Hannibal (Full Screen Edition)

Starring:Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman, Ray Liotta, Frankie Faison, Giancarlo Giannini, Francesca Neri, Zeljko Ivanek, Hazelle Goodman, David Andrews, Francis Guinan, James Opher, Enrico Lo Verso, Ivano Marescotti, Fabrizio Gifuni, Alex Corrado, Marco Greco, Robert Rietty, Terry Serpico, Boyd Kestner
Director: Ridley Scott
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Yes, he's back, and he's still hungry. Ten years after The Silence of the Lambs, Dr. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, reprising his Oscar-winning role) is living the good life in Italy, studying art and sipping espresso. FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore, replacing Jodie Foster), on the other hand, hasn't had it so good--an outsider from the start, she's now a quiet, moody loner who doesn't play bureaucratic games and suffers for it. A botched drug raid results in her demotion--and a request from Lecter's only living victim, Mason Verger (Gary Oldman, uncredited), for a little Q and A. Little does Clarice realize that the hideously deformed Verger--who, upon suggestion from Dr. Lecter, peeled off his own face--is using her as bait to lure Dr. Lecter out of hiding, quite certain he'll capture the good doctor.

Amazon.com

Though Hannibal Rising's Lecter (Gaspard Ulliel) is a pussycat compared to Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, this sequel's story of revenge is grizzly enough to satisfy lovers of Thomas Harris's epic tale. After young Hannibal (Aaron Thomas) is forced to watch his little sister, Mischa (Helena Lia Tachovska), devoured by starving soldiers in his homeland Lithuania, Hannibal vows to avenge his sister's death by slaying those who committed not only war crimes against the Lecters, but also against other families during WW II. In detailing Hannibal's revenge plan, the film investigates the psychological implications of witnessing cannibalism to justify Hannibal's insatiable appetite for human flesh. The most interesting aspect of Hannibal Rising—its analytical connections drawn between Hannibal's childhood traumas and his murderous adult obsessions—is also the film's weak point. The links oversimplify Lecter's complex character. For example, though titillating to see flashbacks of Lecter's sister hacked up and boiled while Lecter visits a Parisian meat market, the reference is too obvious. One learns why he excels in his medical school classes dissecting cadavers, and we're given explicit explanation for why he slices off and eats his victims' cheeks. The story only complicates when Hannibal interacts with his sexy Aunt, Lady Murasaki (Gong Li). When Murasaki educates him in the art of beheading, the viewer sees Hannibal's sword fetish as a manifestation of physical lust. --Trinie Dalton

Description

(Horror/Suspense) The terrifying Silence of the Lambs prequel that reveals the history of the infamous Hannibal and how he came to be a cannibalistic murderer.

Customer Reviews:

Hannibal Rising.......2007-07-03

This film is excellent, the actors are great and the film is very welldone,the only thing which is missing is the CD of the music of the film. Katixa from PARIS France

It Started With Revenge and Ends With Disappointment..........2007-06-30

In the history of cinema there are many great cinematic villains that have terrified movie audiences over the years. Often times they are frightening in appearance or deeds, sometimes they are misunderstood or victims of circumstance, and they can even be so captivating that you can't help but pay attention to their many evil acts. These great villains range from the dreaded Darth Vader, to the slashers known as Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface, or the brilliant evil genius' of the James Bond films, to the most feared psychological villain of all time, Hannibal 'the cannibal' Lecter. Moviemakers lately have felt the need to explain the origins to some of cinema's classic villains from George Lucas' prequel trilogy of 'Star Wars' films, to Leatherface's lackluster origin story in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning", the most recent addition to the list of villains getting the origin treatment would be Hannibal Lecter in the Weinstein Company's adaptation of Thomas Harris' novel, "Hannibal Rising".

"Hannibal Rising" is the origin story of Hannibal Lecter, showing how he went from being an innocent young boy in Lithuania to society's most deadly, cannibalistic serial killer. As a young boy in Lithuania, Hannibal witnessed the deaths of his parents in World War 2, leaving he and his sister Mischa to fend for themselves. Just when Hannibal thought things couldn't get worse, a group of militia men invade their home, taking Hannibal and Mischa hostage. Soon, food begins to become sparse, and the militia gets desperate and chooses to survive by taking Mischa's life for food. Some time after that, grown up and in college, Hannibal (Gaspard Ulliel), is mastering every course he takes, and well on his way to earning his doctorate. Little does his professors know that Hannibal hides a dark, deadly secret. In his own time he is obsessively pursuing the men that formed the militia that took his sister's life, and if there's one thing Hannibal intends to do when he finds them, it's take his pound of flesh for their crime.

