[Hannibal Rising]
Plot:A prequel to "Silence of the Lambs", which tells of the series of events that led to Hannibal Lecter becoming a cannibal.

Cast: Gaspard Ulliel, Gong Li, Rhys Ifans, Richard Brake, Kevin McKidd.

My Thoughts:An interesting new look at Hannibal Lecter.

Review:So here's the deal, I got a chance to see this film at an early screening last night where the films stars Gong Li, Gaspard Ulliel, and one of the Weinstein Brothers were in attendance. I really had no idea what to expect from this movie for a number of reasons. First off, it was a prequel. Prequel's are unpredictable. Sometimes they can be good, and add a totally new dimension to a story. Other times, they can royally suck and just do further damage to an already dead series (see texas chainsaw massacre the beginning for example). Second, not many images had come online from the movie, and the tv spots have been few and far between. A lack of promotion is usually never a good thing. At any rate, "Hannibal Rising" lacks the thrills and excitement of "Silence Of The Lambs", and "Hannibal". But it is a great story, which if you can switch your mind to appreciating good storytelling over a lack of entertainment value most of the way through, you should like this movie as much as I did when it opens next Friday. "Hannibal Rising" starts off with the battle between Russian and German SS troops during World War II. A battle which spills over into the territory of a young Hannibal Lecter, his sister Mischa, and his mother and father. ALl are planning to escape the area before they die in the crossfire, but before the family can leave the area a Russian tank approaches, with the occupants inside looking for water. During their obtaining of liquids, a German plane fires on them and they return fire. The plane crashes into the tank killing Hannibal's entire family in the process. This tragic turn of events leaves Hannibal alone to fend for himself and look after his young sister. Unfortunately more trouble finds Hannibal as a group of evil, sadistic SS soldiers decide to take refuge inside his home, and chain up him and his little sister. As the days pass the soldiers get more and more famished due to nonexistent resources, and before the film fast forwards a few years later to when Hannibal is a teenage boy, we're left with a stare down between the soldiers and Hannibal and his little sister. It's left up to our imagination at that point what happens to Hannibal's sister Mischa but the scene pretty much hints at the "worst case scenario". The basic story of "Hannibal Rising" is a simple one played out with class and some very powerful scenes. Hannibal as a teenager is confined to an orphanage, which ironically enough used to be his family's home. After escaping in the middle of the night, he soon takes reufuge with a wealthy Japanese woman named Lady Murasaki, who takes him in, and who also happens to be the widow of his uncle. Lecter however has much larger plans in mind, which is where "Hannibal Rising" finally begins to take off a bit. Hannibal manages to get the names and locations of the SS soldiers who did away with his sister all the years ago, and thus begins his blood-soaked quest for revenge. Thomas Harris who penned the novel and the screenplay for the film adaptation of "Hannibal Rising" makes sure to give the audience the perfect counter to all of the gruesome and dark Lecter behavior though. As Hannibal begins to track down his enemies, he also starts to fall for Lady Murasaki. Even going as far as to teach a very "painful" lesson to an Anglo man who makes crude comments about certain parts of her body. Gaspard Ulliel and Gong Li have a very good on-screen chemistry in this film, and it's pretty cool to watch them act together in scenes and their relationship slowly develop into a full fledged love affair. It's also very fun to watch because as Hannibal spends more and more time with the Lady, he's also finding time to leave her residence, and pick off his enemies one by one. It does seem a bit morbid at times, that Lecter is displaying all of this love and affection in one part of his life, and then later on is commiting horrific and gruesome acts of violence against human beings. Bad human being of course, but human beings nonetheless. Of course the films early scenes manage to surpress any feelings of pity or compassion you might feel for these men who were responsible for the death of his little sister. Harris manages to make his villains so villainous that you can't feel one iota or shred of pity for these fiends. One of the films most gruesome scenes comes when Lecter corners Richard Brake's character Dortlich, and performs are pretty graphic act of murder upon him with a rope and a horse. But "Hannibal Rising"'s best scenes come in the movies climax when Hannibal comes for one of the two final target's on his list, who proves not to be as easy of a conquest as the previous soldiers. He eventually manages to escape, and kidnaps Lady Murasaki, forcing Hannibal to partake in a classic rescue mission to save her, and do battle with the man as well. This is one of my favorite scenes from the movie becuse it's not only the most graphic but it also has a slight James Bond-ish tone to it. With Lady Murasaki being held prisoner on a boat and Lecter having to deal with a Henchmen or two in order to get the info he needs as to her whereabouts. "Hannibal Rising" is a strong entry into the series, which really gives it's best effort entertainment wise in the final act, while spending acts 1 and 2 telling a brilliant story and building an intriguing relationship between it's two main characters. It was much better than I had expected it to be.

Positives:Great performances by Li, and and Ulliel. Some very gruesome scenes late in act two and in act three. Good ending too. A solid story.

Negatives:Acts 1 and 2 drag at times.

Overall:A really impressive prequel to "Silence Of The Lambs" which gives us a very intriguing look into what made Hannibal Lecter into the man that he is.





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