Roter Drache

Zwischen Anthony Hopkins und Edward Norton herrscht eine Leere wie im Mund von Philip S. Hoffman. Ohne den ausgezeichneten Ralph Fiennes wäre Roter Drache ein noch größerer Durchfall gewesen, als das Engagement von Brett Ratner verursacht hat. Hannibal war ein visuell feinschmeckerischer Quatsch, Roter Drache ist ein steriler Mischmasch aus routinemäßig gedrehten Bildern, die das Potenzial des starken Drehbuchs zerstören. Das Beste wird sein, wenn man diese beiden Filme ignorieren wird und in der Illusion lebt, dass der geniale Film Das Schweigen der Lämmer das Ende der Saga war. (30.10.2002)

Remember the various directorial ideas from Silence of the Lambs, such as the bell scene at the end, the psycho showing off in front of the mirror, or the night vision goggles? You won't find anything similarly refreshing here. Rattner is wooden, a man of routine who sticks one ordinary shot after another, and the result is so uninteresting and boring. It has no atmosphere, only once, at the end of the film, did a faint chill run down my spine. Norton and Keitel sucked, not to mention Hopkins, on the other hand Emily Watson and Fiennes were great and they are the only reason to watch this movie. So, the two stars are only because of them. Rattner, go back to the B-movies! (31.08.2003)

One book, two almost identical adaptations and lengths, but such different experiences. Mann’s version has William Petersen, Joan Allen and a much (but really much) better filmed scene with the tiger on its side. But it’s only a “Mann classic" in the scenes with silent panoramas of the rainy, nighttime city and at moments when the action is embellished with just the right songs. But it’s all slowed down by scenes that drag on unnecessarily, when they should have finished on the cutting room floor, and also zero suspense. Ratner’s version on the other hand has Hollywood parameters. So slightly (but not much) better tempo, attractive production design, sort of signs of suspense, the intro scene and the excellent casting of absolutely all roles apart from those mentioned above. So both movies made it into the “good movie" bracket, but not an inch higher. P.S.: Review copied intentionally. (16.02.2004)

Commerce has defeated the classic. The extorted substance is truly more exciting and even better than the original Silence of the Lambs. A suggestive thriller with a fantastically depressing atmosphere, and unlike the previous (upcoming) installments, it features a likeable and believable investigator on the level of the unmistakable Hopkins and a perfectly chilling murderer in Fiennes. The final twist even brings a desire to immediately watch Demme's original. This is how the most fundamental essence of a well-known story should be expanded. (16.07.2006)

Red Dragon, of course, cannot compare to the precise and visually impressive The Silence of the Lambs. It is still a decent bit of filmmaking, but Ratner is an average director, simply an ordinary film craftsman who follows in the footsteps of his more famous colleagues. There is a lack of impressive original scenes here, the delicate game with the viewer that allowed the widest audience to navigate an ethically problematic subject where the main protagonist is a brutal serial killer. I have no issues with the cast, and Ralph Fiennes particularly enjoys his role as a psychopath. Overall impression: 60%. (31.01.2009)

Und siehe da, herausgekommen ist eine ziemlich unterhaltsame Trilogie, und das Thema ist immer noch aktuell. Wir schlagen einen Bogen zurück zur uns liebsten Zeit, als der Doktor hinter Plexiglas sein Amt ausübte, und wir gehen mit ihm durch die ganze Geschichte, nur um die magische Pointe der wartenden Agentin zu sehen. Aber das nützt wenig, denn obwohl Clarice scheinbar allgegenwärtig ist, reicht es nicht aus, dass sie durch das gesamte erhabene Trio Norton, Fiennes und Keitel ersetzt wird. Ich erlebe also das gleiche Paradoxon wie in Das Schweigen der Lämmer, wo die Szenen von Hopkins verdammt gut waren, aber es waren wenige. Und es gab es darüber hinaus nur die nette blinde Dame und eine ehrliche Szene aus dem Forschungsraum. (Und natürlich sieht es nicht retro aus, aber darum geht es ja auch nicht). (22.09.2012)

Less interesting in terms of plot and more routine, and visually far less attractive, almost ordinary. Red Dragon has almost nothing to captivate the audience, other than a few scenes with Emily Watson and Ralph Fiennes. An overly detailed copy of The Silence of the Lambs, with the difference that there is hardly anything good in here, and there’s plenty of bad. (30.07.2011)

A juicy, meaty dish with an excellent Ralph Fiennes. A bit weaker than Scott’s Hannibal. Surprisingly, I found Edward Norton quite likeable. (19.06.2010)

The newer adaptation of the book by Thomas Harris, which I personally consider worse than the one from 1986. In terms of story and atmosphere, I preferred the older version, which is somehow rougher. I don't mean in individual scenes, but as a whole. The new "Red Dragon" tries to be too much like "The Silence of the Lambs," but it doesn't succeed because the only thing that stands out are the performances, again led by Anthony Hopkins and the striving Edward Norton. (02.01.2014)