[Review: Film] Manhunter

loopymoo · Post by **loopymoo** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 10:35 am

We bought this on video thinking it was going to be better than Red Dragon, unfortunately it was absolute pants.

After seeing Red Dragon, we realised, this film wasn't ever going to be in the same league. The guy who plays Lecter, just didnt have the same air of spookiness around him.

If you watch Manhunter then go to see Red Dragon, you will appreciate how well made Red Dragon is, vice versa, you will realise how badly made Manhunter is.

Loopy 12th November 2002

Post by **Kajun** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 10:47 am

Hehe. 99% of the world's movie fans disagree with you both, but hey, what the hell.

loopymoo · Post by **loopymoo** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 12:12 pm

Wanna borrow it and watch it yourself, for your opinion, or have you already seen it, and what did you think.

Hanohtep · Post by **Hanohtep** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 12:42 pm

I love Manhunter, I think it is a superb film. I'm pretty sure Kajun has seen it too and likes it.

A friend of mine watched Red Dragon the other day and he said that it just doesn't have the same impact as Manhunter. I've not seen Red Dragon yet so won't say that Manhunter is better - but it is a superb film.

Post by **Kajun** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 12:47 pm

I think it's an excellent film too. Most of the print reviews I've seen of Red Dragon indicate that they preferred Manhunter's interpretation of the book.

Hanohtep · Post by **Hanohtep** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 12:56 pm

Jonathon Ross said that the only reason that Red Dragon was made was to make money, Manhunter was an excellent film that didn't do well in the box office at the time but has made up for it now. The film studio just wanted to make lots of money so they remade what was a good film.

loopymoo · Post by **loopymoo** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 1:24 pm

Im Surprised my honey bunny hasn't been in here saying anything

:lol:

Post by **Kajun** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 1:42 pm

Technically they remade what was probably a good book. So there are two films which are based on the same book, rather than one film based on a film based on a book. Is this important? I doubt it. Apologies.

loopymoo · Post by **loopymoo** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 2:15 pm

Technically you are correct. They only remade Manhunter in order to give Anthony Hopkins the full works of Hannibal Lector

kenjafield · Post by **kenjafield** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 2:26 pm

Looking at the films that we say - and I think that so far we're the only ones to see both and compare here - Red Dragon is much better than Manhunter. Red dragon was slicker, better acted, and thoroughly more satisfying than Manhunter. Watching Manhunter, I found it too jumpy, going from scene to scene but missing the essential glue that held the story together. Red dragon may have gone a wee bit too far the other way, but I felt that as a film it was easier to watch, more enjoyable and simply better made.

The main differences for me - the acting was better in Red Dragon (particularly Ralph Feinnes and Ed Norton); the story was better told; the extra build up to scenes gave them added edge. Not to take away from Manhunter, but I felt that overall Red Dragon was better.

Post by **Kajun** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 2:29 pm

But they didn't remake Manhunter, FFS. They made Red Dragon, based on the book, Red Dragon. Manhunter was a film based on the book/interpretation of the book, of Red Dragon.

kenjafield · Post by **kenjafield** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 2:33 pm

fair enough Kaj! But some scenes were word-for-word identical.

Having not read the book, I'm only talking about the films.

Post by **Kajun** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 2:38 pm

Well, they're rip-off merchants and should be poisoned, then. If they've stolen half of it from Manhunter, then how can Red Dragon be any good, with that knowledge?

kenjafield · Post by **kenjafield** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 2:39 pm

A-ha! They've stolen half it from the book! FFS, you contradict yourself young sire! Some scenes are word-for-word identical, no doubt because that's how the book went! But there are many extra scenes that help, and the new versions of the scenes are better made - that's my point!

Post by **Kajun** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 2:51 pm

You can't handle the point!

loopymoo · Post by **loopymoo** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 3:07 pm

Children Children tut tut

Ice · Post by **Ice** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 3:45 pm

I haven't seen Red Dragon yet, but I thought Manhunter was excellent - very atmospheric and while Lecter didn't have the charm, it was made up for by the Dragon himself. I was sure Philip Seymour Hoffman was in Manhunter, but it turns out he was in Red Dragon, so maybe I have seen the new one... Hmmm??

Hanohtep · Post by **Hanohtep** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 4:03 pm

I thought Brian Cox was chilling as Lecter in Manhunter. I agree that he doesn't have the charm of Hopkins but he's still superb.

kenjafield · Post by **kenjafield** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 4:24 pm

I thought that overall the acting in red Dragon was better. It's hard to compare the 2 Lecters (Or Lecktor in Manhunter) as Hopkins had more scenes than Cox. 2 actors playing it differently, that's all. But I found a lot of the cast in Manhunter a bit wooden. Maybe I watched the films the wrong way round