The Red Dragon movie review. Stars Anthony Hopkins, Ralph Fiennes, Edward Norton, Emily Watson

Stars: Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson, Anthony Hopkins, Harvey Keitel

Director: Brett Ratner
Rated: R

Score: 7.5/10

RED DRAGON

"Silence of the Lambs" was one of those instant classics, but it was one that had to grow on me. While I still find Clarice to be underdeveloped, overall I enjoyed the story. Hannibal was deliciously frightening because at first, we don't really get how someone like him can be so insane. What CAN be said is that to accept "The Red Dragon", one must dismiss the sequel - "Hannibal" entirely. In it's own right, "the Red Dragon" manages to resurrect the feelings of why we loved Hannibal so much. While this particular installment was the better of the three novels, translated into a movie it's a little excessive. This one takes place prior to "The Silence of the Lambs", a prequel..if you will.

Will Graham (norton) is on the hunt for a serial killer. He consults Dr. Lector for advice, and soon realizes the man he trusts is the man he seeks. After a quite traumatic capture, Graham retires from that life. But he is still drawn to the desire to help, and years later is talked into working on the case of a new killer. This one is particularly dangerous, for he has murdered entire families in a desire to act out some kind of fantasy. But Graham never really worked alone before, and has little confidence in his abilities. He is resorted to consulting Dr. Lector, now imprisoned, to aid him in capturing this killer. But unlike Clarice, Lector has no love for Graham.

Ralph Fiennes plays the killer, deformed and who smashes mirrors because he doesn't like how he looks. Frankly he looks like a very handsome man that has a little scar on his lip. What deformity?! However his abusive past has transformed him into a man without conscience who indulges in the fantasy of power. Graham can sort of work out the motive but cannot find the connection between the victims. The manner in which he murders them is quite grotesque, and elaborate. He meets Reba (watson) at work, she's blind and is attracted to him. He's drawn to her because she can't see his deformity, but how ironic that her blindness seems to symbolize the inability to see who he really is. But his convictions are tested when he finds himself falling for her. The film has many suspensful scenes, some that make you jump a little. It all leads to a pretty climactic ending. Nobody is safe.

Now with this movie, we have similarities to "silence". Hannibal is locked away but even still, you know he has power and influence. The main subject is another killer which Hannibal is consulted to help locate by an FBI agent. The comparisons between killers are what seperate the two films.

"Red Dragon" - Fantastical story where the killer indulges in the fantasy of becoming a God, killing victims in a very elaborate and showy manner. He's got the cliche "diary book" which he writes in and pastes newspaper clippings in to somehow convey to audiences just how insane he is. The motive behind his murders is touched on but somehow it always feels a bit contrived. In fact to a real life profiler it might not make the grade.

"Silence of the Lambs" - The killer & motives feels more plausable, using victims as to fulfill a fantasy of becoming someone else by using them as objects so he can take their skin for his own purposes. But there are moments when you can see he struggles with keeping focused on seeing the person as merely an object. He was a little creepier to me and maybe his reasoning behind the murders seemed more probable. He didn't look crazy nor handsome..just kinda like that guy who lives 2 doors down from you.

The story plods along in parts. As a nitpicker, it was obvious of how old Hannibal looks in a movie that's supposed to be a prequel. Particularly when the last scene sets up his first introduction to Clarice. For those who end up owning both of these movies they'll notice how in 5 minutes he'll go from old, wrinkly and pudgy to slim, more hair and younger. There was an air of mystery which is now something to be savored. Not knowing who he was before, nor seeing what he was after his escape. It left an open door with questions, that made the audience uneasy. Now the man we love to hate in the third installment seems more of a novelty, still creepy, but all too familiar with his quips turning into punchlines. The filmmaker seemed to want to cater to what the audience expects of Hannibal and not so much building a more dynamic storyline with the interest of him being a newly captured killer learning to adapt to a life of confinement and restrictions. Dr. Chilton and a few others reprise their roles.

In the end I appreciate the original film all the more. However this is a good enough prequel that will help make you forget the horrible "Hannibal" film once and for all. No matter how it's being advertised, I don't feel it's "as good as" the Lambs although it struggles to be. It didn't quite attain that level. It isn't a standout film that leaves you with the feeling you saw something truly special in being an instant classic. It's an interesting thought: "The Red Dragon" book is better than the movie, and the movie "silence of the lambs" is better than the book. Take that for what it's worth.

And..for anyone interested, this is a remake. Rent "Manhunter" (1986).