Red Dragon (Full Frame)
Before The Silence of the Lambs, the first and most thrilling chapter in the Hannibal Lector Trilogy.
Anthony Hopkins reprises his Oscar-winning role as the infamous Dr. Hannibal Lector in the thrilling prequel critics are hailing as "a suspenseful masterpiece!" (FOX-TV)
After capturing Dr. Lector, FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) retires-only to be called back to active duty to hunt down the elusive killer, The Tooth Fairy (Ralph Fiennes). Red Dragon is the electrifying, critically acclaimed movie that "returns the series to The Silence of the Lambs form" (Jack Matthews, New York Daily News).
Member Reviews
The 2nd Best Version - ABC99
Although it is perfectly competent their is somethings muted and dull about this version of Red Dragon. The main problem is that this is the second version of this material. As each scene passed I could help but think about Michal Mann's far superior Manhunter.
All the peices are her but the tension and unsettlingly nature is gone. Instead it is a slick, competent and but uninspired remake.the very definition of 'unnecessary remake' - clauditorium
There is nothing wrong with a remake, in and of itself. But if you're remaking a good movie, you better have something new of your own to add. And that, in a nutshell, is why Red Dragon is a disappointing movie. Brett Ratner kept bragging that his version would be closer to the book than Manhunter was, but that's irrelevant. In his hands, Thomas Harris's brilliant story turns bland. You get the feeling everything Ratner touches turns bland. His idea of innovation is to give his characters weird, bad hair (Edward Norton's and Emily Watson's is dyed, and Anthony Hopkins has a little ponytail in the prologue) - that's as deep as he gets.
Michael Mann, who directed Manhunter, may have altered the book's ending, but he understood that what drove the story was the main character's intensity. The most disturbing aspect of Manhunter was Will Graham's ability to get inside the killer's head, and William Petersen, who played Graham, understood this too. Norton would have been more than up to the task, but Ratner chose to ignore this, one of the book's most compelling elements! So basically, instead of adding something of his own, the Brett Ratner style is to SUBTRACT!
And it's a real shame, because he had some of today's greatest actors to work with - Norton, Hopkins, Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Philip Seymour Hoffman. When a director manages to drain the life out of as great a performer as Edward Norton, you know something's amiss. As for Hopkins, his performance seems to deteriorate a bit each time he plays this character (right along with the quality of the movies). And you get the feeling Hoffman could have gone to town with his character, but he's given very little to do. Only Fiennes escapes unscathed - he turns in a memorable, unsettling performance, and he is the reason there is any suspense in this film at all (the highlights are his scenes with Watson, who also does a good job).Just as good as silence of the lambs - MowieAddict
I was amazed with this film. It had a stellar cast, with every actor doing an amazing job. The way he solves the case is super cool, and the blind lover is an amazing character that adds a lot of depth.
Of course, the twist on the end is there again, and totally unbelievable.
The feel is just like SotL, with little hints and lead ons to Hannibal's background, and what is to come!
Member Reviews
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The 2nd Best Version - ABC99
Although it is perfectly competent their is somethings muted and dull about this version of Red Dragon. The main problem is that this is the second version of this material. As each scene passed I could help but think about Michal Mann's far superior Manhunter.
All ...the very definition of 'unnecessary remake' - clauditorium
There is nothing wrong with a remake, in and of itself. But if you're remaking a good movie, you better have something new of your own to add. And that, in a nutshell, is why Red Dragon is a disappointing movie. Brett Ratner kept bragging that his version ...Just as good as silence of the lambs - MowieAddict
I was amazed with this film. It had a stellar cast, with every actor doing an amazing job. The way he solves the case is super cool, and the blind lover is an amazing character that adds a lot of depth.
Of course, the twist on the end is there again, and ...