Synopsis
The story of the early, murderous roots of the cannibalistic killer, Hannibal Lecter – from his hard-scrabble Lithuanian childhood, where he witnesses the repulsive lengths to which hungry soldiers will go to satiate themselves, through his sojourn in France, where as a med student he hones his appetite for the kill.
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Cast
- Gaspard UllielHannibal Lecter
- Aaran ThomasHannibal Lecter (young)
- Gong LiLady Murasaki
- Dominic WestInspector Popil
- Rhys IfansVladis Grutas
- Richard BrakeEnrikas Dortlich
- Kevin McKiddPetras Kolnas
- Stephen WaltersZigmas Milko
- Ivan MarevichBronys Grentz
- Helena-Lia TachovskáMischa Lecter
Recommendations
- 42
Christian Science Monitor
Thomas Harris adapted his own bestseller and Peter Webber, who previously directed "Girl with a Pearl Earring," had the unenviable task of trying to give this glop, which is too gruesome to be campy, a high gloss. It should be called Man With a Severed Head. - 40
Empire
Gong Li is welcome as Hannibal's Japanese aunt-in-law/mentor, Gaspard Ulliel isn't a bad young Lecter and Webber's direction is intermittently classy -- but this is a footnote rather than a film. - 40
Washington Post
The movie streamlines much of Harris's book. It's a shame, because it results in the movie's fundamental flaw -- the one-dimensionality of Hannibal. - 30
Austin Chronicle
Who would have thought mass murder and cannibalism could be so dull? - 30
Los Angeles Times
Bad as Harris' Hannibal Rising screenplay (his first) is, at least it's an improvement on his dreadful book, streamlining its convoluted action and discarding large chunks of unspeakable dialogue. - 25
Chicago Tribune
A sort-of combination of "Lambs," "Batman Begins" and "The Joy of Cooking," Hannibal Rising ostensibly dramatizes the atrocities that turned Hannibal Lecter from loving child to serial killer. But this film is larded up with so many food references that I'm undecided whether this story belongs in a film compendium or a recipe file. - 25
ReelViews
The funniest movie of the year - a true laugh riot. Viewers will be holding their sides to contain the laughter. Forget Borat - if you're looking for something hilarious, this is the movie to see. What's that? It's not supposed to be a comedy. Oops. - 25
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Not just a bad film, Hannibal Rising is downright dull, which is a far worse crime.