The decision to make a prequel to the popular Hannibal Lecter trilogy of films seemed like a waste of time and space, simply a way for the studio to just cash in on the character's well-known name. Which left me feeling like this would be a pathetic movie, because more than likely not a single person associated with the previous films would be involved, and for the most part I was right on that count, but there was a glimmer of a chance that this movie would be more than expected. Shortly after the film was greenlit, it was announced that the movie was being written by none other than Thomas Harris, the creator of Hannibal Lecter, based on his novel of the same name that he was in the process of finishing up. With that prospect, I thought that "Hannibal Rising" (at the time the movie was being called "Young Hannibal") just may stand a chance of equaling its predecessors in terms of quality storytelling and acting that is among the best Hollywood has to offer.

Well, as good of a writer Thomas Harris is, or I should say was (his other three books in the Lecter series are great works of fiction), this novel and the screenplay that was based on it are far inferior to anything offered in the other installments. I was disappointed by the movie for several reasons; first I felt the actor chosen to portray young Hannibal was only okay. I understand he was trying to only give hints as to what this character will become later on, and I'll give it to the actor, there were a couple of times that I saw a glimpse of Anthony Hopkins' creepy portrayal seep in, but these were few and far between. For the most part the actor was just flat in his performance and apparently the only expression he really knew how to make was a snarl, he didn't really have any of the nuances that Anthony perfected in this character. Second, it seemed like Hannibal took to cannibalism a little too easily. I understand that he saw his sister suffer at the hands of evil militia men, and seeing that would definitely scar a young child, but when he kills the first soldier and commits his first act of cannibalism, there is no uncertainty or disdain for what he's doing. He simply does the deed, doesn't appear to be bothered by it, in fact he may even have enjoyed it (the movie really doesn't explain this), and moves on in search of the next victim on his list. Which brings me to my third problem with this movie; aside from revenge being his motive for killing the killers of his sister, he doesn't show any further conviction to commit murder. Leaving one to wonder why he continued after achieving his vengeance, did committing all those acts of murder and cannibalism become such an obsession for him outside of revenge that he just felt compelled to do more or what? This was an aspect that wasn't explained, and I felt should have been, especially since this was to be the origin of his evil life and a deep psychological profile into the why of his life of crime. Instead, Thomas Harris' screenplay and novel barely scratched the surface, no doubt because the Weinstein's are hoping to cash in on further installments of prequels, since Hopkins is probably through portraying the character. And my final complaint would have to be that there was no cameo by Anthony Hopkins, the least they could have done was bring him in during the final moments of the film to link it in to the other three. Instead, he gets his revenge, the story ends, and the credits roll. Nothing linking it in to the other films, aside from the name of the lead character.

"Hannibal Rising" is not the worst film ever made, it's actually an average movie, and if it was the first in the series to be made, it may have seemed better, but when comparing it to the other three already in the franchise, it pales in comparison. The other movies contained many psychological aspects to them, especially "The Silence of the Lambs", "Red Dragon" and "Hannibal" did to an extent just not as much, but this film didn't contain any. There was potential, especially given that Hannibal endured a horrific childhood which is the root of his evil, but aside from a few dream sequences we don't get much insight into his character, and the dreams only serve to show us exactly what the militia did to him and his sister. Which is probably where the biggest problem of this film lies, is that in trying to explain why Hannibal is who he is, the makers of the film try to make the audience feel sympathy for him. This is one of modern cinema's greatest movie villains, I don't want to feel sorry for him, I want to see what made him who he is. The filmmakers tried to accomplish the why of the character, but went about it wrong, all they explained was why he was killing the militia, it never explained why he felt the need to continue killing other people that weren't involved in his sister's death. So, because of that the audience feels that his killing is justified, at least in this movie (it's just a really sick brand of justice), and in doing so you sympathize with him. What this all boils down to is that the filmmakers, especially Thomas Harris, really dropped the ball on explaining the origin of Hannibal Lecter, opting simply to give audiences an average revenge tale, just a little gorier than most.

"Hannibal Rising" is unrated containing violence, gore, and language.

Boo, I'm so tired of this series.......2007-06-28

Ok, the first movie was shocking and told a gripping tale with a human
dimension, although decidedly opaque. Now it's just regurgitating.
Furthermore, if it has to be unrated to tell a story, forget about it.
There's enough real gore in the world as it is.

Sympathy for the Devil.......2007-06-28

Hannibal Rising suffered severely at the box office because it was implied in the trailers that we'd mainly see a young Hannibal Lecter slashing up the countryside. That kind of marketing certainly didn't lure me into theaters to see it, and--based on its less than $30 million box office gross--much of the public had the same sentiment.

At the end of May, Hannibal Rising gets released on DVD and the memory of the slash-'em-up trailer is still in my head, so I'm not compelled to see it, but 4 weeks later I finally do. And it turns out to be one of the better movies that I've seen this year.

