Based on the prequel to the first three "Hannibal Lecter" books by Thomas Harris, Hannibal Rising (2007) was highly anticipated, but was a mild disappointment upon it's release. Directed by Peter Webber from a screenplay written by Thomas Harris himself, Hannibal Rising sheds some light on how Hannibal Lecter became the monster he is. The cast of largely unknown actors handles the material well, but the film was rushed in it's production and seemed to lack the focus of the previous adaptations. If taken at face value, however, Hannibal Rising is an entertaining and interesting glimpse at one of the greatest literary characters in recent memory.
1944: with the approach of the Nazis, the aristocratic Lithuanian Lecter family flees their castle for safety at their nearby hunting lodge. They are attacked and the parents are killed...
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| Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter |
leaving the two young children, Hannibal and Mischa to fend for themselves. Militiamen take over the lodge, but food is scarce over the cold winter, and the soldiers turn to cannibalism... eating young Mischa Lecter. Hannibal Lecter escapes...
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| Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter |
Eight years later, Hannibal (Gaspard Ulliel) has found his way to France, and is staying with his Japanese aunt, Lady Murasaki (Gong Li)...
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| Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter |
She is teaching Hannibal many useful skills...
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| Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter |
This knowledge, along with his medical studies help Hannibal when he feels it is time to enact his revenge on the soldiers that brutally cannibalized his little sister Mischa...
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| Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter |
He methodically tracks the soldiers down...
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| Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter |
and kills them, without mercy...
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| Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter |
one by one...
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| Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter |
