The Silence of the Lambs (DVD, 2004, The Hannibal Lecter Series; Holiday O-Ring Packaging)

FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) has been assigned the investigation of a lifetime for her first one: to catch a serial killer who partially skins women. Clarice is sent by her supervisor (Scott Glenn) to a psychiatric prison cell at St. Elizabeth's mental hospital in Maryland. Her job is to interrogate the highly intelligent psychiatrist turned cannibal, serial killer Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lechter (Anthony Hopkins).

What the FBI in Virginia hopes is that Dr. Lechter will profile the serial killer-at-large, nicknamed Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). Lechter wants to play a "quid pro quo game" with Clarice, whereby he asks her personal information about her life in exchange for clues about Buffalo Bill. In this way, Lecter enters into her mind. In this way, Starling betrays her professionalism. But it's all she's got to get him to talk to her.

As Lecter and Starling's lives become more intimate through the "this for that"
game, Buffalo Bill's current target is the daughter of a woman senator. Starling has no time to waste since the FBI believes that the young woman's life is at stake.

Buffalo Bill is a demented transsexual who is once again depicted in film as a serial killing, woman skinning, abductor who is making a suit of his victims' skin for himself.

What were director Jonathan Demme and novelist Thomas Harris thinking by portraying a transsexual in this horrific way?

Don't either of them care that they are portraying transsexuals exactly like gender supremacists do?

Since this particular film became so popular as a horror and thriller classic, and is so memorable, what kinds of images and memories can we think that the viewing public takes from this film about transsexuals? (Of course, I suppose, credit is due to "Hannibal" (the sequel) for redeeming this much protested portrayal, by having Dr. Lecter saw off the top of the skull of a gender and sexual supremacist, then sharing his brains for a snack with a child on a plane.

This show is otherwise more than excellent: a 5+. It's influence has led to sequels that didn't come close to matching the first production with Foster in it: "Hannibal" and "Red Dragon," the worst of the three. I would challenge any other actors to comparatively replace Foster and Hopkins on the screen together.

Jodie Foster, an FBI trainee has been assigned the investigation of a lifetime for her first one: to catch a serial killer who partially skins women. Clarice is sent by her supervisor (Scott Glenn) to a psychiatric prison cell at St. Elizabeth's mental hospital in Maryland. Her job is to interrogate the highly intelligent psychiatrist turned cannibal, serial killer Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lechter (Anthony Hopkins).

the performances by Foster and Hopkins are breathtaking. This is the role that puts foster amongst the premiere leading females of the 90s. I would recommended this movie to anyone interested in drama/mystery/crime and pysch majors. It is still a great movie after almost 20 years. Well written and well directed! 5 stars

Excellent horror, chilled me right to the bones! Anthony Hopkins did a wonderful job as Hannibal Lecter! Very convincing! Jodie Foster did a wonderful job as clarice starling, pity she wasn't in the other film Hannibal.

i have seen the movie before and it is a great buy anthony hopkins and jodie foster play oscar winning roles in this oscar winning movie. creepy eerie and very good

I have every film Jodie Foster has made. Great actress and subtly sexy. I write cannibal jokes for fun. eg. One cannibal says to his friend, "I don't know how Uncle Hannibal can go so long between meals".