Funny though...I'm not sure that I'd have appreciated Hannibal Rising as much without first seeing 1991's Silence of the Lambs The Silence of the Lambs (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) . Oh, it certainly isn't necessary to see Silence of the Lambs prior to seeing Hannibal Rising. Ironically, seeing Lambs before seeing this prequel just puts a better perspective on the things to come as you watch Lecter in his early years. It did for me anyway.

In Silence of the Lambs you fear Lecter and what he'll do next. In Hannibal Rising you actually find yourself rooting for him with a kind of sympathy. Hannibal Rising is more a story of revenge than it is a story about a serial killer...kind of like a Rambo First Blood (Special Edition) with class.

In Hannibal Rising, you get a great directorial from little known Peter Webber and a terrific performance out of mostly French film actor Gaspard Ulliel. In the beginning sequence Webber went a little overboard with getting us to believe that those who committed the atrocities that ultimately turned Lecter into what he bacame would all be so unified in the decision to commit the atrocities. But the movie really is done well overall and Ulliel played a masterfully diabolical young Hannibal Lecter.

So forget that the movie poster and DVD cover have a picture of Lecter in what looks like that this'll-prevent-you-from-bitng-me mask (turns out that's not what it is at all). And forget that the trailers showed mainly a young, sinister looking Hannibal Lecter as if about to cut someone open. Hannibal Rising ultimately is less gory than you probably think it will be, and less gory than 2001's Hannibal Hannibal . It's not a Horror movie. It's just a very good movie like 1986's Manhunter Manhunter (Restored Director's Cut Divimax Edition) and/or its 2002 remake Red Dragon Red Dragon - Collector's Edition (Widescreen) .

I wouldn't go so far as to say that Hannibal Rising is a classic, as Silence of the Lambs was, but it's very good. Fans of Lambs should take a chance with Hannibal Rising.

The missing story in the Lecter chronicles is his doings in the US leading up to his capture by FBI Agent Will Graham (between Hannibal Rising and Red Dragon). Can't wait.

Out For Revenge Or Made A Monster?.......2007-06-27

I just got done watching "Hannibal Rising" this evening. Hmmmm, not sure what to make of it! I've read and seen "Red Dragon" (which I loved by the way), "Silence of the Lambs", & "Hannibal"....

After reading many negative reviews for both the book and movie versions of "Hannibal Rising", I wasn't sure if I wanted anything to do with the book or the movie.... However, decided to watch the movie for myself and form my own opinion.

Honestly, I don't think "Hannibal Rising" is as bad as everyone has made it out to be. It is suppose to be a prequel, giving us the idea of why Hannibal is the way he is as an adult. I thought "Hannibal Rising" was suspenseful and well acted by the cast members. We see Hannibal as a monster out for revenge for those who killed his younger sister. This is where Hannibal begins to learn and refine his murderous appetite that we later refined when he becomes an adult..... What starts out as revenge turns into gruesome psychopathic behavior.

Average customer rating:

Why I LOVE THIS MOVIE

Hannibal Rising (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Helena Lia Tachovska , Richard Leaf , Michele Wade , Martin Hub , and Ingeborga Dapkunaite
Director: Peter Webber
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000NVT0SE
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Description

(Horror/Suspense) The terrifying Silence of the Lambs prequel that reveals the history of the infamous Hannibal and how he came to be a cannibalistic murderer.

Customer Reviews:

Why I LOVE THIS MOVIE.......2007-06-02

I give it five stars because it was more scary than silince of the lambs. IT WAS CREEPY, PLOT WAS BEST SO FAR IN SERIES FOR A PRESEQUOEL. NOT SLAPPED TOGETHIR BUT ALMOST AS SAME AS THE BOOK I READ. MOVIE DIRECTIOR DID A GREAT JOB ON REASEARCH ON THE BOOK. ONLY A COPLE SCENES IN THE BOOK WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE MOVIE.

The Hannibal Lecter Collection (Manhunter / The Silence of the Lambs / Hannibal)

Average customer rating:

Classic, fantastic horror set
Worth it....
Great buy, but a little disappointed.
Hannible "Trilogy"
It was more than what I expected

The Hannibal Lecter Collection (Manhunter / The Silence of the Lambs / Hannibal)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins , Julianne Moore , Gary Oldman , Ray Liotta , and Frankie Faison
Director: Ridley Scott , Jonathan Demme , and Michael Mann
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00000G3R0
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Amazon.com

Manhunter:Though it will always be remembered as the movie featuring the "other" Hannibal Lecter, Michael Mann's 1986 thriller Manhunter is nearly as good as The Silence of the Lambs, and in some respects it's arguably even better. Based on Thomas Harris's novel Red Dragon, which introduced the world to the nefarious killer Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter, the film stars William Petersen (giving a suitably brooding performance) as ex-FBI agent Will Graham, who is coaxed out of semiretirement to track down a serial killer who has thwarted the authorities at every turn.

