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First Test Screening of HANNIBAL
Well the first ANTICIPATED film of 2001 has to be HANNIBAL on everyone's list... The followup to the Brilliant SILENCE OF THE LAMBS got off to a shaky start when Academy Award winner Jodie Foster dropped out, originally to direct FLORA PLUM which never came together. Then Julianne Moore took her place, Ridley Scott took Demme's place and Gary Oldman signed on... and we were off to the races. The HANNIBAL website has beautiful images... today on Entertainment Tonight the trailer is being shown... yesterday, half of it was shown. But trailers can be deceiving.... stills can look gorgeous... the only true way to find out is to hear from real people... and Jack Daniels in San Diego... well, he's a real excited geek at the moment. And with good reason. This film has got to be a must see, and from this mini-review it sounds as though Ridley has made the film that was needed to be made. Seeing this film should be like having a conversation with Satan.... dangerous, dirty and raw. I hope he pulled it off.... Vague spoilers follow....
Harry, Harry, Harry, HARRY! You are not going to believe what I got to see tonight in San Diego – and I cannot believe that I got to see it too… HANNIBAL! Yep. The follow up to Silence of the Lambs, almost ten years in the waiting. I was a huge fan of that movie and when I realized I was going to be seeing Hannibal, trust me, I got extremely excited. Silence of the Lambs to me was one of the first psychologically scary movies I saw. I was a senior in High School and was used to "scary" movies like the Nightmare on Elm Street and the Friday the 13th chapters. Silence of the Lambs was a movie that didn't have half the gore those did but effected me more. And it laid the ground work for many movies to come. Films such as Se7en, The Usual Suspects and even The Sixth Sense followed in its footsteps. These were films that not only scared you by shock, but pyschologically, as well. They affected the psyche. They made you think. And they made you read pray before you went to bed. And Hannibal is long overdue.
Basically the film takes place roughly ten years after we last saw the doctor and Special Agent Clarice Starling. Due to a drug bust gone bad, Clarice is thrust into the spotlight as a shooter happy agent (she in fact receives a letter from the Guiness Book of World Records congratulating her as being the FBI Agent with the most kills). Not only does this get the attention of Dr. Lecter who is now in Florence, Italy enjoying “retirement” as a keeper of the local historical art library, but that of one of his victims, the only one who lives, Mason Verger. Horribly disfigured, I mean, grotesquely disfigured, as we see through a flashback where Hannibal drugs him, hands him a broken piece of glass and tells him to peel his face off, Verger is obsessed on capturing and torturing Hannibal as much as the good doctor did to him. Verger devises an evil scheme using Clarice’s misfortunes, to bring Hannibal back to America - this due to the fact that Hannibal cares for Clarice, something established in the Silence of the Lambs.
Director Ridley Scott does a great job leading us to this point, using flashbacks, taped conversations between Clarice and Hannibal and well filmed scenes. Harry, what happens from this point to the end is incredible – better left to be experienced on the big screen than in print - but I’ll give you these key words to think about: “wild boars,” “alive guy with exposed brain” and “guts.” Fun for the whole family…
The cast as you can imagine is incredible.
Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal. We saw what he could do in the first one, he got the Academy Award for it, he does it again in this one. Only one person in this world is Dr. Hannibal Lecter – ‘nuff said.
Gary Oldman as Mason Verger. Sick. Disgusting. Evil! The makeup is so good, I didn’t even know it was him until I saw the flashbacks. Oh, but he’s in there. That smartass I first saw in Sid and Nancy, is definitely Mason Verger. The smartass remarks, the EYES… He is disturbing to look at – a major-flip-over-car-accident-on-the-freeway-with-a-dead-person-covered-in-a-yellow-tarp-with-blood-trickling-out kind of sick.
Ray Liotta as Dept. of Justice lackey, Paul Krindler. I didn’t like him in this film. No depth. He played a character that he plays all the time – the same character he was all the way back in Dominick and Eugene, Article 99 and recently, Cop Land. The slick weasel, manwhore he is. Am I the only one that thinks him and Billy Zane could be long lost brothers? Not to totally bash him, but I have to say he has one of the best scenes where he is in a morphined-induced stupor that has him, well, enjoying some “brain food”…
And then there’s Julianne Moore as Special Agent Clarice Starling. WAIT!! Before you all jump to conclusions, I know there’s a lot of people out there who were surprised Jodie Foster dropped out of this and were shocked they still wanted to make the film without her. Trust me, when I heard Ms. Moore was signed to replace her, to be the character Jodie won Best Actress for, I didn’t think it could be possible to deliver a film as great as the first or at least even come within a 100 feet of. But let me tell you, Julianne Moore is no Jodie Foster, but there was not one time, besides when we first see her, that I thought to myself, I’m supposed to be seeing Jodie Foster. Julianne Moore becomes Clarice. She embodies Clarice. She is Special Agent Clarice Starling and I believed it.
