Review of Hannibal (2001) by Mike D — 25 Nov 2012

In the decade that lapsed between 'Hannibal' and its predecessor, 'The Silence of the Lambs,' a lot of things changed. The most noticeable adjustment on the surface was the replacement of Julianne Moore for Jodie Foster in the starring role as Special Agent Clarisse Starling, the latter having won an Academy Award for the role.

But aside from this, the stark differences between 'Hannibal' and 'Lambs' are jarring. 'Hannibal' falls very short of the mystique and suspense of the first installment. Instead of relying on plot twists and turns, 'Hannibal' relies on cheap kills and an unnecessary amount of gore, even for a film that revolves around a cannibal.

The film is also quite boring, and the pacing is slow, which only adds to the agony experience by the audience. While the main acting performances are solid, thanks again to a very creepy job well done by Sir Anthony Hopkins, these bright spots are not enough to propel the rest of the discombobulated, lazy vehicle that is the film itself.

Additionally, there are no memorable quotes, lines or dialogue, and the film feels like it was made just to make money, suffering from a poorly developed script and a ratcheted up focus on disgusting imagery.

Overall, 'Hannibal' is an unworthy follow-up to a great masterpiece, and should not be considered an equally important film by any means.