Rating: 
Summary: Not Every Movie Needs A Sequel
Review: Anthony Hopkins may be best known for his potrayal of Hannibal Lector M.D. from the incredible film Silence of the Lambs. His role in Hannibal is one that tarnishes his career and the future of the character of Dr. Lector. This film is so scattershot that not one idea can come across cleanly. The film jumps between different ideas, failing to tie all of them together in any order. This film is all just random ideas that seemed like they made sense, but when they are viewed as a whole you can see all of the errors that are made. Ridley Scott does a fine job directing all that he had to work with, which was not much. This film centers on Clarice, played here by Julianne Moore, trying to figure out where Hannibal is at. At the same time the only survivor of Hannibal is trying to find him for his own profit and merit. The role of the disfigured victim is played by an unbilled Gary Oldman. This was the smartest thing that the actor could do. Anyone involved with this film should want their name taken off of it. Hannibal returns to America from Rome, and with him comes his agenda of coming out of retirement and getting back into his old hobbies. This film is painfully bad. There are scenes that are meant to shock the audience, but instead all they do is make us wonder why they put it in. Ray Liotta is in what is supposed to be the most disturbing scene, but his fate is only dulled by the fact that they audience does not care what happens to anyone that is associated with this film. My only words of wisdom here are make a night at home and watch Manhunter or Silence of the Lambs. With these two films you will not feel cheated and you will ultimately be glad that you skipped this film.
Rating: 
Summary: Proof the Sequals Can be As Good.. If Not Better.
Review: I Just Saw "Hannibal" at a Special Advanced Screening, and I was Absolutely Blown Away, and I went with the Highest of Expectations. I am a Huge Fan of "Silence of the Lambs" and I even watched that one before I saw "Hannibal" so all the Events Would be Fresh in my mind. There is not One Problem with the film, not One Off Performance, It is Film-making Perfection. Probably the best Book-to-Film transfer Ever. (well, up there with "Trainspotting" and "American Psycho") Anthony Hopkins is his Usual Brilliant Self, Given Considerable More Screen Time and Allowed to have More Fun with the Role of the Deliciously Evil Dr Hannibal Lector. Julianne Moore was a Great Choice to take the role of Clarice Starling, and Gary Oldman is Nearly Unrecogniseable as Mason Verger, a Hater of Hannibal. Ridley Scotts Direction is Better than Ever, he has become a more Matured Director lately and he allows his skills to Assist the Actors, Not Overshadow them. An All-round Perfect Film, One to see Many, Many... Many times over.
Rating: 
Summary: Mediocre yet oddly satisfying
Review: Let's face it: "Hannibal" is nowhere near as good as "Silence of the Lambs" (I'm talking movies, not books). To quote Charter, "Far-fetched and gory." Plus it fails to capture Lecter's true intentions toward Starling (as brotherly or fatherly, not romantic). Yet, somehow, the film is oddly satisfying, and I find myself draw to it whenever it's on. The mix of operatic score during chaotic scenes is strangely effective (similar to the ethereal tracks during intense scenes in the LOTR series of films). So, no, it's not a great movie, and Lecter's behavior is sometimes "out of character," but the movie is satisfying nonetheless.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing, floundering follow up
Review: When Thomas Harris wrote Hannibal, it was a safe bet that a film wouldn't be far along. Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme and star Jodie Foster declined to take part in Hannibal claiming they found the story distasteful; so director Ridley Scott (Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, Alien) and actress Julianne Moore (replacing Foster as FBI Agent Clarice Starling) were brought into this disappointing follow up. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins reprising his Oscar winning role), now living the life of luxury in Italy, finds himself on the run from Mason Verger (an unrecognizeable and uncredited Gary Oldman), a former patient who at Hannibal's advice peeled off part of his face. Meanwhile, Clarice finds her career on the downward spiral as she as used as bait by Verger to lure Lecter out of hiding. The suspense can't hold up to that of Silence of the Lambs (movie or book that is) and Scott's direction, even though he gives it his own slick look, is disappointing. Moore, as good an actress as she is, can't hold a candle to Jodie Foster as we find the once strong willed but vulnerable Clarice be more of a victim here than anything else. Finally, Hopkins just isn't scary anymore as Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter. That alone is probably the worst part of the film, and while Hannibal isn't necessarily bad, it's one of the most disappointing films to be released over the past few years. The cast also includes Francesca Neri, Frankie Faison, and Ray Liotta in the film's most infamous scene.
Rating: 
Summary: Great, not completely accurate, but very good.
