Rating: 
Summary: Believable
Review: MH is believable. I like that in a show the presents itself as being based in our current reality. Let me state right off that I haven't even seen SOTL. The clips I've seen of it were too silly for me to want to watch it. Lecktor kept in a dungeon, being strapped to a board with a goalie mask on. Huh? He's creepy all over - not fooling anyone. Puhh-lease. By contrast, MH's treatment is plausible. Lecktor (Cox) is confined in an antiseptic cell, no one - no one - but the security guards are allowed to physically interact with him. He's smooth; he has a two millimeter veneer that's friendly, disarming. He sounds like the pompous, jaded academian he is. Petersen looks grizzled - a man who's seen things, things he doesn't want to talk about. Norton? Looks and sounds like a college student. How could he be cast as profiler who had to get out? Put him in Van Wilder. The treatment of the evidence and utilization of resources in MH - great, fascinating, believable. Can't comment w/r/t SOTL. MH's Francis Dollarhyde is well-blighted; tragic, but an unredeemable villain. His awkwardness and insecurity making him forever embarassed in routine life. As the dragon, he is diabolically mild, resolute, and powerful (which is of course why he chooses to pursue being the dragon). Can't comment w/r/t RD. Manhunter is not done to Hollywood excess. That's something I like about it a great deal. Manhunter is a great thriller. Yes it has 80s music (duh Captain Retardo, it was made in the 80s). Much of the soundtrack is by Shriekback; if you know them, then you know they are often haunting and creepy. (Check the album Oil and Gold.) RD could be good. I'm sure I'll see it. From the trailers, it's Manhunter with a different cast.
Rating:
Summary: SEE THIS BEFORE "RED DRAGON" IS RELEASED!
Review: See this movie before "Red Dragon" is realeased in October, 2002. Many say that "Manhunter" is better than "Silence of the Lambs". It is not fair to compare the two films. Both are classics. But what makes "Manhunter" extremely compelling is the thrill-by-thrill crime-solving phases of the film. The DVD version is awesome. The THX sound goes right to your soul. The storyline follows a Hitchcock pattern...and the music is nostalgic and riveting. Five stars...nothing less. The performance by Brian Cox as Hannibal Lecter is spine-tingling. You wish he had more screen time when the flick is over. The psychotic killer, portrayed by Tom Noonan, is worth all 6-foot-7 of him. The manhunter, played by William Petersen, is brilliant and convinceable. I shy from giving away plots, but potential viewers need to know that this film was the prelude to Silence of the Lambs. The manhunter in this film is the FBI agent that caught Hannibal Lecter...now he desperately needs him to solve a haunting crime that has possessed his life...his psychie. This movie is based on the book "Red Dragon", which is the basis of the film coming out in October, 2002. It will be a remake of this 1986 classic (16 years later). If you loved "Silence of the Lambs", you can't miss "Manhunter". And for those of you who grew up in the Sixties, if you watch this flick, you'll never listen to the classic psychedelic rock song "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" with the same set of ears or senses. The tune, recorded by Iron Butterfly, is the highlight of the closing sequence. Fasten your seat belts, grab your main squeeze, turn off the lights............ENJOY!
Rating: 
Summary: Worth seeing
Review: The first of the Hannibal Lecter films, and the last one most people see. Adapted in 1986 from Thomas Harris's novel "Red Dragon", this plays (and reads) like a first draft of "The Silence of The Lambs". The stories are essentially the same: an FBI agent with an uncomfortable past seeks Lecter's help to catch a serial killer who is aiming for 'transformation' - both climax with a 'blind' woman wandering around the killer's lair waiting to be shot. The key difference is that the later book and film were better developed. Still, "Manhunter" is no slouch. Brian Cox plays Lecter, and it's a testament to the strength of his performance that he isn't completely overshadowed by what Hopkins later brought to the role. Cox isn't nearly as hideously maniacal (as written, the part gives him no scope to be) but in his few short scenes he manages to be thoroughly chilling. William Petersen makes the most of his part, but is hampered by indulgent, reflective soliloquies which desperately try (and usually fail) to depict the workings of the uber-agent's mind. Otherwise, Mann's direction is rock solid. Dante Spinotti's use of light and color are spot-on (even if a little too reminiscent of "Miami Vice"). But the score is intrusive, over-used and sounds suspiciously like early-70s Brian Eno. The rock tracks are more successful, especially as used in the climax. This was a good film in its day, and was widely regarded as one of the most terrifying films ever made, but it's even more interesting now as a comparison to the big-budget 2002 remake, "Red Dragon". The new version looks better, but is nowhere near as chilling as the first.
Rating: 
Summary: TO BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS ! ! !
Review: Please, please do not buy this movie, whatever format it is in. Manhaunter is a terrible attempt at making a Hannibal Lecter movie, and it strays far from the tree that brought us The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. Brian Cox sounded simply too British for this part, while Sir Anthony Hopkins had just the right voice. The actors in Manhunter must have had medical issues. And Michael Mann, oh my God he's such a poor excuse for a director that he might have even been abused as a child to have created something this awful.
