Red Dragon And Flight Risk

Red Dragon

An FBI agent who previously arrested the psychopathic Hannibal Lecter visits him in prison, seeking his help to uncover the identity of another serial killer set to strike on the next full moon. A remake of Manhunter, based on Thomas Harris' first novel featuring Hannibal Lecter, this film essentially serves as a 2002 prequel to the outstanding The Silence of the Lambs.

While it’s not a bad movie by any means, it does feel inferior to its predecessor. It boasts an impressive cast—Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, Ralph Fiennes, and Philip Seymour Hoffman—yet no one quite lives up to their reputation or talent in this film, though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why.

As a crime thriller, it has plenty of good moments. The script is solid, but the suspense feels oddly restrained—just when you expect it to go all out, it seems to hit the brakes. At its core, the film lacks a real soul. That said, I really enjoyed the opening scene leading up to Lecter’s capture, as well as the overall atmosphere of the movie.

You'll have a good time watching it—just don’t expect Silence of the Lambs levels of brilliance.

A pilot is tasked with transporting an Air Force marshal who is escorting an escaped fugitive set to stand trial. As they cross the Alaskan wilderness, tensions rise, and trust is put to the test.

Is it worth watching? Meh… not really.

• Some well-directed shots from Mel Gibson.
• A few claustrophobic scenes that actually work.
• Thankfully, it has a fast pace.
• If you enjoy Hollywood-style action flicks, you might have fun with this one. (I usually do too, but not this time.)
• At least it’s short.
• Cheap effects, but they have their own “charm.”

• Weak to downright bad performances across the board. Special mention to Mark Wahlberg—who, in my opinion, is generally a bad actor—but here, his character is written so one-dimensionally.
• Predictable plot filled with genre clichés, including the ending.
• I have to list Wahlberg’s tragic haircut as a negative. What were they thinking?
• Over-the-top action sequences that make you wonder, “Where do they come up with this stuff?”
• Editing feels amateurish.