Surprisingly involving and well-executed by all concerned. Not only are the performances top-notch, but there isn't that feeling of cheap consequence-less thrills that we got with "Hannibal." The pain of each character has substance, even the jokey but still freakish Lecter. Only missteps: Danny Elfman's too-explanatory score and Philip Seymour Hoffman's mumble-shamble act, which has been put to better use elsewhere.… Expand

This film is stupid garbage, and not like HANNIBAL. While its production values cannot be argued, and the performances are mostly rather good (Ralph Fiennes especially), RED DRAGON is silly when it should be cerebral, detached when it should be riveting. It's a sloppily made film, with no narrative cohesiveness and too much of a reliance on audience pleasing theatrics. The crime scenes play out listlessly, like rime scene porn, where characters act serious and toss around buzzwords with rapid frequency. The killings are grotesquely ridiculous, artlessly filmed by Brett Ratner. Still, in the end... it IS Sir Anthony Hopkins, and he clearly relishes his role. As Hannibal, he provides the right balance of amusement and terror, and his playfully coy demeanor is felt in every scene. RED DRAGON is not as intelligent as SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and not nearly as funny as HANNIBAL. It is merely a quick fix excuse for quickie, forgettable entertainment.… Expand

My major problem with "Red Dragon" was the miscasting of Edward Norton as the "manhunter" who had nailed Hannibal in the first place; I usually like Mr. Norton but he seemed to be lacking any intensity or backbone. As a matter of a fact, his portrayal of Will Graham was so sleepy-eyed and lazy that I began to wonder if he had been misinformed that he was playing the part of a sleep-deprived english teacher rather than that of a driven sleuth intent on catching his man. Next time they need to cast someone in the role with just a touch more testosterone; Perhaps one of the Olson twins? Everyone else did a terrific job in their parts but when the key player in a motion picture doesn't work then, well...it just doesn't work! … Expand

Not a bad movie...but nothing memorable either. Hopkins is his usual greatness--even though he goes over the top on occasion. Watson and Fiennes' storyline is compelling as well. However, the film is more of a side dish than a main helping like "Lambs." Several elements of the plot needed to be fleshed out some more and the final act was disappointingly uninvolving. Decent entertainment, but not much more.… Expand

They changed the ending & the script was dull. Better than "Hannibal" but clearly trying way too hard to be "Silence", which it is definitely NOT.

Watchable.

This one earns the coveted mark of the two Gs: "gratuitous" and "grotesque". There isn't a thing about this that isn't overwrought, drawn to needless excess, or purely, simply and openly torpid. There's nothing quite like a film that makes you yearn for work, and this is one such film.

When you're in Hannibal Lecter's universe, it's sometimes too easy to think all the dark atmosphere comes easy. Red Dragon actually works very hard and does the best job at the true uncomfortable yet tantalizing feel in a 'Lecter' flick since Silence of the Lambs. While a few moments are almost cartoonishly out of place, and a few plot threads only make true sense if you read the book (the Toothy Fairy killer's psychosis began when he was adopted by a violent old woman who so traumatized him that he represses almost everything and needs identities to deal with his feelings), it's quite a good movie. Edward Norton carries the helm so that we don't miss Anthony Hopkins too much, and Hopkins does appear often enough to satiate us, though thankfully not too much to completely steal this movie from the real killer like he did in Silence of the Lambs. Hopkins is who we came to the theatre to see, after all.… Expand

This was by far the worst film of the year. It doesn't honor the book at all. It's predictable and bland. For me, the one and only Hannibal Lecter movie is The Silence Of The Lambs. See this movie at YOUR OWN RISK!

Red Dragon is no-where near as good as Silence... and for most of the film is just trying to imitate it. It's well worth watching and a lot less confused than Hannibal.

Not a classic, but a very good and scary movie with interesting characters and detective work. You will enjoy the movie more if you consider Hannibal's presence as a plus and not as a requirement that everything in the film be compared to Silence of the Lambs. Hopkins is fascinating as expected, but I found the best scenes to belong to Fiennes and Watson. Their freakish chemistry is more horrifying than any of the movie's killings.… Expand

This film was very good in telling three stories at once, which is very hard to juggle. Ratner did a fine job in doing so. The acting was fantastic and it gave the fans what they needed: Hannibal before he was captured. It wasn't as stylish as 'Hannibal' nor as well written as "Silence.." but it brought closure to the trilogy with a prequel. This is quite different from the other films [excluding Manhunter], Hannibal was not taunting a vunerable woman, he was taunting the agent who caught him. It was a treat to see Hopkins do that. Somehow the film held an eerie feeling throughout with some surreal shots. This is a very different story so you must expect a very different movie. In short, I enjoyed this movie and try to overlook the negative reviews and decide for yourself.… Expand

Definitely an improvement over "Manhunter." I found this film not quite as fun to watch as "Silence of the Lambs," yet a refreshing step away from Hannibal. Definitely gives more background behind everyone's favorite cannibalistic doctor, and an excellent performance by Edward Norton. Definitely worth a watch.

This is the best book of the Hannibal Lecter trilogy. The movie was fascinating. Was is as good as Silence of the Lambs? No. It was better. I highly recommend this.

