Red Dragon!

[TheRingBearer]

I'm seeing this tomorrow YESSSS. :thumbs:

It looks really good so i'll report back tomorrow on what i thought.

[Sindarin]

The film's recieving a lot of excellent reviews. They say Red Dragon's better than Silence of the Lamb's. :)

I hope they're right about that. :thumbs:

I'm quite certain it will be better than Hannibal, since that movie was beyond disappointing. verymad pfbbt

[Lord Raistlin]

The movie is ok.

[Lady Arien]

We may be going to see it this weekend....I've been reading the book again to refresh my memory on the story....so far, the book itself is creepier than Silence of the Lambs was, so I'm looking forward to it...

[Darkjedi]

:brave:
I get to see it on Sunday. It looks like it's gonna be awesome.

[TheRingBearer]

I just got back from seeing it and I have to say it really is great. It is definatly better than Hannibal but I haven't seen the silence of the lambs yet so i can't say which is better.

[Ronin]

Much better than Hannibal but no where near Silence, the ultimate freak psychoanalytical movie. Fiennes, Norton, Hopkins and Watson in this were damn near perfect.

[Ilmarë]

*sighs*.... must be great to just have the time to go see a movie....and have a half way decent movie theatre.mecry
At the rate my tiny town is going, i might get the chance to see this sometime next year.verymad

[Sindarin]

I'm going to see it today, so I'll post my review this afternoon. :)

[TheRingBearer]

I agree about the performances. Fiennes really did seem disturbed and played his character brilliantly.Hopkins and Norton were brill as usual :thumbs:

"I am the Dragon. Before me, you rightly tremble" :thumbs:

[Lord Raistlin]

he is scary! WAAAAAaaaa

[Sindarin]

It was an excellent film! :thumbs: It's hard to say if it was better than "Lambs", yet I'm pleased it wasn't a disaster like "Hannibal" was.

All in all, "Red Dragon" is a great movie :) and the films final scene was a pure master stroke. Loved the beginning scenes also.

Here's hoping that Harris continues the Lecter story. Maybe not a sequel of "Hannibal", yet a prequel of "Red Dragon". Perhaps a new story of how Lecter psychologically became a criminal in the first place, and what his motivation for being a cannibal was.

I watched a review of "Red Dragon" last night, and it was suggested that someone might make a pre-"Dragon" Lecter movie that tells his story before, and during his psychopathic life. If they decide to follow through with the idea, here's hoping it's a good film.

[Bonos-Girl]

that would be really cool.....although my parents still aren't letting me watch any of the films i have seen parts and they look quite interesting!

[TheRingBearer]

They are, trust me ;) They are a great bunch of suspene films and I didn't mind Hannibal that much. I thought it was quite good, just not compared to lambs and red dragon.

[Gowpon]

Hey, did u guys see the TTT's trailer before the movie??

I want to go see it, but not that much...if the trailer is attatched, I'll go!lol

[TheRingBearer]

Not where I saw it :( They had the new Star Trek trailer, the new Matrix trailer and the new bond trailer. :(

[Ronin]

if anyone is on the edge of whether or not to see this great film, hopefully this'll help, one way or the other ;)
btw, no way that Hopkins will revisit Lector and i haven't heard that any Red Dragon prints had TTT trailer before it.

enjoy...

Brett Ratner’s “Red Dragon” finds itself as the last in the trilogy of movies placed within the chaotic world which spawned Hannibal Lector, affectionately called Hannibal the Cannibal. “Red Dragon” unravels the tale of Will Graham, the Tooth Fairy and, of course, Lector. Yet this movie, above all else, is not one which focuses on the eccentricities of Lector. It is, however, a brand new story of the hunted and the hunter. The roles may reverse during the course of the film, but the role players themselves are constant - Graham and Francis Dolarhyde, the Tooth Fairy.

Ratner’s “Red Dragon” comes under heavy criticism before the film itself is even considered. It may be pondered why the film would be even made in the first place. “Manhunter” is Michael Mann’s 1986 visitation of Thomas Harris’ “Red Dragon” novel. And a film, in and of itself, that is considered a masterwork. Yet the Lector who made “Silence of the Lambs” what it was, is sadly no where present. Anthony Hopkins as the enigmatic Hannibal is quite arguably one of the most recognized villains of film history. Almost to the extreme that he has become the hero and not the villain in the audience’s mind. Is that not reason enough to remake a film that begins the tale of Hannibal Lector and the world in which he thrives?