Harry, Hannibal is a fucking cool movie. One that must be experienced only by one's self. If you haven't read the book, don't. If you have, you won't be disappointed.
Jack Daniels
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holy shhhhhhawshank redemption batman!
you got some dvds my brother! you must make some nice coin, i'll try and catch up in my next life..maybe.. -
is Citizen (Citisen ? im a speller) Kane a dvd yet? and harry what about Leaving Las Vegas? that is one of my all time faves, not too much extras at all though, i wish there was a Figgis commentary. i thought the other day that someone should make downloadable/upgradeable dvds that you can get on your pc then transfer them to your dvd player. it would require some new technologies,but it wouldnt be that hard i think. that way if down the road they wanted to add extras, like commentaries, the directors could do it when they have the time. any ways im out, windtalker signing off
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hey Harry what type of dvd player you running these suckers on? just interested, cause it most be a reliable mofo! windtalker is outtie---------------->
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I loved the book except for the end. And I heard they changed that.
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I loved the book except for the end. And I heard they changed that.
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Nov 17, 2000 6:30:28 AM CST
Clarice as a shooter-happy gal with more kills to her name than
by tingting
No no no. That is SO wrong. Clarice isn't like that. I hope they provide a VERY good explanation for all this ...
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He plays Inspector Pazzo. One of my favorite actors.
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Yeah! I saw a picture of Pazzi on the Hannibal website - the guy fits! But I thought Gillian Anderson was going to play Clarice?
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...is so strong I didn't even put anything in the first message...anyway, SOTL is one of the best books written in the last half-century, a virtual textbook on how to write suspense. Loved it, loved it. Movie was satisfying but *NOT* as good as the book, no matter what anyone says. When Hannibal came out I snapped it up first day and read almost 150 pages almost without blinking. Harris' style is lucid and mesmerizing. The much-debated ending really turned me off at first. At one point I almost threw the book away. But in time I started to see it kind of worked, and it ended on a satisfyingly unresolved note. Will be interested to see what the movie makes of it. I know people who HATE this book, and I used to, but I've come back around. Still not as good as SOTL or Red Dragon but certainly worthy. Obviously from the mild spoilers above one of the controversial scenes stayed in, that's good that Scott and co. had the guts to film it. I wonder if Scott Glenn plays Jack Crawford? BTW, the movie can definitely succeed without Foster...she was very good but it was Hopkins that made the movie, Moore can play Starling but if no one else could do Lecter now, don't care what ANYONE says about Brian Cox from 'Manhunter,' Hopkins' Lecter is indelible.
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Oh, what a time to be alive! Hopkins and Oldman are two of my favorite actors. Can't wait for Hannibal. When exactly is it coming out? I wish I could've catched this screening, but nobody told me about it. Damn! Hannibal Lecter for president. Heck, anyone but Dubya.
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Nov 17, 2000 7:16:25 AM CST
It's funny: I'm often annoyed when people are skeptical about fa
by roguewriter
... always assuming they're studio flacks in disguise. But this review didn't tell me much I didn't already know from reading the book -- which was marvelous, BTW. Absolutely one of the finest thrillers in this bookworm's memory, and given the talent involved in the feature, I expect great things (please please PLEASE bring back Frankie Faison as Barney! Continuity, please!). Then again, if anyone thinks the finale is going to play straight outa the book, they're crazy -- unless the studio actually grows some cojones and rolls the dice. The book made Clarice's transformation work -- can the film do it too? Anyway, I'm interested to hear more than a plot rehash, Harry. Make it so! =)
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Nov 17, 2000 7:20:47 AM CST
Hey, TingTing, no fears on Clarice the Crazy Gun-Blasting Gal...
by roguewriter
That part is very well set-up in the opening of the story, with Clarice leading a drug raid gone bad. In the process, she is forced to single-handedly take on a slew of baddies. In the novel, Harris made note of the fact that Clarice received the bizarre Guinness Book nomination because, in fact, very few law officers EVER kill that many people in the line of duty. In one fell swoop, Clarice is forced to take out more than anyone else has done. And surprise -- it really ain't that many. But it's very well handled, and her horrified reaction equally so. No fears.
