Rating: 
Summary: My 2 Cents
Review: Well, some people in my family told me I really ought to see Brett Ratner's 2002 movie "Red Dragon." My family and I set up a movie date where we would have a complete Hannibal Lector movie marathon. It wouldn't be until summer, however. And so, I read both "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Hannibal." I nwever read "Red Dragon." I was so eager to have the movie marathon that I went out and bought the Limited Edition of Michael Mann's "Manhunter." I watched it, and thought it was fabulous.
Rating: 
Summary: Honestly?
Review: "Manhunter" is in every way superior to "The Red Dragon" WITH the exception of Anthony Hopkins' absence. William Petersen is a much more believeable Will Graham than whoever in "Dragon," and as the story was partially set in Atlanta, GA, it is nice seeing Atlanta landmarks in the movie. (Although using the High Arts Museum as the asylum that Graham ran screaming out of is kind of...uh...). And Tom Noonan's Francis Dolarhyde is as definitive a character a Hopkin's Lecter, MUCH more believeable and scary than his "Dragon" interpretation. My only gripe is that neither "Manhunter" or "Red Dragon" were true to the story at the end, but I guess that's Hollywood: "Have A Nice Day and a happy ending."
Rating:
Summary: Creepy, but not quite "Red Dragon"
Review: Let me start by saying this film, "Manhunter", is a fairly good adaptation of the book. Brian Cox portrays a mellower Hannibal Lecktor (as spelled in the ending credits, if I recall correctly). His performance is good, energetic, and he has the perfect face for an antagonist. His evil, however, does not show that much in this film, therefore he is not that scary, in my opinion. Obviously, he's killed people, and obviously his insanity comes back to haunt the semi-retired detective Will Graham, but I don't have any recollection of explanation about Hannibal's cannibalistic murders. Since we don't know much about the character, he is less scary, regardless of Brian Cox's good performance. Don't get me wrong; Hannibal is still really awesome in this movie! Will Graham, I thought, was portrayed well. He's haunted by his past with Dr. Lecktor, and now, working on this case again, he is disturbed because he must dig deep within the mind of the serial killer who is on the loose in order to figure out the mystery. The main problem that sticks out in this movie is the serial killer, Francis Dolarhyde, the Red Dragon. He is played well, but we don't have a real sense of his psyche. There isn't much explanation as to why he is brutally murdering people. And, his admiration of the Red Dragon painting is only mentioned about once or twice throughout the movie. Aside from these flaws, "Manhunter" is a well-made film, with some creepy images, and it is delightful entertainment. It's a strange, different thriller, that depends on implied violence rather than graphic violence. The problem with this is that we don't always get a full look into the horror of the story. Still, I'd recommend it, because it's fun to watch and see some of the little differences between this and the superior 2002 version "Red Dragon". Both are creepy and entertaining films.
Rating: 
Summary: boring
Review: I went into watching MANHUNTER expecting to be entertained and
a little freaked out.I was the total oppositte,I was bored and
waiting for the movie to end.The acting was unbeleivable and poor
Brian Cox gives a laughable portrayel as Hannibal Lector his
portrayal of Hannibal cant hold a candle to the oscar winning
one given by a born to play Hannibal(Anthony Hopkins).The movie
had no charactor study and went into all the action way to fast
and The toothfairy was nothing like the sinnistar pyhscotic buf
fallo bill(THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS).None of the actors are right
for the roles either the movie is boring,confusing,and poorly
acted,written,and directed....
Rating:
Summary: boring but creepy
Review: the wait is finally over.the real manhunter has been made and it is so true to the book that it retained its name.while manhunter was a toothless yapfest,brett ratners red dragon is like a 15000 lb. 5 headed shark.those who dislike the new version say its because the director used a paint by numbers approach.if the painting was to eventually resemble the book version then so be it.i see nothing wrong with a director focusing in on what the author had intended.what was he supposed to do?a rehash of the sorry m. mann's vision?!? thankfully not!!! brian cox was a non entity here where as in the book/2003 version,hopkins,shall we say,has a hands on part.in mike manns version,its walk around,talktalktalk,appear confused,talktalktalk and roll credits.ratner made sure that would not be the case here.i did like petersons graham over nortons.but thats the only kudos manhunter gets.norton seems too naive for an agent whos already experienced the hell of his profession.way too sheepish.mike mann can and has directed movies with equal parts talk/action(heat-bordeline though,live and die in L.A.)come to mind.why he decided to yap it up here confused me.well,thank you mr ratner for hearing me conplain and fullfill mr.thomas' true vision of red dragon.
