Rating: 
Summary: Ah, the colours of Lector...
Review: Ah, the colours of Lector let me count the ways:1. ManHunter 2. Silence of the Lambs 3.Hannibal 4.Red Dragon in that order... My Advise: take the money for the tickets to see this film and buy a DVD of Manhunter, and wait for Red Dragon to come to PVP or HBO. I have read all the Harris books, and seen all the Hannibal movies, and frankly - and this comes from a devout Anthony Hopkins fans - the fava beans, hockey mask and OTT portrayal is getting slightly cartoonish, a Shakespearian boo that is really nothing, but a carnival come on. Yes, this film is enjoyable...but, it is the weakest in the series and methinks time for Hannibal to ride into the sunset. Yeah, we all gasped at the fright night Hannibal in Lambs, but the whole thing was so over the top. Face it - Brian Cox is much more menacing - simply because is MORE believable. If you saw Hopkins' Hannibal walking down the street, you would giggle and run and call the police saying one escaped from the mental ward. Cox in very sedate, quite normal looking and acting, in his white pants, white t-shirt and in his whiter than whiter hospital room, and for this is the true scare. He is a man that you could work with, your professor, your doctor....the man you do not suspect of such sickness and depravity. Look at Dahlmer or Bundy - it their normality on the outside that made the horror they perpetrated on the world so much more ugly. Hopkins Hannibal gives us the safety net of the old Frankenstein films - it is so unbelievable you get your boo thrill, and then go home safe and sound. Manhunter does not give you that. Norton is a fine actor, but not of the range and talent as William Petersen. I watched Red Dragon and thought nice film, I doubt I would buy it on DVD as I have Lambs and Manhunter (have bought Video tape and DVD). Manhunter is one I will watch often.
Red Dragon is like Hannibal....once is enough. For the people saying this version is better because it is more faithful to the book, well as most people know, you cannot fully adapt ANY book to film and there are always choices to be made in what will be presented. I LOVED Hunt for Red October - and it bares only passing resemblance to Clancy horse-choking size book. And to me, Harris dragged Red Dragon out, just a little much, the same old trite we have to have the bad guy a la Michael Myers come at you one more time......
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Prequel
Review: I believe that this final entry into the Lecter trilogy is superior to both The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. It portrays an excellent view of how Lecter nearly killed Graham, who then wounded and apprehended his former mentor, and provides some, but not enough of Francis Dolarhyde's Norman Bates-esque upbringing. This film is superb in making Dolarhyde seem as much a victim to the veritable demon on his back as the people he kills. Edward Norton's portrayal of Graham is also great, along with Hopkins' Lecter, who seems to have received much better writing than in the other two films. You truly get to feel that, though Lecter helps Graham, he is still a cold-blooded sociopath, and his rivalry with Graham is well-depicted. This film is adapted well from Thomas Harris' Red Dragon novel, which might be the reason it succeeds so well in its undertaking. The climax is spectacular and worth waiting for. The violence in this film is more implied than explicit, which leaves much of it to the imagination. Though this movie did not frighten me, the atmosphere, aided by the score, gives a dark feeling to all the happenings of the plot. I advise all fans of the first two films, and newcomers to the story to see this film, because it is, though not a masterpiece, still a great movie.
Rating:
Summary: Overlooked Performance
Review: After reading a number of reviews of Red Dragon, I realized
they all had something in common. In the rush of the barreling
freight train of hype for this movie, they all overlook the subtle, yet emotionally powerful performance of Emily Watson.
This is the second time this year a portrayal of a secondary character brings to a movie it's heart and soul and makes a film worth viewing over and over again. First, in Minority Report, with Samantha Morton as the precog Agatha, and now with Watson as the blind, Reba McClane.
Reba McClane is the love interest of serial killer Francis Dolarhyde who brings about a different and unexpected transformation of sorts for our tortured Red Dragon. Watson manages to completely over shadow Fiennes in their scenes together, an accomplishment in itself, which makes their interactions believable and emotionally resonant rather than unlikely. The scene in the zoo with the sleeping tiger especially makes you wonder, who really is the most dangerous person in the room?
Go see Red Dragon for the hype, for it definitely lives up to it. Go see it again for Emily Watson.
Rating:
Summary: CANNOT WAIT TILL THE TRILOGY COMES OUT ON DVD
Review: I HAVE TO SAY I THINK "RED DRAGON" IS THE CONCLUSION TO A TOP-NOTCH TRILOGY. YES, IT IS THE TRILOGIES CONCLUSION.. BUT WILL WE SEE ANTHONY HOPKINS REPRISE HIS ROLE AGAIN. I'M ALL FOR IT. HOWEVER, I WILL BE CONTENT WITH "RED DRAGON" BEING THE LAST HANNIBAL LECTOR FILM. ANTHONY HOPKINS (SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, HANNIBAL, BRAM STOKERS DRACULA), EDWARD NORTON (FIGHT CLUB, PRIMAL FEAR, PEOPLE vs. LARRY FLYNT), HARVEY KEITEL (THE PIANO, RESERVOIR DOGS, PULP FICTION), RALPH FIENNES (SHINE, SCHINDLER'S LIST, THE ENGLISH PATIENT), MARY LOUSIE PARKER (FRIED GREEN TOMOTOES, LONGTIME COMPANION, BOYS ON THE SIDE) ARE ALL GREAT WITH A CAPITOL GEE!! MOST NOTED EDWARD NORTON WHO HAS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE ACTORS EVER SINCE "PRIMAL FEAR". AS FOR THE MOVIE.. RIGHT WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS OVER, A CHILLING CLIMAX CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. WHICH LEFT ME TWICE AS SATISFIED. CLOSER TO "SILENCE OF THE LAMBS" THAN "HANNIBAL". A MUST FOR FANS OF ANTHONY HOPKINS AS HANNIBAL THE CANNIBAL. NOTE: THIS FILM IS A PREQUEL. IT TAKES PLACE BEFORE "THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS".