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...just HAS to be in this film!!! I know it will be modified but it sounds as if the basic idea is there considering what this reviewer had to say. Also, when HANNIBAL the novel came out I heard that it was pretty bad, but once I read it I thought it was great! Ok, so the plot is a little unbelievable but the characters were awesome. Just remember...there are other monsters in the novel FAR WORSE than Hannibal Lecter. I wonder if that impression is gonna be given in the movie...
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I think Mason is a worse sicko than Hannibal. I can not comment on Ridley Scott's direction because I like all of his movies(yes including GI JANE :)
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A pure and simple fake. I thought you'd be better at spotting these. There's a reason the spoilers are vague and there's a reason they're getting the word out that Moore "embodies" Clarice. I'm sure Moore will do fine, but she doesn't need this PR-slickie "scoop" to root for her.
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I thought it was unimaginative, as well as the whole "feed Hannibal to the mutant hogs" thing.
Who played Mason's sister Margot? They should have got that big girl from WWF wrestling... she looks roided out and mannish. -
...and I wish he was. It would have been cool to hear what Jack Crawford has been doing or maybe have even been a bit part. Sorry I was so "vague" in the review. You know when you see something that is so cool it totally envelops your mind and when you try to tell somebody about it, you sound like a ranting lunatic? Well, I guess I took the opposite route... so, I decided I should use Talk Back to answer specific questions you are asking. Isn't it cooler that way anyway? OK first question... Q: Did they change the ending from the book? A: I don't know id its different from the book. I didn't read the book. Q: Could the film be an Oscar contender like its predecessor? A: At this time, I could see Ridley Scott up for best Director, but when was the last time you saw a sequel in the Academy Awards? Q: Clarice is really a shooter happy FBI Agent? A: No. But in the opening scene, she is forced to shoot the Queen druglord who's holding a baby and a Mack-10 as well as others than any of her backup. You would too if you're being shot at with a mack-10. Added to the fact that Verger has his hands in the cookie jar of the Justice Department, you can now see why she's got the label. Q: Is this film a future hopeful considering Lambs success? A: Oh yes. Like I said. This is way overdue. And people are wanting to see the good doctor once again. Q: Is Giancarlo Giannini any good? A: Yes and I should have mentioned him even though I have never seen him before. And the chick who plays his wife Allegro is so hot. It would have been cool to see Hannibal eventually go to her and have more interaction. This is actually teased upon in an Opera scene where Hannibal shows us his enrapture in her. Q: I thought Gillian Anderson was going to play Clarice A: That's not a question. Q: When is it exactly coming out? A: The official website says February 9th. Q: The book made Clarice's transformation work -- can the film do it too? A: I don't know. Didn't read the book. Keep the questions coming. This is kinda fun...
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I read the book, and by the time I was done my eyes had rolled so far back into my head I was checking out my medula oblongota. The big mistake was that the author fell more in love with his villian than he was with maintaining plot credibility. From all I've heard, the movie keeps that going. I'll wait for the video, or just pass on it. I thought the first movie was brilliant, and I don't want to spoil my memories of it.
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The book is filled with pop psychology bullshit. It's as if Harris took a few PSY101 classes and then wrote the book. Since these shallow explanations probably won't be in the movie and the unrelentingly ugliness of the book probably won't quite make it either, I suspect the movie will be more tolerable. I've heard one interpretation of Hannibal as a big "FUCK YOU" from Harris to the readers who'd been asking about a sequel for years. Sounds about right.
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Q: Who played Mason's sister Margot? A: Mason's sister? What? The only thing of kin to Mason Verger in this film is his straw to drink cocktails and his bed. Q: How does one speak with their face torn off? A: Like that of a person with a severe hairlip...let me take that back. Like a person with no lips would and a lot of spit.
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Jack Daniels, are they reprising Barney and Ardelia? Also, is the chemistry between Hopkins & Moore as good as between Hopkins & Foster?
