Red Dragon [Blu-ray]

Kino Lorber Studio Classics released on both 4K UHD and Blu-ray this 2002 prequel to "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) directed by Brett Ratner and sees Academy award winning best actor Anthony Hopkins return as Hannibal Lecter, here set both before and after his capture by FBI agent Will Graham (played by Edward Norton) who needs his assistance to capture a serial killer called the Tooth Fairy (played by Ralph Fiennes).Looking just fine in a new transfer (I am unable at present to view the UHD disc) from the previous Universal studios DVD, porting over those extensive extras, though nothing new was added. Good thriller works well as a prequel to that cinema classic and adaptation of the Thomas Harris novel.

It was an okay show. One of those movies that shouldn't have kept going but it did. It was kind of history about where people came from so it's all good in the scheme of things

A timeless classic.

The Good:The ensemble cast is AMAZING! Emily Watson stood out, I thought-- which is hard to do when you're sharing the screen with Ralph Fiennes, Phillip Hoffman and Harvey Keitel, or so I would imagine.The screenplay is just as good as the source material novel, and as the other Hannibal screenplays. That's a high standard.2) The not-so-good:It's VERY derivative! Even some of the dialog is lifted verbatim from the earlier Hannibal films-- eg. "I'll send you something wet"; "You're at a disadvantage. What disadvantage? You're insane."This film certainly took no chances. It didn't boldly go anywhere that the earlier Hannibal films hadn't already been. Why mess with success, I guess? I'd prefer to see Dr. Lecter face off against a monster based on the Unabomber (Ted Kaczynski), instead of yet another florid sexual psychopath.I think we all love Dr. Lecter because he's so refined and courtly, btw. We'd all like to have his savoir faire.

This lady cupped that awake tiger's nuts. Worth it for that scene alone.

"Red Dragon", the movie, is truly delicious. It stays true to the brilliant Thomas Harris novel of the same name. I can't help but chortle with wild, almost maniacal glee as I write this review!"Red Dragon" is my favorite of the three Harris novels.The primary reason the story is so thrilling is because of our fascination with the larger-than-life and yet largely believable character that Harris created in Hannibal Lecter.Lecter's brilliance borders on the supernatural. He is a top-notch psychiatrist, a superb twelve-fingered pianist, a culinary genius, a lover and master of art and literature with an encyclopedic knowledge of both genres. He can be exquisitely charming and charismatic, serenely at home in aristocratic society. And though larger-than-life, Lector is presented him in such a way that one accepts that such a man could be. Harris manipulates the audience so that the audience revels lovingly and satisfyingly in the deception.A flaw in such a superlative person might make him human. Lecter's `flaw' makes him a Monster.The flaw? Lecter likes to brutally kill and occasionally eat the odd acquaintance. He kills primarily for pleasure, but we find that the world may indeed be better off with the deletions Lecter chooses. His victims include an incurable pedophile, an out-of-tune flautist, an out-of-season deer hunter, a serial killer, and so on. There is a lyrical, intelligent quality to the killings of Hannibal Lecter.Add to this FBI Special Agent Will Graham who has the gift and the tragedy of being able to put himself inside the mind of a killer. Then switch burners so the Monster Lecter is actually `helping' the FBI to catch another killer, Francis Dolarhyde, ruthless and yet pitiable in his efforts to contain his own psychotic demons as he allows a seductive coworker to eroticize him, possibly the first time for both of them.Stir all this up and you get a meaty brew, rich with flavor and texture.Dolarhyde's plan to take the blind girl on a date to `see' a live tiger was spell binding. What an electrifying romantic date! And it certainly had its affect on the blind girl. We could see that if not for things beyond his control, Dolarhyde may have developed into a handsome, charming, thoughtful, charismatic suitor to this woman.Lector goads Dolarhyde into killing the unsavory Freddy Lounze in a most agonizing and exquisite way. Like the investigators, we squirm in our chairs upon hearing the recording of a lipless, perhaps tongue-less Freddy, screaming, writhing in pain, sans fricative consonants. And yet we feel that in some way, Freddy met with his end justly.Thomas Harris' brilliance is first in his creation of such detailed memorable characters as Graham, Lecter and Dolarhyde and then in his ability to allow the reader to identify with each. He sautés these characters (the way Lecter would) into a brilliant, epicurean story to complete the tasty dish. Slurp.Director Bret Ratner sounded like an impostor during the commentary; I couldn't persuade myself that this dolt, excuse me, had directed this great movie. He sounded goofy, always iterating sophomoric quips like "Oh! I really like THIS scene..." And, unbelievably, he confesses that he doesn't even understand the tiger scene, one of my favorites, and one that I felt was essential to understanding the complexity of the Dolarhyde character. Who really directed this movie?I guess the proof is in the pudding. I applaud the fact that this movie was true to Harris' novel. It helped relieve the heartburn I got when I tried to digest "Manhunter", the first cinematic attempt of Harris' "Red Dragon", which completely charred the storyline.I felt that excellent performances were turned in by all the major actors, including Edward Norton, Anthony Hopkins, Ralph Fiennes and Emily Watson.This film is very highly recommended.-Viddy

It was great