We rented the film called ’’Red Dragon’’ the other night. It was released in October of 2002 by Universal/MGM Pictures.
Brett Ratner Directed it.
The Screen play was written by Ridley Scott.
Karen O’Hara designed the Sets.
Patricia Birch did the Choreography.
Danny Elfman wrote the Score.
Viewing time: 1 hour and 40 minutes.
In Canada it is rated R.
This movie was adapted from a Thomas Harris’s Book that was the first in the Hannibal Lecter Series and a movie called Manhunter that was release in 1986.
THE STARS:
Anthony Hopkins plays Hannibal Lector.
Edward Norton plays the F.B.I. Agent.
Mary Louise Parker plays Molly Norton.
Harvey Keitel plays Jack Crawford.
Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Freddy Lounds.
Ralph Fiennes plays Francis Dolarhye, (the Red Dragon).
Emily Wason plays the blind Woman.
MY REVIEW:
The Movie begins while Hannibal Lecter is attending the Symphony We see him making faces as the Flutist is off beat.
He is a free Man and a Patron of the Arts and the Baltimore Symphony.
During his free time Lecter helps the F.B.I. and Special Agent Will Graham.
Graham has special powers of perception when it comes to serial killers.
One night he knocks on Lecter’s door and when Lecter opens the door he realizes that Lecter is the murderer. Lecter realizes that Graham has recognized him and stabs him.
Graham reacted very quickly, (he realized that Lecter would know he had be caught), and reacted quickly so when he was stabbed he shoots at Hanibal.
Neither Men were killed. Lecter was sent to a Maximum Security Prison.
The movie moves on in time to when we see that Lecter is in the Mental Institution.
Graham is down in Florida fixing boat motors and living with his wife Molly. He has been trying to heal his mental and physical scars.
Jack Crawford arrives to tell Graham that the FBI needs him back because two Families were found murdered under similar circumstances.
The FBI believes the killer will strike again and that Graham is the only Man who can help them.
Will Graham knows the essential part of his genius was only because Dr. Lecter had assisted him.
We soon learn that this killer planned them perfectly. All the of the Family and their Pets have been slaughtered.
The mirrors in the House have been shattered and the killer has used the shards to cover the eyes of everyone he has murdered. He only attacks when there is a full Moon.
Will Graham can’t find a clue so he goes to Lecter for advice. Lecter doesn’t want to help him at first but he finally does agree to help him. We don’t learn why Lecter does not help him very much.
This is the point in the film when we meet Francis Dolarhyde. He is the Man who Graham has been looking for.
His nickname is the Red Dragon because he has a large tattoo of a Chinese Dragon on his back. When he murders someone he leaves the Red Dragon on his victim.
Dolarhyde is a very shy Man and does not talk much. He seems like a very simple Man.
The sub-plot in this film is when Dolarhyde falls in love with his blind co-worker Reba McClane.
They seen to be perfect for each other. She has no idea that Dolarhyde is a murder.
Will she find out about it? Or will Graham find out about it? Only time will tell because I won’t as this is where I will end my review.
THE MUSIC:
Logos
The Revelation
Main Titles
The Cell
The Old Mansion
The Address
We’re Different
The Note
Enter The Dragon
Threats
Tiger Balls
Love On A Couch
Devouring The Dragon
The Fire
The Book
He’s Back!
WHAT I FELT AS I WATCH THE FILM:
I found this movie was full of scary and frightening things. It held my attention to the end. The Screenwriter wrote the ending exactly as it was in the book.
The music went well with the action on the screen. I know when you see a mystery or action movie you don’t think about the Choreography. Every move and flight is blocked out and created by a Choreographer and Patricia Birch did her job very well.
I thought that Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton and Ralph Fiennes were cast perfectly and they played the roles very well.
I like the way that Frankie Falson, (the Orderly), played his role. He is the only Person who appeared in all of the Lecter Films.
MY CONCLUSION:
I have only seen three , (Hannibal, The Silence of the Lambs and this on), out of the four films in this series but this is the one I like the least.
This doesn’t mean it wasn’t good because it was it just wasn’t as brilliant as the other two.
Now that you can rent this movie I recommend that you do.
©LL.2003