|
"The Least
Intimidating Glare in
Film History..." |
 |
Directed by Peter Webber
- Written by Thomas
Harris
Starring Gaspard Ulliel,
Gong Li, Rhys Ifans,
Richard Brake, Kevin
McKidd
Distributed by Weinstein
Co. -
2007 - 120m - Rated R |
|
TC Candler's Review
|
 |
D |
|
| |
|
Well, I guess that explains it. Hannibal was driven to his murderous
insanity by the easiest blame targets in world history... the
Nazi's. |
| |
You've got to laugh,
really. This attempted movie tries to gothically explain the root of
evil incarnate by suggesting that good old Doctor Lecter was trying
to avenge the death of his baby sister, Mischa. Along the way,
through adolescence, Hannibal deals viciously with school bullies,
gets martial arts training from Gong Li, slices and dices a butcher
after ominously playing a mandolin, (insert random foreshadowing
here), yada, yada, yada.
The role of baby Lecter falls to Gaspard Ulliel... and he falls far
short of Anthony Hopkins' immaculate standard. In fact, he is
dreadfully cast and fails to capture an iota of Hannibal's
terrifying aura.
We get silly scenes trying to convince us of his cold-blooded
nature. Consider the lie-detector interrogation -- a scene with
dialogue so forced and unnatural that it plays as farce rather than
the intended ominous foreboding.
So off Lecter goes to medical school, despite being suspected of
murder, and he learns the ins and outs of human anatomy. He dreams
of finding his sister's killers and all the atrocities he can impose
upon them.
The film dribbles to a morose and gory conclusion without ever
achieving a single goal. It is not scary. It is not intriguing. It
is not stylish. It does not provide satisfactory answers or reasons.
It does not make us care about the Lecter saga any more -- if
anything, this film makes us care less. "Silence of the Lambs" was a
great thriller. "Hannibal" was a brilliant psychological study of
both Lecter and Clarice Starling. "Red Dragon" was a reasonable
effort, despite lacking a certain something. "Hannibal Rising" is a
complete misfire... entirely unnecessary and forgettable. Don't
waste your time or money on it! |
| |
|
© Written by TC Candler -
Email Me! |
|
How We Rated This Film
|
TC Candler -
|
 |
D |
| Richard Propes
- |
|
|
|
Jacob Hall
- |
|
|
|
Richard
Propes' Comment
n/a
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
|