Don't give the ending away - please! -
Well, that is a big disappointment -- among the book's many charms (pop psychology? Geez, that's a bit unfounded) are its secondary characters, and Margot Verger ranks right up there with the best of 'em. Losing that entire subplot probably made for a much more manageable script, but it's a HUGE departure from the novel, in which Margot plays a very key role in some of the best moments. Hmmm... interesting to see how things go for ole Mason now...
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I have my major doubts about this film. Anyone who read the book will understand what I mean. We all know what the book ending involves. I bet the film gives us the good old "They all lived happily ever after ending". Silence of the Lambs (or "Shut up Ewe" as its more commonly known as in Dublin) was good, but show respect to Manhunter.
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After reading Dragon and Lambs, I was incredibly excited to pick-up a copy of Hannibal. What a mistake that was. Hannibal is one of the worst pieces of literature that I have read. Unless they radically change the last half of the book, this movie, even with the star power, will suck. Harris should have written a prequel to Dragon.
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I finally got around to reading the book a few months ago. While it was certainly gripping reading, it had its share of problems. The plot takes *way* too long to get going. The planned fate for Hannibal is a bit too Monty Python to be very horrifying. The ending... Oh, I dunno. Like most people, part of me hated it, part of me was laughing its ass off at the ballsiness. And the brain bit was creepy. (yet it seemed out of character for Hannibal... He'd only do that to a very smart or a very stupid man, not a thoroughly mediocre one)
As for Scott, I'm about to get my butt flamed off here, but I've never been impressed with him. Almost all his films are about style over substance, and he rarely adds substance to a script. The only halfway deep movies he's done are the ones that had it in the script to begin with. (Blade Runner) I'm sure Hannibal is going to look pretty, but I wonder if a more cerebral director would've been in order. -
I'll be there with moderately high expectations, expecting more of a "crowd-pleaser" than the previous Harris adaptations.
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Q: Are they reprising Barney and Ardelia? A: Barney, yes... Ardelia, no. Barney plays a key part in the first couple acts. Seems he's getting pretty wealthy off of eBay. Q: Is the chemistry between Hopkins & Moore as good as between Hopkins & Foster? A: To be honest, I never once thought to compare. I saw Julianne's Clarice and Hopkins' Hannibal in this film as I saw Foster's Clarice and Hopkins' Hannibal in Silence of the Lambs. However, in this film, it goes a little deeper... Q: I wonder if a more cerebral director would've been in order. A: Please form your questions in that of a question, but I'll comment on this anyway. Ridley Scott does a damn good job with this film. major difference between Demme's Silence and Scott's Hannibal, COLOR! As Silence was very dark and brooding throughout the whole film, we see beautiful Florence and masterpieces of art that turn out to be not only done on canvas... And color works. We still get dark and brooding shots, but Ridley Scott's film work always tends to tell a story in itself through his use of angles, pans and sweeping shots. And it works in this film.
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Why do some people have to be so negative? I personally am excited about this film and haven't read the book yet (I read SOTL just before the film came out and it took something away from the viewing experience because no film can ever top the book it was based on). Can't believe some have the nerve to call Harris a sellout; learn the meaning of the word why don't ya. He took 10 years to write a sequel and had to fend off people clamoring for it year after year. Maybe he WANTED to piss people off because Lector became a pop-cultural icon which I'm sure Harris never intended. Oh, and RED DRAGON was a better book than SOTL.
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Do you people honestly think this is an honest to god review? More like a pumped up review of the book itself with the actors inserted....I could've done this myself along with any other die hard Harris fan.
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in the book Hannibal Lecter background is 'fleshed' out Partially see his little sister being eaten by Russian soldiers . Is this in the film?
Do you see Hannibal travel couch on the airline?
Do you, the audience, sympathise with Hannibal?
Do you see Mason -
Bring on tha face-eatin', Fava bean-chewin', Verger-skewin' goodness!!! Nah, Julianne ain't Jodie Foster... but have you SEEN "Short Cuts"?? Need I say more? I hate it when people say Oscar-contender wayyyyy before the movie even comes out, but I'll be damned if this ain't gunna rock hard.
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When I read HANNIBAL, it was quickly apparent that that stupid book was written for 2 reasons: For commercial gain, and to THUMB HIS NOSE at the fans.
