Featured Audience Ratings

• Alexander D

  
  From the very start, HANNIBAL RISING is established as a careless, failing effort to make us care about the villain. After three films that had no phrase other than "sick b##tard" running through our minds, are we honestly supposed believe that Hannibal Lecter has heart?… More
  From the very start, HANNIBAL RISING is established as a careless, failing effort to make us care about the villain. After three films that had no phrase other than "sick b##tard" running through our minds, are we honestly supposed believe that Hannibal Lecter has heart? The story sets up in 1944, when eight-year-old Hannibal (portrayed by Aaran Thomas) and his sister Mischa (Helena-Lia Tachovská) are taken hostage by Nazis during World War II. Hannibal is enraged, not to mention scarred for life when his beloved sister is eaten by the Nazis (??). Fast-forward eight years, when Hannibal (portrayed for the rest of the film by Gaspard Ulliel) has moved out of his aunt's house, where he has undergone unwanted attempts to calm his soul via some sort of spiritual Asian ritual (??), and on to medical school, where he finds his forte. Knowing that most of the serial killer's aggressive attempts to avenge his sister take place in the very spot where he earns his doctorate, why not just call the film Hannibal Unsurprising? Read it all at themoviefreakblog.com

• Dean !

  
  A well made film with great locations, that explains a little about how Hannibal became to be what he is in The silence of the lambs. However I feel a lot is still unexplained and wouldn't be surprised if a further film takes us right up to date with his story, to the point of… More
  A well made film with great locations, that explains a little about how Hannibal became to be what he is in The silence of the lambs. However I feel a lot is still unexplained and wouldn't be surprised if a further film takes us right up to date with his story, to the point of him being in prison at the start of The silence of the lambs. Still better than Hannibal though.

• paul s

  
  Harris did the screenplay of his own book, so he has no-one but himself to blame in that regard; however, the blame only partly lies with the script - the acting is very uneven and the casting in some cases abyssmal (Murisaka is attrocious - reduced to "Oh Hannibal" -… More
  Harris did the screenplay of his own book, so he has no-one but himself to blame in that regard; however, the blame only partly lies with the script - the acting is very uneven and the casting in some cases abyssmal (Murisaka is attrocious - reduced to "Oh Hannibal" - showing no depth or nuance). Much more should have been made of who she was and how she relates to the young Hannibal, but alas. There were also attempts made to show that the Inspector was sympathetec, but too little, too late - I feel that to have gone in depth into those areas would have made a far different, and for my money, a better film, but some studio exec probably pushed for a more action type thriller. As a thriller there is some small merit here - the way in which Hannibal blithely walks right into danger; he's either so warped by his traumatic experience or so bent for revenge that he feels invincible or he simply doesn't care. There are some nice cinematic elements, especially the beginning scenes with the war going on all around the chateau, but in the end I felt unfulfilled (pun intended) - perhaps a nice chianti.... ah never mind.

• Steven C

  
  It's hard to ignore the fact that "Hannibal Rising" (both the novel and the film) were made with the best of intentions. Shedding light on the backstory of such an iconic villain is a lofty goal. The film features good acting, clear direction and nice cinematography.… More
  It's hard to ignore the fact that "Hannibal Rising" (both the novel and the film) were made with the best of intentions. Shedding light on the backstory of such an iconic villain is a lofty goal. The film features good acting, clear direction and nice cinematography. But for me, the overall story, while plausible, just does not do anything for me. The biggest reason is that it all makes so much sense. There are no surprises here. The progression of Hannibal Lecter is very straightforward and obvious. For attentive viewers there are nods to the next three films sprinkled throughout this one, which I found a little cheap. In the end, the worst crime "Hannibal Rising" commits is that it's boring. Like I said, everything is so clearly drawn out that all the mystery of Hannibal is taken away and there is nothing left to pull you in.

