Manhunter

Rating:
Summary: Best 80's detective film - Bar none
Review: Fans of detective films ala Se7en should definitely have a look at this great film.

William Petersen (The Skulls) plays Will Graham, a former FBI manhunter and former victim of Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter (Spelled LECKTOR in this film for some reason). Graham retired from the FBI after his encounter with Lecter. He also captured Lecter which is made apparent in the film. Grahams life is somewhat back on track. He now lives on the beach in Florida with his Wife and Son. He's happy now, having been driven to the brink of insanity from his work on the Lecter case. That all comes to an end when a friend from the FBI pays him a visit with news of a serial killer who kills on the eve of ever full moon. Graham tries to resist but ultimately succumbs when he is shown pictures of the families that have been killed in their sleep by this maniac. Graham then heads to Atlanta and begins work on profiling the killer, nicknamed The Tooth Fairy. What happens from here is one of the most entertaining, and interesting, detective dramas ever.

This film features some of the most beautiful photography of Florida to have ever been caught on film, I believe. Also a pumping soundtrack, chock full of 80's nostalgia, perpetuates the constant unease of the film.

This film was also directed by Michael Mann.

As for the DVD,
This dvd has neat menu screens and very well written cast and crew bios. It also has two very interesting/entertaining featurettes.

All in all this film comprises a detective film very nicely. Just don't go into watching it expecting it to be anything like The Silence of the Lambs or Hannibal. This is in no way like either of those films and Hannibal Lecter plays a very small and very minute part in this film.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best flicks of all time....
Review: If you want to know and remember Anthony Hopkins in the role - which was great - then this is not the kind of film for you.

However, if you are more entertained by a SUPERIOR plot and BETTER ACTING, then this is for you. The Silence of the Lambs cannot hold a candle to this movie. Petersen is INTENSE as the psycho stalker, Brian Cox EXCEPTIONAL as Hannibal Lector, Noonan EXCELLENT and (no one'e even mentioned) Joan Allen as the blind victim.... SUPERB.

This movie had WAY MORE CLASS than Silence, and of course looking at the lovely Kim Greist never hurts. The soundtrack was excellent as well.

Entirely excellent. Will have to get it on DVD someday.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Directing & Cinematography!
Review: "Hannibal Lecter's Legacy of Evil Begins Here"... This movie is a psychological thriller about a FBI detective tracking a serial killer. The movie was adapted from the novel "Red Dragon," by best-selling author Thomas Harris, and is the prequel to "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Hannibal." Michael Mann directed this movie and is well-known for his direction in more recent movies, "HEAT," "The Insider" and "Ali." Right from the very beginning of the film, Mann's style of film work immediately caught my attention and drew me in. His work is best described as having "complex camera movements, meticulous compositions and slick, shadowy imagery." I noticed the intentional use of blue and green colors specifically being repeated throughout the movie as well. Close up shots were used quite often, to pull the viewer into the intense moments on screen. An example of this was when Will Graham ran out of the building after speaking with Hannibal Lector, and the second that he was outside and hit the open air, the camera zoomed in as he bent over to catch his breath. One of my favorite camera shots in the movie was of Graham climbing up a rope hanging from a tree, and the camera shot him from above looking down. Then there was also a great close up and lighting of the scene where the blind woman is walked to her door by a male co-worker, who then brushes something off of her cheek as the killer is watching from his van. I'd have to say that after seeing this movie, Michael Mann is now one of my favorite directors. Here's a great description of this film and the filmwork...

"Manhunter is a cool, dispassionate descent into madness - into a world of unsettlingly bright chemical colors (the azure ocean backdrop to Graham's and his wife's lovemaking) and spatially bizarre mise-en-scenes (the murderer's lair with its arty props and malfunctioning TV). Given its sci-fi veneer and Graham's scary decision to empathize with his quarry in order to catch him, it's a movie that edges into hyperspace - and as such it now looks like a small visionary masterpiece."

I also loved the soundtrack for this movie too, but I'll likely never find this as it's OOP (out of print). :(

A little extra tid bit: The actor William Petersen who played "Will Graham" in this movie, also plays a very similar character, a crime scene investigation expert named "Gil Grissom," in William L. Petersen's hit crime drama TV series "CSI."