Graham's approach to the case is a perilous one. First he seeks counsel with Lecter (Brian Cox) in the latter's high-security prison cell--an encounter that is utterly horrifying in its psychological effect--and then he begins to mold his own psyche to that of the killer, with potentially devastating results. As directed by Mann (who was at the acme of his success with TV's Miami Vice), this sophisticated cat-and-mouse game never resorts to the compromise of cheap thrills. Predating Anthony Hopkins's portrayal of Lecter by four years, Cox plays the character closer to Harris's original, lower-key conception, and he's no less compelling in the role. Petersen is equally well cast, and as always Mann employs rock music to astonishing effect, using nearly all of Iron Butterfly's heavy-metal epic "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" to accompany the film's heart-stopping climactic sequence. All of this makes Manhunter one of the finest films of its kind, as well as further proof that Harris's fiction is a blessing to any filmmaker brave enough to adapt it. --Jeff Shannon

The Silence of the Lambs: Based on Thomas Harris's novel, this terrifying film by Jonathan Demme really only contains a couple of genuinely shocking moments (one involving an autopsy, the other a prison break). The rest of the film is a splatter-free visual and psychological descent into the hell of madness, redeemed astonishingly by an unlikely connection between a monster and a haunted young woman. Anthony Hopkins is extraordinary as the cannibalistic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter, virtually entombed in a subterranean prison for the criminally insane. At the behest of the FBI, agent-in-training Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) approaches Lecter, requesting his insights into the identity and methods of a serial killer named Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). In exchange, Lecter demands the right to penetrate Starling's most painful memories, creating a bizarre but palpable intimacy that liberates them both under separate but equally horrific circumstances. Demme, a filmmaker with a uniquely populist vision (Melvin and Howard, Something Wild), also spent his early years making pulp for Roger Corman (Caged Heat), and he hasn't forgotten the significance of tone, atmosphere, and the unsettling nature of a crudely effective close-up. Much of the film, in fact, consists of actors staring straight into the camera (usually from Clarice's point of view), making every bridge between one set of eyes to another seem terribly dangerous. --Tom Keogh

Hannibal: Yes, he's back, and he's still hungry. Ten years after The Silence of the Lambs, Dr. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, reprising his Oscar-winning role) is living the good life in Italy, studying art and sipping espresso. FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore, replacing Jodie Foster), on the other hand, hasn't had it so good--an outsider from the start, she's now a quiet, moody loner who doesn't play bureaucratic games and suffers for it. A botched drug raid results in her demotion--and a request from Lecter's only living victim, Mason Verger (Gary Oldman, uncredited), for a little Q and A. Little does Clarice realize that the hideously deformed Verger--who, upon suggestion from Dr. Lecter, peeled off his own face--is using her as bait to lure Dr. Lecter out of hiding, quite certain he'll capture the good doctor.

Taking the basic plot contraptions from Thomas Harris's baroque novel, Hannibal is so stylistically different from its predecessor that it forces you to take it on its own terms. Director Ridley Scott gives the film a sleek, almost European look that lets you know that, unlike the first film (which was about the quintessentially American Clarice), this movie is all Hannibal. Does it work? Yes--but only up to a point. Scott adeptly sets up an atmosphere of foreboding, but it's all buildup for anticlimax, as Verger's plot for abducting Hannibal (and feeding him to man-eating wild boars) doesn't really deliver the requisite visceral thrills, and the much-ballyhooed climatic dinner sequence between Clarice, Dr. Lecter, and a third unlucky guest wobbles between parody and horror. Hopkins and Moore are both first-rate, but the film contrives to keep them as far apart as possible, when what made Silence so amazing was their interaction. When they do connect it's quite thrilling, but it's unfortunately too little too late. --Mark Englehart

Description

Disc 1: HANNIBAL Disc 2: THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS Disc 3: MANHUNTER

Customer Reviews:

Classic, fantastic horror set.......2007-06-06

I recently bought Hannibal Rising, and was very impressed. It reminded me of the horrific energy I remembered from the earlier Hannibal Lecter movies.

It's been years since I've seen the earlier movies, so I bought this set from Amazon. I also ordered Red Dragon, individually. It has not yet arrived.

All of these movies are excellent. They're some of the best horror movies I'd seen in decades. I love this boxed set.

Worth it...........2007-05-29

I am a relatively new fan to this genre of movies and after reading the book Silence of the Lambs it was the next best thing. I throughly enjoyed this movie and haven't yet watched the others, yet is the key word, I'm sure I'll enjoy them as much as Silence of the Lambs. I highly recommend this collection for purchase....