• Jeff "

  
  Let me get this out of the way, I read every Hannibal Lector books by Thomas Harris. I loved them all including the prologue to the Red Dragon, Hannibal Rising. I was thrilled when they were going to make a movie based on the book, I was thrilled. Now reviews have said that people not… More
  Let me get this out of the way, I read every Hannibal Lector books by Thomas Harris. I loved them all including the prologue to the Red Dragon, Hannibal Rising. I was thrilled when they were going to make a movie based on the book, I was thrilled. Now reviews have said that people not "getting it" don't apply to me, cause I knew exactly what to expect. But this film is an insult to the book and an insult to Thomas Harris. I didn't like it because I thought the actors seemed bored, and gave really sloppy performances and they don't deliver on the source material, and its almost a dead on adaptation. Thats why I hated the prologue, this terrible because of bad acting, you end up falling asleep because the actors are terrible. Hell, the guy playing Hannibal should be a victim in the next Hannibal Lector novel, if there ever is one just to have given such a terrible performance. The film also ends up being really not suspenseful, thrilling or scary for that matter because by now you know definitely well what will happen, even Hannibal and Red Dragon had some very thrilling, suspenseful, thrilling and scary moments. But Hannibal Rising has none of that, all you get is a tired out film with boring, predictable scares and thrills. The actor playing Hannibal never does anything to elevate the legendary stature of Hannibal Lector and he portrays him as a joke, he lacks the menace and the wit of previous actors that played the character, Anthony Hopkins and Brian Cox. If you loved and read the book, don't watch this film, it's a tired out film with none of the memorable suspenseful thrills of the other books and films. Bad acting brings this film as the worst film in the series.

• Chris W

  
  Mostly entertaining, despite the plot being kinda asinine. Gaspard Ulliel does a decent job as the young Hannibal Lecter, and some of the supporting performances are also alright, but overall, it's hard to care about this movie. While it is interesting to know the origins of the… More
  Mostly entertaining, despite the plot being kinda asinine. Gaspard Ulliel does a decent job as the young Hannibal Lecter, and some of the supporting performances are also alright, but overall, it's hard to care about this movie. While it is interesting to know the origins of the character, and what made him the way is, providing an entire film that is nothing but backstory unfortunately also demythologizes the character, taking some of the creepy and menacing edge off. The camera work and music are really good though, and are probably the highlights of the movie.

• Anthony L

  
  Hannibal Rising starts well and is beautifully filmed but unfortunately it becomes a little slow, a little boring and slightly contrived towards the middle. There is a huge unexplained leap between innocent Hannibal and warped and crazy Hannibal, thus, not really explaining, or should… More
  Hannibal Rising starts well and is beautifully filmed but unfortunately it becomes a little slow, a little boring and slightly contrived towards the middle. There is a huge unexplained leap between innocent Hannibal and warped and crazy Hannibal, thus, not really explaining, or should I say convincing us as to why he becomes the monster seen in Silence of the Lambs etc. A wasted opportunity! Rhys Ifans is truly annoying too!

• Alexander W

  
  Great Film. For adults with adult themes including the Russian Front which most un-educated people won't understand. I would recommend the film if you were around when the 'Silence of the Lambs' was released. This film is different, very very different, but it keeps up… More
  Great Film. For adults with adult themes including the Russian Front which most un-educated people won't understand. I would recommend the film if you were around when the 'Silence of the Lambs' was released. This film is different, very very different, but it keeps up with modern films and follows the timeline of Hannibal Lecter well. Enjoyable any night of the week movie !

• Cassandra M

  
  It's time to learn what led Hannibal Lecter, once a gifted, bright young man, to a life of horrendous crime. Fans of the book series will already be familiar with the story of Hannibal's younger sister, Mischa (and her eventual fate at the hands of Nazi soldiers), from… More
  It's time to learn what led Hannibal Lecter, once a gifted, bright young man, to a life of horrendous crime. Fans of the book series will already be familiar with the story of Hannibal's younger sister, Mischa (and her eventual fate at the hands of Nazi soldiers), from Thomas Harris's 1999 novel "Hannibal". Now it is time to learn the full story of Lecters troubled childhood, a result of growing up through the horrors World War 2. I, for one loved Hannibal Rising, so much so that I returned to cinemas to watch the film for a second time merely a week after my first viewing. The film has also re-kindled my interest in Thomas Harris's wonderful series. Stunning cinematography, emotional performances beautiful direction and all together great story telling help to make this film one of the best I have seen in a long time. Gaspard Ulliel makes cannibalism hot and does a fantastic job at portraying a young Lecter. He is perfectly charming and polite on the outside, whilst on the inside his sadistic and vengeful nature continues to grow. Ulliel is highly engaging and convincing in his performance, doing the famous character justice. Gong Li must also be mentioned at this point for her performance as the graceful Lady Murasaki who acts as both mentor and love interest for the young Hannibal. Li and Ulliel have a good chemistry throughout most of the film and both actors appear to have a great understanding of their characters. I would highly recommend this movie to fans of the book series, however fans of the movie series might be disappointed if they are expecting to see another Silence of the Lambs or Red Dragon.

