Any "Silence of the Lambs" out there?  If so, dont see this movie.  Because as horrible as the earlier ones are (Silence, red Dragon), this one is not.  Except for the cannibalism.

SPOILER WARNING!  Read no Further if you dont want to be spoiled on the movie.

Ok, still here (all 1 of you?)?  The origin of Hannibal is in 1944 Lithuania.  The eastern front.  Some Lithuanians, trying to break free of Russia, have hooked up with some Germans.  Cept the Germans dont hold to the bargain and so they go mercenary.

And find Hannibal and his sister.  And eat her (that was not uncommon actually over there in that time frame).  So the rest of the movie is Hannibal fulfilling his promise to avenge his little sisters death.  Not really bad actually.  You find yourself actually rooting for him.  Until he starts eating the cheek of a living victim!  Oh well, I guess they needed that to pull in some more money.

But seriously, this is not a "Silence of the lambs" type of movie.  It is no where near that good.  It is a "Get them suckers' type of movie and that is why you are actually cheering for him.  Until his Aunt tells him "There is very little left in you to love" .  That kind of brings home that vengence is not a path, but an end.  And once you have sated yourself to it, what then?  Sure we all want to wail on the bad guys and girls.  But if that is our life purpose, what then?

The critics gave this one a 2 thumbs down (since after that line from his aunt, he still ate the cheek and killed the last cretin).  But I like the fact that they could at least make one think about the vengence issue without lecturing us.  (I guess the end was for the horror fans). I give it 2.5 out of 4.

And if you are into the Hannibal lecter series, I recommend it.