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Q: In the book Hannibal Lecter's background is 'fleshed' out. Partially see his little sister being eaten by Russian soldiers . Is this in the film? A: No. There is no mention of any Lecter siblings or family in the film. Q: Do you see Hannibal travel coach on the airline? A: Yes. And there is a totally disgusting scene between him and a little curious boy. Q: Do you, the audience, sympathise with Hannibal? A: I almost did, until I see things he does on purpose. Q: Do you see Mason
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...to me a bigger omission than Margot Verger. Do they even mention him in the film? Wow, I wonder why they did that. Ted Tally was able to work in every meaningful character in his SOTL screenplay (except John Brigham) and it was still taut and effective and a well-deserved Oscar winner. With no Crawford Clarice loses a lot of depth, IMHO. There's no one for her to positively interact with for most of the story--or at all, unless you count her interaction with Hannibal "positive." Without Crawford it's Clarice-vs.-the world. Hmmm. Don't know. We'll see how it plays.
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........That's all I have to say.
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Shit, mr. daniels... put down the drink. All I was sayin' was that, even if Julianne Moore ain't the same as Jodie Foster, at least she's got a nummy firecrotch to keep you warm at night. Sumbitch... see "Short Cuts" to find out what I mean. Anyway, there ain't nooooo way this movie ain't gunna be awesome.
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I was also at the screening last night with Jack Daniels. It was held at the UA Horton Plaza at 7pm. I personally didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the reviewer. I liked parts of it, but the ending was VERY disappointing. There were parts that were downright silly. I will not spoil anything, but I thought that the movie was lighter in tone than "Silence" (including some odd, out of place attempts at humor), but VERY gory. The ending sequence had some very rough cuts and I think it was to see if the audience could handle it. My girl friend couldn't and most of the audience seemed grossed out. All in all it was great to see Hannibal on screen again. The scenes in Italy were very good. On my score card I gave it a 3 (Good), but I think I was a little generous. I will probably end up seeing it again because I want to see what they change (hopefully the ending). I also will be interested in the score. Some of the temporary music they used was from "Basic Instinct".
JD - Do you think that cut of the movie could possibly be rated R? Personally I don't think so... -
... was the studio clamoring at him to hurry up and write a follow-up to SILENCE OF THE LAMBS so they could cash in right away. Harris' original idea for the third novel, it was reported somewhere years back, was to have Will Graham, now a despondent loser with a carved-up face, and Clarice Starling join forces to take on Lecter. But the studio apparently whined that no one knew who Graham was, no one had seen MANHUNTER, yadda yadda yadda. So Harris harrumphed, as Harris is wont to do, and he went off and cloistered himself and started writing the story HE wanted to write, on the schedule HE wanted to keep. Over time, Graham was replaced w/ Mason Verger, another victim of Lecter (a shame, but maybe Graham will now come back to chase Lecter AND Clarice?). Then, in his magnificent "fuck you" to the studio, Harris decided to use Verger to help create a series of scenarios he suspected there was no way in HELL the studio would dare touch. It did, of course, but Harris is laughing all the way to the bank -- his sequel is out, written the way he wanted it written (no Michael Crichton's whoring LOST WORLD for him!) and he pocketed a big fat check from the studio just the same, because they're too grimly determined to suck the very last nickel out of EVERYTHING possible. I suspect the film will be good, but with no Margot Verger, with no Jack Crawford or Ardelia Mapp, with no Mischa... you've taken away the supporting structures for the three main characters. What will they replace them with? Anagrams again??? I found SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, the film, to be remarkably disappointing ONLY because it so dreadfully boiled down the novel into "palatable" cinematic form for the Unwashed Masses. The same is undoubtedly gonna happen with HANNIBAL the movie. But no matter. The books are on the shelf. And the studio can't screw THEM up, no matter what they do with the film...
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...thanks for the scoop. I hadn't heard that. I was always hoping Harris would revisit the Graham character because there's more for him to do. Outside of the *very* brief mentions in the first few pages of SOTL he hasn't turned up again. When I first heard the plot of Hannibal - old victim conspires to get revenge on Hannibal by using Clarice--I was hoping Graham would be the old victim. He is a sort of 'victim,' thanks to his 1st run in w/ HL and HL siccing Dolarhyde on him and his family. Good for Harris though, for refusing to buckle and doing what he wants. I heard his contract has a no edit clause, meaning after he turns in a manuscript no editor gets so much as a peek. That ending must've freaked 'em at the publishing house when they knew they couldn't mess with it. For that reason alone it's good, no matter if it really doesn't make much sense (I still have trouble with Starling running away with Lecter, it just doesn't really seem true to the character to me. Willing to go with it, because he laid the groundwork with hypnosis, but have my problems with it)
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to J.D. who liked it and QPQ who didn't (much), is there a flashback of Verger and Lecter showing how he got his face mutilated? How is Hopkins' performance, do you still buy him as Lecter 10 years later? Judging from Alien, I would assume Scott would be less gory than Demme was. Is it scary? - I'm guessing it's hard to tell from a rough cut what the pacing of the final film will feel like, but so far, so good.
