Manhunter (Restored Director's Cut Divimax Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Stylish gloss hides Harris' bleak story.
Review: The fact that it was Michael Mann who made this film means that there will be inevitable comparisons with Miami vice. To be fair he didn't use any vacuous talent in Manhunter which elevated it above his TV output. I found the film to be a fair interpretation of the book, with some dialogue lifted directly from the novel (you're so sly, but so am I). Being a book of immense depth, particularly the development and (attempted) redemption of Francis Dolarhyde (played well by Tom Noonan, but Dolarhyde he aint), it was too layered and complex to film thoroughly. The central premise of the film, that Dolaryhde was 'becoming' the Red Dragon, seemed to be the most criminal omission, with no mention at all of the Blakean origins of Dolarhyde and the direct relationship between Blake's magnificent painting and Blake and Thomas Butts; a theme expanded upon in Harris' third Lecter Novel. This apart, and of course the lame ending, Manhunter is a reasonable chiller. Read the book first and then do the video, but keep your expectation levels low!

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't stand to watch 5 minutes of Miami Vice . . .
Review: . . . so 120 minutes of Petersen's somber "acting" is even more unbearable. Mann ruined a terrific book by making it an MTV video. 2 stars for what is left of the story, 0 stars for the director and star.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent film, a true sleeper.
Review: This great filming of Thomas Harris' novel "Red Dragon" (prequel to "Silence of the Lanmbs) is actually better than Silence. The ending sequence, though quite hair-raising, is NOT the actual ending to the book. If you would like to see the actual ending to the novel in film, get the Kurt Russell movie "The Mean Season".

Rating:
Summary: CHILLING
Review: This movie was a great prequel to "Silence of the lambs". Although it was not up to the thrill and suspence of its novel "Red Dragon", it was suprisingly accurate for a serial murder movie. Coming from someone who studies the psychology of serial murders at the university level, that's quite a compliment. I would recommend this movie, but read the novel first.

Rating:
Summary: Deeply Disturbing, One of Joan Allen's best performances
Review: After reading the novel "Red Dragon", I had to see the movie. Although it isnt as good as the novel; which has a lot of graphic scenes that would be impossible to film; this comes very close. I thought that Michael Mann's direction is brilliant, and so is the photography by Dante Spinotti and the music by Michel Rubini. It also features one of the best perfomances of Joan Allen's carrer. She is excellent and believable as Reba. She is definetly the high point of the film.

Rating:
Summary: psychological terror at it's finest
Review: While the book dealt with more introspective areas such as the killer's horrific childhood and intimate thoughts, the movie focusses more on the pursuit between Dollarhyde and Graham. Both are superb and bone chilling. The storyline is both intelligent and fast paced. I felt the performances, with the exception of Dennis Farina, (who plays the same type of character in every movie) were brilliant. I put this one right up there with Silence of the Lambs and Seven.

Rating:
Summary: God - How Thrilling
Review: A superb creation. Full of state-of-the-art-direction, cinematography, editing, and music. Great character development, a lot of suspense. A thrilling adaptation of a thrilling novel. Deep, ambient movie for people who are able to see beyond the movie and find the *sensation*. So think Leonard Maltin and Roger Ebert, and no cowards who are afraid of revealing their names will ever change it with their pathetic attacks.

Rating:
Summary: God-Awful
Review: A pathetic mess. Full of MTV art-direction, cinematography, editing, and music. No character development, no suspense. A total hash of the far superior novel. Silly, shallow flick for people who find deeper meaning in rock videos.

Rating:
Summary: Suspenseful, masterly directed, should be "Oscar Winner!".
Review: One of the absolutely best thrillers ever made. Puts "Silence of the lambs" miles away in the lane. Michael Manns typical camera shooting with flicks that reminds us of his classical Miami Vice episodes adds cult to this extremely well made movie. The most wanted movie in Sweden now.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Thrillers Around-Criminally Underrated Film
Review: One of the best thrillers ever. Far superior to the overrated Silence of the Lambs. William Peterson is intense as Will Graham, and Dennis Farina's Jack Crawford puts Scott Glenn to shame (no offense to Glenn). Unfortunately not a well known film, although it got some attention after Silence was released. Everyone I recommend this to loves it. On my top ten list of movies I would like to see on DVD with special features.