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The Silence of the Lambs - Criterion Collection

The Silence of the Lambs - Criterion Collection

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Translation of Novel to Film
Review: When a top-of-its-genre novel is turned into a movie, the results are often disappointing. There is usually too much in-the-head action going on that cannot easily translate to film. "Dune" is a prime example of how much a story can lose when going from novel to movie. When I read that "The Silence of the Lambs" was being filmed and that Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster were cast, I knew that this might be one of those rarities wherein the story survives translation.

When I finished the book, I was hoping a movie would be made starring Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter and Sigourney Weaver as Clarice Starling. Hopkins' portrayal of Lecter is chillingly brilliant. With little actual gore on screen, everyone knows they are watching one of the most brilliant and most evil characters in movie history. Jodie Foster turned out to be an excellent choice as well (although I still think Weaver would have been great) as she portrayed Starling as bright and capable, but with an innocent quality hidden beneath a veneer of professional confidence.

The story flows rapidly, the tension builds well, and the entire movie is coherent, logical, and still capable of surprising the viewer. Don't watch this one alone.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Silence is Broken!
Review: Horror films, if you can call this one, have always be neglected by the Academy (as have Westerns and Sci-Fi films) simply because of what they were or represented. Films like THE SIXTH SENSE proved that the horror genre still had some life left in it. But before SENSE, they was SILENCE!

Based on the 1988 novel by Thomas Harris, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS is a film that deals with a murder investigation, and a rookie FBI agent looking for clues. Helping her is a man of great evil, though he doesn't show it for the first half of the film, his name is Dr. Hannibal Lecter -- also known as Hannibal the Cannibal! Yes, a cannibal -- someone who eats other human beings.

It stars Sir Anthony Hopkins as Lecter; Jodie Foster as Baltimore FBI rookie Clarice Starling; Scott Glenn as her boss Jack Crawford; director Kasi Lemmons (EVE'S BAYOU, THE CAVEMAN'S VALENTINE) as her roommate Ardelia Mapp; and Ted Levine as the killer Buffalo Bill.

When a prominent senator's daughter is kidnapped by Buffalo Bill, Clarice is assigned to find out from Dr. Lecter the clues as to where they can find Bill and save the girl. This takes Clarice, and us, into the psychotic world of a serial killer. Eventually, they round up the clues and locate Bill's house, thereby saving the portly Katherine Martin, senator Ruth Martin's daughter, from death.

The sick part of this film, other than the grotesque ways that Lecter uses to escape, and the head of Bill's gay lover in a jar, is the fact that Bill's motive is to: kidnap fat women, dump them in a well, starve them to thinness, and then shooting and dumping their bodies in lakes. Afterwards, he crams a cocoon into his victims' mouths. The cocoon belongs to the rare Death's-head moth. The reason? Because he wants to be a woman, a transexual! (I don't understand it, either!) But in the end, it is a woman who saves the day, while Hannibal Lecter escapes into the proverbial sunset. (See the excellent sequel HANNIBAL to find out the outcome.)

The cast is fabulous: Hopkins has created a new villain for our pop culture, someone that we can be genuinely afraid of just by his raspy-toned voice and that evil glare in his eyes. Hopkins, however, wasn't the first Lecter. In 1986, director Michael Mann (THE INSIDER) directed British actor Brian Cox in MANHUNTER, based on Thomas Harris's first Lecter adventure, "Red Dragon." Foster has given us a heroine who doesn't need a man, besides Lecter of course, to help her solve this case, or the typical damsel-in-distress routine where the knight comes in and saves the day. And an able supporting cast from Glenn, Levine, and others who helped make SILENCE the creepy film it is. (NOTE: Most of the characters in this film appear in Demme's 1993 film PHILADELPHIA, including his legendary mentor/director Roger Corman.)

Winner of 5 Academy Awards in 1991 include: Best Picture - Edward Saxon, Ron Bozman & Kenneth Utt, producers; Best Director - Jonathan Demme; Best Actor - Anthony Hopkins; Best Actress - Jodie Foster; Best Adapted Screenplay - Ted Tally.

