DVD Review: Hannibal (From Penarth Times)

DVD Review: Hannibal

GORY, bloody and vengeful. Hannibal Lecter takes his time in getting even with his past incarceration - and then just enjoys death to the full in this movie.

Hannibal is the third DVD in the Hannibal trilogy. But there is plenty of scope for another round with the brilliant forensic psychologist who enjoys having friends around for a good meal.

At the end of Silence of the Lambs Lecter escapes his toughened glass prison. In Hannibal, after a decade of liberty, he is driven out of his Italian hiding-place by a rich and horrifically scarred man - Lecter's only surviving victim.

Mason Verger, played by Gary Oldman, plans to use his fortune to exact revenge.

In doing so, Lecter is moved back into the FBI's most wanted list. An Italian policeman, already suspicious of the mysterious man, sets out to claim the reward money.

But Lecter has enjoyed his freedom, despises the superiors making life hard for Clarice, and is determined to do things his way.

For special agent Starling, played by Julianne Moore, life is not so good, but she is also determined to do her job.

Quite easily the most violent of the three, Hannibal does stretch the limits of reality. This is last DVD in the Hannibal trilogy. If you have this in your collection, you will never fail to have a spine-chilling choice of viewing. But be warned, the lowest certificate in the box set is 15 - and well deserved. Some scenes are not for the young or squeamish.