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H: The Hannibal Lecter Series #AToZChallenge


Movie Name: The Hannibal Lecter Series (The Silence Of The Lambs, Hannibal, Red Dragon, Hannibal Rising)
Language: English
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Cast: Sir Anthony Hopkins, Jodie Foster, Julianne Moore, Ralph Fiennes
Director: Jonathan Demme, Ridley Scott, Brett Ratner, Peter Webber
Year Of Release: 1991, 2001, 2002, 2007

What it is about:


Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a psychiatrist and a cannibalistic serial killer, and he is brilliant at both. The first movie revolves around him and Clarice Starling, a young FBI trainee in the search of another serial killer, Buffalo Bill. The second movie is about Clarice being contacted by Mason Verger, the only surviving victim of Hannibal Lecter. A wealthy child molester, Verger was paralyzed and brutally disfigured by Lecter during a therapy session. He has been pursuing an elaborate scheme to capture, torture, and kill Lecter ever since. Using his wealth and political influence, Verger has Starling reassigned to Lecter's case, hoping her involvement will draw Lecter out.

The third movie is the prequel to the first two movies and has FBI agent Will Graham seeking the help of Dr. Lecter, to nab another serial killer, The Tooth Fairy, whose alternate personality is the Red Dragon. The fourth movie is the prequel to the earlier three movies and traces the childhood of a young Hannibal Lecter and shows his journey in to becoming the monster that he is today.

Hannibal Lecter is the hero in all the four movies. While the first three movies star Sir Anthony Hopkins as the dreaded Dr. Lecter, in the fourth movie, the young Lecter is portrayed by Aaran Thomas and Gaspard Ulliel.

What I loved about it:

Sir Anthony Hopkins won a best actor Oscar for his role as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in The Silence Of The Lambs. His total screen presence in the movie was only sixteen minutes. Still, he deserved it! This movie is one of my favorite movies of all time. I cannot point one thing that does not fit in this movie. Jodie Foster as the young Clarice is brilliant too, but sadly overshadowed by Sir Anthony Hopkins in every scene that the two feature in. The story, the script, the pace, the background music, everything is just perfect and this to me is one of the best movies ever made.

Hannibal continues from where The Silence Of The Lambs ends. While Sir reprises his role of Dr. Lecter, Julianne Moore takes over as the grown up Clarice. When Mason Verger, a child molester wants to extract revenge from Dr. Lecter, he involves Clarice in his quest. Gary Oldman as Mason Verger is a treat too. Red Dragon features three of my favorite actors in a single movie. Sir as Dr. Lecter, Ralph Fiennes as the Red Dragon and Edward Norton as Will Graham. This movie has one of the best scripts ever. Beautifully made and a stellar cast! Hannibal Rising traces the childhood of Dr. Lecter and it shows what makes him the monster he is today. This movie is so brilliant, and you cannot help but feel sympathetic for the cannibal himself.


I have read all the 4 books by Thomas Harris, and have loved every bit of it. When I read Red Dragon for the first time, I couldn't sleep for days. The writing is so good and the scenes of grotesque are very well described. The other three books are also pretty much the same. The horror thrills you to the bone and you cannot help but root for Dr. Lecter to win.

Hannibal Lecter is one the best fictional characters written ever and no one better than Sir Anthony Hopkins to have brought it to life. While he's the villain in the first three movies, he actually comes out the hero.

Runners-up: Haider (Hindi), Hachi (English).

This post is a part of the A To Z Challenge for April, where my theme for this year is Movies I Love.

Comments

  1. The series sounds like an interesting one. Being someone who likes thrillers and mysteries, I feel these would be the kind of movies that I'd like to watch.

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    1. Do read the books first though. The experience will be twice as nice then.

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  2. Yes, yes! I loved this series. I saw Silence of the Lambs on a rainy afternoon with pakodas, followed by Cape Fear. Memorable. Feel like seeing them again, now!

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    1. Me too! Its been years since I watched them last, time for a marathon again :)

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  3. On the few occasions that I saw Hannibal Lecter, I shivered with fright and disgust. That was the effect Sir had on my mind, just as he must have had on everyone who saw this film. Sir Anthony Hopkins is a gift to Hollywood! All he needs to do is look into the camera and you feel he is looking at you. And with this film...you know you are going to lose your peace of mind for quite a many days!

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    1. He's brilliant! His voice "Hello Clarice" still gives me the creeps at times.

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  4. I have heard a LOT about Hannibal Lecter Series but havent watched it. Considering that I am on a Dexter watching spree, I think I must check out this movie series soon.
    Haider and Hachi are great movies too. Hachi is a must watch for all dog lovers!

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    1. Watch it, Shilpa. It is quite an experience.

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  5. I love your theme, Soumya. And since you are recommending, I know I can trust it completely :) I have only watched Silence of the Lambs in parts but now I must. I haven't read the books so maybe I'll start with that first.

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    1. Thank you for your kind comment, Naba.

      Do read the books first.

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  6. WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO..... Thats my reaction!!!!! Agree no one could have done that role but Sir Antony HOpkins. Seen the series a couple of times now, an can watch it yet again too

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  7. This is one series that I have been meaning to watch for years now but for some odd reason have missed out on. Being a thriller and horror fan, I wonder how I could!
    Time to grab some popcorn and go binge watching right Soumya?
    Another fabulous review.

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    1. Do watch it Natasha, I'm sure you'll not be disappointed!

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  8. Thrillers are beyond my fearscope to watch and all I remember of the Silence of the Lambs is what I saw as trailers during the Oscars that year. But yes he is super scary in the movie


    H is for Heidi #atozchallenge

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    1. Just watch it, it is not that scary. Watch it for the sheer brilliance of the actors.

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  9. Ah, those close up shots of Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs. This movie had literally terrified so many people back in the early nineties. You can thank me later but there is one movie titled 'Manhunter'. It is the first movie or was supposed to be the first and was released in 1986. You won't find Anthony Hopkins in it and it is the 'Red Dragon' that was released later. Anthony Hopkin's version of Hannibal Lecter became so huge that they decided to forget Manhunter and made Red Dragon again.

    Oh, I just got reminded of another scene. Remember how a person is sitting on the dining table with his head open and Anthony Hopkins eats his brain. Damn, that was terrifying!

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  10. Oh and Haider is my favorite by Bhardwaj and Shahid.
    Also, I cried buckets watching Hatchi.

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