Rating:
Summary: Great! Almost equals Silence of the Lambs!
Review: After the let down of Hannibal, (which in my opinion wasn't as bad as most critics say, just seemed to lack the solid plot of Silence of the Lambs) we have another great Hannibal Lector film. Some call this the remake of Manhunter, but its more accurately described as a close adaptation of the novel. Having seen Manhunter before, I can honestly say this film is better in all ways: better score (the original had a terrible 80's techno score that was severely dated), better set design (the first also had 80's screaming all over it), better acting, and a mood that better fits in with the Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal films. Of course Hopkins is excellent, but Emily Watson, who plays a blind woman not knowing she's dating the killer called "the Tooth Fairy," is very convincing. And Ed Norton as always is great in his role of detective Graham. One of the most interesting scenes is the opening, showing Hannibal in civilian life before everyone knew he was a serial killer. It gives you that feeling you have when you see a teacher or a boss after hours at a bar or social function as a normal person. It's weird and cool at the same time. The film is also peppered with well placed humor and more great Hannibal lines. What he says is so often both chilling and funny, not an easy combination to create. The only thing this film is missing from Silence of the Lambs is that great chemistry Hannibal and Clarice had. But in every other way, the magic that the first film had is back in Red Dragon. A must see for Hannibal lovers!
Rating:
Summary: Creepy!
Review: See this movie. After reading the luke warm New York Times review, I was skeptical, but being a fan of horror-mystery, I couldn't stay away from this film, and I was NOT disapointed. The entire acting cast gave great performances. Creepy as the movie is, there are even bits of humor along the way. Hopkins, who is marginal in this film, is great, but that's to be expected. He is the one monster/ bad guy eveyone loves. Ralph Fiennes is extraordinary. He is creepy, diabolical, giving, sensitve, and childlike all at the same time. He's amazing. Emily Watson puts on a good show as well. You will love this movie, I promise.
Rating: 
Summary: Once again hopkins, the wooden prince of acting manages to w
Review: despit fine efforts by cast members Hopkins pachydermizes a decent script into a slogging trek through genre violence.. in much the same manner in whic he trivialised Legends of the Fall against the efforts of Aiden Quinn and other stellar cast members
This film should spell the end of the good Doctor Anthropophagis we trust
Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie Ever
Review: First, I would like to relax your fears by telling you that this movie is not about cannibalism. It is about a serial killer being tracked down by Edward Norton with the help of Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lecter). Lecter's history of mass-homocide helps Norton understand the mind of the killer. (No brain- chomping this time...sorry!) This is the sheer defenition of a prequel with the final frame of RED DRAGON being the first in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.
Rating: 
Summary: Here we go again.
Review: Okeedokee . . . *Manhunter* remains the best of the Lecter movies. In fact, *Red Dragon* only proves that it's nothing more than a sheer money-grab, seeing as how it's a virtual remake -- shot-for-shot, at times -- of Michael Mann's 1986 movie. The best parts of THIS movie are the very beginning and the very end. Why? Because these scenes were not in Mann's movie. Therefore, they were of some interest to people like me who had, well, seen Mann's movie. Heck, I'll be generous to the point of saying that director Brett Ratner's ending is BETTER than the one in Mann's movie. But the plot in the middle of the sandwich is exactly the same as in Mann's movie. But there are fundamental differences, in terms of approach, from Mann's movie: for instance, Mann's movie focused on the character of Will Graham instead of on the "Tooth Fairy". Mann's movie was more interested in how overexposure to psychopaths might very well create psychopathy in an investigator. Mann's movie also cared about the police-procedural side of things. These aspects are what made Mann's movie a good movie. Ratner puts undue attention on Ralph Fiennes' Tooth Fairy, who is a character rather like the Bride of Frankenstein: the less seen, the better. And in any case, Tom Noonan in Mann's movie made the role more poignant in much less screen-time than Fiennes does here. (Probably because Noonan actually looked freaky. Fiennes looks like a glamorous movie star with a fake cleft palate.) But compared to Edward Norton, Fiennes is an overwhelming actor: the presence of Norton as Will Graham is barely remembered just a few days after seeing this film. (William Petersen's intense portrayal in Mann's movie haunted me for weeks.) And thus *Red Dragon* proves one other thing: we can now stop calling Edward Norton "the greatest actor of his generation". He is certainly EATEN ALIVE by Sir Tony in their brief scenes together. Hopkins, by the way, doesn't embarrass himself via his acting . . . it's more a problem of the moviemakers asking us to accept the idea that he's 10 years younger than he was in *Silence* when of course in reality he's 10 years older, and looking every bit of it: pudgier, less hair, deeper crow's feet. The man is getting a little LONG IN THE TOOTH for this role; "never more", beggeth the raven. Last note on the cast: it's absurdly A-list. What did Harvey Keitel, for instance, bring to his role that any unknown actor could not? Why have a genius like Philip Seymour Hoffman in your movie if you're going to give him only 3 minutes of screen-time?
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!!)
|
