Review of Hannibal Rising (2007) by Permadi, S — 16 Mar 2010

This movie is much better than most critics let on. First of all Ulliel is well cast and does a properly enigmatic and obsessed young Hannibal. The nightmare that nourished the seed of the future Hannibal is fitting and sufficiently diabolic. Hannibal is the good guy here, the antihero out for revenge against a group of bad actors who not only were demonic during war time, but continued their evil after the war.

This movie, more than anything else, explores the concept of whether individual revenge outside the banner of authority is more moral or immoral. This is an interesting question and is not given short thrift.

Hannibal is a combination of righteousness, egocentricity, rebelliousness, hurt, and sadism. The film does a worthy job of not only showing Hannibal's obsession with revenge and his growing thirst for sadism against his enemies, but leaves the pandora's box of ethical correctness open and paradoxical.

We see Hannibal in love with an equally forceful and emotionally scarred woman who is his lover, partner in crime and spiritual guide whom he eventually declines to follow.

There are weaknesses in the story line such as the genius Hannibal rushing headlong into impossibly dangerous situations where he by all odds should not emerge alive. Although he is young, he is still a planner and having no plan goes against his character. The bad guys are scary but flat. There are snags in the execution, but in the end this is a creepy and beguiling plunge into the mindset of horrific obsession.