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What's funny is this: everyone gripes about Clarice's uncharacteristic transformation in HANNIBAL, but Harris decided NOT to bring back Graham as Lecter's pursuer because it wasn't true to his character. Which, one might be led to surmise, suggests that Harris knew all along that Clarice was a tad unbalanced, just far enough over on the dark side to make that leap. Graham, on the other hand, is the real hero of Harris's fiction. And for all those naysayers who dissed William Peterson in the role in MANHUNTER, pffffbbbbbtttt!! Peterson was magnificent! (And never that good again, unfortunately. Forget this C.S.I. pablum, he needs a decent role!!)
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Q: Do you think that cut of the movie could possibly be rated R? A: Yes. We've seen R rated gore worst than this before. I think the scariness that everybody will feel is the deliberate actions of Hannibal. Q: Is there a flashback of Verger and Lecter showing how he got his face mutilated? A: Yes. Done in an artsy way, we see Verger "flirting" with the doctor in which Verger gets drugged. Verger begins dancing around, busts a mirror and Hannibal hands him a piece of glass and tells him to peel his face off. Verger complies and Hannibal feeds pieces of it to his dog. Q: How is Hopkins' performance, do you still buy him as Lecter 10 years later? A: Definitely!!! He's gained a little poundage, but doesn't everybody in "retirment?" Q: Is it scary? A: Yes. Audience members and myself jumped a few times and had to look away from the screen.
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and I thought Hopkins was hammy and OTT. In the book "Hannibal" I was disappointed that they explained Lecter's condition, how he came to be the monster he is. In SOTL he says something like "You can't reduce me to a set of influences" but that is exactly what the WWII sequence in Hannibal does. I would rather he remained an enigma.
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and I thought Hopkins was hammy and OTT. In the book "Hannibal" I was disappointed that they explained Lecter's condition, how he came to be the monster he is. In SOTL he says something like "You can't reduce me to a set of influences" but that is exactly what the WWII sequence in Hannibal does. I would rather he remained an enigma.
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First, Petersen was good in "Manhunter" and also "To Live and Die in L.A." Haven't seen C.S.I. so I can't say one way or another, but he is underrated. But where "Red Dragon" and "SOTL" are near literary equals (edge to SOTL in my book), there is NO WAY "Manhunter" is a superior film to "SOTL." "Manhunter" has some good moments but doesn't sustain mood, and it's obvious Mann had the same wardrobe person as he did for "Miami Vice," but no Fed is going to wear pastels. But don't you think Graham is more than a little than unbalanced too? Harris ended "Red Dragon" with an epigram from Ecclesiastes about the search for wisdom leading to madness, and before anyone starts I know this isn't Bible class, that's not the point...
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That Julianne Moore is one saucy tomato! and I bet she can do the barely-restrained hillbilly accent just perfect. I read the book and I'm wondering why all the changes, but who cares, this movie will rule. Go Julie!
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I was at the test screening. I'm writing a full review that I'm gonna send to Harry, but I wanted to say here that Hannibal is a fucking genius movie. Yeah, it was scary and it was disturbing as hell (even for me, and I like horror) and Gary Oldman is a maniac (in a good way), but it was also this huge, sweeping, intense story. I couldn't believe until about fifteen minutes into the movie that I was seeing what I was seeing. Damn. I hope they test it again in SD. Anyway, hopefully Harry will post the review I'm sending him but anyone who wants to know anything about it can email me at wagner131@hotmail.com.
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Can you hook me up with a Universal goodie bag, too?
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Oh, you damned purists... can't you give Thomas Harris a break? Just look at this cast. Just look at Ridley Scott, Steven Zaillian. Fuck me... just admit to yourself that a movie may turn out to be really good. I dunno, I'm not going to change you. But, while you all go out to see treacle like Final Fantasy, I'm going to be getting the wind knocked out of me by this movie. And, go ahead, start talking about me being a spy from Universal. Gee, that must be the only reason why I'm not agreeing with you spineless, brainless pussies. This movie will be... fuckin' awesome.
