Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

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Mixed or average reviews- based on 75 Ratings

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  • Starring: , ,
  • Summary: In "Red Dragon" we learned who he was. In "Silence of the Lambs" we learned how he did it. Now comes the most chilling chapter in the life of Hannibal Lecter -- the one that answers the most elusive question of all -- why? (MGM)
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 30
  2. Negative: 14 out of 30
  1. Hannibal Rising isn't a classic, but it's entertaining and a surprisingly fitting addition to the franchise.
  2. Reviewed by: Jenni Miller
    The story's beginning is in a rush to get to the the killings, which get more and more disgusting.
  3. What Hannibal Rising is, mostly, is a hoot.
  4. 40
    Ulliel, the meek missing soldier in "A Very Long Engagement," makes such a tedious Lecter that this quickly becomes a chore, though Dominic West ("The Wire") is good as a French detective on the madman's trail.
  5. Reviewed by: Josh Rosenblatt
    Who would have thought mass murder and cannibalism could be so dull?
  6. Reviewed by: Phil Vettel
  7. Silly, slack and unforgivably tedious, Thomas Harris's screenplay is padded with interminable flashbacks and a bombastic score that telegraphs every emotion Hannibal represses. And there are a lot of them.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 30
  2. Negative: 12 out of 30
  1. SergioJ.
    Jun 1, 2007
    I don't understand why this movie received very terrilbe reviews. It was one of the best recent movies I have viewed. Ive never seen the other two in the Lecter series but this sure is good. Expand
  2. KayceeM.
    Feb 20, 2007
    I actually liked this movie. It wasn't the best, true, but it was still entertaining. It's easier to just watch it as it's own movie, and try not to compare it to Silence of the Lambs. It may be a little slow, but overall, it was pretty alright. Expand
  3. Feb 24, 2013
    Contrary to popular belief, this movie is not about Anthony Hopkins experimenting with Viagra. In fact, the man who made Hannibal Lecter a household name, doesn't so much as have a cameo in this film. Hannibal Rising takes the story to where it's never been before, back to the beginning. We see a young Hannibal in Europe, during WWII, and we learn how he grew into the monster he became. What made this different from the other Lecter films, was that Hannibal is seen as a good guy for much of the film, just out seeking revenge. French film star Gaspard Ulliel is fantastic in his first American film and was the perfect choice to play a young lecter. As a fan of the film franchise, I found this movie fascinating, but as an outsider I can see how some people would find it a bit long and slow. Expand
  4. PatC.
    Jul 3, 2007
    After five minutes the premise is a foregone conclusion: Young Hannibal sets out on a vendetta to find closure with past dinner guests who had served up his sister as the main course. It makes sense as a tale of revenge, but is neither engaging nor indicative as to how he went on to become the insanely dispassionate gourmet irrepressibly played by Hopkins. Upon reflection it does explain why Hannibal was attracted to Starling and her quest to come to terms with her past, but this only makes Silence of the Lambs more of an achievement. It does not make Hannibal Rising a better movie, and the procession of blown opportunities is the most shocking thing about it. I hope that any sequel concerning Hannibal's transitional years serves up whoever wrote the unimaginative dialogue. Expand
  5. ChristopherW.
    May 30, 2007
    High production values and evocative imagery and photography aside, this film should never have been made. The entire captivating Hannibal mythos is replaced by ennui and routine. It's just another gory slasher exploitation flick, nothing else. If you love gory slasher exploitation flicks, be my guest. Have at it! All others stay clear! Collapse
  6. mattk.
    Jul 9, 2007
    I really hated this movie. The acting is really bad--I'm not a drama student and I don't pretend to understanding acting, but the dialogue, acting, even the accent seems off. Expand
  7. EricC.
    Mar 23, 2007
    I'm not really reviewing this movie. It's crap, period. I just want to point out the plost holes in Emo Kid's review.This was your first R rated movie, but you're a fan of the Hannibal series? And the reason they didn't make this movie first isn't because they didn't want to turn hurt their franchise. It's because the book for this movie was written long after the previous novels and was just recently published. And it sucks because Harris was pretty much blackmailed in to writing the prequel, and probably intentially made it garbage. Now stop spewing nonsense, Kid. Expand

See all 30 User Reviews