Posted by Ford Prefect [63.189.8.16 - sdn-ap-008neomahP0016.dialsprint.net] on 11 October 2002 at 02.47.40 ZuluTime:
Let me first just say this. I loved The Silence of the Lambs ever since I was 12. Then I read the books, all three of them, and realized that out of all of them, Silence was my least favorite. Red Dragon and Hannibal were wonderful books. Then I saw the movie of Hannibal and felt deeply let down. They missed the point of the whole story, where Starling and Lecter assimilate eachother and become more complete people. I felt even more let down when I got around to seeing Manhunter. They really did the book a disservice. They totally changed the ending and the whole thing was an overstylized muddled affair. And the guy who played Lecter in Manhunter was just all wrong. He seemed more like a mafia thug than a renowned psychiatrist. In some ways, I didn't have very high hopes going to see the new movie of Red Dragon.
I need not have worried. I loved this movie.
For one thing, it was one of the most faithful book to movie adaptations I have ever seen. Second, the cast was amazing. They preserved the stroy so well, that I think this film will hold up to repeat viewings better than Silence Of The Lambs did. I strongly reccomend everyone to go see it. Thomas Harris fans will not be let down.