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Reviews
Red Dragon (2002)
What the heck were they thinking when they but the director of the "Rush Hour" films at the helm of "Red Dragon"?
I was entertained by "Red Dragon", but after thinking about it for awhile, I must say that the movie was average at best. The performances of all the leads are rather flat. Keitel is especially lifeless, Hopkins goes way overboard, and Fiennes just didn't get it right. These are all fine actors so I believe that the director is at fault. The fascination of Hannibal is that he is elegant and intelligent 99% of the time but is capable of the most appalling violence the other 1%. In Red Dragon, he just comes across as vulgar most of the time. Sure his antics get a few laughs from the audience, but this material deserves more respect. I'm surprised to find myself thinking that "Manhunter", despite its "Miami Vice" veneer, is the better film. In "Hannibal", Hopkins was still dead-on in his characterization, and the movie as a whole is superior. In the end, "Red Dragon" helps to confirm that "Silence of the Lambs" is an absolute masterpiece. Too bad Deme didn't direct this one. What the heck were they thinking when they but the director of the "Rush Hour" films at the helm of "Red Dragon"?
Il fantasma dell'opera (1998)
A refreshing change for Dario.
I've seen and liked most of Argento's films. "Phantom" has been bashed by most Argento fans, but I found the film a refreshing change. Dario has rediscovered his sense of humor that was so evident in "Bird with the Crystal Plumage" but almost non-existent in his subsequent films. The are some flaws but on the positive side, Asia gives a charming performance, the cinematography is beautiful, and the story is involving. Overall, the film ranks with "Tenebrae", "Phenomena", and "Opera" although the tone of "Phantom" is entirely different. I hope this film signals a new direction in Argento's work.