Horrorview:Manhunter vs. Red Dragon

Manhunter (1986) vs. Red Dragon (2002):
CANNIBAL SMACKDOWN!
review by Head Cheeze

I've personally been avoiding reviewing either of these films for a long time, simply because I didn't want to write the same review twice. Thomas Harris' Red Dragon served as the inspiration for both films, and, while each took certain liberties with the source material, both Michael Mann's dreamy and cerebral Manhunter and Brett Ratner's star-studded Red Dragon are faithful enough to the book that they are essentially the same film, separated only by time and budget. Both films center around the emotionally savaged FBI profiler,Will Graham (Peterson/Norton), being called back to duty after a self-imposed exile resulting from a near fatal encounter with Hannibal Lector (Cox/Hopkins). Graham puts himself in the mindset of his "prey", this time out; The Tooth Fairy (Noonan/Fiennes), a murderous loon who believes his crimes are stepping stones to a rebirth as an all-powerful being called The Red Dragon.

So basically they're two different visions of the same story, so how do they stack up? Let's break it down a bit, shall we?

Will Graham

While both films feature excellent actors in Peterson and Norton, I found Norton to be a bit too boyish looking for an emotionally shattered veteran FBI agent. Peterson, on the other hand, looks the part (save the Miami Vice era suits) and really does an exceptional job emoting the inner demons of Graham.

Hannibal Lecter/Lecktor

Okay, we all know Anthony Hopkins has become a bit of a ham in this role, but that's fine; he's earned it. Over the course of the three films based on the character, Hopkins has made it abundantly clear that HE is Hannibal Lecter, whether we like it or not. While Brian Cox certainly does a fine job in Manhunter, he's not nearly as menacing as Hopkins, who plays the character as a sort of Moriarty to Will Graham's Sherlock Holmes. In other words; Hopkins 'Da Man!

Francis Dollarhyde: The Tooth Fairy

Ralph Fiennes or Tom Noonan. Hmmm..which one would you rather see at the end of a dark alleyway? While Fiennes' Dollarhyde is more faithful to the book's, Noonan is just creepy as hell, and he doesn't even need a fully body tattoo. Plus, even with a cleft pallette, I still think Fiennes would get more dates than me, while, in comparison, I don't think Noonan could get laid in a Saigon whore-house.

Mann vs. Rat

Both directors have very distinct styles; Mann's is rich, atmospheric, and dreamy, while Brett Ratner.....errr...made Rush Hour.

Supporting Cast

This all comes down to economics. Manhunter cost a fraction of Red Dragon's catering bill, but we're not comparing budgets here, just talent. While Manhunter featured a young Joan Allen as Francis' blind love interest, Reba, the only other notable name in the cast is Cabin Boy Chris Elliot and Mafia-Movie-of-the-Week star, Dennis Farina.

Meanwhile, Red Dragon boasts Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Harvey Keitel, and Mary-Louise Parker. Quite an ensemble, no?

The Tunes

Danny Elfman's score for Red Dragon is remarkably bland when compared to his other compositions, but it serves it's purpose, I guess. Personally, I love the music in Manhunter, even if it is as dated as a pair of white Capezio loafers. The use of "IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA" in Manhunter's climax is one of the finest marriages of music and film to date.

Bottom Line

When all is said and done, Manhunter beats out Red Dragon in terms of style, substance, and plain ol' ingenuity. The budgetary restraints of Mann's film are more than made up for by across the board excellent performances, a killer soundtrack, and a much more satisfying conclusion (one that differs from the book's rather cliched ending that Ratner's Red Dragon embraced).

Red Dragon is the more faithful adaptation of the two, but goes out of it's way to give Hopkins more facetime than the character actually needs (or deserves), and, while the Francis/Reba relationship is more realised in Ratner's film, it also slows it down to a crawl.

Take away the marquee names from Red Dragon and your left with a somewhat bland and long-winded crime drama that's still a decent watch, but nowhere near as charismatic and entertaining as Michael Mann's moody cult-classic.