Hannibal Rising (www.the-usher.com)

"Hannibal stop!"

1944 and the Lecter family flee their Lithuanian castle as the German's retreat from the Russian front but they caught up in the battle, with tragic consequences. Left to fend for themselves, the children Hannibal and Mischa hide in the family's country lodge but their safety is threatened by local looters, led by Vladis Grutas (Ifans). Eight years later Hannibal Lector (Ulliel) is still plagued by nightmares of that time but when he escapes the Russian orphanage he decides to track down the looters and discover what happened to Mischa.

How did the most famous fictional serial killer acquire his skills and taste for human flesh are questions that horror fans have been asking since Thomas Harris first penned 'Red Dragon' and now we finally have the answers, well some of them.

Thomas Harris's series of Hannibal Lector novels have set the standard when it comes to serial killer thrillers but the cannibal's origins have never really been covered. His fourth novel takes us back to Hannibal's childhood and reveal the reason's why he became the man he did. The only problem is that it doesn't reveal enough.

Released first as a novel and then adapted by the author himself for the screen, the film starts as the Nazi's retreat from the Russian front in 1944 and looters tear their way through the castles and stately homes of Lithuania. When Castle Lector is targeted, the family retreat to their lodge in the woods but when they become caught up in the conflict, tragedy ensues leaving Hannibal and his young sister Mischa alone. Fending for themselves, they manage to survive but when looters come to scavenge what is left of the Lector's fortune and hide from the advancing Russians, they take the children prisoner. As the winter sets in and the food runs out, the men become desperate for food and start to look at their child prisoners.

Jump forward eight years and we discover Hannibal as a young adult, living in a Russian orphanage. Escaping he heads for Paris to locate his uncle, only to find him dead but his widow Lady Murasaki Shikib takes him in and pays for his medical education. The nightmares of that time at the lodge plague him however and he sets hunt down the men responsible.

'Hannibal Rising' is basically a revenge drama that has none of the psychological twists and turns that drew you to Thomas Harris's novels and their movie adaptations. The film also tries to make Hannibal Lector a sympathetic lead character but the problem is that we all know what he becomes. Yes you want him to get revenge on the men that destroyed his life but you need to understand why he starts to enjoy it so. Yes he is psychologically scared but his enjoyment is never really explained and once the revenge is complete we don't discover why he continues to become monster we know from 'Red Dragon', 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'Hannibal'.

Following in the footsteps of an actor who personified the role was never going to be easy but French actor Gaspard Ulliel does his best to become a young Anthony Hopkins. The problem is that he doesn't look at all like the star but more like a young Crispin Glover (George McFly in Back to the Future). He doesn't really get to say much either, which is goes against everything that drew you to the Hannibal Lector character in the first place, as he loves to talk and discover everything about his victims. The beautiful Gong Li tries her best with a limited role as Hannibal's aunt Lady Murasaki Shikib. Rhys Ifans is miscast as the leader of the looters Vladis Grutas. He is a gifted actor but you cannot really take him seriously as vicious villain and the reason behind Hannibal vengeance. The rest of the cast have little to do, with only Dominic West's Inspector Pope with any essence of development.

'Hannibal Rising' just feels like a way of getting more longevity and money out of the Hannibal Lector character. Unfortunately the movie doesn't answer enough of the questions we have about the characters origins. The main disappoint is the fact that this movie comes from a critically acclaimed director Peter Webber, who made such an impact with 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'. While his visual flare is evident, the story lets the film down and just doesn't grab you at all, leaving Hannibal Lector without much bite.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good.

BONUS FEATURES

Commentary by director Peter Webber and producer Martha De Laurentiis
The pair provides an informative and chatty commentary about the fourth film in the Hannibal Lector franchise. They talk about the differences between this film and 'Red Dragon', 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'Hannibal' and the impact novelist Thomas Harris had in writing the screenplay, the first time he has adapted one of his own books. All aspects of the film are covered, with the director and producer covering the look of the film and the importance of casting. This is a good commentary that fans of the film should enjoy.

Deleted Scenes (4.17 mins)
Entitled 'Boiling the Photo Album', 'Hannibal gets off the truck', 'Prison Sequence (extended)', 'Hannibal at the lock keeper' and 'Lady M and a photo of Hannibal', these deleted or extended scenes are accompanied by a commentary track by director David Webber.

Hannibal Lector: The Origin of Evil (16.08 mins)
Director David Webber, producer Martha De Laurentiis, production designer Allan Starski, stunt coordinator Lee Steward and stars Gaspard Ulliel and Rhys Ifans take you behind the scenes of the production of 'Hannibal Rising'. From the Thomas Harris screenplay, through casting, the director and the stunts and murders, the slightly short featurette covers most things that you would want to know about the production of the movie.

Allan Starski: Designing Horror and Elegance (7.29 mins)
The production designer for 'Hannibal Rising' talks about the look and style of the fourth movie in the franchise. He talks about his and the directors visual style and the approach they both took to creating the period in which the movie and book where set.

Theatrical/Teaser Trailers
View the previews that were shown at cinemas and on the Internet

Trailers
Previews of '1408', 'Nomad' and 'Black Christmas'

OVERALL

The DVD treatment for 'Hannibal Rising' should please fans of the cannibal franchise. The commentary track is very good and the featurettes cover most aspects of the film's production. One to sink your teeth into.

DVD

Red Dragon

The Silence of the Lambs

Hannibal

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2007