Hannibal Rising (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

Amazon.com

Though Hannibal Rising's Lecter (Gaspard Ulliel) is a pussycat compared to Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, this sequel's story of revenge is grizzly enough to satisfy lovers of Thomas Harris's epic tale. After young Hannibal (Aaron Thomas) is forced to watch his little sister, Mischa (Helena Lia Tachovska), devoured by starving soldiers in his homeland Lithuania, Hannibal vows to avenge his sister's death by slaying those who committed not only war crimes against the Lecters, but also against other families during WW II. In detailing Hannibal's revenge plan, the film investigates the psychological implications of witnessing cannibalism to justify Hannibal's insatiable appetite for human flesh. The most interesting aspect of Hannibal Rising—its analytical connections drawn between Hannibal's childhood traumas and his murderous adult obsessions—is also the film's weak point. The links oversimplify Lecter's complex character. For example, though titillating to see flashbacks of Lecter's sister hacked up and boiled while Lecter visits a Parisian meat market, the reference is too obvious. One learns why he excels in his medical school classes dissecting cadavers, and we're given explicit explanation for why he slices off and eats his victims' cheeks. The story only complicates when Hannibal interacts with his sexy Aunt, Lady Murasaki (Gong Li). When Murasaki educates him in the art of beheading, the viewer sees Hannibal's sword fetish as a manifestation of physical lust. --Trinie Dalton

Description

(Horror/Suspense) The terrifying Silence of the Lambs prequel that reveals the history of the infamous Hannibal and how he came to be a cannibalistic murderer.

Customer Reviews:

The Producers don't want smokers to buy this DVD.......2007-09-16

I watch movies on DVD's at home and not at the Cinema, because I can smoke at home. I find it unacceptable that this DVD starts with an anti-smoking campaign advertisement. They have no right since we pay for the DVD to bombard us in the privacy of our home with their campaign.

If I wanted to see advertisements I would not pay for a DVD but switch on my TV.

I'm pleased with this one.......2007-09-07

I think this prequel answered some questions regarding Lecter's murderous start. It's worth watching for those that have enjoy the Lecter stories.

Stunning Visuals, But A Disappointing Story.......2007-09-06

As a fan of all the Hannibal Lector films, I was expecting another film I'd enjoy and thinking this would be a terrific character study of man who is one of the most famous fictional killers of all time. What I got instead was more of a simple revenge story than the character study. Oh, yeah, we do learn some background of the famous "Dr. Lector," but not enough of what really made him the weird combination of intellectual and cannibal.

Although portraying and having someone in the film label the young adult as "monster," the filmmakers (actually, author Thomas Harris) really made him more of a sympathetic character instead. They took the easiest road, out, too, making an easy target the villains: the Nazis. How often has Hollywood done that, even today 60 years after the conclusion of WWII. What we get is a revenge story of how Lector went from a child captive of the Nazis for a short time, to a medical student in Paris and how he tracked down the Nazis who killed the rest of his family.

The best part of the film was the absolutely gorgeous cinematography. This is beautifully filmed, first frame to last. Gaspard Ulliel as Hannibal was okay but certainly not as riveting in the role as the mature Anthony Hopkins was in his three performances. Why a young French actor, who has all the accents that Hopkins doesn't have, would play the role, I don't know.

Truly Shocking And Extremely Well-Made Origin Tale For Dr. Lecter.......2007-09-04

With each new entry into the Hannibal Lecter story, my appreciation for the series as a whole, and for each previous chapter, grows. And this time it's been done with a prequel that goes all the way back to Hannibal's childhood, a story that I - and probably quite a few other fans - wasn't sure was a good idea to tell. Didn't the excellent "Red Dragon" reveal enough of Lecter's backstory? Was going back further going to do anything other than take away the air of mystery to the character?

Fortunately, "Hannibal Rising" only deepens the impact of the character and his previous films. Beginning in World War II Lithuania, we see the deaths of young Lecter's family, not at the hands of Hannibal himself, but by Nazis and a band of marauding Lithuanian ex-Nazi collaborators/turned 'freelance' looters and terrorizers. Through a ghastly set of circumstances best left to be seen in the movie itself, the surviving Hannibal is found by the Russian forces moving in at the end of the war, a mute child wandering through the woods with a chain around his neck. Raised in a Soviet orphanage, the amnesiac and still-mute Hannibal seemingly develops into an unlikely defender of the oppressed ("You go against the way of nature, Hannibal", an orphanage official tells him, "Always hurting the bully"), Lecter eventually frees himself and makes his way across Europe to the residence of some disrant relatives, where the bulk of the movie takes place. The older but still mute Hannibal (played by Gaspard Ulliel in the male breakout performance of the year so far) is cared for by the widow (Gong Li, another great performance in a highly well-acted movie) of his deceased uncle, later becoming more deeply involved with her.

It's upon regaining his memory of the events in the war that the transformation really begins. The bloody path of Hannibal Lecter as we know him begins as revenge, but as we already know from the previous movies, it doesn't end there. Hannibal ends up travelling from innocent child to a dark, violent avenger, to what he is when "Red Dragon" takes place (although "Hannibal Rising" wraps up many years before Dragon commences - maybe we haven't seen the last of the pre-Anthony Hopkins Hannibal). As the end of Hannibal Rising nears, it enters extreme territory that makes the legendary 'banquet' scene from 2001's "Hannibal" look like a tranquil countryside brunch.

