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Red Dragon - Director's Edition

Red Dragon - Director's Edition

List Price: $34.98
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Enforce the "R" rating
Review: I loved the movie, I have not seen the "Lambs" but now I will! BUT what ever happened to the rating system designed to keep underage people from seeing these movies. I thought the juvenile sense of humor was very distracting and to me ruined a few good scenes! it wasn't a "funny" movie!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: an improved version of Manhunter
Review: For anyone who is familiar with the Hannibal Lector films, you should know that "Manhunter" was the very first. Red Dragon is simply a remake of Manhunter with a better script, better acting, and with Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector from the very beginning. If you have seen Manhunter, you should still give Red Dragon a chance. I think you will find that this movie is a much improved prequel compared to the original. Not to include a spoiler, but this film ends with an introduction to "Silence of the Lambs." If you have not seen any of the Hannibal movies, start with Red Dragon. You'll be glad you did!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Fantastic, and Hannibal's Not Even That Scary
Review: I want to hear the "Ralph Fiennes isn't physically scary enough to be a great villain" people after they watch this movie. I hope Mr. Fiennes pulls an Oscar nomination for this role, because he certainly deserved it. His demonic transformation into the Red Dragon character is something to marvel at.

The actors make this movie work. Everyone involved delivered great performances. Edward Norton plays the disturbed and troubled ex-FBI agent Will Graham very well. I wish they had given Philip Seymour Hoffman a little more of a role, as he is a very talented actor and brought a lot to his few scenes. Emily Watson and Harvey Keitel are solid, and Anthony Hopkins is...well, Hopkins is Hannibal. It's such an interesting character he has presented, and it's down right fascinating to watch him assume the mask of the famed ingenious maniac. It's truly one of the most intriguing characters in movie history, and Hopkins has made him even better.

The story is fairly formulaic, but there are some good twists and turns. Surprising kudos goes to Brett Ratner, who many were worried about. The mood is right on, dark and depressive, while the camera shots in many of the scenes are tension magnets. Ratner pulled it off very well.

One of the best films of the year so far. While it isn't quite as good as The Silence of the Lambs, it is very close, much better than Hannibal. A classic crime thriller involving some of the best actors of this film era.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent acting and story
Review: For the true fan of the Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal Lecter this movie will not disappoint. With outstanding acting and performances by some of our finest actors, it is an edge of your seat thriller with guts and glory and gore and hey, Hannibal. Leave the Hannibal of the last movie behind, he isn't her, the Hannibal of Silence is though, and it is a terrific ride. Anthony Hopkins has put on the suit again, so to speak, and he masters it so well. Good to see Ralph Fiennes in a more high profile role since his English Patient days of 1996, and he looks like he hasn't been hiding out too far, still has the good looks even though he's the killer. Emily Watson plays a blind woman to perfection, Edward Norton picks up the FBI agent/Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) role, and Harvey Keitel and Mary Louise Parker round out an already terrific cast. Some twists and surprises will keep you guessing and ending leads you right into Silence which is a wonderful move, especially when all is said and done and we all will be sitting around watching it all on DVD. Good suspense, good story, great acting, ENJOY!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Until the End.....
Review: When I first saw Michael Mann's adaptation of Thomas Harris' novel "Red Dragon", I was blown away; I'd never encountered a character as evil and wiley as Hannibal Lector (Played by Brian Cox.)....Years later, I read Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs back to back, and was blown away again. Especially by Red Dragon- The end of the book was SO powerful and dark that upon finishing the book, I sat in stunned silence for the rest of the train ride home. How could they have NOT used that end in Manhunter???

Well, here's more of the same....Red Dragon is perfect in nearly every way, except for the ending, which, while retaining the same setting, opts for a more "Crowd-pleasing" finale...and loses that punched-in-the-gut feeling that the novel gives.

