Product ReviewsHannibal Rising (Unrated) (DVD, 2007)

A Must !! -- To Complete Lecter !!!! Well Done !!!!

"Hannibal Rising" (UNRATED) is the Prequel to the wildly derived success' of "Manhunter" & Remake "Red Dragon" (Dragon with Anthony Hopkins). Then, of course, falls "Silence of the Lambs" and "Hannibal" as we follow through the perverse classic of Hanibal "The Cannibal". Thomas Harris, the author who created Hannibal Lecter, wrote both the novel on which Hannibal Rising is based and the screenplay for the film adaptation.
In this well-done prequel, more suavely violent than perverse, we will learn Lecter's fundamental basis and childhood. His rise through EVIL., to become the "Hannibal" we will then watch in "Red Dragon".
We see that Lecter did not begin life as a psychotic cannibalistic sadist, but rather a sweet and privileged boy whose life implodes during World War II. Witnessing the destruction of humanity, particularly his own, and when he meets his widowed Japanese Aunt, Lady Murasaki (Gong Li), Lecter stumbles upon her shrine to a Samurai Ancestor. Here, he discovers the means to an end. By this reckoning, Lecter learns the EVIL adjustment that renders his beginnings acting out., while simultaneously developing a refined gourmand's palate that happens to include a taste for human flesh.
In counterbalance, the film offers up the character of Inspector Popil (Dominic West), a Paris detective who specializes in War Crimes. He has similarly lost his family during the War, as has Lecter at this point, (a point-driven-hard by film's directors). Popil lectures Hannibal on letting justice take its course. Yet Popil realizes in brief time., that he will need to bring Lecter to justice. Out of control, Lester and Popil will begin the first cat-and-mouse liason that has driven the Hannibal Trilogy to date.
Intelligence mixed with insanity introduces Lecter's world; and his victims are shown as monstrous as he. The taste for Fava Beans and Chianti with his liver., is born.
"Hannibal Rising" (UNRATED) works at all levels as a thriller; a whole multitude of sins. The film has a great feel for pacing, and doles out the violence is simply heavy-handed, gratuitous nature. Lecter is far from subtle; as he ladles on the carnage. Director's let the cameras linger over Lecter's gruesome handiwork, the sound effects department working overtime to capture each unsettling sound of impending doom. The scenes are slowly drawn for review, packed with suspense and wrought with tension.
While the "Hannibal" Trilogy has a slight upperhand., as the adult "Hannibal" clearly learned more as he aged to maturity, amidst his newfound perversions., "Hannibal Rising" is the PERFECT derivitive in granting us the birth and foundation of youth gone drastically awry.
A must-see, must-have for "Hannibal" fans everywhere. It is incapable of failing viewers. SEE THIS !!!!Read full review...

Hannibal Rising (2007, DVD)

Peter Webber (GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING) directs the latest installment about the monstrous cannibal Hannibal Lecter, revealing the facts of his childhood and the birth of his troubled mind. When he is a young boy in Lithuania, Hannibal and his privileged family flee their castle as both the Nazi and Russian troops advance, going into hiding in a nearby humble cottage. But the war quickly finds them, and Hannibal witnesses horrible atrocities against his family, particularly from a local independent force of brutes led by the creepy Grutas (Rhys Ifans). Years after the war, teenage Hannibal (Gaspard Ulliel) leaves Lithuania and travels to France, where his uncle's wife, Lady Murasaki (Gong Li), takes him in and befriends him. A gifted medical student, Hannibal studies corpses and anatomy with extreme diligence, but dreams of tracking down and destroying those who harmed him and his family. Soon, he is acting on his impulses, hunting down the perpetrators from his youth and inflicting cruel punishment. Ulliel is chilling as the stone-faced Hannibal, clearly scarred by his tragic past and ever more determined to exact revenge. Li is luminous onscreen, and her mysterious character deserves more development. Ifans, perhaps best known for his turn as the goofy roommate in NOTTING HILL, is a menacing bully with a heart of stone. Dominic West appears as Inspector Popil, a French detective specializing in war crimes who suffered his own losses during the war, making him sympathetic towards Hannibal even though he is convinced of his guilt. Thomas Harris, the author of the Hannibal series that also includes THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, RED DRAGON, and HANNIBAL, serves as screenwriter for the first time in the Hannibal films.
This is defently a edge of the seat movie. Remember it is a mind thriller not a jason slasher film....a great story.....pay close attention to what everyone is saying or you'll miss the plot....
{Mrs Puman}Read full review...

Convoluted

Really enjoyed other Hannibal Movies & wanted this to complete library. Acting is great, though story line is somewhat loose & rambling. Hints at but not really saying causative factors for Hannibal' later atrocities. Though at the same time gives rationale as to why he holds human life so meaningless. Of course may not have had my "think cap" on while watching, but came away slightly disappointed.Read full review...

Love it.

Unexpectedly wonderful movie. I love the actor who plays the young Hannibal.

Hannibal Rising

I loved this disturbing film. You have to appreciate Hannibal Lecter to like the movie. Although the character is a monster one can understand how he got that way from the influences he had in early life. I believe we are all destined to create our own history, good or bad, by interventions early in life. For example a man becomes a fireman if his dad is one. Hannibal was doomed from the start during WWII & while growing up seeking revenge for his sister's death & ultimately being a victim to cannibalism.We do need to keep in mind this is only a movie but similar horrific events do occur in life. This was a great prequel even without Anthony Hopkins. Again, I want the movie for my collection.Read full review...

Gnawing his way into our hearts

As a fan of all of the Hannibal films, I rushed out to see this in the movie theater. Let me just say that I wasn't disappointed. We finally learn about Hannibal's childhood/young adulthood and his oh-so-cute baby sister who suffers a gory end. Apparently, his tragic past is the cause for his cannibalism, but I won't go into too much detail so that the movie isn't spoiled for you.

The over-the-top death scenes are what really made the movie worth watching: drowing in formaldehyde, strangulation by horse, eaten while alive, etc. This film is a must-see for horror fans.Read full review...

Hannibal Rising

Excellent value and DVD was in excellent condition...Five Stars all around...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: second.sale

Awesome

I love the movie

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explains the making of hannibal

it was great. the order that you watch the series really explains what happens.

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Title is straight foward.

This is the perfect movie for anyody into the hannibal lecter films. Although it does not feature Anthony Hopkins, who is well known for his roles as Hannibal Lecter in all three prior movies in the series, The main actor plays a perfect role in filling the shoes of a young distressed Hannibal, which can be no easy task. The movie was 100% enjoyable, and I will watch it many times in the future!Read full review...