Red Dragon escapes"0" only out of respect for its good cast. This is, as the high ratings of both the pros and amateurs above suggest, a juvenile, cultist bit of marketing trash for the admirers of the pompous Harris, who broadcasts his nastiness(the trademark of these times) through Lecter, a spirited bore now. The Village Voice critic seems to be the only one to notice, let alone comment on, the alternately silly, and sententious dialogue. Manhunter was no better than good, as far as that goes, but its workmanlike quality suited the police procedural material well, and allowed the less noted cast, especially the now-omnipresent Brian Cox, to do their work well. Norton might appeal to some viewers as another world-weary detective, but to me his portrayal is more somnabulistic than sympathetically jaded. Go for the laughs. Cheers, Mr. Tally!… Expand

The third installment of the Hannibal Lector trilogy, and prequel to both 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'Hannibal' is a great thriller, that is unfortunatly underrated by most critics. In my opinion, this chapter in the horrifying series is better than 'Hannibal' but slightly not as good as 'The Silence of the Lambs'. Red Dragon definetly has the most acting talent - Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keital, Emily Watson, Mary Louise Parker and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Also, Red Dragon has the least blood and gore, but is probably the scariest film of all of them. The story is about a young hero cop Will Graham (Edward Norton) who in the beginning of the film catches Hannibal Lector (Anthony Hopkins), but leaving both Hannibal and him severly injured. After catching Hannibal, Will decides to retire. About a year into retirement his old cop buddy Lt. Jack Crawford (Harvey Keital) asks for his help on a series of murders down by a serial killer (Ralph Fiennes) the police like to call "The Tooth Fairy". Why Tooth Fairy? Because he is a cannibal just like Hannibal and bites human flesh off his victims leaving a series of bite marks. Will decides to investigate the case, and asking help from Hannibal, since he knows how a criminal thinks. This is a great thriller but unfortunatly not as good as 1991's Best Picture winner 'The Silence of the Lambs'. (2/22/03)… Expand

Essential viewing for those who've developed an appetite for all things Hannibal. Does some things better than expected, other things not so well. As a remake of "Manhunter" it deviates by going Fatal-Attraction with the madman on the second floor of the home of Norton's suitably terrified family, where no self-respecting calculating remorseless serial hellhound would venture.

Ok, I like horror movies, but this is probably one of the best.

The movie " hannibal" was a complete failure so it might be uncounted . 'the red dragon "is exactly the twin of "the silence of the lamp ", it holds the same glorious reasons of smashing success the first chapter possessed . the two transcends old definitions of good and evil but they dig deeper into a more horrifying realms of the human psyche . and in this movie the spectator is as much involved with the criminal as with detective and Dr lecter in between acting the godlike connection .though it fades for some moments , yet the flame of expecting , guessing, waiting, hoping, fearing consumes from within leaving you with an exotic feeling of sweet exhaustion . you are changed somehow although this strange experience has nothing to do with your real life tomorrow morning!… Expand

Unnecessary and bad remake of a masterpiece - "Manhunter".

I was reluctant to see this film as I did not like "Hannibal." But I was pleasantly surprised by it and enjoyed the film. The cast was superb (which really helped it) and there were moments that were truly frightening. Not nearly as good (of course) as "Silence of the Lambs," but a nice turnaround after the disappointment and gross-out carnage of "Hannibal."

Pay no heed to the naysayers, this film is incredible. Ralph Fiennes and Emily Watson give absolutely perfect performances. The guy who says Norton lacked energy must have missed the first fifteen minutes of the movie where his demeanor is explained, at least adequately. Maybe thrilers do all look the same, but there are very few which give us the chance to see great acting in every major role, the only exception being Mary Louise Parker as Norton's wife. Expected more from her. Outside of the three and a half minutes her character doesn't come through, this movie does not go wrong.… Expand

Having never seen the other two of this series, all that I can tell you is that I sat nervously on the edge of my seat as did most of the audience. It scared the SH-T out of me. What more could you ask for? Can't understand the bad reviews.

Enjoyable film, edward norton, as always was excellent. Anthony Hopkins of course reprised his role in this prequel fabulously.

Very good. By far the best movie in the trilogy!

The story is as usual...but the actors are marvellous, specially Ralph Fiennes Emily Watson.

I remember seeing this movie back in 2003 but I only saw the first 30 minutes and never knew the name of the movie. So I finally gave this movie a try without knowing that I have seen it. And it took me by surprise. It`s a great movie but at times it felt a little cheesy. It looked like it had a low budget. Anthony Hopkins is just one of the greatest actors out there and he shows how scary he can be. The story of this movie is great and the twist is ok. It felt like it needed more gore, more blood, more suspense.… Expand

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I loved Red Dragon. I liked the dark atmosphere, Norton waws really good, the opening scenes with Lecter before he got caught were excellent, and a great introduction to the whole story. Ralph Fiennes was excellent, in my opinion he deserved an oscar nomination for his portrayal of the 'Tooth Fairy'. And I think this is a point where Red Dragon is superior to The Silence of the Lambs. The real villain isn't overshadowed by Lecter. Lecter is still active, and in this movie (not as much as in the Silence, of course) but the otehr villain is great too. Buffalo Bill never really impressed me. The twist is great, towards the end, this is really a really enjoyable movie, the music was fitting as well. The performances are all excellent. 9/10… Expand