Reading "Hannibal Rising"

[Sequoia]

I found the book in the library which was a "Walk-in" since there is a waiting list. I thought I didn't want to read it because "Silence" was quite a movie and I wasn't about to read "Red Dragon". It's actually quite good but distrubing too. I remember reading Harris' "Black Sunday" years and years ago which was made into a cool movie.

[PCIntern]

1. Compelling stuff...

his simplicity of language coupled with his imagery is almost as good as Doctorow's.

[Sequoia]

2. I'll have to agree.

When I opened the book I thought: I can't read this, the font is too large.

Silly me. He writes like a non-American, little use of flowery adverbs and unecessary details, i.e., "He walked to the car. He opened up the door and sat down. He put his key in the ignition and turned it...bla, bla, bla."

[Cheap_Trick]

3. Red Dragon

Great book. Made into a better film...MANHUNTER.

[Orrex]

5. Pfft!

Maybe it was great at the time, but it's aged very badly IMO. The performances are flat and are all but indistinguishable from any 1980's made-for-tv crime movie of the week. Brian Cox is a damn fine actor, but his Lector seems like a cuddly and ineffectual caricature compared with Hopkin's portrayal.

YMMV, of course.

[Cheap_Trick]

10. to each their own

Over at www.rottentomatoes.com, Manhunter has a 91% positive score( http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1013248-manhunter/) vs. Red Dragon's 69% (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/red_dragon/). I much prefer Brian Cox's Lektor over Hopkin's Lector. Where Cox was understated and menacing, Hopkins was over the top cartoony. But, like I said, to each their own. Manhunter has aged just fine. It is simply a product of it's time.

[mitchum]

11. I agree; Hopkins chews up more scenery than he does livers or faces

I've always thought Hopkins was what I call a "pirate movie actor"

[Orrex]

4. I'm surprised to hear that

Seldom in the history of literature, cinema, or tv has any insane villain actually benefited dramatically from an expose of his or her origins.

[Sequoia]

6. Bush comes to mind.

[Orrex]

7. Sadly true

And much more horrifying.

:scared:

[pitohui]

8. not a bad read

i'm not sure hannibal would want us to "understand" or "sympathize" with him tho...

[Forkboy]

9. I liked it better than Hannibal

But still think Red Dragon is the best of the bunch.

I haven't seen the movie yet,but my father,who is a major fan of the series (and any serial killer book),said it was pretty good fun.