Post by richardburton on Jul 31, 2007 9:57:28 GMT 1
Watched this last night. Silence of the Lambs is still clearly the best, followed by Hannibal, then I'd say this, followed finally by Red Dragon (the original Manhunter version was better than the remake in my opinion).
Hannibal Rising is still a good film and the early scenes of Russian and German fighting at the dying stages of the Eastern Front of WWII are excellent. Gaspard Ulliel who plays adult Lecter is cold and calculating, but I feel the film escalates him into an amoral torturer and killer too quickly. The book is obviously far more gradual and explains his motivations in greater depth.
Rhys Ifans takes his portrayal of a very nasty war criminal to almost comic strip heights of pure evil which I think at times is over the top and means you have to suspend belief slightly to believe that he could possibly be a real person. Having said that he's still very good - I just think his character could have been played down just a little.
Li Gong (Memoirs of a Geisha), Dominic West (300 and The Forgotten) and Kevin McKidd (Trainspotting and Dog Soldiers)all put in strong supporting performances.
Overall the story is good and involving and gives you a good understanding of why Hannibal becomes the monster that he is in the subsequent films.
Hannibal Rising is still a good film and the early scenes of Russian and German fighting at the dying stages of the Eastern Front of WWII are excellent. Gaspard Ulliel who plays adult Lecter is cold and calculating, but I feel the film escalates him into an amoral torturer and killer too quickly. The book is obviously far more gradual and explains his motivations in greater depth.
Rhys Ifans takes his portrayal of a very nasty war criminal to almost comic strip heights of pure evil which I think at times is over the top and means you have to suspend belief slightly to believe that he could possibly be a real person. Having said that he's still very good - I just think his character could have been played down just a little.
Li Gong (Memoirs of a Geisha), Dominic West (300 and The Forgotten) and Kevin McKidd (Trainspotting and Dog Soldiers)all put in strong supporting performances.
Overall the story is good and involving and gives you a good understanding of why Hannibal becomes the monster that he is in the subsequent films.