Hannibal Rising

[mancosbob]

This is one film that gets the viewer another step closer to discovering the door that opens into your own innermost darkness; whether that door is locked or not, no longer matters, it might swing open by itself after watching this. The end of European nobility is hinted at; title and property are sacrificed to the "spread the wealth" people Ayn Rand wrote about so fondly. Lots of history is hinted at and touched upon, but on a more personal, as opposed to a scolastic, level; this adds a very convincing feel of connection, and also more reality to this movie.

Without spoiling the plot, I can only lightly skim the surface of the story; boy is a loving son, boy deals with losses during WWII, some are easier to deal with than others. Boy meets fine looking Aunt who is decended from a Samurai family, boy goes to Med School, and begins tracking down his dear old friends from a dinner party he attended during the war.

A young Hannibal also has some kendo 101 training with the best looking instructor I have seen in quite a while. The tamashigiri practice by the river is particulary rewarding for its 'salute' to Samurai tradition and honor; did I forget to mention the secret word? Butter.

The psychological maze, that young Hannibal's mind twists into, is nothing short of fascinating to watch take shape. As sharp witted as his character was in 'Silence of the Lambs', add to that the experimental nature of youth, and you have a character and film that offers both sexes what they need to keep them entertained from start to finish. I gave it 5 stars at Netflix, but its also running on HBO or Shotime this month (10/2008).

Damn fine flick people, give it a spin if you feel....cheeky. :detective:

[goose710]

I too thought it a GOOD movie but was ripped by da folks at som (names withheld )no accounting for taste. I too thought the back story of how da cannibal, Hannibal was created was pretty cool! and i liked da way he got his evens on dat fish monger for his insult!
da gooseman

[Kurubushi Kamu]

Spoiler Alert! The only thing I disagreed with was the fact that if the body had choji oil on it..that sword was very over - oiled! The saya must've been a mess..! KK

[mancosbob]

Okay, I can see that. Then again, it was not a sword film, it was a sword used in a film and Hannibal was oiling it on his own me thinks, without training, as auntie only allowed it to be oiled once a year with pure oil of clove; I think she only allowed him use of the practice items until he showed her otherwise.

Perhaps the oil worked its way between blade and habaki, and the centrifical force from those swings caused minute splatters. Oil of clove is so potent that it would be noticable for a while if even a small amount were applied to the clothing.

[Travis Morris]

I thought it was a horrible, poorly thrown together, attempt to make money off an established story.

[mancosbob]

I thought it was a horrible, poorly thrown together, attempt to make money off an established story.


I watched it again, and can't get with your review, but if you hated it, you hated it and I respect that. Maybe I liked it because the main character and I have a few things in common (no, not that one). Not so much in his youth as in his older, more familiar persona; perhaps seeing the 'stripes' that caused the outcome which most viewers know better, was more clear to one who has similar demons to deal with.

Like Pat said, "Hell is for children"... :hahaskull:

[Travis Morris]

The February 22, 2007 issue of Entertainment Weekly features a quote that suggests that the only reason Thomas Harris wrote the story was out of the fear that a Lecter prequel/origin story would inevitably be written without his involvement. Hannibal Rising film producer Dino De Laurentiis said "I say to Thomas, 'If you don't do [the prequel], I will do it with someone else...I don't want to lose this franchise. And the audience wants it...' He said, 'No. I'm sorry.' And I said, 'I will do it with somebody else.' And then he said, 'Let me think about it. I will come up with an idea.'"

It was a rush attempt to keep a franchise. I know you like it, but it is "a horrible, poorly thrown together, attempt to make money off an established story."