THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS is an incredible thriller. It improves upon an already great novel. It is the type of film I can
watch over and over since I first saw it. Jodie Foster breaks out as FBI agent Clarice Starling who must question imprisonsed
Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins in the role that made him famous) about a former patient who is kidnapping and skinning
young women. Lecter gets into Clarice's mind as he gives her information and plans for a way to escape. THE SILENCE OF THE
LAMBS keeps one on the edge of their seats in the best film that director Jonathan Demme ever made in his career to date.
Yep, that gay serial killer who wants to be a woman is a creep and I feel sorry for his little dog. Scott Glenn also turns
up in one of his best acting roles. Hopkins and Foster have great chemistry in this film. Some of the best scenes are between
those two actors in the same room with only glass or bars to keep them apart. Hannibal Lecter is one of the best evil guys
you want to love as long as he doesn't take offense to you. Hopkins knew it was a good thing to play Hannibal again for HANNIBAL
and RED DRAGON, but sadly Jodi passed on playing Clarice for HANNIBAL (which was Julianne Moore's gain). Definitely thsi film
is the best of the Hannibal Lecter series.
VIDEO: 1.85:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)
Some people like the transfer on the non-anamorphic Criterion release better, but this is the edition to get since the
film is in Anamorphic Widescreen.
AUDIO: English 5.1, French 2.0, Spanish 2.0 Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English, Spanish
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Three doumentaries are on disc 2:
INSIDE THE LABYRINTH: THE MAKING OF THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
A 2 part PAGE TO SCREEN documentary that consists of
A WEALTH OF TALENT
PREPARATION AND AUTHENTICITY
Also a 3 part Jonathan Demme and Jodie Foster documentary (THE BEGINNING, MAKING SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, and BREAKING THE
SILENCE)- Jonathan and Jodie talk about how they got involved, the making of the film, and how it was received. Jodie wanted
to play Clarice so badly and everyone except Sean Connery wanted to play Hannibal Lecter (which was good luck for Anthony
Hopkins).
the two featurettes focus on SCORING THE SLIENCE and the original 1991 Making Of featurette.
The 22 deleted scenes contain some interesting material and some material that was thankfully cut for pacing reasons.
The photo gallery has more than 100 behind the scenes shots. 11 TV spots, a theatrical trailer and teaser, and an Anthony
Hopkins promo phone message round out the extras on disc 2. Too bad they didn't include trailers for MANHUNTER, HANNIBAL,
and HANNIBAL RISING.
FINAL ANALYSIS: If you don't already own this great thriller on DVD, it is your chance to own THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
Collector's Edition now. If you just want the film, buy the three disc set that includes this film, MANHUNTER in it's correct
and complete widescreen version for the first time in the US, and HANNIBAL.
this review is (c)2-17-2007 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission (except for excerpts and a link
to the review). Look for additional content at http://enterlinemedia.livejournal.com and send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com
