“Red Dragon” is another instalment in the “Hannibal Lecter” franchise. This one is brought to us rather surprisingly by the director of the action/comedy “Rush Hour” Brett Ratner. “Red Dragon” serves as a remake of “Manhunter” (both are based on the same book).

F.B.I. agent Will Graham (Edward Norton “American History X”, “The Incredible Hulk”), who has an excellent understanding of the criminal mind, manages to capture vicious cannibal Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins “Silence of the Lambs”, “Thor”). However, several years later, he needs Lecter’s help if he is going to capture a mysterious and grotesque serial killer, nicknamed the ‘Tooth Fairy’ (Ralph Fiennes “Schindler’s List”, “The English Patient”).

Hannibal Lecter is absolutely fascinating. He’s cold, he’s calculating and he’s sickening yet he seems to have a great level of sophistication and a wonderful British wit, making him the kind of guy you would love to play chess with but the last person you would want to shake hands with. Hopkins perfectly delivers in the role. Edward Norton is decent as Will Graham and I really like the idea of the character. The Tooth Fairy character is where the film just collapses as we spend the majority of the second hour with him. He lacks the charm of Lecter and becomes just a psychotic maniac. He just feels very dull and unoriginal.

Hannibal Lecter has a line in this film which says, “A rational society would kill me or put me to some use”. Surely, a rational filmmaker would put Lecter to some use and not just have him sitting there most of the time. A prequel to “Silence of the Lambs” and “Hannibal” should have Lecter as the main villain as having him help the good guy find another killer is very similar to the earlier films. The first hour of the film is enjoyable but the second half feels like a different film and removes the great atmosphere created.