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SPOILER ALERT - I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE END OF HANNIBAL, SO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW, SKIP THIS POST
Here's the thing about the ending of the book: Everyone is angry about the ending because evil truimphs over good, and Clarice runs off with the bad doctor and they live a life of cozy cannibalism in South America. All your conditioned little brains read it, and could not stretch to accomodate something so totally unexpected. The way I see it, the corruption of Clarice is the natural conclusion of the story. It makes perfect sense to me. The reason all you people love the books and movies is because you all love Hannibal. You are in such denial. You wanted him to win, and Harris was just rubbing it in your face. The whole point of the story, in my opinion, is that evil is seductive, and we all are seduced by it. Everyone in the story is seduced by evil in one way or another. Every character. We, the readers, are all seduced by Lecter, because he's so cool, so smart, so dangerous. Harris is saying we all want to be those things. That's why everyone loves to read About Lecter. Anyone who claims to hate the ending is only uncomfortable with Harris pointing out the truth about his or her own soul. This is what it means to love the Devil, folks: The devil wins. If you think Lecter is cool, then what you really want is for him to triumph. Nobody likes to be told the truth about himself. That's the real reason you didn't like the ending. I totally respect Harris for having the balls to tell the truth about humanity. And how dare you declare what Clarice would or would not do. She's Thomas Harris' creation, not yours. He made her up, out of his own head. It seems pretty presumtuous to be indignant about it. As if. Who are you to say who she is or isn't? Not your job. You want a book where the characters all behave the way you think they ought to? Write your own. Also, Will Graham is the Man. Maybe after all this darkness, Will will come back in the next book as an agent of light. He will get off the bottle and save Clarice and defeat Hannibal once and for all, and redeem his troubled soul. Red Dragon is a much better book than SOTL or Hannibal. "Manhunter" sucked though. Bring back Will Graham for the next book! Jeff Bridges, man. You know what I'm saying? Jeff Bridges. -
What a load of horseshit, from yet another braindead moviegoer. Who was shocked that Foster said no to being in Hannibal? Only idiots and the people who think Hannibal is the second in the series about Lecter wwere shocked that Foster passed on Thomas' crapfest book-to-movie. No Demme, no Foster, no Fujimoto, no way.
***************************** Big opening weekend and then word will get out about Clarice screwing Hannibal and eating people and the box office will dwindle faster than a carton of Doritos in Oprah's house.******** -
I am in total agreement with the statement that Harris merely told us what we don't want to hear. The more I think about it, the more that ending makes sense. What a genius.
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Great stuff! Sounds like a perfect ending for the Special Edition DVD! Whatever ending we get in the theater, however, will be a cop-out of..... expected proportions. As long as the finished product is as suspensful and entertaining as it should be considering the talent involved, I'll be okay with a compromised denouement.
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Cool thanks, I forgot about the Eel .. does it still end up curling up in bed with Mason (!)
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Jomafum, I loved the novel Hannibal, and I absolutely agree with you about the ending. Hannibal was more Dark Prince than serial killer all along. People, myself included, loved the first flick because while Hannibal was the Beast, he was OUR Beast - he was Evil working for you, instead of striking out of the darkness. I thought the ending of the novel Hannibal was a superbly biting comment on that sentiment. Looking forward to the movie. I don't think Ridley Scott will whitewash it. In fact, if the rumor on Coming Attractions is true, the ending these people saw was one of many they filmed! Can't wait. Chris
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Welp, it sounds like they didnt bother altering the ending the way they said they would when they talked about making it in the first place.
For those of you who haven't READ the book, I'll save you the trouble: DONT BOTHER. The ending of this book (and apparently the film as well) contains one of the worst character betrayals I have ever witnessed an author perpetrate on his creations.
Thomas Harris is a sick fuck, and deliberately twisting his audiences' nipples like this is not to be cheered. Fuck him, fuck his shitty book and fuck this movie too if they didn't bother to tack on a different (not even necessarily better, just different) ending.
-disappointed in ridley scott -
The novel was superb, a very dark vision of the seductiveness of evil and a fascinating psychological drama where psychoanalysis itself is an actor. The 'betrayal' of Clarice a poster above mentions is interesting. How so, Thomas Harris created her. Clarice accomplished the destiny Harris gave her. Harris created her, not Jodie Foster.