The cast is top-notch, as one would expect from actors the caliber of Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman (Especially good as the loathsome Freddie Lounds..), etc. Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, and Anthony Hopkins are all spellbinding in their respective roles as Fed, Serial Killer, and Imprisoned Cannibal, and the actual depiction of the capture of Lector, as well as his infamous dinner party is a real treat. I just couldn't get past that ending, though. Ever since Hannibal came out, I've been looking forward to the promised "Faithful" adaptation of Red Dragon. This isn't it. It's a well-made thriller with a cop-out ending. See the movie, by all means; If you liked the previous Hannibal films, you'll like this. But then do yourself a favor and read the book, to see the TRUE finale to the Will Graham/Tooth Fairy saga.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Very Distrubing - See the hidden side of Hannibal
Review: I saw this movie Friday at the Mall of Georgia at 4:30. I must admit this is a truely distrubing picture, unlike any of the previous pictures. The actors did a great job. You really see a nasty side to Hannibal. I believe that the film makers were worried that people like Hannibal too much. I kinda of wish that I didn't see this movie. I thought it was going to be like the other two movies. So BEWARE! I would have to agree with Hannibal's last statement somewhat. We are somewhat a primative society in a lot of ways, regardless of all the computers and high tech. weapons. Anyways, I would have something fun to do after this movie like a comedy or something else. Hey! a lot of the movie is in Georgia so that is cool.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Hollywood remakes Manhunter
Review: The original film translation of Richard Harris' novel RED DRAGON, filmed as MANHUNTER (1986) was a box office failure. However Michael Mann's direction makes it one of the best in the series, despite the absence of Anthony Hopkins. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS brought in Hopkins as Lecter, and with the excellent direction of Jonathan Demme, ensured hirthro unseen B.O records. Then Ridley Scott directed HANNIBAL, Harris' weakest novel, and despite the film's commercial sucess, the film itself proved to be far less sucessful with critics. And this brings us full circle, where predictable Hollywood decided to remake RED DRAGON. I'm a big fan of the films and the books, so initially I was really excited when it was announced that they were doing a remake. But Brett Ratner as director? They can't excatly put on the poster: "From the director of RUSH HOUR 2"! And despite the impressive source novel, I doubt that this will surpass the original. But this is all mere speculation. We'll just have to wait and see if the docter's third helping will stand up to the lofty heights of SILENCE...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A good movie
Review: The interaction between the characters was dynamic. Ralph Fiennes plays a memorabile role that will leave your skin crawing and double checking all your locks at home before you sleep at night. Edward Norton draws the viewer right into the movie with a good performance. This is a movie to see. Although this movie is very good, it just doesn't out do Silence of the Lambs.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Great acting in 'Red Dragon'...but 'Manhunter' is better.
Review: Although 'Red Dragon' introduces some interesting twists to the storyline originally presented in 1986's 'Manhunter', this screenplay assumes ignorance in its audience's ability to sleuth out artistic, intellectual and intended gaps in the storyline. Where 'Manhunter' allows the audience to deduct details of the plot and background history, 'Red Dragon' doesn't foreshadow...on the contrary, it spoon-feeds way too much. It was relatively easy to deduct future events in this adaptation. It's too bad because Hopkins is the definitive Dr. Lector and all the other actors did credible jobs.

Even the score in this movie seemed contrived at times trying too hard to help the mood of a particular scene. Instead it came off as overkill.

Although I like this movie, I still think 'Manhunter' was more stylishly done, keeping it's story better paced, coyly whetting the audience's palette without giving away too much. Lesson here when given a big budget...less is still better! However, I still recommend this movie to see for most viewers...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Can the dragon be scarier than the killer?
Review: Yes! So the movie doesn't have the shocking suspense that 'silence of the lambs' had but it's in fact scarier! I don't think it's as good as the other Hannibal flicks but it's still worth a check. This version is less emotional and it doesn't skip important things that you're dieing to know. It shows the whole thing! This version is not as gripping but it's the scariest of them all. This is a great adaptation and although it's not the award-winning ensemble of the 'silence of the lambs' cast, Hopkins and Norton still make a great combination.
Also I think this version is better than Hannibal. The movie is still a 'Hannibal movie', still a 'Harris' novel, and still a 'Hearty' flick!

'Red Dragon' depicts events that preceded those chronicled in the Harris' later novels The Silence of the Lambs (1988) and Hannibal (1999). The movie revolves around Graham (played by Norton) who is an ex-FBI agent who quit his job due to a series of events mainly due to 'Hannibal Lector' who almost killed him. But then years later Graham is back on a case after a few bloody murders took place. There's a killer known as the 'Tooth Fairy' and Graham realizes that the only way to kill him would be to get inside his mind by facing up to an old known killer's (Hannibal) mind.

The creepy Hannibal fun has started again! In short it's a good version of the series, it's better than Hannibal, it's creepy, it's exciting, and it's gripping! It's for all 'silence of the lambs' fans and for all gruesome-film lovers!

----Ahmed Mashhood


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