*WARNING - POSSIBLE SEMI-SPOILERS AHEAD*

In ways, we see Hannibal Lecter die twice in this movie. The first is in the World War II Lithuanian winter, where the little boy effectively ceases to be, and begins the path to his new incarnation as a passion-driven dark avenger. The second death though, the passing from avenger to psychopath, could be considered to be a metaphorical suicide (as opposed to the way his days as a happy child were 'murdered' when his family's lives were taken). What drives Lecter to this point - and the violence with which this path begins: the death of one of the last surviving members of his family's killers, in a fashion so savage and shocking it outdoes anything in the previous three Lecter movies; makes his dispatching of previous guilty parties seem tame; and is enough to floor even the seasoned horror fan - is the kind of thing to stay with one, to haunt you long after the movie is over. And with it the evil, fully-formed Hannibal Lecter, is truly risen. Great stuff, managing to be on par with Anthony Hopkins's Lecter movies.

Are we even Dealing with the same character as in the other books/movies?.......2007-09-03

A traumatic childhood event - okay... Revenge killings... okay....
But nothing of his past or developing personality seems to have any relationship to the Hannibal Lechter, suave, brilliant psychiatrist and killer. The mind games. Nothing like that really is even mildly conveyed in this movie. The plot is weak and confusing. The whole relationship and influence of the Aunt seemed odd. I felt as if we were seeign the development of another killer, but not once did I feel like this was HANNIBAL LECHTER. I truly wish I had never seen this.

Average customer rating:

Menace
"Now *that's* entertainment!"
"I'm giving very serious thought... to eating your wife"
WOAH
They Should Have Paid Us To Watch This

Hannibal (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: David Andrews , Frankie R. Faison , Hazelle Goodman , Zeljko Ivanek , and Ray Liotta
Director: Ridley Scott
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DTS | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00003CXSP
Release Date: 2001-08-21

Amazon.com

Yes, he's back, and he's still hungry. Ten years after The Silence of the Lambs, Dr. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, reprising his Oscar-winning role) is living the good life in Italy, studying art and sipping espresso. FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore, replacing Jodie Foster), on the other hand, hasn't had it so good--an outsider from the start, she's now a quiet, moody loner who doesn't play bureaucratic games and suffers for it. A botched drug raid results in her demotion--and a request from Lecter's only living victim, Mason Verger (Gary Oldman, uncredited), for a little Q and A. Little does Clarice realize that the hideously deformed Verger--who, upon suggestion from Dr. Lecter, peeled off his own face--is using her as bait to lure Dr. Lecter out of hiding, quite certain he'll capture the good doctor.

Taking the basic plot contraptions from Thomas Harris's baroque novel, Hannibal is so stylistically different from its predecessor that it forces you to take it on its own terms. Director Ridley Scott gives the film a sleek, almost European look that lets you know that, unlike the first film (which was about the quintessentially American Clarice), this movie is all Hannibal. Does it work? Yes--but only up to a point. Scott adeptly sets up an atmosphere of foreboding, but it's all buildup for anticlimax, as Verger's plot for abducting Hannibal (and feeding him to man-eating wild boars) doesn't really deliver the requisite visceral thrills, and the much-ballyhooed climatic dinner sequence between Clarice, Dr. Lecter, and a third unlucky guest wobbles between parody and horror. Hopkins and Moore are both first-rate, but the film contrives to keep them as far apart as possible, when what made Silence so amazing was their interaction. When they do connect it's quite thrilling, but it's unfortunately too little too late. --Mark Englehart

Description

Anthony Hopkins is "perverse perfection" (Rolling Stone) in his return to the role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, the sophisticated killer who comes out of hiding to draw FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore) into a high-stakes battle that will test her strength, cunning and loyalty.

Customer Reviews:

Menace.......2007-08-28

This was an unpleasant surprise - its a very good film.
It doesn't have the same gut level horror as Silence of the lambs, but there are nevertheless some nerve shredding moments.
The cast are all good and if Julianne Moore isn't quite as good as Jodie Foster, shes very close.
The other reason this film is a success is because of director Ridley Scott. The settings in Florence are stunning and the whole look of the film is great. Ridley Scott always had a great eye for visuals!
OK so the very end is a bit unlikely, but this film will keep you entertained, and holds up to repeated viewings. You should be able to pick this up cheap now, if so buy it!

"Now *that's* entertainment!".......2007-08-11

I was pleasantly surprised by Ridley Scott's "Hannibal" given that the movie is based on the horrible book which I more than dislike. I see a writer as a God - he creates by the power of his imagination the new worlds and populates them with his creatures. Once, he created the world, he should give his characters free will; they should act by the logic of their personalities not by their creator's sheer caprice. What Harris did in "Hannibal" is unspeakable - he just showed his fans how much he despised them. Actually, he did two things wrong - the ending and his attempt to explain Hannibal, to look behind the mask. The film comparing to the book has several redeeming values: visually, it is a stunning work of a great director. I am yet to see Florence, the celebrated City of Flowers as dark, dangerous, and anti-tourist as in "Hannibal". Second, the movie did not try to "explain" Hannibal, to get inside his head and understand him. Harris attempted in the book to give us the reasons why Hannibal was what he was - it was weak and laughable. If he chose to present Hannibal as some sort of supernatural creature with almost animals' instincts, he should've left him as an eternal mystery. The best description of Hannibal belongs to Clarice. When asked, "Is it true what they're sayin', he's some kinda vampire?" - she replied, "They don't have a name for what he is". And finally, the film avoided the literally vomit-inducing, absurd, irrational, obnoxious slap in face book's ending - for this alone I think "Hannibal" is a very decent movie and a lot of fun.