I'm hoping Scott, Hopkins and Moore are sufficiently daring to honor Harris' subversiveness. -
I can't believe you people whining about the ending being one of the worst ever. Who the hell are you to say that it's one of the worst character betrayals? These are Harris's characters NOT yours, so he can do what he wants. Anyway, both SILENCE and HANNIBAL are stories about transformation, go back and you will see. What happens to Clarice in HANNIBAL is what was destined to happen to her. But then again, if it wasn't, who cares? When the book came out I was hearing how awful and pathetic the ending was, but it just really is not. Also, what a shame that Margot Verger isn't in the film. She was truly a great, menacing character.
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It's understood that Hannibal has this weird attraction to Clarice, but did you see (in the movie) any hint that Clarice reciprocated his feelings toward her? Does she give any clue that she has developed any kind of attraction towards him? Or is her interest strictly business?
I really enjoyed the book and was one of those weird people that thought the ending was fabulous! Someone here on the forum mentioned that Thomas Harris really showed major cahoonas by writing the ending the way he did... I agree. If the rumours are true, it's a shame the film does not follow suit.
I also think Julianne Moore will make a terrific "Clarice". As much as I admire Foster's acting ability, I think Julianne will bring a softness and a much needed vulnerability to the character. Anyone who saw her play "Dora" in "Surviving Picasso" can tell she is very talented!
Anthony Hopkins just gets better and better and better... my all time favorite! -
Is he even in the movie at all? He's in very little of the book, but was in both of "Hannibal"'s prequels and dies at the end of the "Hannibal" book. I loved Jack Glenn's performance in "Silence." I was hoping he'd be back, but I guess since Demme isn't in, then Hopkins is kind of alone here. Oh, well. I still saw the trailer and thought it was very good -- except for the part where Hannibal says "goody, goody." It sounds adlibbed and tacky. The rest of it was excellent.
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I know I'll probably see "Hannibal" because my dad really wants to go and has passed on Thomas Harris's books as he's read them. I haven't read Hannibal yet (lost my B&N employee discount--boycott!) and have only ever read bits and pieces of SOTL. I remember my Dad told me about the ending and I was shocked--my friends were screaming "BETRAYAL!" --but really, I think we have to admit Clarice was off from the very beginning.
To me, it'll be really weird to see Julianne Moore as Clarice. It drives me up the wall anytime they replace actors. I respected Foster's decision, since few people I know actually liked the book. Now I see the previews and wonder if she didn't make the wrong choice. But maybe it doesn't matter who plays her--Anthony Hopkins *is* the movie.
And I have to be the one lone voice that says that Red Dragon was not a very good book. The first half is pretty gripping, but after that it was too over the top. (Dolarhyde is insane enough to eat a painting--in itself a really unbelivable feat--but clever enough to fake out the FBI?) Will Graham deserved a better ending than Dolarhyde leaping over a sand dune, like something out of Trey Parker's musical "Cannibal" Harris' strongest points are involve the moment-by-moment of FBI investigation, and that's because he's got contacts like John Douglas. (Which, if you want to read something truly sick, read Douglas's "Mindhunter"
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Nov 18, 2000 5:11:31 AM CST
More on the subject of Clarice's supposed character betrayal (sl
by roann
Lots of the posters seem beside themselves over their angel Clarice turning to the dark side of the force, but we see the initial "seduction" in SOTL. Lecter is the one who gets Clarice to open up about her past, something she's buried for years. It's wrenching for her to recall these memories, yet it "cleanses" her in an odd way and that is the initial drawing power of the good doctor for her. She is a damaged soul and with Lecter's power of persuasion (and the drugs, of course), her transformation doesn't seem all that unlikely, nor untrue to her character.
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The only betrayal of character I see in the Hannibal ending is the use of the drugs. All along Clarice tried to play the game, which brought her into conflict with a strong sense of integrity. This is partly what attracts Hannibal to her. What attracts her to him is his playing fair with her, besides getting inside her head and starting to sort out her lambs trauma, which really for her is a bonus. Not even part of the bargain. So when the FBI screws her and her life is saved, and more of her early life trauma resolved, why shouldn't she respond to it? These characters are mutually challenging, have the same funny bones, big brains,and consciences bent by experience. Besides, they're plain nuts about each other. My only argument with the facts of the book's ending--not its lacking depth, development, etc--is the drugs. Probably not necessary; I want to know what Harris was intending. Any takers?
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