Review: The film is based on Thomas Harris' third installment in the "Hannibal Lecter Series" (Although, Hannibal Lecter is only a major character in one book.) The movie's ending was completely different than that of the book. WARNING: IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK, AND WANT TO, DO NOT READ THE NEXT SENTENCE! In the book, Lecter basically brainwashes Starling and takes her as his wife and moves to South America. WARNING OVER Hopkins' acting was not as good as it was in "Silence of the Lambs," but it's very good. Julianne Moore's performance was not as good as Jodie Foster's. The movie excluded the character Margot, Mason Verger's lesbian sister. I think she greatly enhanced the story's progress. In the movie, anything Margot did that was pivotal to the story (basically, just pushing Verger into the pigpen) Verger's personal doctor did. Basically, if you're just looking for an amazing movie, DON'T pick this up, if you're looking for a gory movie, pick it up. If you're looking for a good sequel to an amazing movie (Silence of the Lambs.)
Rating:
Summary: Expecting way too much...
Review: I was a huge fan of "Silence Of The Lambs". When I found out almost ten years later a sequel was coming out, I was chomping at the bit to see "Hannibal". Like so many other sequels, this one falls into the same category... disappointing. I was sorry to see Jodie Foster turned the film down, as Julianne Moore was unemotional & detached from her character. This was Foster's role - she was so good in the 1st one, no one could pull it off in the 2nd, but Jodie. The film spends way too much time setting things up. In fact, you don't even get to spend much time with Hannibal until the 2nd half of the movie. Fine acting once Anthony Hopkins makes his entrance... but that's about it. Ray Liotta - another stereo typical performance from him (will he ever play anything else but a semi-tough guy with a sense of humor?). Gary Oldman was good, but his make-up and labored breathing grew annoying quickly. Oldman's (character) life long plot for revenge ultimately back-fired and the whole hog wild scene of his death was just sad, and somehow fitting - you almost knew it was going to turn out the way it did. As was the scene at the end with Hopkin's uncapping Liotta... like it was something out of "Dexter's Laboratoy" on Cartoon Network. The violence and gore was too much - and unrealistic in most cases. Rent this one and see for yourself... disappointing to say the least. I paid $8 per ticket for my wife and I to sit thru this yawn-fest... I want my money back. I will not buy the DVD.
Rating:
Summary: "It seemed like a good idea at the time."
Review: Like many who loved the modern classic "Silence of the Lambs", I was very disappointed that Jodie Foster didn't return to play the role of Agent Starling. Julianne Moore does a good job in the role, but it just wasn't the same. This sequal has its share of murder and mayhem, but there are plenty of boring scenes that detract from the suspense. Anthony Hopkins gives yet another great performance as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, which has become his trademark character.
This time Agent Starling continues her determined pursuit of the ever elusive Dr. Lecter while trying to redeem herself because of a botched FBI operation. When she finally catches up with him, she's forced to save his life from a madman. But when she finally gets her chance to turn Lecter in to the police, she hesitates, and Lecter is allowed to escape (for another sequal, perhaps). The best thing about this movie (besides Anthony Hopkins, of course) is the haunting music which adds a lot to the dark mood of the film. The dvd has tons of bonus features for those who care, but I suggest you rent this first before buying.
Rating:
Summary: Odd Film That Is Just So.......?
Review: "Hannibal" is possibly one of the oddestfilms I have ever seen. Now, I usually enjoy odd, alternative films but this movie was just so...well, I don't think there is a word to describe it. I really don't know what to say about this film; when I think back, it all made sense but yet somehow it didn't. I know that sounds odd but it's the truth. The plot is so simplistic, it is almost unbelievable: Murderer is in hiding, FBI agent tries to find him, does, and lets him get away. There is more to the story but the whole "Mason Verger" storyline seemed like it was basically just there to add some time onto the film. I mean, really, Clarice doesn't need a deformed man who wants to kill Lector for a reason to find him, she would try to find him anyway, even if she wasn't just in it for Mason. But probably the most extreme part in this film is when Clarice, Hannible, and that other person have a meal. Is it supposed to be a dark humor-esque scene or....what were they trying to do? It sort of reminded me of some certain scenes from corny, kids TV shows where(when you were older) you aked yourself, "Why did they put that in? It would have been better without it". All in all, the film tries to scare you by making you feel closed in/cramped but it doesn't. It tries to be super simplistic to be scary(which would have been good) but comes off as a film that accidentley was simplistic; the filmmaker's were trying to make it serious and epic. The film is............(fill in the blank).
Rating:
Summary: Hannibal Lecter is profiling the FBI
Review: I was kind of disappointed by the film at first because it cuts off the second half of the book, the part I definitely preferred because it showed so well there is a real love affair going on between the criminal and the cop who is tracking him. Catching a serial killer is the story of a seduction : the seducing of the cop and the seducing of the killer by the other proponent in each case. But the film has qualities that are undeniable. It is a good thriller, though a little bit fast and consequently skimpy. The end is gross, even if the alternative ending is a lot better, because it keeps the main door open. The official ending closes all doors and locks them up so tight there is no escape from the horror this Hannibal inspires in Clarisse, respect, maybe or of course, but horror all the same. It explores a little bit the extreme culture of this man, his phenomenal way to impersonate practically anyone and charm practically any audience. He is a man who can be on the alert all the time and knows what his opponents are going to do next, even before they know themselves. It is funny how he is not at all disquieted by his being caught by his old high school or university gay offering to the God of death and style, because he knows this Mason has made a mistake : he has called him back by endangering Clarisse and she will know why she has been endangered and by whom, and she will react according to her instinct, she will come after him, Hannibal, because she cannot even doubt he is at stake and she was the bait, and she has to capture him alive, hence to go into the hornet's nest to get him free and then arrest him. That is not going to work exactly like that but the reducing of the rotten justice department offcial to a mumbling kid if not baboon is such a nice thing to see. A young promising man who cannot resist his fascination for easy money and endangers his own colleagues, even uses them as bait and nothing but trap-meat. That is what our system of containing evil instead of reforming it leads to. There is always someone who will take advantage of the situation. That is western corruption and we are experts at it. At the same time this film, for the second time (Red Dragon proved the contrary but The Silence of the Lambs went the opposite way), proves that the famous FBI profiling technique is just a gimmick in the technology of crime-fighting and nothing else. A real serial killer is intelligent enough to foresee what the police is going to do and thus to lead them along the way instead of being trapped by their profiling. A real serial killer is also able to check all computers and sites and know that someone has put their greasy fingers in some files that concern him. If he buys a certain perfume in some luxury boutique anywhere in the world, he wants it to be an indicator of his whereabout to get out of the police what he wants, because he knows there is a camera filming hom and a simple mirror will tell him he is being watched. And he always succeeds because teh police works serially too and very little creatively. He does not want to stay in hiding. He wants to come out and act, so he calculates the action he desires and wishes and he pulls all the strings. It is a shame that the film cuts off the second part of the book and makes it impossible for Hannibal to get out of the chase, but it is a good film and the book is quite different with a serial killer who finally wants to get out of it and tries, maybe succeeds, to do so. Watch and enjoy the film, then read the book and enjoy the difference. Then enjoy the second disk, the alternative or rejected scenes (probably not all of them), the making of, and many other elements. You'll learn a lot about filmmaking and that will give some depth to your pleasure. We are finally reaching the acme of visual art by being provided with the backstage scenes and the backroom discussions. The cinema with the DVD is becoming like the Bible with the fingerprints of Jesus and his full authentic biography certified by the Roman Emperor himself and at least two dozens of eye-witnesses testifying under oath in some Supreme Court of Historical Truth.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
Rating:
Summary: The another side of Hannibal!
Review: Many people remained astonished after the film . Confused perhaps because they had tought this was a sequel but this is a wrong appreciation.
In fact Hannibal is free in this case and precisely this fact makes the things turn around .
The artistic gaze is a crude and brilliant exercise of superb good taste . Think in Florence the ancient memories of Hannibal in his prison 's pictures , and besides the nest of the Reinassance .
Think besides in Dante , Pazzi and consider his death as poetic justice .
You may argue the film is gore , but what do you expect from Hannibal?
The cast is splendid . Oldman made a glamorous tour de force as an invalid hunger of revenge .
The erotic presence of Julianne Moore makes Clarence Sterling a little bit altered respect to Jodie Foster .
The first entry is a pshycological thriller. This part is a hard multiple chase from Pazzi and the FBI and simulateously all of them seeking Hannibal , superbly played by Anthony Hopkins possibly the best actor in the world who just was working in Titus Andronicus .
The default perhaps resides in some minor aspects such as : How can Dr. Lecter to travel from Europe to USA being one of the ten most dangerous criminals and how could Clarence penetrate in the Oldman ' home with such easiness ?
If you let these questions to the random you may enjoy of a very clever and intelligent drama which will face you against our particular dragons .
Brilliant artistic direction , superb photography , memorable acting of Giancarlo Gianini (nominated in 1976 for his breathtaking performance in Seven beauties), Ray Liotta and a bit of Francesca Neri .
Not recommended for squeamish tastes or sensible viewers.
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