How far we've come since 1986. Our minds were unsettled after Manhunter. Our stomachs are unsettled after Red Dragon.
Red Dragon (2002)
Tomatometer
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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
Reviews for Red Dragon
Achieves the near impossible: It washes the bad taste out of your mouth from the hideous sequel to Lambs, the despicable Hannibal.
[Fiennes'] hypnotic portrayal of the tortured Francis Dolarhyde is so threateningly sympathetic, you may fear for the actor's own sanity.
Is Red Dragon worthy of a place alongside the other Hannibal movies? As Hannibal would say, yes, 'It’s like having an old friend for dinner'.
Did eventually hook me by the halfway point, and I ultimately enjoyed it.
Like most motion pictures whose sole reason for existing is the almighty dollar, Red Dragon is poorly conceived and poorly executed.
A thriller made from a completist's checklist rather than with a cultist's passion.
The once menacing Lecter has become a punchline, a familiar figure carrying the menacing weight of a Jason Voorhees or a Freddy Krueger.
With such a great story and a stellar, star-studded cast, there is very little to complain about, other than the fact it didn't really need to be remade in the first place.
Impresses as a skillfully assembled, highly polished and professional adaptation...just about as chilling and unsettling as 'Manhunter' was.
I can think of no earthly reason to remake an excellent example of film noir other than the calculating ka-ching of box office dollars.
flat and plodding ... film that covers all of the bases, albeit none exceptionally or memorably.
Red Dragon is so good that it might be the final word on Hannibal Lecter.
The great tragedy of the exercise is the jaw-dropping number of once-courageous talent who collaborated in its mindless, avaricious creation.
Even though the source material precedes the second Harris novel adaptation, the new film feels like a rehash of Jonathan Demme’s classic work.
If you're a fan of the series you'll love it and probably want to see it twice. I will be.
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:
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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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