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Red Dragon

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Red Dragon (2002)

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Reviews Counted:183

Fresh:125

Rotten:58

Average Rating:6.4/10

Consensus: Competently made, but everything is a bit too familiar.

Runtime: 2 hrs 5 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Synopsis: Based on the novel by Thomas Harris, RED DRAGON stars Edward Norton as Will Graham, the intuitive FBI agent who captured the notorious Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). When another... Based on the novel by Thomas Harris, RED DRAGON stars Edward Norton as Will Graham, the intuitive FBI agent who captured the notorious Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). When another killer, dubbed "the Tooth Fairy," begins a series of bizarre, seemingly random killings, the now-retired Graham reluctantly agrees to aid in the investigation. In order to get further into the mind set of the murderer, Graham consults the imprisoned Lecter, who offers cryptic commentary that the determined agent must decipher. However, the Tooth Fairy himself, Francis Dolarhyde (Ralph Fiennes), is also in contact with the infamous epicurean, and the case soon develops into a deadly cat-and-mouse game, with Lecter deviously playing both sides. Rather than attempting to remake MANHUNTER--Michael Mann's 1986 adaptation of RED DRAGON starring William L. Petersen as Graham and Brian Cox as Lecter--or recreate the monster-movie atmosphere of HANNIBAL, director Brett Ratner wisely chooses to focus on the character-driven specifics of the first Hannibal Lecter novel. As in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, the unblinking Hopkins makes the most out of his screen time as the eloquent yet terrifying former forensic psychologist. Norton is excellently understated as the talented investigator, while Fiennes explores the full range of his conflicted character, from a sensitive man-child to a methodical psychopath. These key performances are enhanced by strong supporting turns by Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Harvey Keitel, and Mary-Louise Parker. Ratner's capable direction extends to his choice of crew, which includes SILENCE OF THE LAMBS screenwriter Ted Tally and production designer Kristen Zea, as well as MANHUNTER cinematographer Dante Spinotti. This collection of talent combines to create an engaging and eerie thriller that brings the Hopkins-as-Lecter trilogy full circle. [More]

Starring: Edward Norton, Anthony Hopkins, Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson

Starring: Edward Norton, Anthony Hopkins, Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson, Harvey Keitel, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mary Louise Parker, Anthony Heald, Ken Leung, Frankie Faison

Director: Brett Ratner

Director: Brett Ratner
Screenwriter: Ted Tally
Producer: Dino De Laurentiis, Martha De Laurentiis
Composer: Danny Elfman
Studio: Universal Pictures

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Reviews for Red Dragon

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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A decent enough entertainment that sticks closely to the novel.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
02/07/07
Philip French
Philip French
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Where Mann and Demme steered the hokum away from dull genre generalities, Ratner's point-and-film literalness churns out a thriller by rote, shorn of the psychological dogfighting that distinguished the first two films.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
12/15/03
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]

A thoroughly entertaining, efficiently mounted thriller.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
05/02/03
Ian Freer
Ian Freer
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Did we really need a new version of this prequel Lecter episode, after Michael Mann's Manhunter, which had Brian Cox in the chomping role?

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
11/19/02
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Impeccably cast and superbly-acted, this is a well-directed, enjoyable thriller.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/30/02
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

A mess. The screenplay does too much meandering, Norton has to recite bland police procedural details, Fiennes wanders around in an attempt to seem weird and distanced, Hopkins looks like a drag queen.

Full Review Source: UK Critic | comment Comment
10/23/02
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
10/13/02
This is London

For all the director's shortcomings, the material survives.

Full Review Source: FilmFour.com | comment Comment
10/13/02
Matthew De Abaitua
Matthew De Abaitua
FilmFour.com

'Red Dragon is the Harry Potter of serial killer movies.'

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
10/11/02
Paul Arendt
Paul Arendt
Teletext

Hannibal Lecter gourmets may feel a long-digested movie is repeating on them, but if this really is your first time, savour the taste.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
10/02/02
Nev Pierce
Nev Pierce
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It certainly feels like a cheap cash-in!

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
10/02/02
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Mark Halverson
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Newsweek | comment Comment
04/07/08
David Ansen
David Ansen
Newsweek

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

The film oozes contempt for its audience, caring nothing for the characters or suspense and only craving money.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
02/17/07
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Frank Whaley and Philip Seymour Hoffman play minor characters so annoying they might as well wear T-shirts reading 'Eat My Brain.'

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
02/07/07
J. R. Jones
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader

Who would've guessed the guy who gave us Money Talks, Rush Hour and The Family Man had what it takes to realize a thriller as smartly effective as this?

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Rick Kisonak
Rick Kisonak
Film Threat

Hopkins should know better than to lessen the impact of these performances with redundant encores.

Full Review Source: Looking Closer | comment Comment
01/15/05
Jeffrey Overstreet
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
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Latest News for Red Dragon

February 08, 2007: Box Office Guru Preview: Comedy vs. Cannibals at the Multiplexes
Moviegoers get to choose between a master comic taking on three roles or a diabolical screen villain in his early years when they walk into their local multiplex this weekend. More...

October 20, 2006: Early Test Screener Digs the New "Hannibal" Flick
It's time once again for another installment of "Early & Enthusiastic Amateur Film Critic," a regular series of articles over at AICN. This time the test screening... More...

June 05, 2006: Feel Like Spoiling the New "Lecter" Flick for Yourself?
Frankly I'd rather read a book about Scientology than a "test-screening preview review," but my job is to share the scoopage, so click right here if you'd like to read... More...

May 25, 2006: Critical Consensus: "X-Men: The Last Stand" On Shaky Ground
We've only got one wide release this week, but it's a biggie: "X-Men: The Last Stand." Brett Ratner is at the helm, virtually all the principle characters are back,... More...

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