With Hannibal Rising the book now out, and the film coming out soon, which one one is your favorite?

My vote goes to Silence of The Lambs.

The Silence of the Lambs tops them off. Hannibal was uneven and seemed rushed. This Hannibal Rising probably would have potential if I could see some recognizable faces, which I don't and will probably be the reason why it tanks.

I actually liked Red Dragon the best.  I still need to see the original Manhunter.  I like William Petersen

I will pass judgement on this after we have seen Hannibal Rising next week.

I have to go with Manhunter.

This was the first "Hannibal" movie, based off of the original Hannibal book.  And I thought it captured his character almost perfectly.

To me, Brian Cox is still the real Hannibal.  Anthony Hopkins may be a good actor, but I always felt that he portrayed Hannibal as "to over the top".  When I compare the two, it is like seeing a character played by Eddy Murphy, then the same character played by Jim Carrey.  One blows you away with subtlety and skill, the other simply bashes you in the head with a sledgehammer.

I will pass judgement on this after we have seen Hannibal Rising next week.
I missed it on it's cinema release, so now I have to wait for the DVD to be release.

Red Dragon

Since posting on this thread, I have now seen Red Dragon, this is the best so far.

BTW, I still have not seen Hannibal Rising

It's difficult to answer this, on account of the fact that I like them all.

(Save for "Hannibal Rising".)

-Interesting note- when asked if he would be willing to do another Hannibal film, Anthony Hopkins replied, "I don't know...d'you think I could get away with 'Hannibal-The Early Years'?"

I like Silence Of The Lambs best of all.

Love them all, and I love the books especially.

But that original Red Dragon Movie...(oh shoot. Tha'ts Manhunter).  I love Manhunter.

I picked "The Silence of The Lambs" - since it's the only one I've seen  :P

-Interesting note- when asked if he would be willing to do another Hannibal film, Anthony Hopkins replied, "I don't know...d'you think I could get away with 'Hannibal-The Early Years'?"


Of course, he also stated publically that he would never be involved in a sequal for "Silence Of The Lambs".  Yet he went ahead and starred in 2 sequals.

Manhunter

(loved the soundtrack)

Manhunter is the best I think, but I must admit, I've enjoyed them all.

One thing I would like to see is Hannibal, from the end of Hannibal Rising to the start of Manhunter/Red Dragon. That being said though, I think a lot would also be lost, I mean, we've heard about what he did then, but not seeing it allows us to imagine him as this wonderful monster, whereas in actuality, the film probably would fall short of the brutality I envision.

Manhunter is the best I think, but I must admit, I've enjoyed them all.

One thing I would like to see is Hannibal, from the end of Hannibal Rising to the start of Manhunter/Red Dragon. ....it allows us to imagine him as this wonderful monster



I do find him attractive and intriguing.  I think worse things could happen to you than being knocked on the head (so to speak) and go to the opera with Hannibal.

TSOTL of course!

But, Mushroom's got a point.  "Manhunter" is a damn great movie! 
I wouldn't say Cox is a better Lecter than Hopkins, just different.  Cox has a unique interpretation of Lector.  "Manhunter" itself is a wholly different kind of horror movie from TSOTL, where as the Hannibal Lecter films made after TSOTL are trying to recapture what TSOTL had and failing miserably.

Soundtrack: Shriekback is a truly great, though under-recognize and underrated band.  They contribute three songs:
"Evaporation," "This Big Hush,"* and "Coelocanth."
"Coelocanth" is an instrumental featured on the "Oil and Gold" album and is the incidental music for the very sensual scene in which the blind woman Reba McLane (Joan Allen) meets the tiger!

*Incorrectly called "The Big Hush" on Imdb. 

I only saw Silence of the Lambs.  :)