Another little bit of information: Italian Cinematographer Dante Spinotti worked closely with Mann on Manhunter as "Director of Photography," and is also a crew member on Brett Ratner's high-profile "remake" of Manhunter - "Red Dragon (2002)" -- Keep an eye out for this new movie release in just a few months, early October! See this one first though!

Rating:
Summary: A modern classic
Review: Manhunter is the prequel to Silence of the Lambs. Though it is not as high profile as the follow up, many will argue that this is the better film. Those that are expecting a low budget, artless introduction to Hannibal Lector, with bad acting are in for a surprise. A lot of people will list Manhunter as one of there favourite films.

The acting is superb. Tom Noonan plays the serial killer in his unusual style. Scottish actor Brian Cox plays Hannibal Lector. Is Brian Cox's Lector better than Hopkins? Cox's Lector portrayal is a lot less flamboyant, and almost seems casual than Hopkins's and as a result is more convincing. Personally I prefer Cox's performance.

William L Peterson plays Will Graham and is absolutely fantastic. Will Graham is the Manhunter of the title. Graham is able emulate the killers dark thoughts in his own imagination but doesn't know how to cope with them. Graham makes a fascinating hero and the character is brought wonderfully to life by Peterson.

The film is also visually striking, extremely tense and feels utterly unique. Manhunter is a brilliant film.

Rating:
Summary: Just plain bad
Review: Don't even waste your time this movie is awful. I don't know what was wrong with Michael Mann when he wrote the script cause it's horrible and his direction on this movie is his worst and the look of the movie is plain ugly. Manhunter is nothing like the novel Red Dragon, those who say Manhunter is superior to Silence of the Lambs are insane. This movie is so bad it make's Ed Wood's films look like Oscar contenders. I didnt even want to give this...one star in my review cause it's not even that good. -5 stars suits it better.

Rating:
Summary: bad...bad.....bad.... movie
Review: if you like these kind of movies you have to see "SILENCE OF THE LAMBS" only 2 killing in the film and very bad also (((DO NOT SEE)) I Think it's not directed by Michael Mann "no way"

Rating:
Summary: "as the killer was heading towards the children's room...."
Review: First of all, I love Silence of the Lambs. But I prefer this way more - it really gives you remorse for the depressing, elaborate characters. William Petersen is perfect as Will Graham - everybody bickers their diatribe that his "thinking out loud" was annoying, but that is how he was in the book, was he not? Tom Noonan really gets under your skin as "The Tooth Fairy" - his character just give me the creeps, especially his modus operandi of killing helpess people in their homes.
Even though the movie Manhunter does not mention his childhood of sadistic abuse by his grandmother, you still feel a sense of sorrow for Francis Dolarhyde, as he is such a helpless man, yet so psychotic. Manhunter is not as violent as the book Red Dragon, but still is just as effective - in the beginning we see Will Graham looking at pictures of two perfect, happy families. And you remind yourself that these two families are now dead. When Graham enters the main bedroom of the Leeds's house, and all the walls are caked with blood and the mirror is smashed, you want to just pee your pants.
What I find most powerful about Manhunter is is that the villain was so fascinating - he totally detests his nickname "The Tooth Fairy" implying that he is some sort of androgynous pervert, and he considers what he did to the families was "changing" them, not killing them. Your heart still bleeds for him, although. He was brought up by his grandmother to be a sick, psychopath, but his other side is a lonely man, very antisocial and repressed. When you can tell how his affections for his blind co-worker, Reba McClane, are deep, you gain even more sorrow for him. In The Silence of the Lambs, the villain, Jame Gumb, is a dirty, murky man just like any other sicko out there in this world. You have no sorrow for Jame Gumb - you look at him to be a perverted psycho, one who deserves to be shot on the spot. For Francis Dolarhyde, you just can't help but feel terrible for his struggle with the dragon inside him.
On to Hannibal Lector, I'm really tired of people whining that Brian Cox or Anthony Hopkins was the better Hannibal. They both were perfect for THEIR movies. Brian Cox set a great image for Hannibal Lecktor in Manhunter - a very [angry] yet gentle psychopath, giving information to The Tooth Fairy about Will Graham's family as vengeance for his incarceration. In "The Silence of the Lambs", Hannibal Lecter is an older person, gained wisdom from his years in prison and repressed in his tiny cell. He reacts differently to Clarice Starling because he likes her - he reacts hatefully to Will Graham because he ruined his life and locked him up forever. I can't wait to see Anthony Hopkins' interpretation of Hannibal Lecter in the upcoming remake of Manhunter, I'm sure it will be very interesting. But the only mistake I feel is casting Ralph Fiennes - he is a skinny, British actor. I don't think that necessarily fits with the character of Francis Dolarhyde - Francis Dolarhyde is like a wrestler with the mind of Norman Bates. Tom Noonan was and will always be THE Francis Dolarhyde.
Despite what is said, Manhunter is not really like Miami Vice - it gives you that 80's feel is all. It is very gothic for a Michael Mann film, but not as dark as the book. The ending of Manhunter is a happy, sunset ending - the ending of Red Dragon is The Tooth Fairy going after Will Graham's family, disfiguring Will with a gutting knife.
In conclusion, The comparison between Silence of the Lambs and Manhunter is huge - they are two completely different movies, with two completely different feels. They shouldn't be compared. I view them as two separate films, one of Michael Mann's vision, and one of Jonathan Demme's vision. With the upcoming Red Dragon from Brett Ratner, I would say that should be comparable to Silence of the Lambs. Manhunter should not. And I'll never forget the haunting quote of "as the killer was heading towards the children's room".........

