is one of the most beautifully conceived films of 2001. Cinematographer John Mathieson and Ridley Scott have created a world filled with subtle and precise lighting and color tones that ooze with both sensuality and dread. The score by Hanz Zimmer is also one of the most emotional and complex piece of instrumental music of any contemporary year. Zimmer uses classical instruments and classically inspired sounds to convey powerful emotions, from the romantic ("The Burning Heart") to the chilling ("Dear Clarice"). Most admirable is the original opera composition which uses a libretto from Dante's "La Vita Nuova", making it the first text of the Italian poet to ever be put to music in a film.

Of course, we cannot talk about Hannibal Lecter, now a legendary film and literary villain, without talking about Anthony Hopkins who plays the character for the second time. In the Ridley Scott film, Dr. Lecter becomes the main character, giving Hopkins the opportunity to explore the character's complexities. For some reason, Lecter isn't as scary in Hannibal as he was in The Silence of the Lambs which was one of the main problems for the numerous critics and filmgoers who refuted the film upon its release (and still do to this day). But what Hopkins does bring to his slightly transformed Lecter is dark humor and charisma. Lecter delivers a series of memorable one-liners ("I'm giving very serious thought...to eating your wife", "Your little brother must smell as badly as you do by now", "spoken like a true Protestant", "You've met Mason...face to face, so to speak", etc.) establishing his attractive yet perverse nature. Lecter's presence is also felt by his eerie stillness, wicked smile, and gentleman appeal.

In Hannibal, Julianne Moore takes over the role that Jodie Foster made famous in the previous Thomas Harris film adaptation. Like most people, when I first heard that Jodie Foster had officially declined the role of Starling in the so-called sequel to Lambs, I was disappointed and expressed doubts about the credibility of the movie. But once I got passed the initial shock of losing Jodie Foster and learned of Moore's involvement in the film I was most pleased. Julianne Moore was already one of my favorite actresses. With movies like Boogie Nights, The End of the Affair, and The Myth of Fingerprints Moore proved to be one of the best actresses working today. I still sometimes wonder why Jodie Foster rejected the part considering the participation of Ridley Scott and Anthony Hopkins. Nevertheless, a character does not belong to an actor, no matter what, especially when that character comes from a literary source. In fact, in Micheal Mann's Manhunter, Lecter was played by Brian Cox. In the upcoming remake of Manhunter, Red Dragon-the original title of the novel by Thomas Harris, Harvey Keitel will play the role of Jack Crawford. In Manhunter, Dennis Farina played Crawford. In Lambs, it was Scott Glenn. Thus, if you are willing to see Hannibal as a separate entity, not a sequel to the more sober but just as great Jonathan Demme film, you can savor Julianne Moore's emotionally measured performance.

In the DVD's audio commentary, Ridley Scott offers a fascinating and informative analysis of his film while responding to the various criticisms that have plagued Hannibal (ex. why is Lecter without plastic surgery? why the pigs? what is the relation between Cordell and Mason?, and so on). Besides the commentary, the DVD provides an interesting but somewhat shallow documentary, fantastic multi-angle featurettes of the opening action scene, wonderful trailers and TV Spots, an extraordinary photo gallery, and much more...
One of the best DVD's of the year.

For me, Hannibal is a film to cherish...although it will never become the phenomena that was The Silence of the Lambs, nor will it win any major awards, but I believe that with time it will become a cult classic much like Argento's Suspiria, the Evil Dead films, De Palma's The Phantom of the Paradise, Big Trouble in Little China, The Wicker Man, or even Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut.