Rating: 
Summary: Uggh...where do I begin?!
Review: Oooohhhhh lordy-lordy-lordy-lordy...Hollywood has done it again. Another public insult to anyone who has intelligance, and doesn't want to be spoon-fed the story.Ok, first off to all you bookworms about "Red Dragon." IT'S JUST LIKE WHEN PETER JACKSON DID "LORD OF THE RINGS"! If you took YOUR vision of the novel and commited it to film, someone other bookworm in the world's gonna think it's a stupid adaption too! You can't compare books to films. GET A LIFE, AND QUIT BASHING MOVIES ALREADY! Second, is it just me...or has practically every Hollywood film in the last decade screwed up ROYALY on the casting?? Oh my god...here we go: Anthony Hopkins - Yup, just another Hannibal again. What else is new?! Looking for something else creepy and disturbing from Hopkins? See a mid-70's film called, "Magic." Edward Norton - Ok, the scene in "Manhunter" where Graham investigates the Leeds house, left me just as interested, cold, and disgusted as Graham himself. I held my laugh for soooo long in that sold out theater for "Red Dragon" for Edward Norton's portrayal. I mean, I wanted to shout out, "You are a detective, fool!! NOT A 17 YEAR OLD NIGHT-WATCHMAN FOR MCDONALDS!! Harvey Keitel - Uh, where's the brass Keitel used to have?? Since I had seen "Bad Lieutenant" and "Resovoir Dogs," I would've expected a serious role for this; nice, and an on-the-ball attitude for every action taken, just like Dennis Farina did. Ralph Finnes - It's alright...laugh along with me on this. WAS THAT LIP SCAR SUPPOSED TO MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE THE KILLER?? Sorry "English Patient" boy, Tom Noonan owns that role. "OWNS" that role, hear me? Grow another foot taller, and we MIGHT consider ya for that role again, should you ever consider to brace yourself for more embarassment. Friggin' Hollywood, I tell ya...makes me sick. Just to make it look big, they sacrificed storyline for some more Hannibal shots. Ever tasteless... Need intelligance? "Manhunter"
Need another insult? "Red Dragon" (Just in case I need to say it again: YOU CAN'T COMPARE BOOKS TO FILMS!!)
Rating: 
Summary: A movie you can really 'sink your teeth' into.
Review: For me, I find it interesting that, even with the overwhelming popularity and publicity of "Silence of the Lambs" and "Hannibal", the only Hannibal Lecter movie that I have seen in full and understand the complete plot details is "Manhunter", the original movie to deal with Hannibal Lecter (spelled Lektor in this movie). "Manhunter" starred "CSI's" William Petersen as retired FBI agent, Will Graham, who is drafted back into service by his former supervisor to help capture a freakish serial killer who is dubbed 'The Tooth Fairy'. In order to get inside the mind of the 'Tooth Fairy', Graham elects to consult the man who's capture forced him into retirement in the first place, Hannibal 'the Cannibal' Lecter (played in a finely understated, yet equally menacing, form by Brian Cox). It was a tense and remarkably well done film, even if the box office performance didn't reflect it. "Red Dragon" is simply a remake of "Manhunter", designed to make so that all of the stories of Hannibal Lecter have the role played by Anthony Hopkins. The big question is, "will this seemingly unnecessary remake be a flop and untrue to the original?"
Fortunately, the answer is 'no'. "Red Dragon" proves to be a very faithful adaptation of "Manhunter". While lacking the "Miami Vice" stylistics of "Manhunter" (the show and the movie were both helmed by Michael Mann), "...Dragon" still manages re-create the same searing tension. It is helped by the fact that the man who handled the cinematography for "Manhunter", Dante Spinotti, is also handling it for "Red Dragon". Unlike in the original, this film opens with Lecter pre-incarceration and shows the circumstances under which he was captured and Will Graham entered retirement. Given the over-the-top grossness and gore of "Hannibal", it would seem very possible for this scene to be almost unwatchable. However, it's handled in a manner that conveys the horror without forcing the audience to implement their gag reflexes. The entire movie takes that approach and it seems to regenerate the famous suspense of "Silence..." instead of the silliness and gore of "Hannibal".
The area I was most concerned about with this remake was the interpretation of Francis Dolarhyde (aka "The Tooth Fairy), played in this movie by Ralph Fiennes. The previews seemed to give off the impression that Dolarhyde was going to be a more active, over-the-top villain than in the original. If that had been the case, it would have been a dishonest rendering of the creepy, brooding, and frightening Dolarhyde created by Tom Noonan in "Manhunter". Fortunately, it seems that Fiennes watched and analyzed that performance a number of times. He has managed to capture all the mannerisms and behavioral quirks that made Noonan's Dolarhyde such an enigmatic villain.
As far as remakes go, "Red Dragon" does not replace "Manhunter", but it serves as a very good companion piece to it. While telling the same story, each movie has it's own qualities that make them worth seeing. The good news is that "Red Dragon" stays faithful to its predecessor.
Rating:
Summary: Dolorous Dragon
Review: Anthony Hopkins, smooth and suave as always, had too much face time in "Red Dragon." Hannibal Lechter is a hard act to follow in the monstrous killer department, and he has Francis Dolarhyde (Ralph Fiennes) at a disadvantage. That being said, "Red Dragon" is beautifully directed by Brett Ratner, and the cinematography is brilliant. Will Graham (Ed Norton) almost died in the capture of Lechter and is now semi-retired, burnt out and trying to embrace serenity at gorgeous digs on the coast of Florida with his wife and son. His boss, Jack Crawford (Harvey Keitel) calls the reluctant Graham back to active duty on a grisly serial killer case. The press has labeled the killer "The Tooth Fairy" because of his modus operandi in murdering entire families in their homes. Will, like Clarise in "Silence of the Lambs," has an eerie ability of transference into the thoughts and minds of deranged killers. The picture beautifully foreshadows Dolarhyde's insanity with glimpses of his journal, voice-overs of the horrendous grandmother that raised and twisted him, and quick cuts of the spooky Home for Convalescents where he grew up. Harvey Keitel plays Crawford brusque and brutal which gives the film some much-needed grittiness. Ralph Fiennes and Ed Norton are both movie star handsome, which is not necessarily a plus in this type of film. In spite of Fiennes' subtle acting and his tortured psyche, I was just too sympathetic with him to get properly scared. Norton just did not seem like he was a battle scarred veteran or particularly traumatized; he looked like an ideal leading man, which he is. Big kudos on the cinematography and visuals: a quick cut that shows the viewer the only horrifying way that Dolarhyde can reach a sexual climax took less than a minute and would have taken hours to explain---Dolarhyde's magnificently tattooed back making him appear a sinuous monster of prey. Special congratulations to Philip Seymour Hoffman who makes the screen sizzle with his portrayal of the smarmy tabloid reporter, Freddy Lounds. He plays off Dolarhyde's revulsion and fury with frightening realism. Emily Watson as Dolarhyde's blind, unwitting love interest is spot on in her portrayal of a blind person, but a little too worldly wise to be believable as a naïve victim. "The Red Dragon" is a well-made, beautifully produced film. The pace is good and doesn't have a boring moment. Don't wait for the DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic Thriller!
Review: This Thomas Harris adaptation is equal to "The Silence of the Lambs". It is superb! The cast is almost perfect. (I disagreed with Harvey Keitel as Crawford..Scott Glenn was better in "Lambs"). Ralph Fiennes was chilling and sympathetic at the same time. Lecter was perfect as usual and gave the movie a notch up in "spookiness!". Ed Norton was as usual fantastic. He has turned out to be a wonderful character actor, never disappointing his fans. I suggest one read the book first, then see the movie. The movie of course has to condense the story and the book is one of the all time best.
Rating:
Summary: As good as "Silence of the Lambs"
Review: Sure, I read the reviews, I went to the movie expecting it to be horrible...boy, am I glad I was wrong. This movie is yet another awesome peice of work. Hopkins is back and better than ever as Hannibal Lechter, and the make-up job on him to look younger than "Silence" is also amazing. The story is twisted and goes like this...
Will Graham is a retired FBI agent who is asked to investigate a case involving a serial killer called the "Red Dragon" AKA the "Tooth Fairy." The killer is played by Ralph Fienes, and the guy is amazing, very convincing, very maniacal, and scary. Will goes to Dr. Lechter and tries to get information from him on how to catch him...sound familiar? (Hint: SILENCE OF THE LAMBS) But WAIT! I know you're saying "This setup has been done before..." Not true. This is a whole new case with new characters and villians. If you loved "Silence" you will love "Red Dragon" GO SEE THIS MOVIE! And if you haven't seen "Hannibal," I've got two words for you...SEE IT! And prepare to be grossed out in the middle and the end. See these two movies and feed on your little Dr. Lechter obsessed minds...you know you want to...
Rating:
Summary: MORE LIVER AND FAVA BEANS PLEASE!!!
Review: Oh Hannibal..fans can NEVER get enough! If you didn't know, Thomas Harris wrote "The Red Dragon" PRIOR to "Silence of the Lambs". It was a fantastic novel that gave us our first taste of the infamous Hannibal Lecter. Enter Hannibal the Cannibal for the first time. The movie, in my opinion is scripted extremely close to the book. I felt there were no significant changes. I was very impressed with the cast as well...Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, and of course, Edward Norton, who plays Investigator Graham perfectly. I say this because "The Red Dragon" was once made into a nonchalant little film titled "MANHUNTER" years ago. The only thing enlightening about that version was who played Hannibal...an oustanding actor by the name of Cox. True fan? Go rent it if the curiosity kills you. "Red Dragon" drips with appropriate gore, intellect, and sarcasm all in the right places. Don't be too anxious to see a movie about Hannibal Lecter. As in "Silence of the Lambs"..we get rare glimpses into Hannibal's world, but the movies really focus around Hannibal's legacy of helping and scheming the FBI investigators for bribes. Investigator Graham is much like Jodie Foster's character in that he must use the gifted monster to help him solve a crime. Graham hunts "The Tooth Fairy", a man who kills pretty families with pretty yards. The same questions still intrigue us in each novel/movie...How does he choose them?
"Red Dragon" revives old favorite characters as well...Jack Crawford, Dr. Chilton, and Barney. If you enjoyed the series (even if you hated the film "Hannibal" as most did) this is not to be missed. If new Hannibal scenes still make me gag on my M&M's then the movie is destined to be a great one. And sweetbreads...gosh darn it...those sweetbreads again!