3.5/5

"I'm giving very serious thought... to eating your wife".......2007-08-10

I'm reviewing this movie as it stands on it's own rather than how it fits into the series.

In this installment, we meet Mason Verger, who is the sole survivor of the good Dr Lechter. Verger is a strange character with a strange story. His intentions are fairly clear from the outset, leaving the viewer only to watch how things unfold.

The movie remains fairly interesting throughout, as the escaped Lechter is identified and opposing forces close in on him. The table is set, however, about an hour in when we see Lechter dispatch his first would-be apprehender with a touch of "historical flair".

Lechter and Clarice are soon after back in touch again and the time finally comes where they meet and communicate without the glass between them. So we have Verger with retribution at heart, Clarice with justice in her interest and Lechter with his usual intentions: a tasty recipe indeed, with a main course as bizarre as you will come to expect.

This is a must-see for fans of the original and fans of the series in general.

WOAH.......2007-08-01

ok i don't want to oversell this but:
THIS IS THE BEST FILM EVER EVER
A TRUE MASTERPIECE
BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT

They Should Have Paid Us To Watch This.......2007-07-30

I expect sequels to be somewhat close in calibre to the movies they are following. Well, HA!!! With this one, that expectation didn't even come close. To me, all this movie accomplished was gore & digust. What a shame that such a spectacular actor (Hopkins) agreed to lower himself and the character to this level. In my opinion, people should have been offered top dollar to waste their time and view this thing.

The Hannibal Lecter Collection (Manhunter / The Silence of the Lambs / Hannibal)

Average customer rating:

Great to see another take
Classic, fantastic horror set
Worth it....
Great buy, but a little disappointed.
Hannible "Trilogy"

The Hannibal Lecter Collection (Manhunter / The Silence of the Lambs / Hannibal)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins , Julianne Moore , Gary Oldman , Ray Liotta , and Frankie Faison
Director: Ridley Scott , Jonathan Demme , and Michael Mann
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Horror | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00000G3R0
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Amazon.com

Manhunter:Though it will always be remembered as the movie featuring the "other" Hannibal Lecter, Michael Mann's 1986 thriller Manhunter is nearly as good as The Silence of the Lambs, and in some respects it's arguably even better. Based on Thomas Harris's novel Red Dragon, which introduced the world to the nefarious killer Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter, the film stars William Petersen (giving a suitably brooding performance) as ex-FBI agent Will Graham, who is coaxed out of semiretirement to track down a serial killer who has thwarted the authorities at every turn.

Graham's approach to the case is a perilous one. First he seeks counsel with Lecter (Brian Cox) in the latter's high-security prison cell--an encounter that is utterly horrifying in its psychological effect--and then he begins to mold his own psyche to that of the killer, with potentially devastating results. As directed by Mann (who was at the acme of his success with TV's Miami Vice), this sophisticated cat-and-mouse game never resorts to the compromise of cheap thrills. Predating Anthony Hopkins's portrayal of Lecter by four years, Cox plays the character closer to Harris's original, lower-key conception, and he's no less compelling in the role. Petersen is equally well cast, and as always Mann employs rock music to astonishing effect, using nearly all of Iron Butterfly's heavy-metal epic "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" to accompany the film's heart-stopping climactic sequence. All of this makes Manhunter one of the finest films of its kind, as well as further proof that Harris's fiction is a blessing to any filmmaker brave enough to adapt it. --Jeff Shannon

The Silence of the Lambs: Based on Thomas Harris's novel, this terrifying film by Jonathan Demme really only contains a couple of genuinely shocking moments (one involving an autopsy, the other a prison break). The rest of the film is a splatter-free visual and psychological descent into the hell of madness, redeemed astonishingly by an unlikely connection between a monster and a haunted young woman. Anthony Hopkins is extraordinary as the cannibalistic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter, virtually entombed in a subterranean prison for the criminally insane. At the behest of the FBI, agent-in-training Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) approaches Lecter, requesting his insights into the identity and methods of a serial killer named Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). In exchange, Lecter demands the right to penetrate Starling's most painful memories, creating a bizarre but palpable intimacy that liberates them both under separate but equally horrific circumstances. Demme, a filmmaker with a uniquely populist vision (Melvin and Howard, Something Wild), also spent his early years making pulp for Roger Corman (Caged Heat), and he hasn't forgotten the significance of tone, atmosphere, and the unsettling nature of a crudely effective close-up. Much of the film, in fact, consists of actors staring straight into the camera (usually from Clarice's point of view), making every bridge between one set of eyes to another seem terribly dangerous. --Tom Keogh

Hannibal: Yes, he's back, and he's still hungry. Ten years after The Silence of the Lambs, Dr. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, reprising his Oscar-winning role) is living the good life in Italy, studying art and sipping espresso. FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore, replacing Jodie Foster), on the other hand, hasn't had it so good--an outsider from the start, she's now a quiet, moody loner who doesn't play bureaucratic games and suffers for it. A botched drug raid results in her demotion--and a request from Lecter's only living victim, Mason Verger (Gary Oldman, uncredited), for a little Q and A. Little does Clarice realize that the hideously deformed Verger--who, upon suggestion from Dr. Lecter, peeled off his own face--is using her as bait to lure Dr. Lecter out of hiding, quite certain he'll capture the good doctor.

