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As the Soviet Union redraws its borders in the wake of World War II, swaths of independent Eastern Europe come under the bitter yoke of Soviet domination. In Lithuania, one teenager, orphaned by the war and mute from the horrors he has endured, finds himself incarcerated in a Soviet orphanage, where he bridles against his classmates' ruthless hazing and rebels against the place's rigid pecking order. But this is no ordinary boy, it's the young Hannibal Lecter. He makes a remarkable escape from the iron curtain and journeys to the outskirts of Paris, France.
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Rated:
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[ MA ]
STRONG VIOLENCE, STRONG THEMES
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Cinema release:
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8 Feb 2007
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Director:
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Peter Webber
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Running time:
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121 mins
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Stars:
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Gaspard Ulliel, Gong Li, Helena Lia Tachovska, Rhys Ifans, Dominic West
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Links:
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Official Site
IMDb
Rotten Tomatoes
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What we say
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Birth of a monster
Riveting from start to finish, "Hannibal Rising" is so well executed on screen that it manages to overcome its reputation as a box office cash-in.
When Thomas Harris's novel about the origins of Hannibal Lecter was released in December 2006, it was savaged by critics - and rightly so; it felt like a blue-print of a character whose evil was always deliciously appealing because his motivations were a mystery. By unlocking the door to his past, Harris was effectively demystifying one of literature's (and cinema's) classic villains.
But thanks to Peter Webber's (Girl with a Pearl Earring) beautiful direction, Ben Davis's lush cinematography, an improved screenplay from Harris himself and some terrific performances, "Hannibal Rising" is an entertaining movie that earns its place in the Lecter saga.
The film opens in Lithuania during World War II, where young Hannibal (Aaron Thomas) watches as his family is slaughtered - and his beloved sister Mischa (Helena Lia Tachovska) is eaten by a pack of looters, led by Vladis Grutas (Rhys Ifans).
Blocking the memory from his mind, a mute Hannibal (Gaspard Ulliel) struggles through his teen years at a Soviet orphanage before escaping to France, where he finds comfort in the arms of his late uncle's Japanese widow, Lady Murasaki (Gong Li).
Murasaki helps Hannibal to regain his confidence through lessons in art and culture, but his desire for revenge against his sister's murderers consumes him - and gives birth to the character we know as "the monster".
"Hannibal Rising" is a different beast to the other films in the series; it's not a crime thriller like "Red Dragon" or "The Silence of the Lambs", and it's not the gothic opera that was "Hannibal". It operates as a stand-alone period drama with elements of horror - there is enough graphic violence to satisfy the bloodthirsty.
Gaspard Ulliel (A Very Long Engagement) gives a deliciously camp performance as the title character; his impression of Anthony Hopkins in the police interrogation scenes is spot-on.
The film is not without its faults. An early sequence in which Murasaki trains Hannibal in the ways of the samurai plays like a weak rip-off from "Batman Begins", and the film is perhaps 20 minutes too long. As a prequel, the suspense is diminished because audiences know the outcome.
Bring out the fava beans and chianti - Hannibal Lecter is back.
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Find more info on Hannibal Rising with Bing Search
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What you say
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Add a review
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What you say
outstanding
This movie adds a unique look into the psyche of a madman and what makes him do what he does. His past created him. His suffering was heartfelt and I was filled with empathy for him.
Karen
Helena, MONTANA
4 Oct 2007
Disappointment
I went to this movie thinking it was going to be just as good as the other Hannibal movies. Complete disappoinment. I wouldn't recomment this to anyone.
Clarissa Stevens
Broke, NSW
3 Apr 2007
Disappointing...
...and dull. What a shame, it could have been so much better.
Bill
Sydney, NSW
22 Feb 2007
Lecter's madness
 
Brilliant movie, great pace. But could have been a stand alone movie, not quite a Hannibal Lecter movie - could have been anyone gone mad.
Matt
Sydney, NSW
20 Feb 2007
This meal is cold, take it away please
"Hannibal Rising" is one of the most boring Hannibal Lecter movies yet. Though, it did deliver a fair bit of gore.
The film is more along the lines of a drama-romance-crime type of movie.
Gaspard Ulliel did a good job as Hannibal Lecter.
"Hannibal Rising" does have a good story line, but it is not for those who were expecting another "Red Dragon" or "Silence of the Lambs". I guess that it is pretty hard to make a Hannibal movie without the great Anthony Hopkins. As the review says, it does go for a bit too long, my butt was aching throughout the whole movie.
Dean
Umina, NSW
19 Feb 2007
What goes up must come down
And down we fall... the 'rising' of Hannibal is nothing short of unnecessary.
Shafted
Melb, VIC
19 Feb 2007
Worth seeing
My wife and I saw this movie and thought it was great. It was very well written and produced, and highly entertaining though not for the faint hearted.
Paul
Mullaloo, WA
18 Feb 2007
The horse is dead
Someone call the RSPCA; when will they stop flogging this dead horse?
lee
Sydney, NSW
10 Feb 2007
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