2-Chance

Great buy, but a little disappointed........2007-03-31

I love the Hannibal movies. So I bought the three disc edition. The thing that was a little disappointing was that these dvds had NO BONUS FEATURES. I understand maybe Manhunter or even Silence of the Lambs probably wouldn't have any. But Hannibal definitely was released in the time frame to have special features. Regardless, they're still great movies, and I really enjoy them.

Hannible "Trilogy".......2007-03-27

Being the movie buff I am, I enjoyed this set; however, I was disappointed a bit. When I watched Hannible, it says, to watch the special features, insert disc 2. That's where the problem lies; there is no disc 2. Other than that I enjoyed it, although I wished it also included Red Dragon. Overall, I was very pleased with the set.

It was more than what I expected.......2007-03-21

Because it had manhunt which is the first version of red dragon and the first in the series. I give it two thumbs up.

Average customer rating:

Bad Ending & Not the Same Without Jodie Foster...
Hannibal: 2-Disc Collector's Steelbook Edition Warning
Read the book!
Mythoughts
Pretty great sequel

Hannibal
Starring: David Andrews , Frankie R. Faison , Hazelle Goodman , Zeljko Ivanek , and Ray Liotta
Director: Ridley Scott
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003CXSP
Release Date: 2001-08-21

Amazon.com

Yes, he's back, and he's still hungry. Ten years after The Silence of the Lambs, Dr. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, reprising his Oscar-winning role) is living the good life in Italy, studying art and sipping espresso. FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore, replacing Jodie Foster), on the other hand, hasn't had it so good--an outsider from the start, she's now a quiet, moody loner who doesn't play bureaucratic games and suffers for it. A botched drug raid results in her demotion--and a request from Lecter's only living victim, Mason Verger (Gary Oldman, uncredited), for a little Q and A. Little does Clarice realize that the hideously deformed Verger--who, upon suggestion from Dr. Lecter, peeled off his own face--is using her as bait to lure Dr. Lecter out of hiding, quite certain he'll capture the good doctor.

Description

Anthony Hopkins is "perverse perfection" (Rolling Stone) in his return to the role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, the sophisticated killer who comes out of hiding to draw FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore) into a high-stakes battle that will test her strength, cunning and loyalty.

Customer Reviews:

Bad Ending & Not the Same Without Jodie Foster..........2007-06-27

Julianne Moore is a phenomenal actress in other movies, but for some reason didn't bring the character of Clarice Starling to life on the silver screen for "Hannibal". Her portrayal of Clarice Starling was extremely flat and dead compared with Jodie Foster's performance of Clarice Starling in "Silence of the Lambs". So, I was sorely disappointed not to see Jodie Foster return to play the role of Clarice Starling in this movie as she gave a vibrant portrayal of this character.

I've also read the book "Hannibal" by Thomas Harris and was completely disappointed that the filmmakers of "Hannibal" didn't keep the ending of the movie in line with that of the novel. The ending of "Hannibal", the movie version, felt empty and hollow without the original ending for which the author had intended.

Plus other aspects of the storyline were a bit off too. Had "Hannibal", the movie version, had Jodie Foster playing Clarice Starling and other aspects of the movie, like the ending, been more accurate to the novel, I would have given it a higher rating.

Hannibal: 2-Disc Collector's Steelbook Edition Warning.......2007-06-11

Sure this movie was not as grand as Silence of the Lambs, but I thought it was an interesting turn of events in how it all panned out. There is an alternate ending on this DVD 2-Disc Collector's Edition, but I much perfer the original just the same.

Now, I may have a defected copy of this Steelbook Edition, but if not, be warned that the subtitles and Spanish and French audio tracks may not work. I sometimes like to read the English subtitles as I'm listening and watching the movie at the same time. However, I was not able to do so with this DVD packaged set. Not with either my Samsung, JVC, or Panasonic DVD players. The Steelbook Edition is a re-print of what has already been released, so I assume these features were lost in the re-printing process. However, all other bonus features and footages worked just fine.

Read the book!.......2007-05-12

Hannibal is a great movie, and it is worth watching. But, if you did not feel satisfied from the movies ending, then read the book. It will more than fill your appetiete for Hannibal Lector. Hannibal is by far the best book in the series and it has alot more information than the movie. The only reason I gave it four stars is because the book was so amazing.

Mythoughts.......2007-05-07

Excellent movie especially in full screen edition and recommend it to all that enjoy psychological thrillers and why they do not adapt all of the movies in the 1:33:1 format as an alternative purchase from widescreen format for those consumers who prefer it I will never know

Pretty great sequel.......2007-01-20

Anthony Hopkins returns as one of the great villains in screen history, Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter, in this riveting sequel to The Silence of the Lambs. Lecter's only surviving victim, the hideously scarred Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), tries to draw the serial gourmet out of hiding using the one person he cares about: Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore). Now, the novel on which this film was based had a slow pace and was nice and lengthy. If the film tried to be exactly like the book, it would have been at least 3 hours long, maybe longer. I would have enjoyed watching it.I thought the acting was excellent. Most of what's essential in the book in kept in the movie, though reading it ahead of time makes everything a little clearer. I was glad to see Ray Liotta here( specialy the brain eating scene lol, turned some peoples head!), and I thought Julianne Moore did a great job as Agent Starling. This film has almost "A Clockwork Orange" mentality as it appears to celebrate Hannibal's evil. True, Hannibal is always witty and polite, regardless of what terrible thing he is doing. The film is expectedly grotesque, which never bothers me. Hannibal is truly a different type of film than "Silence of the Lambs"; if you're looking for that, you should probably see "Red Dragon" instead (also good). My biggest complaint is the change they made to the ending of the story, which in the book was far more disturbing. And I'd like to say that Ridley Scott's direction isn't quite as suited to the material as Jonathan Demme's. Good and effective, but read the novel if you really want to get freaked out. I still recommend every one to watch hannibal if you haven't yet. Its truly a great movie. Also The music selected for this film was all that one would expect for such a thrilling screenplay, exciting, touching, unobtrucive and atmospheric. The highpoint for me was the scene at the Opera which left me spellbound. So delightful was the piece that I hummed it for days afterwards. The thrill was boosted by my finding out that a fellow Irishman, whom I had met often around Dublin over the past few years, Patrick Cassidy, hed written "Vide Cor Meum" especially for the scene. Woe of woes! I had hoped that it was an Opera which I could buy the next day. The good news is that the piece is featured on this soundtrack and Patrick is rumoured to be incorporating the piece into a forthcoming Operatic work. I can only commend you to his exceptional talent, recordings of which are available from Amazon and hope that you too will await the new work with my baited breath.
Hans Zimmer seems to be the composer of the moment in Hollywood, and why not? His score for "Hannibal" further proves that when he's on, he's really on -- his score for "Hannibal" is more entertaining than the film it has been written for, not to mention more haunting, scary and beautiful. But along with being a popular film composer comes the wrongheaded ideas that often get forced upon film soundtracks. Why are there dialogue snippets here? Sure, Anthony Hopkins is a wonderful actor and I love to hear his voice, but not when the music he is speaking over is superior to the film! Most dialogue tracks on soundtracks are annoying, and these are no different. Two big releases raped Zimmer's music in this fashion in the same year (remember "More Music from Gladiator"?). That being said, this is top-notch work from Zimmer and collaborator Patrick Cassady. Especially wonderful is the final track, an original operatic piece with a libretto taken from the writings of Dante Aligheri. Absolutely astonishing music in that last cut.

Hannibal (Collector's Edition Steelbook)

Average customer rating:

Bad Ending & Not the Same Without Jodie Foster...
Hannibal: 2-Disc Collector's Steelbook Edition Warning
Read the book!
Mythoughts
Pretty great sequel

Hannibal (Collector's Edition Steelbook)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins , Julianne Moore , Gary Oldman , Ray Liotta , and Frankie Faison
Director: Ridley Scott
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Red Dragon - Collector's Edition (Widescreen)
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ASIN: B000OPOAMA
Release Date: 2007-06-05

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Description

Customer Reviews:

Bad Ending & Not the Same Without Jodie Foster..........2007-06-27

Hannibal: 2-Disc Collector's Steelbook Edition Warning.......2007-06-11

Read the book!.......2007-05-12

Mythoughts.......2007-05-07

Pretty great sequel.......2007-01-20

Serial Killers: Real Life Hannibal Lecters

Average customer rating:

It was okay
Excellent for Students of Criminal Psychology
A good starting point
Creepy Cool
There are CANNIBALS among us...

Serial Killers: Real Life Hannibal Lecters
Starring: Serial Killers-Real Life Hannibal Lecters
Manufacturer: Trinity Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Serial Killers 2-pack
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NBC News Presents: Inside Evil - Serial Killers Jeffrey Dahmer & Son of Sam

ASIN: B00005B208
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Customer Reviews:

It was okay.......2006-03-19

I didn't find anything different from other books and DVD's. It's basically the same information you can read or look up on the internet free.

Excellent for Students of Criminal Psychology.......2006-03-16

Gives you the facts, and also the opinions of various Serial Killer experts. It gives you the stories of some of the world's most horrifying examples of human depravity. Overall it is an essential part of a true student of criminal psychology's collection.

