Okay, I know this is supposed to be the feel-good psycho killer movie of the season, but I just didn't like it.

This long awaited sequel just doesn't know what it wants to be when it grows up. It could be a psycho thriller that makes you wet your pants, or it could be a gory gross out slasher movie. Hannibal attempts both and fails.

Hannibal Lecter has broken out of his cage. He's living in Italy giving art lectures. Clarice Starling is still in her cage at the FBI where sexist remarks appear to be normal. Starling is blamed for all that is bad in this world. The agency does nothing to protect her.

Enter the fulcrum of this fiasco. Mason Verge wants revenge for what Lecter did to him. He puts a bounty on the Doctor's head. Next thing you know an Italian cop finds him and brings Hannibal out of retirement.

This could have been a great film if it were only Hannibal and Verge. But the mixing of the Italian cop and Starling tossed any chance of being a great psycho thriller.

To fill between the disjointed sub-plots we have two very gory gross out scenes. I don't go to slasher films. They are too simple, and I don't need the imagery in my head. This is very graphic. Unless you get off on this type of film, you're not going to want to be eating Spaghetti-O's during these scenes.

I really can't recommend this film at all. I would have loved it to have been as good as The Silence of the Lambs, but it isn't. As a film it just doesn't work.

Dust Bag Full

Film Facts

Cast
• Anthony Hopkins
• Julianne Moore
• Ennio Coltorti
• Giancarlo Giannini
• Robert Rieti
• Francesca Neri
• Bruno Lazzaretti
• Danielle De Niesse
• Alex Corrado
• David Andrews
• Frankie Faison
• Hazelle Goodman
• Marco Greco
• Zeljko Ivanek
• Spike Jonze
• Boyd Kestner
• Ray Liotta
• Ivano Marescotti
• Gary Oldman
• Sam Wells

Directed by Ridley Scott

Released in 2001

MPAA Rating: R

Reviewed by Mongo