Rating: 
Summary: Falls quite short
Review: I just saw both Red Dragon and Manhunter - I saw Red Dragon first, and I think it's a pretty good movie, but after watching Manhunter, I realized how out of its league Red Dragon is, despite its wide-spread publicity and high profile stars. The film was not even necessary. Considering that both movies are adaptations from Thomas Harris' novel (still awaiting total justice), and although Manhunter's ending was disappointing, it was a much better movie than Red Dragon. Will Petersen's portrayal of Will Graham has all the depth and complexity that Ed Norton can only dream of. I think Ed's an awesome actor, but his demeanor was simply not strong enough for the part. Not to mention Tom Noonan's portrayal of Dollarhyde in Manhunter (although Fiennes was very good in Red Dragon). Noonan was perfect as Dollarhyde. Every bit of torture Dollarhyde was experiencing was written explicity across Noonan's face, as though he was feeling it himself. Another plus for Manhunter was that no images of childhood abuse or excessive violence was needed to show why Dollarhyde was becoming what he was, which emphasizes Noonan's talent and Michael Mann's expert direction. Tom managed to extract sympathy mixed with awe, something I didn't feel much for Fiennes. I was more impressed with Fiennes ability to pull off Dollarhyde's depraved nature, but I felt no pity for his character (and I think that was a part of the director's goal). Michael Mann's direction flowed so much better than Brett Ratner's, and the emotional impact was right on target. Silence of the Lambs is a classic. Had it ended better, Manhunter could have been a classic. And Red Dragon is good, but no where near a classic. Anthony Hopkins is no longer the scary charming psychopath we loved to hate, instead, he is reduced to being simply comical. I guess that is why Ralph Fiennes ends up stealing the whole movie. Harvey Keitel's performance (as Jack Crawford) in Red Dragon was the movies' best, and I wish he had more screen time; a close second was Emily Watson's portrayal of Reba. But overall, Manhunter had a much better cast guided by superior direction.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good, If You Didn't Read The Book Or See Manhunter
Review: This film ALMOST makes it, and will be considered a hit by those who are not familiar with the book and its original movie rendition, Manhunter. For anyone who appreciates the book, this new movie falls short in several ways. Will Graham in this movie simply does not evoke the same degree of audience/reader sympathy as in the earlier presentations. The book painted him as an injured soul, a man with a gift he hated but was unable to resist using. His abilities had almost cost his life, and he definitely did not want to enter the investigation arena again -- but then Jack Crawford showed up with photos. Manhunter's William Petersen portrayed this emotional conflict extremely well, while Edward Norton merely seemed to be reading his lines. Compensating for that weakness somewhat are Red Dragon's plot details (with exceptions, below), which presented far more material from the book than did the first film. We see the original capture of Hannibal Lecter, along with expository information about Francis Dolarhyde's upbringing, which explained how the latter was driven to uncontrollable anger. Also we see the hatred between Drs. Chilton and Lecter, particularly that sweet scene wherein Lecter had accidentally received a rejection letter intended for Chilton. These two doctors were meant for each other. Missing, however, were Graham's struggles and connection with the case, his dreams about his family and the musings that gave us a glimpse of his thought processes. Non-vital but stinging moments were omitted -- the Leeds' phone ringing while Graham was at that murder scene, and Valerie Leeds' voice on the recorder; Graham's admonition to Crawford, "I'm not going to recognize him standing on a street corner" and identify him; Graham's bitter declaration, after being sucked into the case, "It's just you and me now, sport" -- these instances in which we identified with the hero were replaced by sensational (and fabricated) scenes featuring Hannibal Lecter. Lecter, it was implied here, conceptually solved the case early on, hinting that the killer was visually attracted to the women he murdered. The real Will Graham actually solved the case on his own; the only reason he had visited Lecter in the first place was "to get the scent back." Graham observed, retained and analyzed; he was far more naturally talented than Clarice Starling, whose primary asset was determination. Graham's legwork appears more extensively in the book and the first film, while the new version supplants all that shoe leather with visits to Lecter. The sad fact is, this remade movie was warped to a significant extent in order to accommodate box-office drawing card Anthony Hopkins. It would have been a lot better if they had just stuck to the author's original story and hired a younger, less famous actor to play Hannibal. Someone as powerful as Brian Cox was, in Manhunter.
Rating:
Summary: Tastey
Review: I went into this film with little to no expectations for this film. With Ridley Scott's Hannibal being such a let down I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of the guy who directed Rush Hour tackling something as Hannibal Lecter. I had the fortunate opportunity seeing this film the Wednesday before it came out at my college and found myself very satisfied with the film. It isn't as great as Silence of The Lambs, but Red Dragon on its own has some real standing power. Once again Anthony Hopkins was able to make my skin crawl and Edward Norton's protrayl of Will Graham was absolutley fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: Scariest movie ever
Review: Do NOT take your kids to this movie. Gave ME nightmares. I didn't even sleep the night after I saw it.
Oh, yeah, also don't see this movie at night.
MAN!
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