Description

Disc 1: HANNIBAL Disc 2: THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS Disc 3: MANHUNTER

Customer Reviews:

Great to see another take.......2007-07-27

Seeing "Manhunter" was interesting. It is the original Hannibal Lecter movie. It is a great although less spectacular take on the "Red Dragon" story, same story, different ending.

Classic, fantastic horror set.......2007-06-06

I recently bought Hannibal Rising, and was very impressed. It reminded me of the horrific energy I remembered from the earlier Hannibal Lecter movies.

It's been years since I've seen the earlier movies, so I bought this set from Amazon. I also ordered Red Dragon, individually. It has not yet arrived.

All of these movies are excellent. They're some of the best horror movies I'd seen in decades. I love this boxed set.

Worth it...........2007-05-29

I am a relatively new fan to this genre of movies and after reading the book Silence of the Lambs it was the next best thing. I throughly enjoyed this movie and haven't yet watched the others, yet is the key word, I'm sure I'll enjoy them as much as Silence of the Lambs. I highly recommend this collection for purchase....

2-Chance

Great buy, but a little disappointed........2007-03-31

I love the Hannibal movies. So I bought the three disc edition. The thing that was a little disappointing was that these dvds had NO BONUS FEATURES. I understand maybe Manhunter or even Silence of the Lambs probably wouldn't have any. But Hannibal definitely was released in the time frame to have special features. Regardless, they're still great movies, and I really enjoy them.

Hannible "Trilogy".......2007-03-27

Being the movie buff I am, I enjoyed this set; however, I was disappointed a bit. When I watched Hannible, it says, to watch the special features, insert disc 2. That's where the problem lies; there is no disc 2. Other than that I enjoyed it, although I wished it also included Red Dragon. Overall, I was very pleased with the set.

Average customer rating:

Hannibal Rising ? or Falling!
A great movie
Impossibly, it is even worse than the eppponymous "novel"
Poor Thomas Harris....You've Had The Spotlight....Let Hannibal Go Already!
Would somebody please east my face, and start with my sensorary organs first

Hannibal Rising (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Helena Lia Tachovska , Richard Leaf , Michele Wade , Martin Hub , and Ingeborga Dapkunaite
Director: Peter Webber
Manufacturer: Weinstein Company
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000NVT0SE
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Description

(Horror/Suspense) The terrifying Silence of the Lambs prequel that reveals the history of the infamous Hannibal and how he came to be a cannibalistic murderer.

Customer Reviews:

Hannibal Rising ? or Falling!.......2007-07-28

It was nice to know where it all started but the movie was sketchy at best.

I would not recommend the purchase but just a rental. After I spent the money courtesy of my husband's request, I realized that the money could have been spent more wisely elsewhere.

A great movie.......2007-07-15

I loved this one. The explanations for the character-creation of Hannibal was very interesting. Not for children.

Impossibly, it is even worse than the eppponymous "novel".......2007-07-15

Would Amazon be so kind as to offer negative stars? Having reviewed the "novel" (actually a poorly written novelization of the movie script) a few weeks back, I decided to rent the movie on cable. First of all, not a single scene after the first twenty minutes or so (the Soviet and German combat) was even remotely plausable. Hannibal is able to track down and kill the killers of his sister because one of them just happens to be an intelligence officer in the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic who just happens to be alerted that Hannibal is in Lithuania, and who just happens to find Hannibal on the grounds of his family's estate- Hannibal somehow manages to walk freely around all kinds of interesting area in the Police State of the Soviet Union. At just the right moment the intelligence officer finds and tries to kill Hannibal. A minute earlier or a minute later and we probably have no movie (which would have been preferred). Guess what- it gets worse! Every character- except maybe the police inspector in France and possibly Lady Murasaki- is as one dimensional as the ideal line segment. I could go on and on but I will just say this: Thomas Harris used to be a very good writer. Black Sunday, Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs were all very good novels. Everything following is cartoonish nonsense. He must be laughing all the way to the bank- he gets millions of dollars for two "novels" and "screenplays" about Hannibal Lector that are better suited to for the world of manga- bad manga at that. Scary? It was a joke. What kept me "interested" is waiting to see if it could possibly get worse- it does! It continues to get worse! I think this movie couldn't have been worse if i the dialogue was in Tibetan and the subtitles were in ancient Sumerian....

Poor Thomas Harris....You've Had The Spotlight....Let Hannibal Go Already!.......2007-07-12

So, this is how it all began. This is what made Hannibal the monster he became. A war torn Germany, a fleeing family, unfortunate events that leave Hannibal all alone and eager for revenge.

If I knew nothing of Hannibal and his legacy, Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon, and Hannibal, if I had never read those books or seen those movies, then I would say this is an excellent introduction. Yeah, the accents are a bit heavy. There's quite a bit more gore. And a lot of things don't match up to what we already know about Hannibal, but for someone new to Thomas Harris' creation this wouldn't be a problem.

I believe that what Harris intended to show us just didn't translate very well to the screen. In the book, we really get inside of Hannibal's mind. Harris takes us there. We know how he feels, we know his reactions, his pain. On the screen, we constantly have to be told by the authorities that Hannibal is a monster. But besides the brutally of killing his victims, he's quite normal. The older Hannibal we know so well thanks to Anthony Hopkins is much scarier, both physically and emotionally.

By now, we've become too relaxed and too accustomed to the violence in movies. If you look back at the other films, Hannibal spends most of his time behind bars or in hiding. We are only told about the horrible things he's done. We aren't shown. That's what makes him so scary. We know what he's capable of, and maybe some of us secretly want to see him in action. Besides a few scenes like where Hannibal escapes and kills two policemen in Silence or the way he kills the Italian inspector in Hannibal, that's all we get. And yet those scenes seem like something very grand because it's what we've been eager to see. We love it.

In Hannibal Rising, we see young Hannibal kill almost everyone. It becomes predictable. It's boring. The mystery is gone. So what's left? We could pick up with Hannibal in medical school and later becoming a psychiatrist when he tortured most of his victims. Let's call it "Hannibal PhD". Or what about Hannibal and Clarice settling down in France together as lovers and we'll call it "Husband Hannibal." Following the footsteps of Friday the 13th, in the next film Hannibal dies and goes to hell to battle the devil..."Hannibal After." Pretty silly, huh? That's my point.

We know too much about Hannibal already to take this movie seriously. For those of you who are fans, sit through it if you can just to say you've seen it. For Thomas Harris, leave Hannibal alone. You've made your millions. Thank you for the extraordinary character you introduced to the fiction world. We like him. We embrace him. We gave Hopkins an Oscar for it. The End.

Would somebody please east my face, and start with my sensorary organs first.......2007-07-08

Everything about this movie, except the dude in the lime light, was diabolical. The ensemble had a range of shoddy accents, which automatically demanded the adoption of subtitles, which in retrospect drastically reduced the quality of my viewing experience. The lines were innane, slip shod, incoherent and had all the impact of an intestinal handbrake slip.

I thought Hannibal Lecter was a sophisticated character. I was mistaken. I have no clue how accurately the movie captures the essence of the book, but if it is faithful you can share the star I gave this movie with the associated book.

Serial Killers: Real Life Hannibal Lecters

Average customer rating:

It was okay
Excellent for Students of Criminal Psychology
A good starting point
Creepy Cool
There are CANNIBALS among us...

Serial Killers: Real Life Hannibal Lecters
Starring: Serial Killers-Real Life Hannibal Lecters
Manufacturer: Trinity Home Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Crime & Conspiracy | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00005B208
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Customer Reviews:

It was okay.......2006-03-19

I didn't find anything different from other books and DVD's. It's basically the same information you can read or look up on the internet free.

Excellent for Students of Criminal Psychology.......2006-03-16

Gives you the facts, and also the opinions of various Serial Killer experts. It gives you the stories of some of the world's most horrifying examples of human depravity. Overall it is an essential part of a true student of criminal psychology's collection.

A good starting point.......2004-04-30

This documentary primarily covers the psychological profiles and exploits of three particular serial killers (Albert Fish, Andrei Chikatilo, and Jeffrey Dahmer), and features various psychologists, authors, pioneering FBI profiler Robert Ressler, and the prosecuting and defense attorneys of the Jeffrey Dahmer trial discussing their thoughts on the events. Also given a look are the factors, conditions, and motivations that might lead someone to become a serial killer. And, as suggested by the show's title, the most infamous fictional serial killer Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter is discussed, compared and contrasted to his real-life counterparts.

While I found the presentation reasonably informative, the subject matter tended to be a bit dry at times: much of the show consisted of psychobabble from experts in the study of serial killers. Another somewhat low point was a bit of misleading advertisement: although they're featured prominently on the front of the DVD cover box, Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy are given only minimum coverage. Gacy is talked about a little bit in the show itself, but is covered in greater detail in the disc's bonus feature, a five-minute-long interview with Robert Ressler. As for Bundy, his only real presence in this show were a few quotes that popped up between chapter breaks.

Another bit of somewhat misleading advertising is the blurb on the back of the DVD case that states, "shocking never-before-seen footage" of the criminals and their horrid acts. Aside from a few scenes from the classic "night of the Living Dead" flicks, a few reenactment shots of Andrei Chikatilo drooling blood whilst hiding his latest victim in a pile of leaves, and a few black-and-white pics of Dahmer's beat-in brain in a formaldehyde jar, I didn't find any of the footage particularly shocking or outrageous. Of course, I've been watching these true-crime documentaries for so long now, I've probably become a bit jaded by it all. Still, I don't recommend this for the young'uns to watch, as the subject material is fairly graphic in nature (we ARE talking about serial killers and/or cannibals here, after all) and would likely have fallen somewhere into PG-13 territory had the MPAA rated it.

While the presentation gave a reasonable general overview of serial killers, what makes `em tick, and what may have led them down the dark path to #ell that they chose, there little here I didn't already know or heard about from other sources. Overall, I'd recommend `Serial Killers: Real-Life Hannibal Lecters" more for the novice true-crime aficionado who doesn't mind a little egg-headed psychobabble. Otherwise, I suggest you for a more in-depth documentary or documentaries on the subject.

`Late

Creepy Cool.......2003-05-10

Very good factual study inside the minds of the most prolific Serial Killers. Deliciously Disturbing. Truth is always stranger than fiction.

