Manhunter

Rating:
Summary: A 3-star movie with one demerit for this videocassette
Review: Manhunter suffers from some of the problems that arise when a novel is adapted to the screen: it's generally too talky, and it attempts to work every scene of the book into the film. This is especially true of the first half of the film, where you'll often find the characters are telling you things the film should be showing you. This drags down the pace of individual scenes, though overall the film moves from scene to scene at a breakneck speed, trying to fit in as much of the book's content as possible. The end result is disconcerting.

Things improve quite a bit in the second half, where the screenplay eases up on trying to fit everything in, and a few haunting scenes show Michael Mann's visual skills to best advantage - but ultimately, the (apparently) low budget and the cast (which is competent, but not really memorable) keep the film from the heights it could have achieved.

The full-screen VHS cassette of Manhunter has a few drawbacks that deserve mention here, most notably that it's in EP mode, which harms the quality of the image. Because the film was photographed in the Super 35 format, the transfer is made without too great a loss of visual information on the sides - but by taking in more information on the bottom and (especially) the top, the composition of the frame is too loose and uninteresting, and a boom microphone makes occasional appearances at the top of the frame. Whatever flaws this film may have, it deserves a better presentation than it got here.

Rating:
Summary: Manhunter: Silencing the Lambs
Review: Two movies have been made about Hannibal the Cannibal Lector, with a third in the wings. "The Silence of the Lambs," the second saga, was excellent in many ways. Yet I'll throw my vote behind "Manhunter" as the best of the movies made from Thomas Harris's characters. Based on his "Red Dragon," Director Michael Mann brilliantly tells the tale of a serial killer (a spooky Tom Noonan) and an imprisoned Hannibal Lector (Brian Cox) and a tortured FBI man( William L. Petersen) who has met and been scarred by Lector before and has to be coaxed out of retirement. Petersen is an excellent actor, giving a great, multi-faceted performance, not so much a supercop, but adept at "getting" into the head of the killers, not something he likes but is necessary. Part of the greatness of "Manhunter" is watching Petersen put the pieces together and being haunted by the strange doctor he can't get out of his thoughts. Brain Cox is no Anthony Hopkins, but his Lector is more subtle, yes a little more creepier. The action sequences are short, shocking and well done. Michael Mann goes more for the psychological truths and turns out a classic movie of great strength, integrity, and does what its supposed to do, what it does to Petersen, gets into the viewer's head and leaves you with a case of A-1 creeps! A great movie. Revisit it and compare it to its sequel. They are both interesting but I cast my vote for "Manhunter" as the best of the two films.Since Hannibal has escaped, we'll have to wait and see how the third compares.

Rating:
Summary: A Claustrophobic Mind-Game !
Review: Michael Mann prefers to make a non-splatter film but to conduct a game of chess between life and death.Will Graham vs Hannibal Lektor:William Petersen makes the performance of his life upon the F.B.I.'s profiler and Brian Cox introduces a more intellectual,cunning and human villain than the respective of Anthony Hopkins in the 1992's "Silence of the Lambs".Catalytic for the film's progress is also the performance of Graham's partner Dennis Farina.Mann directs a solid and acute for the mind,suspense thriller with plenty of emotional outbreaks.Worhtwhile mentioning is the scene where the "Tooth Fairy",performed remarkable by Tom Noonan,cries in bed after making love with Joan Allen.Surely this film offers guaranteed entertainment but demands something more from the people who will see it.

Rating:
Summary: Good,but not perfect movie
Review: This by means is as good as the oscar winning Silence of the Lambs,which completely blows this out of the water.Nor is it as good as Red Dragon,the book it was based upon,but it was good try.A very good try.Brain Cox is an intersting Lecter(or Lecktor as it is spelled here),but no Anthony Hopkins.Frightening,but not to the degree that Sir Anthony's Lecter was.

William L.Peterson is good too as Will Graham,and Dennis Farina is wholly believable as Mr.Crawford(and trying to decide who is better,Mr.Farina or SOTL's Scott Glenn could take a very looong time).All in all,I recommend this to casual moviegoers,but not as strongly as I do SOTL.

Rating:
Summary: The Primary intake is Visual
Review: Well, lets all put our hands together and pray that the U.S. DVD is more inspired than the extremely disappointing UK / Europe DVD release.

This remains the definitive Michael Mann movie, even taking into account his recent critical successes Mann has had with "The Last of the Mohicans" and now "The Insider".

For more detailed opinion and lots of Manhunter content, (......)