Approximately: 2 HOURS.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cool Movie
Review: I didn't see this movie in till I was 13 and it was a really great movie it was pretty scary. Anthony Hopkins is really cool in the movie to bad he wasn't in it that much, but when he was he was really cool. Jodie Foster was really cool to and she was prefect in the movie. I only had to wait a year to see Hannibal and it that was pretty good to. This movie is really good and you should see it even if its not on DVD its still a great movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Haunting
Review: The Silence of the Lambs is the scariest movie I have ever seen (although I have NOT seen "The Exorcist"). It is one of those stories that sucks you in from the very beginning. The imagery is very strong throughout the picture. The violence is intense, but definately not gratuitous. The final confrontation will shock you. This psychological thriller won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1991, and I can see why. Not to be missed! Bon Appetit!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: no big deal
Review: Starling's conversation at Hannibal's cell mirrors reality, when compared to male prisoners' verbiage directed at real-life female guards (telling of creative things they'd do to a woman; plus, vats of mayonnaise go awol from the kitchen, for 'packing the mayo'. It's not for a picnic.) Nonetheless, it's the closest I've seen prison talk get, on film. Therefore, keep kids who kill out of adult prisons, away from these predators. With nothing but time on their hands, inmates become smarter (with law libraries), and stronger (weightlifting rooms). The rate of recidivism is 99% (they're back within a matter of months--or at least have committed a crime but not gotten caught), so we know inmates will return once released. For Lecter, time alone in lockdown is bliss, as he's physically separated from other folks. He's snapped and attempts to justify past actions; we know he won't change. In real life, most inmates avoid psychos. SOTL is ok, although its successor lacks restraint.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Thrilling and Suspenseful
Review: Silence of the Lambs is probably one of the best movies ever made. Anothony Hopkins is great as a cannabalistic serial killer, but too bad we only see him in parts of the movie (to see more of him, see the sequel "HANNIBAL", which isn't as good). This is a must-see for any moviegoer, because even if you've seen all the other serial killer movies, you haven't seen nothing like this one! One of my faorite DVDs!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A classic, master-mind of a thriller
Review: The Silence of the Lambs

Score: 96/100

When it won the 5 most important Oscar's (Picture, Actor, Actress, Director, Screenplay) in 1991, The Silence of the Lambs proved not only is it tear-jerking drama's that get so much attention, but the full-of-plot, intriguing thriller's are also an important part of film history.

Young FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is assigned to help find a missing woman to save her from a psychopathic serial killer who skins his victims. Clarice attempts to gain a better insight into the twisted mind of the killer by talking to another psychopath Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), who used to be a respected psychiatrist. FBI agent Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) believes that Lecter who is also a very powerful and clever mind manipulator have the answers to their questions to help locate the killer. Clarice must first try and gain Lecter's confidence before he is to give away any information.

The Silence of the Lambs is a clever, chilling and brain-numbing movie which just keeps getting better and better. The performances are quite simply superb, the two leads, Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins both pull off uniquely amazing performances, and they have a great screen chemistry, while Scott Glenn and Ted Levine back them up nicely. Director Jonathan Demme pieces everything together awesomely with Ted Tally's extraordinary script, adapted from Thomas Harris' novel. On the subject of books and novels, this is one of the few films that has surpassed the high standards of its book, and The Silence of the Lambs deserved to be praised for that alone!

The Silence of the Lambs is a brilliant, immediate classic that everyone should've seen after 10 years of stunning the world.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: ABSOLUTE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL
Review: A supposed "thriller" that gets laughs in all the wrong places, this seems destined to be relegated to "Bad Movie Night" festivals and 99-cent rental bins. Foster is adequate, but I can't help wondering what Lauren Tewes ('Julie' on THE LOVE BOAT) could have done with the role. As for Hopkins, his last great performance was in FREEJACK, and his work here is more than worthy of a Golden Turkey Award. And was the wall-to-wall ABBA music REALLY necessary?? For a real thriller, check out Brian DePalma's DRESSED TO KILL; 'SILENCE' doesn't even rate a "guilty pleasure."

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Silence of the Lambs
Review: This is a very real like movie, you almost feel like your sitting in the same room with Jodie and Anthony when she is interviewing him. I believe this is one of the best movies I have ever seen. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and your eyes wide open. Can't even leave the room without putting the movie on pause.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best Thriller of ALL-TIME!!!
Review: When I saw a special edition of my favorite movie "The Silence of the Lambs", I knew I had to have it. I was not disappointed. The movie's picture on DVD is as clear as can be, and actually makes the movie better. Jodie Foster & Anthony Hopkins are just brilliant in their roles of Clarice Starling & Dr. Hannibal Lecter, respectfully. The extras are great as well, and the last scene STILL chills me, even though I have seen this movie hundreds of times. I would recommend this movie to anyone who wants a good scare. It's no wonder that this great movie won 5 Oscars (actor, actress, screenplay, director & picture). You will not be disappionted! Enjoy!!


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