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judithlaib2000
Reviews
Manhunter (1986)
are you all crazy?
I can only surmise that the detractors of this film are under 25, the new generation of cinema-goers who need all the ultra-violence and gore to make a film "complete". This is quite simply, one of the best films of all time. Tom Noonan is amazing and absolutely masterful in his portrayal of Dollarhyde, and even comes across as sensual, when he is obviously deriving sexual satisfaction watching Reba fondle the sleeping tiger. One of the sexiest scenes ever, by the way. This is what I think people who don't "get" this film are missing, the little nuances, such as his look of sexual ecstasy watching Reba with the tiger, you can see he is imagining himself in the tigers position, being the recipient of loving caresses. And his awkwardness when Reba finally makes love to him, its all these things that you actually have to engage your brain to understand, thats where people just don't understand this film. The music is incredible, especially Shriekbacks "This Big Hush", where Dollarhyde is in bed with Reba, is just inspired. William Petersen was born to play Will Graham, the tormented retired forensic cop, brought out of retirement by the Tooth Fairy's slayings of whole families. Brian Cox's portrayal of LECKTOR is superb, playing the "straight man" to Hopkins "over the top" campness. I cant understand why Cox didn't play the proper Lecktor role in the subsequent films. But thats what people don't get-its not about Lecktor. Its not about Red Dragon. It is BASED on the novel Red Dragon, which is why it doesn't follow the book ad verbatim. Don't watch this as a prequel or sequel, watch it on its own merit as one of the best films ever made.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
not as black as its painted
I have just finished watching this film,and I have to say that its really not as bad as I was expecting. I am not trying to display swagger and bravado and "Huh, I've got an iron stomach and "nothing fazes me" attitude, but I felt that all of the violence was completely in context with the storyline. I didn't think any of it was gratuitous, all of the nudity and violent acts had a place in the story; it was relevant to the subject matter. Even the animals which were killed, I didn't think it was done in a "macho" way-once again, I felt that those scenes belonged there. I hope I don't appear insensitive, because I am not, I will shed real tears over RSPCA stories of animal abuse, as well as being a contributor to animal(and people!)charities. I think thats the difference here, the animals were used (as food it would seem), and not ABused, which is where the difference lies. Overall, the film is quite good, no way deserves all the sensationalism it got (gets?), there are far more gory and gratuitous things on ogrish.com, and I definitely think the crew(in the film) deserved everything they got-what a reprehensible bunch they were!! I admit unashamedly that I cheered for the tribes-people, when they exacted their revenge on Allan and co., for the barbaric acts the allegedly 'civilised people'committed against the Yacumo and Yanomano peoples.