Rating:
Summary: If you're a serious collector, GET IT!
Review: Faithful to the spirit of Thomas Harris' novel, this Richard Roth, Michael Mann production of RED DRAGON is a very good film. Truthfully, all it lacks is Anthony Hopkins, which, as you know, is now available elsewhere. This film is so good I cannot actually recommend one over the other. Truthfully, its not like there's two equally good versions of the TEN COMMANDMENTS with two different actors, but almost. Brian Cox's performance is just as noteworthy as Hopkins' and the basic theme of the novel is still adhered to. You're not be
ing unfaithful if you add both Manhunter and Red Dragon to your collection. Enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Can I give it .25 of a star?
Review: Don't waste your money on the poorest excuse for 80's crime dramas ever. This movie has the worst of every element, poor plot development, poor acting, bad over acting, no character development, bad lighting. Scenes that are entirely colored, green, blue and red, I understand it's "artistic", but unles you live next door to a Kenny Rogers Roasters (Seinfield Reference) the entire room will not be red. Don't even get me started on the music, ... And though Brian Cox does a great job as Hannibal, with the other "actors" it is hard to tell if he is even acting or just board with the script. It is just a tiresome movie that was a good idea in the 80's, but with a ending that all but mimicks the end of "Silence of the Lambs" and with too many events in the movie that just happen, assuming the viewer had read the book, without explination as to why this movie deserves less than "Killer Tomatoes Eat France" or any Earnest Movie.
Rating:
Summary: Michael Mann at his finest.
Review: Michael Mann's strength is character development. His other classic "Heat" is a glowing example. This version of Thomas Harris' Red Dragon does not disappoint as the personas of Will Graham, Hannibal Lecktor and Francis Dollarhyde are deeply explored. The suspense is taught and the techniques Grahams uses to acclimate himself to his target's thought process are gripping. Don't miss Brian Cox's stirring performance as Hannibal Lecktor. Watch this movie before you rent the remake, Red Dragon, with Ralph Fiennes, Anthony Hopkins and Ed Norton. I promise you won't be able to say that Red Dragon is better.
Rating:
Summary: It's just Manhunter and me now sport!
Review: This movie is the ultimate in 80's stylization. It is beautifully filmed, written and directed by Miami Vice producer Michael Mann. The soundtrack is exquisite, droning and non stop. William Petersen, now of CSI, gives a moving and believeable performance as Will Graham. The only thing keeping this movie from being the greatest film of all time is that Anthony Hopkins didn't play Lector. Enter the mind of a killer and you might never return...
Rating:
Summary: Good....Almost as Good as Red Dragon
Review: After seeing Brett Ratner's fine film, Red Dragon, I was interested to see this prequel. I had heard many say this edition was better than the modern film. On the jacket of the DVD, some even claim it is better than The Silence of the Lambs. I really do not understand that review. While Manhunter is a great psychological drama, it misses some key points that made The Silence of the Lambs great and Red Dragon very good.Manhunter follows fairly familiar serial killer ground. A raging psychopath is breaking into family homes and brutally kills every member. He has some strange "extra-curricular" activities, but you should see those to believe them. The FBI is stymied in its investigation, and the clock is ticking. In desperation, they go to Will Graham, played very well by William Petersen. Graham is out of the Bureau, chased away by his tortured mind, a persona permanently scarred by his apprehension of Dr. Hannibal Lecktor. Graham has the ability to look into the mind of the serial killer, see what they see, which leads him to some disturbing thoughts of his own. He begins to feel one with the "Tooth-Fairy", seeing his moves steps ahead. Making up the rest of the cast is a fairly good group of actors. Brian Cox is probably the lone standout among them, playing a very good Hannibal. Really, no one else deserves much mention, as they are fairly functionary. The movie is shot fairly well, although it does seem a little too "Miami Vice", as one reviewer said. The story is familiar to those who read the book and saw Red Dragon. Unfortunately, they ignored author Thomas Harris' great ending, for some strange reason. The movies only plus against Red Dragon is the character of Graham. I felt he was woefully underdeveloped in Red Dragon, but here, he is explored better. As a sacrifice to that development, I suppose, the actual character of the Red Dragon is not examined closely. That was a real detriment to the movie, as Ralph Fiennes' Dragon made the recent movie. Several important plot points are left out of Manhunter that really hurt the flow of the movie. Still, it is a very engaging and thought provoking picture, almost as good as the more recent interpretation.
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