Hannibal Reviews

Summary Hannibal continues the story begun in "The Silence of the Lambs." Ten years have passed since Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins) escaped from custody, ten years since FBI Agent Clarice Starling (Moore) interviewed him in a maximum-security hospital for the criminally insane. The doctor is now at large in Italy, gloriously at liberty in an u...

• Crime

• Drama

• Thriller

It's unmissable, flaws and all, because riveting suspense spiced with diabolical laughs and garnished with a sprig of kinky romance add up to the tastiest dish around.

''The Silence of the Lambs'' was a classic; Hannibal is only a good movie of its type.

This movie is superb, i strongly believe that those that didn't enjoy it did not or perhaps cannot appreciate its finer points. I don't know what people were expecting but i watched this alone and still gave a round of applause when the credits rolled. Its a deep and interesting story because while Hannibal is a killer, and of course a gruesome cannibal, everyone he killed in some way deserved it, and if youve read the books you will know that the trauma Hannibal suffered as a child goes a long way to excuse him. So the films begs the viewer the question as to his morality, and his punishment if any at all. The viewer perhaps will grow to like Hannibal, and so will be presented with many philosophical quandaries as the film progresses, would they rather see him jailed or free, alive or dead? Hannibals interaction with Agent Starling is a fascinating one, wrought with sexual and psychological tension as agent Starling and the viewer both *feel* that Hannibal wouldn't harm her, but you are never quite sure and neither is she. The pace of the film builds up to a climactic finish which doesn't give itself away until the very end. You are always guessing, will they run away together? will he kill her? will she kill him? will she hand him into the police? will he escape? Watch it and see. I would say that this film doesn't hold your hand, there are a lot of finer details which may be unappreciable to those who haven't read the books or at least seen the "dragon rising" movie which explains Hannibals childhood. Many will be dismayed by the end because they think that Hannibal is meant to be a cardboard cut out villain, he isn't, and they're wrong, this is a fantastic movie.

Make sure you finish your popcorn early when viewing Hannibal for the first time. While most of this film is based on suspense, there is certainly plenty of gruesome horror by the end. Anthony Hopkins revisits his infamous role of Hannibal Lector in this disturbing sequel to Silence of the Lambs. Julianne Moore revises Jody Fosterâ

It's gory, really gory, gratuitously and often inelegantly.

Though the movie is clearly meant to work on its own, the relationship between Starling and Lecter plays best if you're familiar with "Lambs."

Has almost none of the nail-biting suspense and fascinating character interplay that made the original so authentically terrifying.

Hopkins' Hannibal is no longer mysterious, Clarice is no longer vulnerable, and the overextended Florence scenes dash any hopes of early momentum, even if Giancarlo Giannini is perfect as the cop.

Hannibal, which is very likely the worst film of this year and quite possibly the next, achieves what no movie I can recall ever even attempting: It somehow manages to be both repugnant and boring.

Hopkins portrayal of Lecter was not like it's predecessor (Silence of the Lambs)...Making Hannibal feel more like a pompous old geezer with a taste for hedonism and human flesh.

The brain scene is awful and disgusting. But Anthony Hopkins' terrific performance almost lifts it from the pits of mediocrity. Moore's character sketch is very poor though. but her performance is very good. Not as suspenseful as The Silence of the Lambs but has more gruesome violence than it. Also, Oldman is good but is not recognisable.

I would say it's pointless, but it was still thrilling, which is the only reason it's a 6 out of 10. Otherwise, Julianne Moore. WORST REPLACEMENT EVER!

This movie is for simpletons who didn’t quite understand what Silence of the Lambs was all about and just thought that Hannibal guy was “bad ass”. Jodie Foster knew exactly why she didn’t want to be apart of this mess. The Hannibal character is meant to represent what serial killers idealize themselves to be, while Buffalo Bull represented the unorganized, imperfect way serial killers actually operate and, eventually, get caught. It’s not a beautiful opera, it’s a chaotic mess. The Hannibal character behind bars was perfect in exemplifying that. Trying to make a backstory for this plot device of a character does nothing but weaken his purpose. Now he has to become superhuman in order to actualize the idealized manner of his murders instead of it just being a puzzling mystery that the audience is meant to wonder about. But I’m sure you all just think “It’s cool that he eats that guy from Goodfella’s brains! Oh, and there are no gay scenes of guys tuckin their **** in while looking in the mirror! I’m totally not gay, bro! All this movie was missing was Clarice’s **** But 9/10 regardless!”

Ponderous, slow moving sequel lacking the wit of the original. A shame given the caliber of writer and director. Of the five Hannibal films, this one clearly had the biggest budget and most polished production values, but it’s all style over substance. Ridley Scott spends too much time concentrating on the look of a shot and not enough on the actual story. The first two thirds of the film looks like a travelogue with beautiful photography but without any engaging narrative. The story gets going near the end but by then it’s too late and the final ‘scary’ scene with Ray Liotta is just plain ridiculous! During lockdown I rewatched all the movies in the series again and for my money the best is Red Dragon, even better than Lambs.

Fangoria Chainsaw Awards

• 2 Wins & 8 Nominations

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA

• 1 Win & 5 Nominations