HANNIBAL

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, Ray Liotta and Gary Oldman
Director: Ridley Scott
Running time: 131mins
Certificate: 18

Available to Rent on Video or Buy on DVD

After ten years of freedom, interest in Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins) is refuelled by former victim Mason Verger (Oldman). When evidence of his whereabouts is revealed, Special Agent Clarise Starling (Moore) has to amerce herself again in the mind of her nemesis.

Finally after ten years of waiting, Hannibal Lecter returns to the big screen, in what has to be said, an inferior film to its illustrious predecessor. The main problem I had with this movie was the transformation of the Lecter character from a fear inducing man of great intelligence and calculated evil into what can only be described as a comic book villain. The new direction taken in the film transforms Lecter into an evil force; he seems to have amazing strength and perception as well as the great intellect personified in the previous movie. He knows when he is been followed, he knows everyone who has plotted against him, and replies with a black humour akin to the comic book villain. While Julianne Moore brings a grittier persona to the now 10 year seasoned Special Agent Starling, the chemistry seems to be not as astringent as it was with Jodie Foster. Excellent support from an uncredited, barely recognisable Gary Oldman as the revenge obsessed only survivor of Lecter, brings a more shockingly visible counter villain than the Buffalo Bill character of the previous movie. Don't get me wrong, this is still a good movie that keeps you interested throughout, the sequences set in the city of Florence, which are beautifully shot, are enthralling and the infamous dining scene is both shocking and strangely amusing. The problem is, I was expecting this to be my first five star movie of the year and after all the hype, the expected excessive gore (which is not as bad as the media has being telling us) and the anticipation, I feel ever so slightly disappointed in not been given the ultimate horror thriller that I was expecting.

13 Deleted and Extended Scenes, Alternative Ending, Five 'Making Of' Featurettes: Development (17 mins), Production (20 mins), Make-Up (13 mins), Music (14 mins) and Premiere (15 mins), Audio Commentary From Director Ridley Scott, Trailers, Three Multi-Angle Extras: 'Anatomy Of A Shoot-Out' (48 mins), Storyboarding with Ridley Scott (27 mins) and Opening Titles Design (7 mins), 21 TV Spots and Trailers, Photo Gallery, Interactive Menu & Scene Access


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