RED DRAGON
Released: October 4, 2002
Hey, wasn't there already a good movie made of the Thomas Harris book "Red Dragon"? Yes! It was made in 1986 by Michael Mann and is called "Manhunter", starring TV's "CSI" star William Petersen with Brian Cox as the Hannibal Lecter character. Now, "Manhunter" is just fine as it is. But the studio, desiring another Lecter flick, wanted "Red Dragon" remade with its present Lecter star Anthony Hopkins. After Ridley Scott's 2001 literally over the top "Hannibal" it was decided that IF another Lecter film was to be done then it needed, ummm, less Ridley Scott. This isn't the job for just any hack director yet it seems that's who they picked - Brett Ratner from the "Rush Hour" movies wouldn't be MY first (or even tenth) choice to direct a Hannibal Lecter movie but hey - I suppose he's paid his dues by now. Chronologically, "Red Dragon" takes place BEFORE "Silence Of The Lambs", before Jodie Foster's Clarise Starling was ever involved in the Lecter case. Filling the Foster FBI role is one of our best male actors working today, Edward Norton. He sinks his teeth into this role and the scenes with him annd Hopkins are fun to watch, providing lots of laughs even... On Lecter's menu this time around with Norton are Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker and Philip Seymour Hoffman. In blink-and-you-miss-them and uncredited roles are Robin Wright Penn and Frank Whaley.
136 Minutes
MGM/Universal