• Jeremy S

  
  Hannibal Rising or Flogging A Dead Horse

• Coxxie M

  
  yea this movie fails on every level. the Hannibal actor is just a rich prep douche.

• Michael G

  
  Ooh! Hannibal Rising kind of hurt. You'd hope for something more than his little sister getting cannibalized by war criminals would create one of movie history's greatest characters but the Quick Buck and the substandard revenge plot win out again. Gaspard Ulliel wasn't… More
  Ooh! Hannibal Rising kind of hurt. You'd hope for something more than his little sister getting cannibalized by war criminals would create one of movie history's greatest characters but the Quick Buck and the substandard revenge plot win out again. Gaspard Ulliel wasn't the worst part of Hannibal Rising and I think he did the best with what he had to work with--unfortunately that wasn't much. The sexy Japanese aunt (with uncharacteristically large boobs--sorry, had to throw that out there) incestuous storyline was kind of out there but ultimately I was just looking for more of a connection between the prequel and the previously existing Hannibal canon. On the plus side, Hannibal Rising wasn't all bad but hopefully they'll stop making weak sequels and spinoffs.

• Lorenzo v

  
  It was a good film, an unrelenting continuum of insanity ran mysteriously in the background to Hannibal's history and at various points both crossed to chilling ends. It was a good 2-hour film. The acting was good, but not of the Anthony Hopkins level, performances were… More
  It was a good film, an unrelenting continuum of insanity ran mysteriously in the background to Hannibal's history and at various points both crossed to chilling ends. It was a good 2-hour film. The acting was good, but not of the Anthony Hopkins level, performances were believable: the passion Hannibal had for his work was brilliantly conveyed. The story smoothly progressed as did the descent of Lecter into what we know him to be today, cunningly evil. The effects were realistic and wonderfully chilling without being overdone. The main problem with this film was its length, the ending also felt a little aimless or insignificant, it was not open so much, nor closed. The direction and the writing were good however. If you have not seen it, I recommend doing so, but do not expect brilliance or the superb quality that its predecessors had.

• Derek D

  
  More than just a slasher flick, Hannibal Rising is thoroughly engaging as a prequel to the future events of one Dr. Hannibal Lecter, the most chilling movie villain of all time. This entry into the franchise is different from the rest, as it shows a young and still-somewhat vulnerable… More
  More than just a slasher flick, Hannibal Rising is thoroughly engaging as a prequel to the future events of one Dr. Hannibal Lecter, the most chilling movie villain of all time. This entry into the franchise is different from the rest, as it shows a young and still-somewhat vulnerable Lecter slowly and steadily plotting the revenge murders of SS Officers who cannibalized his sister. The film makes you feel sympathy for Lecter, far different from his later years when the need to kill goes far beyond revenge and enters a funland-type amusement for himself. Gaspard Ulliel is utterly fantastic as the young Lecter, drawing on Hopkin's portrayal with a twist of his own. Not the best entry, but a very good one.

• _kelly .