Don't plan on eating meat or sleeping for a while.

There are CANNIBALS among us..........2002-09-13

I owned the VHS of REAL LIFE HANNIBAL LECTERS for a while and was thrilled to see that it'd been upgraded to DVD format. For anyone interested in learning more about the criminal cannibals in the world, and the twilight zones in which they reside, this documentary is a MUST-have. Features the infamous Jeffrey Dahmer and Albert Fish cases, among several other "well-knowns". Discussed is the serial killer mentality in general, as well as possible explanations as to why some people choose to cannibalize in such a brutal fashion. For instance, Dahmer ate pieces of his victims so he could feel closer to them. Other career cannibals engage in anthropopaghy (technical word for humans consuming humans) in order to completely CONQUER the victims (as was the situation with the Russian cannibal killer Andrei Chikatilo). Very well produced, I think, with some cool haunting music and a variety of eerie quotes (some anonymous, which makes it even creepier..."IF YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT, I COULD BE YOU TOMORROW" is a chilling example!). Be warned, however, this one is NOT for the faint of heart. Afterall, this does indeed go into details of these human-flesh consumers...Do you REALLY know your neighbors?

Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal

Average customer rating:

A Fascist Adventure!
VICTORIAM AVT MORTEM
Ancient Spectacle
Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal
a good classic

Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal
Starring: Annibale Ninchi , Camillo Pilotto , Fosco Giachetti , Francesca Braggiotti , and Marcello Giorda
Director: Carmine Gallone
Manufacturer: International Historic Films, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

Documentary | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Drama | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Special Interests | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000065VVG
Release Date: 2001-11-15

Customer Reviews:

A Fascist Adventure!.......2007-07-07

The scene where the Carthaginian queen drinks the cup of poison has to be the most glamourous death scene in film. Eventhough it wasn't made in Hollywood it probably defines the decadent/femme fatale motif that is Hollywood. It's almost ritualized the way she takes up the cup -- very Kenneth Anger and very Salome. The rest of the film is a sight as well. For students of history, political science or anyone with a fascination with fascism should watch this movie. The constant Roman salutes and brandishing of the fasces are absolute propoganda spectacle! Oh, and the elephants are actually getting butchered.

VICTORIAM AVT MORTEM.......2005-06-23

"Victory or death!" This is one of the principal themes of Carmine Gallone's 1937 film: a superb work in which its collosal production is carried by a brilliant direction, a clever screenplay, a tight script, and good acting. The film is also unprecedented in terms of its incredible historical detail. Released in 1937 and backed by Mussolini's government, this film was the most expensive Italian production of its time with 30,000 extras, 6,000 horses, and 50 elephants. The cinematography is excellent and parallels Reifenstalh's contemporary works under the Nazi regime in Germany. Unlike German propaganda films of that time however, this film is rather unintrusive in terms of propaganda and carries no racist ideology such as with Goebbels' films: the historical setting is simply conducive to fascist Italy's ideology of restoring the nation to the level of its glorious Roman past as desired by Mussolini.

The film is presented from Scipio's point of view and covers the last part of the Second Punic War where Hannibal retreats from Italy to Carthage with haste to defend his home and fight the final battle of Zama. Hannibal is presented as an honorable foe who, like Scipio, is bound to follow his destiny and serve his nation no matter what the cost. Political intrigue arises when Hasdrubal's daughter, Queen Sophonisba, uses her seductive charms to coax her Numidian husband Syphax and his rival Massanisa to fight the Romans. The level of historical detail is probably the most faithful than any other film on Roman history. All of the clothing, architecture, military equipment and tactics are presented with exact accuracy. The legions are shown with the proper uniforms, armaments, and tactics of that period. The tactical maniple formations are shown as opposed to the cohort formations of the Late Republic. The quinquireme galleys were produced to exact scale and made fully functional: they also include the innovative hooked and swiveling boarding ramp (corvus) used during that time. The battle scene of Zama is the most impresive and graphic ever presented in a film on antiquity using 50 elephants and replicated at 1/10 the scale with 30,000 actors. The battle scene is extremely graphic even in comparison to modern films with some very violent close quarter combat. This is probably not a film for animal lovers as, unfortunately, some of the elephants were speared and butchered to add realism to the film: Mussolini felt that historical realism outweighed the lives of these poor animals. The English script, written and dubbed in 1937 by an American company, is also outstanding and as stoic as the speeches recited in Livy's histories on the wars with Hannibal.

Some of the downsides of the film are antiquated acting techniques in which some of the actors are still using theatrical methods prevalent in silent films which don't really work well with sound films. As a result, some scenes come out as over-dramatic, particularly in the minimal romantic subplots which are fortunately and short and sparing. Shortcomings aside, the lavish sets and cinematography are stunning and remained unmatched until later period films such as 'Cleopatra' and 'Spartacus.' As a matter of fact, one can see that both Mankievicz and Kubrick were heavily influenced by Gallone's direction and camera work along with the grandiose sets in this film. This is simply an outstanding film that completely outclasses the later and atrocious 'Hannibal' with Victor Mature. This is an excellent film that is a fine addition to any film lover's collection: particularly for those who are Roman history buffs or scholars of fascism and 20th century propaganda.

