Red Dragon ★★½ 2002 (R) Prequel to "Silence of the Lambs" with filmdom's favorite man-eater pitted against former FBI agent Will Graham (Norton). Graham needs the charismatic cannibal to crack the case of a serial killer (Fiennes) dubbed the Tooth Fairy. Graham and Lecter have a history, as Graham helped to put Hannibal away after coming this close to becoming a plate-mate of some fava beans. As usual, Hopkins steals the show. While the plot is better than in "Hannibal," with good character development and a rare look at Lecter before incarceration, the franchise may have reached its expiration date. Second movie telling of Harris's first Lecter novel, following 1986's "Manhunter." 124m/C VHS, DVD. US Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Anthony Heald, Bill Duke, Stanley Anderson, Ken Leung, Azura Skye, Frankie Faison, Tyler Patrick Jones, Tom Verica, Dwier Brown, Conrad Palmisano, Mary Beth Hurt, Frank Whaley;
Director:
Brett Ratner;
Writer:
Ted Tally;
Writer:
Dante Spinotti;
Cameo:
Danny Elfman; V: Ellen Burstyn, Alex D. Linz.