Speaking of the Cannibal, perhaps Anthony Hopkins is only revisiting this icon of film for what can only be termed as, intrinsic value. And perhaps even more pressing, why oh why must Hopkins portray his saving grace as the parody of psychosis and dementia? But it can be asked, why not? It can be made that Hopkins can no longer be taken seriously as Hannibal Lector because he is so accepted by the populous. He is no more the villain but the hero behind whom the audience stands no matter what. In “Red Dragon”, Hopkins plays a Lector who is a much more animalistic version himself. Much more snakelike and twisted than the character now embraced and parodied by society itself, how could it not appear to be anything other than a parody itself?

There is no doubt that Ratner has given the second most satisfying film in the “Lector Trilogy” - far below what is now the priceless “Silence” and yet far above the film noir-like “Hannibal.” “Red Dragon” presents itself as a thriller than abandons normal conventions as did its predecessors, yet thankfully avoiding any type of artistic rendering of the mind of Hannibal.

Ralph Fiennes is the centerpiece of “Red Dragon” - the dragon himself, capturing the terror of those whom he stalks and the unadulterated praise of those who he stuns whilst on screen. A tragic story, the Tooth Fairy, monikered by the local press, evolves from the psychologically and physically abused form of Francis Dolarhyde. Utterly enamored and enthralled by the same painting of William Blake…Dolarhyde sees his evolution as mimicking that of the dragon man, by which he is God. And as Graham poignantly notes…who would give that up? Fiennes throws himself into Dolarhyde - emersing himself in a macabre sexuality that is so subtle its damnably overt and the driving psychosis that battles the last remaining sliver of Dolarhyde’s humanity to the very end.

The Dragon’s opponent, once the hunter and now the hunted, is Edward Norton’s Will Graham. Graham is the man who is single-handedly credited with capturing Lector - a title which he’d gladly forgo. And thus he is the only man ever considered “good enough” to take on serial killers of the ilk of Lector. (Perhaps in one of the most satisfying scenes to diehard Lector fans, Ratner visualizes the eventual blood bath which led to Hanniabl’s capture.) Norton is, sadly, just good in “Red Dragon.” He is utterly stable and, as always, an effectual and dynamic actor. Yet, except for one rare occurrence in conflict with Fiennes, Norton fails in bringing any else to the cat and mouse game of the Tooth Fairy. Undoubtedly not a fault of Norton, he simply cannot add anything to the horror created by the monster whom he hunts. Yet the fact that Fiennes has no equal is perhaps not a bad thing.

Of the minor characters of “Red Dragon,” Emily Watson brings unbelievable life to Reba McClane and an alluring sexuality which ignites the natural chemistry between she and Fiennes. As Dolarhydes “girlfriend”, McClane exists as his last remaining link to what might be called a human conscience and eventually is the catalyst to the film’s first ending. Watson’s purity and unadulterated sexuality plays perfectly off of Fiennes and his quiet school boy affection which is in dire conflict with the horrifying mix of sexual and physical power that grows all the more with every…evolution.

And finally Hopkins. He is the foil to Graham’s dry and inhibited nature. He is the snake in “Red Dragon” - forever working in tandem with both Graham and Dolarhyde. Lector is a caged animal in this prequel to “Silence of the Lambs.” And he plays it perfectly, toying with Graham’s fear all the while toying with the audience with glimpses of what he was and what he is to become. Yet more importantly, he does not overshadow the genius of Fiennes’ performance as the dragon himself. To do so would be to negate his role in the film. He is the tool of both Graham and Dolarhyde…whose loyalty is his own.

“Red Dragon” is surely a flawed work. It is no where perfect, yet it perhaps showcases one of the few near perfect performances of a man ripped apart by his very world. Ralph Fiennes carries “Red Dragon” and if there is any doubt over the direction or casting or motivation - he is the one reason to involve oneself in Lector’s world for a third time.

Grade: B+

[Gowpon]

But what happen to the guy who captured Lecor in "Silence"?:(

[Ronin]

the guy who capture Lector is never shown in Silence...its Will Graham who is played by Edward Norton. check out red dragon if u want a little back story.