Rating:
Summary: Breakthrough film...
Review: Manhunter is absolutely amazing. Despite the fact that it is fifteen years old, it is just as good as the day it came out. William Peterson is great, and if you like Silence of the Lambs, you should see this. The filming, colors and lighting are wonderful - it will remind you of The Insider. This movie is scary as hell also, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat...

Rating:
Summary: Great film but poor Director's Cut transfer
Review: Whether you like this film or not is, of course, a matter of personal taste. Silence of the Lambs bored the hell out of me, apart from the bit where Lecktor escapes. Red Dragon is a far superior story, which is also why (IMO) Manhunter is a much better film. Having read the book I was surprised at how closely the film followed the story, apart from the ending. The only major thing missing is the killer's childhood memories, but it's understandable as this would have made the film overly long, and I think would have been quite hard to incorporate without slowing down the pace of the film. It is a shame though because you really understand why Dollarhyde becomes the way he is.

The film is very stylish and uses colour and music to good effect, but if you really hate Miami Vice then you probably won't be overly keen on these aspects.

The main DVD is excellent. An outstanding transfer that looks extreamly sharp and detailed - an absolute joy to watch. Unfortunately the Director's Cut transfer, which is on a seperate disc, is so poor you'd think you were watching a bad VHS copy. I don't understand why they even bothered with the DC version if they weren't going to produce a decent transfer. The only reason then to buy the Limited Edition over the regular DVD (which appears to be identical apart from the lack of a DC version) is the excellent miniture 'case file' that is included. There are (fake) hand written notes on it and it includes some very nice pictures and documentation.

To sum up, worth buying if you're a Manhunter fan, but forget about the directors cut. I only gave it 3 stars because the DC transfer was so poor, otherwise it would have got 5.

Rating:
Summary: Tainted
Review: At first I was rather excited about this movie. I read several reviews, and the box said that it was better than silence of the lambs. I need to remember that box covers are biased. The plot of the movie sounds interesting. Retired agent with a past mental problem gets reluctantly called in on a serial killer case. Sounds decent, right? Wrong. I made the large mistake of reading the book first. The book focused so much on character depth of the killer and Graham. It went into their pasts, why they are the characters that the readers see in the present. The movie barely went in to this and one really felt nothing for the characters. If you saw the movie without reading the book, it wouldn't have been that bad, dated, but decent. The makers of this film had apparently never heard of score before. Either there was no background music, or it was some cheesy 80's garbage. The score of Silence of the Lambs was near perfect for conveying moods. The only interesting part of the soundtrack was the final scene, in which In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida played. The ending was also not the same as the book, and much less thrilling. The rest of the movie followed the plot almost exactly to the book, down to the dialogue. I guess if you go into the film with no expectaitons, you may like it. But if you read Harris' The Red Dragon, you may be dissapointed.