  
  Originally I was not going to see this, as there is no point in seeing it. Now I still know that AND I've seen it. de Laurentis forced Thomas Harris' hand in the creation of this story. After 'Hannibal', de Laurentis told Harris that he was going to do the origins… More
  Originally I was not going to see this, as there is no point in seeing it. Now I still know that AND I've seen it. de Laurentis forced Thomas Harris' hand in the creation of this story. After 'Hannibal', de Laurentis told Harris that he was going to do the origins story, whether Harris wanted to write it or not. So poor Harris coughed up a book and a screenplay (and I'm not touching 'Hannibal Rising' because I got all the Lecter origins story I needed from the few paragraphs regarding Mischa in 'Hannibal'). This is what happens when a rich producer forces creative talent to go where it shouldn't: utter disaster. This story is NOT about Hannibal Lecter of "Silence" or of "Red Dragon" or even of "Hannibal". This is a different character, with different details coloring his life. I think the main actor does an okay job of nailing the Hannibal looks but he is atrocious with dialogue. Obviously, production value is outstanding but sadly the script does not rise to meet it. This is a straightforward revenge for Mischa's death, and it is a BAD origins story. I expected the majority of it to be set during Hannibal's childhood, and if I were directing this, it would have been an art-house cannibal piece set entirely during Hannibal's childhood and ending with him escaping the ravenous creatures who devoured his sister. AT least I could have got a shot of when Hannibal finds Mischa's tooth in the men's stool and realizes then what has happened to his sister (it's a repeated memory in 'Hannibal' book). Instead, this movie gives an outrageous plot of a young Hannibal attending medical school and accomplishing his first few murders and learning how cherished and yummy cheeks are. For a film about the penultimate serial killer cannibal, this movie has minimal killing and NO cannibalism on screen AT ALL. What a fucking waste of time and time and time and money and Harris' talent!!!! God fuck Dino de Laurentis, what a cunt.

• Gordon A

  
  Captures the spirit of HL quite well and Ulliel almost convinces, but Ifans is laughable as the supposed nemesis.

• Derek A

  
  I'm a huge fan of the Silence of the Lambs/Hannibal series, but I'm not a fan of this installment. It was a good piece of the puzzle, but it did not stay true to the concept of Hannibal Lecter. It's 3 predecessors were smart and chilling, this was just predictable and… More
  I'm a huge fan of the Silence of the Lambs/Hannibal series, but I'm not a fan of this installment. It was a good piece of the puzzle, but it did not stay true to the concept of Hannibal Lecter. It's 3 predecessors were smart and chilling, this was just predictable and dull. It can be most compared to a revenge slasher flick rather than a Hannibal thriller. Regardless, I loved the beginning and watching him lose his innocence slowly was satisfying. After his change though, the plot moves to a laughable cliche of a plot where he enacts revenge one by one. There are no surprises after that, and it wasn't even smart or charming like Anthony Hopkins character was. I don't believe Gaspard Ulliel was capable of pulling off this kind of character... but then again, who is? I will own this solely to complete the set. I just wish the last 1/2 was as good as the first. So much more could have been done with this... Completely forgettable...

• Bruce B

  
  I went into this film with a Negative feeling, I figured how good can it be, no Athoney Hopkins, WOW was I wrong, This was as good as any Hannibal film with ole Anthoney in it, so get it and enjoy, ahhh the smell of a fresh Liver.

• Dan S

  
  One of the worst movies I've seen in a while. Ulliel gives a horrific performance, he doesn't even look like Anthony Hopkins. It should be called "Hannibal's Revenge", because it just deterioates into a dumb revenge plot that really goes nowhere and proves… More
  One of the worst movies I've seen in a while. Ulliel gives a horrific performance, he doesn't even look like Anthony Hopkins. It should be called "Hannibal's Revenge", because it just deterioates into a dumb revenge plot that really goes nowhere and proves nothing besides the fact that Hannibal is one sick and twisted psycho.

• Lady D

  
  Anthony Hopkins gave us three great performances as Hannibal Lector. As a book I can see how Hannible Rising plays it's part in the jigsaw, however, the Hannibal Lector here did not resemble Anthony Hopkins in any way, physically or otherwise and although this is a good film in… More
  Anthony Hopkins gave us three great performances as Hannibal Lector. As a book I can see how Hannible Rising plays it's part in the jigsaw, however, the Hannibal Lector here did not resemble Anthony Hopkins in any way, physically or otherwise and although this is a good film in it's own right, it's very difficult to imagine Gaspard growing into the man Hopkins portrayed.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings