Hannibal is the second official instalment of Thomas Harris’s trilogy. The first part being ‘Silence of the Lambs’. This sequel sees the return of Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, and his performance is as phenomenal as ever. The FBI agent Clarice Starling is not played by Jodie Foster, who won an Oscar for her performance in the original. Personally this is what put me off watching the film for so long as I was not sure whether the film work as a sequel without one of the original principal cast members. However Julianne Moore is fantastic as Clarice, and has really developed the character well.
This is the type of sequel that works well as its own entity – it is not necessary to watch the first film before you see this one, as all of the background information needed is encapsulated within Hannibal. However I think that it is a much more enjoyable film if you have seen ‘Silence of the Lambs’, particularly when it comes
to the relationship between Agent Starling and Lecter. This is what truly drives the film – and not the fact that he is a brilliant psychotic criminal with a real drive for killing people. Even though the film is in parts grotesque and brutal, there is a some-what endearing quality about the relationship between Clarice and Hannibal. In fact the more vile the film seems to get the greater this comes across.
The story begins when Agent Starling is blamed for a big case being ruined, and as another agent was killed during the blunder, there is media outcry, which of course rather predictably brings Clarice once again to the attention of Dr. Lecter. The man whom ten years previous she had spent much time with interviewing in order to find out the whereabouts of another serial killer.
There are a couple of complex sub-plots within the film, one of, which takes the audience to Italy where Lecter has been ‘in hiding’. One of Lecter’s former victims Mason Verger play by an unrecognisable Gary Oldman (the one who got away), also plays a part in the story. For him money is no object and sets a reward for anyone who can find and capture Lecter, so that Verger can reap revenge on Lecter in his own menacing way. All I shall say is that this involves some very mean pigs!
There is an excellent supporting cast including Ray Liotta and Gary Oldman and some brilliantly realistic and gruesome effects (all of which would be ruined if I were to describe them). There is some footage showing how they were created as well which is a must-see.
The DVD comes as a two disc set – the first disc plays just the film with your usual features like subtitles; language; and director’s commentary. The second disc contains over three and half-hours worth of extras. There are over 15 deleted scenes including an alternative ending, also with director’s commentary. I think that the commentary is often ignored as it is can be quite time-consuming and boring to listen to someone drone on for over two hours about a film. I would definitely listen to it though if you are really interested in the making of the film particularly as the director is Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Alien, Thelma and Louise and Gladiator,Black Hawk Down).
There is lots of other documentary footage, including interviews with some of the cast and crew; you can take a look at how the make-up effects were produced as earlier stated; there is even a chance to see some of the original storyboards, with explanation from Ridley Scott. Not to mention marketing material like the posters, TV spots and the theatrical trailers. There are also some brilliant stills from the set both onstage and backstage.
I would most definitely recommend this DVD especially if you’ve seen the film already and really enjoyed it as the extras are definitely worth looking at. This definitely won’t be to everybody’s taste though due to some of the violent and repugnant scenes, which could actually be found quite nauseating to some. That is not to say though that there is a lot of violence in the film though because by Hollywood crime movie measures there is not, but it is the nature of the violence. That is to say that we have not yet been de-sensitised by “Hannibal the Cannibal’s” habits due to the media, so it for some it may be too disturbing.
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Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
The extras on the DVD sound great, I've got the book but haven't read it yet or seen the film. My boyfriend got a DVD player for Christmas, so I think we'll have to give this a go. Julie
LostWitness 23.12.2001 13:16
Splendid review. I watched this at the cinema - but plan to watch the DVD over Xmas! I actually preferred this to Silence of The Lambs! Cheers, Phil :O)
edd101 23.12.2001 11:49
i'am having serious thoughts obout eating your wife!!!!!!!
Yes, he's back, and he's still hungry. Ten years afterThe Silence of the Lambs,Dr. ... more
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...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Ten Years have passed since FBI agent Clarice Starling faced the ingenious Dr. Hannibal ... more
Lecter...ten years of watching, wondering and waiting. But now the wait is over. The sophisticated killer re-emerges in Florence, Italy, ready to entice Clarice int...
Yes, he's back, and he's still hungry. Ten years afterThe Silence of the Lambs,Dr. ... more
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...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Ten years have passed since FBI agent Clarice Starling faced the ingenious Dr. Hannibal ... more
Lecter... ten years of watching wondering and waiting. But now the wait is over. The sophisticated killer re-emerges in Florence Italy ready to entice Clarice in...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Excellent Plot, Good Extras, It's Hannibal the Cannibal for God's Sake Disadvantages: Julianne Moore not as good as Jodie Foster, Not as fast paces as SOTL but almost as good.
Jeffreycbx 29.08.2001 (29.08.2001)
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Review of Hannibal (DVD)
![Hannibal [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78509515.jpg "Hannibal [DVD] [2001]")
Dec 22nd, 2001
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