Rating:
Summary: Stylish And Well-Assembled.
Review: Michael Mann, one of the greatest of all directors, takes a crack at Thomas Harris's brilliant novel "Red Dragon" with his stylish film version, "Manhunter." The film is tense, smart and well-detailed. There's also the artistic and rich cinematography by Dante Spinotti, who also worked with Mann on his 1995 "Heat" and was recently nominated for an Oscar for Mann's brilliant "The Insider." What the film lacks is more power and effect. Brian Cox isn't as convincing as serial killer Hannibal Lecter as Anthony Hopkins in "The Silence Of The Lambs." It's better to watch this before "Lambs" so you don't take as many easy shots at it. But Mann still does a great job here, directing with his usual visual style and exquisite composition. "Manhunter" is really gripping at times and keeps us interested for almost it's entire length. The ending is a little unsatisfying though well-directed. Another flaw is that "Manhunter" sometimes feels too much like a made for TV movie. But in the end it has effect and is convincing with style and a good script. But if you really want to see Michael Mann's talent, watch "Heat" and "The Insider."

Rating:
Summary: Not worth chasing after
Review: You've read the book, now you want to see the movie.

Problem is, Manhunter doesn't resemble Red Dragon at all. It's not even particularly good, especially when you hold it up against the far, far superior Silence of the Lambs. In the novel, Dolarhyde is an intelligent man, partially disfigured but with a terrible childhood which helps explain some of his behaviour. We have none of this in Manhunter. He's just another psychopath who likes killing people and developing films. There's no depth or substance to his character. Plus, he only appears towards the end.

On the other hand we are shoved head first into the life of the investigator, Graham. Granted, the film is actually called Manhunter, but we quickly grasp he doesn't want to be doing the investigation and has problems with his life in general. We then see him getting what frankly seems to be an unhealthy obsession with Dolarhyde. It ends up just turning into a dull maverick movie when it could have been so much more. Next time, just stick to the novel.

Rating:
Summary: Manhunter
Review: I was fortunate to read the books, and see the movies, in the order in which they were written. That may have a small influence in my preference of the movie Manhunter over Silence of the Lambs, but I believe Manhunter, based on the book "Red Dragon", is much closer in dialogue and details. William Peterson plays the physically and mentally scarred Will Graham, (because Dr. Lechter sliced him with a linoleum knife, and he can think like a killer); Tim Noonan is fun as Francis Dolarhyde; Dennis Farina is the driven and wheedling Jack Crawford, drawing Graham back into the game he (Graham) hates, yet excells at solving; and this Dr. Hannibal Lechter is better than Anthony Hopkins. I realize this may be sacriligious, but it's true. Read the book and compare the scenes. The details are closely followed down to the all-white cell, clothing, and hockey mask. This Dr. Lechter, I'm afraid and apologize that I can't remember the actor's name, is truly "sleek as an otter." Unfortunately we don't see much of Dr. Lechter in this movie, or book, because it centers on Will Graham trying to catch the "Tooth Fairy." Dr. Lechter is, however, an integral portion of the background of the story. But please beware, I believe I have seen two versions of the same movie. The original version was longer, and had the ending much closer to the way Harris wrote it. The latter version, perhaps edited and released for television, ends much too soon, and part of the thrill is lost. I have searched for the earlier edition, and found two listing for the same movie,(different release dates), but it seems to be out of print and unavailable. I hope to find it and purchase it. I don't own many videos, but I would like to own what I think is the original version of Manhunter. I know it's selfish, but could someone beg, or bully, Mr. Mann into re-releasing the original version.

Rating:
Summary: Manhunter
Review: The intense progression of this film will keep you on the edgeof your seat. William Petersen's acting is just haunting. All aroundprodution, down to the chosen music is captivating.

Rating:
Summary: Been there Done That.....
Review: "~I watched this video when I first bought a VHS player in 1987. It was on the recommendation of a friend and he did not steer me wrong. Manhunter is one of my favorite movies for many reasons... The compelling story, the cinamatography, (even the soundtrack... In-a-Gadda-Da-Vita, yeah baby! )... who "just wants to be loved" (is that so wrong? ) and slaughters entire families to fulfill this desire. (What happens when he meets the woman of his dreams?) Plus cameos of some of your favorite actors... Brian Cox as Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lector. Brian was awesome, especially for his portrayal as God.... "Why Will? Because God has power... He dropped a roof on 74 of his parishioners as they were grovelling through a hymn to his majesty". And never forget the fruits of"~ the tabloid reporter.... "Crawford, Call my service, we'll do lunch..."