A good starting point.......2004-04-30

This documentary primarily covers the psychological profiles and exploits of three particular serial killers (Albert Fish, Andrei Chikatilo, and Jeffrey Dahmer), and features various psychologists, authors, pioneering FBI profiler Robert Ressler, and the prosecuting and defense attorneys of the Jeffrey Dahmer trial discussing their thoughts on the events. Also given a look are the factors, conditions, and motivations that might lead someone to become a serial killer. And, as suggested by the show's title, the most infamous fictional serial killer Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter is discussed, compared and contrasted to his real-life counterparts.

While I found the presentation reasonably informative, the subject matter tended to be a bit dry at times: much of the show consisted of psychobabble from experts in the study of serial killers. Another somewhat low point was a bit of misleading advertisement: although they're featured prominently on the front of the DVD cover box, Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy are given only minimum coverage. Gacy is talked about a little bit in the show itself, but is covered in greater detail in the disc's bonus feature, a five-minute-long interview with Robert Ressler. As for Bundy, his only real presence in this show were a few quotes that popped up between chapter breaks.

Another bit of somewhat misleading advertising is the blurb on the back of the DVD case that states, "shocking never-before-seen footage" of the criminals and their horrid acts. Aside from a few scenes from the classic "night of the Living Dead" flicks, a few reenactment shots of Andrei Chikatilo drooling blood whilst hiding his latest victim in a pile of leaves, and a few black-and-white pics of Dahmer's beat-in brain in a formaldehyde jar, I didn't find any of the footage particularly shocking or outrageous. Of course, I've been watching these true-crime documentaries for so long now, I've probably become a bit jaded by it all. Still, I don't recommend this for the young'uns to watch, as the subject material is fairly graphic in nature (we ARE talking about serial killers and/or cannibals here, after all) and would likely have fallen somewhere into PG-13 territory had the MPAA rated it.

While the presentation gave a reasonable general overview of serial killers, what makes `em tick, and what may have led them down the dark path to #ell that they chose, there little here I didn't already know or heard about from other sources. Overall, I'd recommend `Serial Killers: Real-Life Hannibal Lecters" more for the novice true-crime aficionado who doesn't mind a little egg-headed psychobabble. Otherwise, I suggest you for a more in-depth documentary or documentaries on the subject.

`Late

Creepy Cool.......2003-05-10

Very good factual study inside the minds of the most prolific Serial Killers. Deliciously Disturbing. Truth is always stranger than fiction.

Don't plan on eating meat or sleeping for a while.

There are CANNIBALS among us..........2002-09-13

I owned the VHS of REAL LIFE HANNIBAL LECTERS for a while and was thrilled to see that it'd been upgraded to DVD format. For anyone interested in learning more about the criminal cannibals in the world, and the twilight zones in which they reside, this documentary is a MUST-have. Features the infamous Jeffrey Dahmer and Albert Fish cases, among several other "well-knowns". Discussed is the serial killer mentality in general, as well as possible explanations as to why some people choose to cannibalize in such a brutal fashion. For instance, Dahmer ate pieces of his victims so he could feel closer to them. Other career cannibals engage in anthropopaghy (technical word for humans consuming humans) in order to completely CONQUER the victims (as was the situation with the Russian cannibal killer Andrei Chikatilo). Very well produced, I think, with some cool haunting music and a variety of eerie quotes (some anonymous, which makes it even creepier..."IF YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT, I COULD BE YOU TOMORROW" is a chilling example!). Be warned, however, this one is NOT for the faint of heart. Afterall, this does indeed go into details of these human-flesh consumers...Do you REALLY know your neighbors?

Average customer rating:

Bad Ending & Not the Same Without Jodie Foster...
Hannibal: 2-Disc Collector's Steelbook Edition Warning
Read the book!
Mythoughts
Pretty great sequel

Hannibal (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins , Julianne Moore , Gary Oldman , Ray Liotta , and Frankie Faison
Director: Ridley Scott
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Silence of the Lambs (Widescreen Special Edition)
Manhunter (Full Screen Edition)
The Silence of the Lambs (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Hannibal Rising (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00026L7O0
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Bad Ending & Not the Same Without Jodie Foster..........2007-06-27

Hannibal: 2-Disc Collector's Steelbook Edition Warning.......2007-06-11

Read the book!.......2007-05-12

Mythoughts.......2007-05-07

Pretty great sequel.......2007-01-20

Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal

Average customer rating:

VICTORIAM AVT MORTEM
Ancient Spectacle
Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal
a good classic

Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal
Starring: Annibale Ninchi , Camillo Pilotto , Fosco Giachetti , Francesca Braggiotti , and Marcello Giorda
Director: Carmine Gallone
Manufacturer: International Historic Films, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Augustus
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Julius Caesar
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Nero

ASIN: B000065VVG
Release Date: 2001-11-15

Customer Reviews:

VICTORIAM AVT MORTEM.......2005-06-23

"Victory or death!" This is one of the principal themes of Carmine Gallone's 1937 film: a superb work in which its collosal production is carried by a brilliant direction, a clever screenplay, a tight script, and good acting. The film is also unprecedented in terms of its incredible historical detail. Released in 1937 and backed by Mussolini's government, this film was the most expensive Italian production of its time with 30,000 extras, 6,000 horses, and 50 elephants. The cinematography is excellent and parallels Reifenstalh's contemporary works under the Nazi regime in Germany. Unlike German propaganda films of that time however, this film is rather unintrusive in terms of propaganda and carries no racist ideology such as with Goebbels' films: the historical setting is simply conducive to fascist Italy's ideology of restoring the nation to the level of its glorious Roman past as desired by Mussolini.

The film is presented from Scipio's point of view and covers the last part of the Second Punic War where Hannibal retreats from Italy to Carthage with haste to defend his home and fight the final battle of Zama. Hannibal is presented as an honorable foe who, like Scipio, is bound to follow his destiny and serve his nation no matter what the cost. Political intrigue arises when Hasdrubal's daughter, Queen Sophonisba, uses her seductive charms to coax her Numidian husband Syphax and his rival Massanisa to fight the Romans. The level of historical detail is probably the most faithful than any other film on Roman history. All of the clothing, architecture, military equipment and tactics are presented with exact accuracy. The legions are shown with the proper uniforms, armaments, and tactics of that period. The tactical maniple formations are shown as opposed to the cohort formations of the Late Republic. The quinquireme galleys were produced to exact scale and made fully functional: they also include the innovative hooked and swiveling boarding ramp (corvus) used during that time. The battle scene of Zama is the most impresive and graphic ever presented in a film on antiquity using 50 elephants and replicated at 1/10 the scale with 30,000 actors. The battle scene is extremely graphic even in comparison to modern films with some very violent close quarter combat. This is probably not a film for animal lovers as, unfortunately, some of the elephants were speared and butchered to add realism to the film: Mussolini felt that historical realism outweighed the lives of these poor animals. The English script, written and dubbed in 1937 by an American company, is also outstanding and as stoic as the speeches recited in Livy's histories on the wars with Hannibal.

Some of the downsides of the film are antiquated acting techniques in which some of the actors are still using theatrical methods prevalent in silent films which don't really work well with sound films. As a result, some scenes come out as over-dramatic, particularly in the minimal romantic subplots which are fortunately and short and sparing. Shortcomings aside, the lavish sets and cinematography are stunning and remained unmatched until later period films such as 'Cleopatra' and 'Spartacus.' As a matter of fact, one can see that both Mankievicz and Kubrick were heavily influenced by Gallone's direction and camera work along with the grandiose sets in this film. This is simply an outstanding film that completely outclasses the later and atrocious 'Hannibal' with Victor Mature. This is an excellent film that is a fine addition to any film lover's collection: particularly for those who are Roman history buffs or scholars of fascism and 20th century propaganda.

On a final note, contrary to the previous reviewer E.R. Curry's claims, the Roman salute is anything but a fascist invention of the 20th century attributed to Ancient Rome. Jaques Louis David portrayed the Roman salute in his 1792 painting "The Oath of the Horatii" showing the legendary Roman Horatii brothers saluting their father with the Roman salute as they go to war. This painting was completed over 200 years before socialism, fascism, or film ever existed. Fascist ideology in principle seeks to apply the Roman concept of the dictator to modern times in which one's full allegiance to the needs of the state is imperative above everything else. It is akin to Cincinnatus accepting his appointment as dictator and leaving his farm to fulfill his sworn patriotic duty no matter what the sacrifice may be. The Nazi or fascist salute is therefore a revivance of what was thought to be the original Roman salute as portrayed in David's painting and other classicist or neo-classicist works of art. Although no one can be certain as to when the Roman salute came into existance and whether it was indeed Roman, it unquestionably came into being long before Mr. Curry claims to have been the case.

Ancient Spectacle.......2004-10-13

Even if this is propaganda the movie provides a handsome production. The viewer can certainly see the attempt to link Moussolini with Scipio. The fascist salute is everywhere, even if the Romans did not actually salute in that fashion themselves. My opinion is that you look at a film like this as a period piece. Both in terms of the time it is portraying as well as the time it was made in. Both are revealing. There is no question that we must regard Scipio as the good hero of the film. From what we know of him he was a considered one of the great generals of antiquity, and he did arouse firece loyalty in his troops. Then again, most Roman generals did, as it was part of the political process to do so. The interesting thing about the movie is the fact that Scipio lived during the time of the early Roman Republic. Moussolini would have more in common with the later imperial Roman State. Still, these are matters which should not concern ourselves with here