On a final note, contrary to the previous reviewer E.R. Curry's claims, the Roman salute is anything but a fascist invention of the 20th century attributed to Ancient Rome. Jaques Louis David portrayed the Roman salute in his 1792 painting "The Oath of the Horatii" showing the legendary Roman Horatii brothers saluting their father with the Roman salute as they go to war. This painting was completed over 200 years before socialism, fascism, or film ever existed. Fascist ideology in principle seeks to apply the Roman concept of the dictator to modern times in which one's full allegiance to the needs of the state is imperative above everything else. It is akin to Cincinnatus accepting his appointment as dictator and leaving his farm to fulfill his sworn patriotic duty no matter what the sacrifice may be. The Nazi or fascist salute is therefore a revivance of what was thought to be the original Roman salute as portrayed in David's painting and other classicist or neo-classicist works of art. Although no one can be certain as to when the Roman salute came into existance and whether it was indeed Roman, it unquestionably came into being long before Mr. Curry claims to have been the case.

Ancient Spectacle.......2004-10-13

Even if this is propaganda the movie provides a handsome production. The viewer can certainly see the attempt to link Moussolini with Scipio. The fascist salute is everywhere, even if the Romans did not actually salute in that fashion themselves. My opinion is that you look at a film like this as a period piece. Both in terms of the time it is portraying as well as the time it was made in. Both are revealing. There is no question that we must regard Scipio as the good hero of the film. From what we know of him he was a considered one of the great generals of antiquity, and he did arouse firece loyalty in his troops. Then again, most Roman generals did, as it was part of the political process to do so. The interesting thing about the movie is the fact that Scipio lived during the time of the early Roman Republic. Moussolini would have more in common with the later imperial Roman State. Still, these are matters which should not concern ourselves with here. There are numerous contrivences in the film. It is doubtful that Scipio's wife was captured and brutalized by the Carthagenians. Hannibal is portrayed as evil, yet likeable at the same time. His dovation to staying in Italy reflects the fact that he had spent 18 years there attempting to subdue Rome. What is admirable is the production value here. There are no computer graphics showing those large armies and giant Triemes! This is a prodction on an epic scale.

The film shows an interesting relationship with queen Sophoasisba, one of the great femme fatals of antiquity if we are to believe Livy! She was involved with both the key Numedian leaders, Syphax and Massinissa. The film shows her attempts to keep both against Rome as she was a Carthagenain princess. The film makes her luridly beautiful, and her fall is all the more likely against the honest Scipio. She drinks her cup of poison just as described by Livy in his accounts. The scene ends dramaitically.

The highlight of this film is the final battle of Zama, 202 BC. Here we have a faithful, large scale recreation of the event, complete with lumbering elephants. The battle scenes are impressive, and the fate of the elephants will be disturbing to some perhaps. I wonder if they actually killed any for this production. The movement of the Roman infantry formations appears quite accurate, and the viewer can get a good idea what the old Legions looked like. The battle shows the ebb and flow of events, massed cavalry action, Elephant attacks, and massed infantry. The battle developed similar to what the film shows.

The massed elephant attack was beaten off by the Romans with relative ease because they had grown accustomed to fighting against them in all their battles against Hannibal. The alliance of the Numideans ensures Scipio a comfortable cavalry superiority which is the decisive factor in winning the battle. After they crush the weak Carthagenain horse, they turn and attack Hannibal's old verterans from behind and crush them. This was not one of Scipios most impressive battles, but since it was against Hannibal it has come down as one of the decisive battles in history. The film does a decent job showing all of this, and is certainly worthwhile for those interested in this period, as well as Fascist cinema.

Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal.......2004-06-16

This is a great and historic film. In fact you should view these four films as a set: the American "Ben-Hur" (1907), the Italian "Nerone" (1908), "Spartaco" (1914), and "Cabiria" (1914). These films were the origin of the "Roman salute" myth because these films show examples of a straight-arm salute. The "Roman salute" myth is the myth that the straight-arm salute was an ancient Roman custom, later borrowed by the long-time socialist Mussolini and by the National Socialist German Workers' Party. The myth arose in part because of the made-up Hollywood portrayals in these films. These films are notable also because they led to the historic discovery by America's leading expert on the Pledge of Allegiance (the author of "Pledge of Allegiance Secrets") that the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance was the origin of the salute of the monstrous National Socialist German Workers' Party. The "Roman Salute" myth grew because the viewing public forgot that the early U.S. Pledge used the straight-arm salute. The creator of the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance was a National Socialist in the U.S. (Francis Bellamy). The salute is not in any Roman art or text. Research posted at the American Philological Association supports the historian who made the discoveries.

On a final note, there is another reviewer who calls himself "Octavious" and not only is he in error but his name alone allows him to hide and removes any credibility from him. He also likes to use the f-word to cover-up for the National Socialist German Workers Party. He is so confused that in his efforts to reference "ancient Rome" he references a 1792 painting by Jaques Louis David: "The Oath of the Horatii." He then shows that he is unaware that the painting is fictional, and also involves a old myth. Also, even fictional, it does not show the Horatii brothers saluting their father with the Roman salute as they go to war, it shows them reaching for weapons. The painting was not completed over 200 years before socialism ever existed, and that was not the point anyway, as Octavius is simply evading because Octavius actually concedes that the earlier comments are correct, as Ocativus does not dispute the actual points made. Even Jacques Louis David did not use the term "Roman salute" and did not say what Octavius is trying to imply.

