Hannibal Rising (2007): The Origin of Hannibal Lecter

     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... 

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... 

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)... 

Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter

     She is teaching Hannibal many useful skills... 

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... 

Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter

     He methodically tracks the soldiers down... 

Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter

     and kills them, without mercy... 

Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter

     one by one...

Hannibal Rising. 2007: The Origin of Hannibal Lecter

Red Dragon (2002): Hannibal Lecter. Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton

     Based on the very first "Hannibal Lecter" book by Thomas Harris, Red Dragon (2002) was actually the third in the film series to be made. The story had previously been adapted for the screen in 1986, as Manhunter, with lackluster results. With Red Dragon, young director Brett Ratner had some tough shoes to fill in the franchise, with his predecessors being Jonathan Demme and Ridley Scott. Ratner, who was primarily known for action films, did an admirably restrained job, letting the actors carry the film on their own ability. And the actors are great... including Anthony Hopkins reprising his role as Hannibal Lecter, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker and Philip Seymour Hoffman. 

     FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) finds himself is a precarious situation. Having caught the ex-psychiatrist cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter several years ago, and being nearly killed by the madman, Graham is called out of retirement to help catch a new killer. The new fiend is elusive, has already killed two families is gruesome fashion and is due to strike again at any time. Graham knows that he needs to consult Dr. Lecter on the case...

Red Dragon. 2002: Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton

     But the horrific memories make communication traumatic for him...

Red Dragon. 2002: Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton

     Nevertheless, Lecter's expertise, though difficult, is one of the FBI's greatest tools...

Red Dragon. 2002: Edward Norton

Red Dragon. 2002: Anthony Hopkins

     and may prove useful in catching the killer, who uses his victims for transformation and calls himself "The Red Dragon"...

Red Dragon. 2002: Ralph Fiennes

     before it is too late...

Red Dragon. 2002: Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton

Hannibal (2001): Hannibal Lecter. Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore

     When the film, The Silence of the Lambs (1991), based on Thomas Harris' novel was released, audiences were already anticipating his follow up book. It would be another eight years before Harris completed it. During those interim years, The Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme, and the co-stars Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins all expressed their intent to participate in the sequel film. The resulting film, Hannibal (2001), based on Harris' new novel, ended up only having Hopkins return to reprise his iconic role as Hannibal Lecter. Both Demme and Foster declined due to the gory nature of the material. Demme was replaced by director Ridley Scott, and Foster was replaced by Julianne Moore in the role of FBI agent Clarice Starling. Decidedly different from it's predecessor, and naturally criticized because of it, the reception was somewhat mixed, though Hannibal did break some box office records (surely because of the high anticipation level). Reception aside, the film has a very stylish aesthetic and some particularly intriguing production locales... for example, the scenes shot in Florence, Italy are so beautiful, it makes one wish that the whole film had been made there.

     Having escaped from custody, brilliant ex-psychiatrist, cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) has successfully eluded capture for eight years...

Hannibal. 2001: Anthony Hopkins

     He is currently residing in Florence, Italy under an assumed name, hoping to be appointed the new curator of the Capponi Library, a position made vacant by an academic who disappeared under "mysterious circumstances"...

Hannibal. 2001: Anthony Hopkins

     FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore) has not stopped looking for Lecter during those eight years, however...

Hannibal. 2001: Julianne Moore

     Neither has Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), a victim of Lecter, left disfigured many years ago. Verger, an extremely wealthy man, has a standing reward offered for Lecter's capture. He wants Lecter alive, though, so that he can be tortured and Verger can enjoy his gory revenge...

Hannibal. 2001: Gary Oldman

     When Lecter's whereabouts is discovered, Clarice Starling is on a mission to get to Lecter before Verger does...

Hannibal. 2001: Julianne Moore

     But Lecter will not be caught easily...

Hannibal. 2001: Anthony Hopkins

     and has some plans of his own...

Hannibal. 2001: Anthony Hopkins

The Silence of the Lambs (1991): Hannibal Lecter. Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster

     Based on Thomas Harris' brilliant 1988 novel of the same name, The Silence of the Lambs (1991) became only the third film in history to sweep the Academy Awards (after It Happened One Night (1934), and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), picking up every major Oscar that year. Directed by Jonathan Demme, it is consistently listed amongst the greatest American Films of all time, and has a devoted following. Part of what makes The Silence of the Lambs so intriguing is it's ability to pull the viewer into the story, making the tension and uneasiness seem all the more real. This is accomplished by way of a simple cinematic technique in which the actors frequently look directly at the camera, engaging the audience, and adding a personal element. Jodie Foster is excellent as Clarice Starling, and Ted Levine is expertly disturbing as Buffalo Bill... but indeed, it is Anthony Hopkins who steals the show as Hannibal Lecter. In his portrayal of Lecter, Hopkins created one of the most iconic, terrifying, intriguing and bizarrely admirable screen villains of all time. The Silence of the Lambs is a masterpiece all around, and deserves every iota of it's acclaim.

     FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is taken away from her schooling by her boss Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) and given a strange task...

The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Jodie Foster

     Crawford sends Starling to interview Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), an incarcerated ex-psychiatrist, cannibalistic serial killer with soul-crushing perception, intellect and brilliance...

The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Anthony Hopkins

     Lecter toys with Starling, speaking cryptically in riddles, until the true reason for her being sent to him is revealed...

The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins

     The FBI needs Lecter's help, advice and expertise in order to catch a new brutal serial killer known to them only as "Buffalo Bill" (Ted Levine)...

The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Buffalo Bill

     Lecter agrees, but insists that Clarice Starling provide him with information about her personal life in exchange for his information about the case, "quid pro quo"...

The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Anthony Hopkins

     Lecter's information, though intellectually disguised, does prove useful...

The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Anthony Hopkins

     and Clarice Starling finds herself closer... much closer... terrifyingly closer... to catching Buffalo Bill...

The Silence of the Lambs. 1991: Jodie Foster