Directed by Peter Webber Starring Gaspard Ulliel, Gong Li, Rhys Ifans, Dominic West Released between the 7th and 22nd of February in different countries. 29th May in the US. Budget 50M Box Office 82M
Concept
Lithuania, 1941. The Baltic region is seeing some of the most brutal fighting of the Second-World War, spurned by Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union. 8 year old Hannibal leaves his home Lecter Catle with his mother, father and younger sister Mischa (pronounced Mish-ca). For three years they evade the advancing German forces by residing in a hunting lodge, and now they are fleeing from the Soviets.
A soviet tank arrives at the lodge searching for supplies, when a German Luftwaffe destroys the tank, killing not only the soldiers inside, but Hannibal's parents as well. He takes care of Mischa until several Lithuanian men, working for the Nazis storm in and forcefully steal supplies. When the men begin to starve in the winter, Mischa is then used to survive...
It is now the late 40's, Stalin owns Lithuania and Lecter Castle has been renovated into an orphanage, one Hannibal attends. The harsh treatment and his misanthropic rage against the world he escapes into France to find his uncle, and to kill the Lithuanian collaborators.
See the origin of how a young Hannibal became cinemas most disturbed predator. From an innocent child thrown into a war he couldn't understand to becoming a medical student and tracking down the men who murdered his sister. Can he overcome the urge of vengeance? Or will he fall into his own madness, only to rise?
Review
Being a prequel isn't easy, but this film has you hooked from the very beginning, the journey you are taken on is so much different than Hannibal lecter's portrayal in both Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon. You really connect and feel for this young boy who turns into what he becomes by the conclusion of the film. Filmed in Prague the settings for an Eastern European feel is right there and absolutely spot on.
This movie is based upon the novel of the same name, written in 2006 by Thomas Harris. The movie was heavily negatively reviewed by critics, and nearly won awards for 'worst prequel/sequel' and 'worst horror movie excuse'. The film soon dropped out of top ten lists and faded into sequel or should I say prequel obscurity.
Ignore the critics, give this film a watch and tell us what you personally think. If you love psychological, revenge and elements of slasher thrown in this is the film for you. It is a lot more gorier and violent than Silence of the Lambs but with good reason, Hannibal is not in a heavily fortified prison he is out on the streets of Paris.
Give this flick a try, if you have seen it don't forget to follow, like and share and leave any comments below.
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