a good classic.......2002-09-24

this is a very good movie for the era which it was filmed. also makes a good find for silent movie buffs. I hope the remake of HANNIBAL featuring VIN DIESEL will live up to it's billing, (as well as the LEONARDO DiCAPRIO movie about ALEXANDER the GREAT)....
EL

Average customer rating:

Menace
"Now *that's* entertainment!"
"I'm giving very serious thought... to eating your wife"
WOAH
They Should Have Paid Us To Watch This

Hannibal (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins , Julianne Moore , Gary Oldman , Ray Liotta , and Frankie Faison
Director: Ridley Scott
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00026L7O0
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Menace.......2007-08-28

"Now *that's* entertainment!".......2007-08-11

"I'm giving very serious thought... to eating your wife".......2007-08-10

WOAH.......2007-08-01

ok i don't want to oversell this but:
THIS IS THE BEST FILM EVER EVER
A TRUE MASTERPIECE
BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT

They Should Have Paid Us To Watch This.......2007-07-30

Average customer rating:

Hoffman is the best
A perfect 5 stars
A comic tragedy
Hoffman is excellent as usual, but not enough to carry this.
Powerful Drama

Love Liza
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman , Kathy Bates , J.D. Walsh , Jimmy Raskin , and Stephen Tobolowsky
Director: Todd Louiso
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B00008WI9N
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Amazon.com

A finely detailed character study, Love Liza offers yet another excellent performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Written by Hoffman's brother Gordy (who won the Best Screenplay award at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival) and directed by first-timer Todd Louiso (an actor best known for memorable roles in Jerry Maguire and High Fidelity), this poignant, offbeat drama focuses intently on Wilson Joel (Hoffman), a computer programmer whose wife has recently committed suicide, leaving Wilson a sealed note that he can't bring himself to read, despite the urgings of his grieving mother-in-law (played to perfection by Kathy Bates). As Wilson huffs gasoline fumes to numb his emotional anguish, Love Liza unfolds as a patiently measured study of grief and loss (like the similarly themed Moonlight Mile), and Louiso shows great promise as a sensitive observer of authentic human behavior. With humor and heartbreak, Love Liza taps into what Hoffman does best. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Following the unexplained suicide of his wife, Liza, website designer Wilson Joel (Hoffman) turns to gasoline fumes and remote control gaming while avoiding an inevitable conflict with his mother-in-law (Bates). Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman (Punch-Drunk Love, 25th Hour, Magnolia), Academy Award Winner Kathy Bates (About Schmidt, Primary Colors, Titantic).

Customer Reviews:

Hoffman is the best.......2007-09-12

This was outstanding. As a person who has had many, many, many losses in their life - including 2 as a result of suicide, I can totally understand how beat down and broken this character is. ANYTHING with Philip Seymour Hoffman is worth watching...., this movie is for those who have deep sorrow and a screaming pain inside because of those sorrows.

A perfect 5 stars.......2007-06-27

If you're looking for a movie which makes you rethink your life, this is a movie for you. Philip Seymour Hoffman is phenomenal and commands compassion without sappy pity. Kathy Bates is also excellent. The sad story is counteracted with moments of humor through awkwardness or absurdity. It's a wonderful 'laughing through tears' effect. The soundtrack flawlessly steps up to say what the script can't throughout the film. Fantastic cinematography and a contemplative ending round this movie off to make it a perfect 5 stars.

A comic tragedy.......2007-03-09

As a person who has suffered some difficult losses, I can emphasize with the character. His addiction seems rather silly but don't most? Philip Seymor Hoffman perfectly encarnates Wilson Joel who can't seem to recover from his wife's shocking suicide.

This is a great film because we really want to know what will happen to this fine man who is being destroyed by his own demons. How will he get a new life and with whom will he share it? As we see his encounters with other characters in the story, we are always wondering if he will connect with someone. I won't give away the ending but what is important is the excellent acting all around and the fine direction.

Great film for mature audiences who are prepared for the subject matter.

Hoffman is excellent as usual, but not enough to carry this........2007-01-04

Love Liza (Todd Louiso, 2002)

Much was made of Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance in Love Liza before the film came out. Then it did come out, and very quickly faded from view. Those tracking it down these years later will quickly figure out why: while Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance is, in fact, exceptional, there's not a single other thing about this movie to recommend it.

Hoffman plays Wilson Joel, a web designer whose wife Liza (Runaway Jury's Annie Morgan) commits suicide. She leaves a note, which Wilson is afraid to open. Liza's mother Mary Ann (Kathy Bates) tries to find new ways to broach the subject with every conversation. Feeling cornered, Wilson turns to drugs, and his life quickly begins to spiral out of control. Adding to the pressure is co-worker Maura (That Thing You Do! beauty Sarah Koskoff), who's attracted to Wilson. He takes refuge in developing a new obsession with model aircraft, which only makes things worse.

Hoffman does a fine job with what is, in essence, a really demented role. But so little of what goes on around him works that even that can't be counted a success. This was obviously meant as a comedy, however black it may be; its comic timing fails to fire every time. No, really, every time. Not a laugh to be had, however nervous or guilty that laugh might be. Instead, there's a vague sense of discomfort, the kind you get when someone's told a horribly offensive joke without in any way realizing there's an offensive component to it. **

Powerful Drama.......2006-06-09

Love Liza is one of the best dramas I have ever seen. There is little that is funny about it but there are three scenes in the film where one's EQ is brought under a maj