Julianne Moore Movie:

Editorial Review:
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

Hannibal [Blu-ray] Reviews:
Worthy follow up
2008-09-14 - Seeing Hannibal makes me think back to the greatness of Manhunter and Silence Of The Lambs. When one just looks into the eyes of Hannibal you see get a sense of true fear. The direction in this film is great and the acting is once again superb. The jump scenes are right on target and the effectiveness is once again good. Anthony Hopkins is great as always as is Juilanne Moore. Ray Liolta and an uncredited Gary Oldman make good villians also.

Dr. Lecter is Back!!!
2008-09-09 - I thought this was a pretty good movie. (Which is now the 4th Hannibal movie in the order it's supposed to be.) Hannibal has been hiding in Italy from Clarice and anyone else who is looking for him. A dirty cop named Pazzi finds out who he is and tries to get the reward for his capture. Mason Verger wants revenge for what Hannibal made him do, and Clarice just wants to find him and put him in prison. If you love cop thrillers, and the Hannibal movies, you'll love HANNIBAL!!!

Mirror, mirror on the wall
2008-08-17 - Could you imagine it as a love story ? Yet... Imagine the ruthlessness of a man who is ready to wreck everything and everyone on his way to power. Then imagine the cold heart of Dr Lecter kindle and blaze for his Nemesis and his brain, trained by years of learning, entering the game with its unabatable determination backed by an unpaired ability to calculate and anticipate.
I have first seen "Hannibal" then "The silence of the lambs", and my preference goes to the former. While the latter is an amazing thriller, the plot is quite straightforward and the pair Starling - Lecter, a "teacher and student" team. "Hannibal", however, is masterfully more ambiguous and provides a lot more to think about.
One can see this film as the comeback of Hannibal Lecter, the brilliant villain ready to defy the all-powerful FBI in order to satisfy his ego or as a thriller that holds you before the screen until the end. Fans of gore will remember the scene where the famous doctor holds a lecture on the anatomy of the brain. But when he has given you almost every reason to hate and despise him, the brilliant minded - cold hearted psychopath will say with a voice that perfectly blends determination, resignation and tenderness : "This will really hurt"...
So is he truly the monster he is supposed to be? Wicked but ready to walk through (almost) hell for his longtime pursuer? Selfish? (You may want to reconsider this opinion at the end of the movie). And, speaking of monsters, who is the real one? The cannibal doctor or the ones ready to trespass every written and unwritten law with neither regret nor remorse, turning people into mere bait?
Lecter is, indeed, a man of contradictions. Aren't we all?
In the end, though, it's up to you. You can look at this movie as an entertaining piece of work with suspense, action and a well drawn plot, suitable to be seen once then put aside. You can also consider it as violent and cruel stuff, best avoided. Or you can choose to see it as a piece of life where meanness and cruelty stand aside righteousness, courage and hope.
A small masterpiece in my opinion. Feel free to build yours...


I assure you, the next course is to DIE for.
2008-08-05 - While I would have preffered the novel's ending to the story of Hannibal, this was a wonderful, wonderful movie.
I ADORE Anthony Hopkin's as Hannibal Lecter. I was a little put off that Jodi Foster wasn't playing the role of Clarice Starling.
Julianne Moore did a wonderful job, but she just isn't Clarice in my mind.

Anthony is brilliantly cold and dangerous. I loved the scenes in Italy, especially the Opera scene. Beautiful filming.

I must say, the scenes with the Boars and the "Dinner" scene are my absolute all time favorites.

No one will watch this movie with me though, they are so distrubed by it. Deffinatley NOT for the weak of stomach/mind. This movie will shock you...in a good way.

Hannibal
2008-05-18 - I think that this film is the best out of the rest of the series. It is full of action and it keep you well entertained.