But look on the bright side: The remake, Red Dragon, appears in theaters on October 4th, starring the one, the only Hannibal Lecter worth mentioning, Anthony Hopkins. Go see it.
Rating: 
Summary: "But be warned...
Review: ...Fans and critics alike consider MANHUNTER to be far superior to THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS" announces the DVD cover. A concept that seems to be more and more popular between "purists": claiming that Brian Cox is the ultimate Lecter/Lecktor and Michael Mann's visuals suit better the story rather than the more gothic/hollywood approaches of Demme and Scott.
Snobbish. Very, very snobbish. Cox, having the best lines, is fine but to see charisma - free William Petersen for two hours talking alone is painful; to hear the soundtrack pumping some "NOW That's What I Call Music!: the 80's edition" crap at the worst moments is painful; to not be able to avoid comparing the titular "Red Dragon" character in the book and the one in the movie (basically, a guy with a stocking "deliberately understated") is painful, painful. Michael Mann was still the brains behind "Miami Vice" at this moment and he seems to be really proud of it.
"Critics and fans"... I am warned, thanks. But show the way in to Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel and the rest of the remake gang.
Way past the expiry date.
Rating:
Summary: Manhunter
Review: I think this is one of the most under rated movies I have ever seen. Manhunter is way better than either Silence of the Lambs OR Hannibal. Petersen is great as Will Graham, Brian Cox is a chilling Dr. Lecter. Tom Noonan excells as the "Tooth Fairy". If you haven't seen this classic, please rent it before you see the new "Red Dragon". I saw the trailer last night for Red Dragon, This movie is a mistake-Edward Norton is a fine actor but doesn't have the dark, brooding presence of Petersen. The actor playing the Tooth Fairy, forget it. This movie
(Manhunter) has a great soundtrack, which for some reason has never been released on CD. I have the old cassette version which I love. I understand it has become a hot item on EBAY. This movie was never promoted as it should have been. The only reason it never got it's due populatity was a lack of a Jody Foster or Anthony Hopkins. Do yourself a favor and see Manhunter, one of Michael Mann's best.
Rating:
Summary: Soothing thriller
Review: Manhunter is a pure energetic roller-coaster of great emotion. William Petersen, Kim Greist, Tom Noonan, Dennis Farina and Brian Cox all play excellent roles. Much of Cox's performance is made up of heart-stopping dialogue and amazing wit. The detail in this film is apart of what makes it so interesting and appealing, but that's not nearly quite the overall charm of this movie. The soundtrack goes along with the images superbly. And the images are very-well photographed. Overall an amazing movie to watch.
Rating:
Summary: OK movie marred by corny songs and superior sequels.
Review: The main thing that bugs me about this movie might seem strange. On the cover of the DVD, it says in big bold letters a section from a review: "SUPERIOR TO THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS!" This seems like an act of betrayal on the behalf of the video distribution company. Where would this long-forgotten adaptation of RED DRAGON be without the far superior Clarice Starling vs. Buffalo Bill outing? Its claim to fame is that it came *SURPRISE* before the infinitely superior THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and far superior HANNIBAL. I was, however surprised at Brian Cox's portrayal of Dr. Hannibal Lecter (or Leckter as spelled in this film for reasons unknown-- the books spell it Lecter). He is rather convincing and has kind of an ubercool presence around him. Not to say that he's better than Anthony Hopkins, but he is still very good. Another thing is the fact that it was made in the 80's, so the film is plagued with unbelievably inappropriate songs played at annoyingly loud volumes. "HEARTBEAT" anyone? But enough with the bad. This otherwise, apart from the more movie-appropriate finale, is a very faithful adaptation of Thomas Harris' RED DRAGON. They cut out all the psychological explanations for the killer's ways, but I think it's a more neatly packaged film without them. No problem with the acting. You dislike who you're supposed to dislike and you root for who you're supposed to root for. However, so much is cut out from the novel (especially at the infamous "wheelchair" part) that it's kind of hard to understand what's going on at times without having read the book. All in all, not a bad movie. But if you want to see some Hannibal Lecter that you can discuss with friends about, rent the two more recent films.
Rating:
Summary: Well done
Review: A well made suspence-thriller on a low budget. Absolutely worth your time...
Rating:
Summary: A disappointing attempt
Review: "Manhunter" could have been quite a thrilling movie if they hadn't cut out so much of the plot. The title was changed from "Red Dragon" to "Manhunter" because another movie "Year of the Dragon" had opened and flopped, and the producer wanted to avoid the "dragon" title. However, that didn't require taking away from, what I believe, was a key element in the plot. The book went into far greater depth about the Red Dragon (Francis) character, and while it wasn't necessary for the movie to go into his whole childhood, it might have been worth pursuing his character a bit more. Instead, the movie focused exclusively on the pursuit. The movie could have set up a huge suspenseful ride in the end if they had stuck to the original book ending, with Francis surviving and coming after Will in his home. The movie violated the Chekovian rule that if you introduce something in the beginning of the story you should resolve it at the end. Why have Lecter give out Will's home address to Francis if he wasn't going to use it? I have my fingers crossed that the new release of 'Red Dragon' would be more faithful to the novel.
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