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Title: Manhunter (2007) Starring: Joan Allen, David Allen Brooks, Dan Butler, Joanne Camp, and Dawn Carmen Director: Not available Rating: R (Restricted) Runtime: 120 minutes Avg. Score: 5 Submit Comment Hits: 10

Review of Manhunter

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Comments for Manhunter

• Posted on 2008-02-04
  The original and best version FINALLY on DVD!
  
  Now we finally have the DVD release of the proper version of this film. In recent years we've seen two DVD releases containing a total of 3 different cuts of this film. But none of them contained the original theatrical version (the one released on VHS and laserdisc oh so many years ago).
  
  This one, the MGM release, is the "definitive version" that most of the fans have been screaming for for a long time. I can't believe it took this long.
  
  I was delighted when the other versions were released on DVD because they had some bonus goodies included with them, but my delight faded as soon as I discovered the film was cut differently from the version I had seen so many times on VHS and Laserdisc and had grown to love. The other DVD versions are missing parts of scenes, have alternate versions of some scenes, are missing dialogue, and have added scenes that interrupt the flow of the movie. At least one of the other versions includes a coda at the end where William Peterson's character pays a visit to the family that would have been the Tooth Fairy's next victims. Being so familiar with the original theatrical cut, I found that coda to be unnecessary and and even a bit clunky.
  
  
  
  This new MGM release has no bonus features at all. And you know what? I don't care. I didn't buy it for the bonus goodies, I bought it for the FILM!
  
  And with all due respect to Sir Anthony Hopkins and his take on the Hannibal Lector character (which grew more over-the-top with each sequel/rehash), Brian Cox's portrayal of Lector is shrewder and more believable. His Hannibal is far more understated than Hopkins', and it works better for the character and the film. Hopkins' portrayal seems "too Hollywood" by comparison. But as another reviewer so rightly pointed out, "Manhunter" is a crime drama and "Silence of the Lambs" is closer to being a horror film. Brian Cox's Hannibal wouldn't be as effective in "Lambs" and Hopkins' Hannibal would be FAR too much in "Manhunter". So I guess it really is like comparing apples and oranges.
  
  But you don't have to choose one over the other. You really should like them both. "Manhunter" is gritty, "Lambs" is eerie.
  
  But you need to have one definitive version of "Manhunter" to hold up high and cherish, and this version is it.
  
  
  Score: 5
• Posted on 2007-10-30
  Finally, The Original Theatrical Release!
  
  I did not think this was ever going to come out after three itterations that were chop shopped up by Anchor Bay.
  
  I am a huge fan of this movie and was still holding on to my VHS copies as the DVD releases that previously came out were......not good. Why they cut certain scenes and poorly edited dialogue, while adding previously unseen "cut" scenes that added nothing to the orginal threatical release is beyond me.
  
  THIS is the movie that I have long since beleived to be one of THE finest made crime drama movies ever made.
  
  The ORIGINAL Hannibal "Lecktor". The orginal Will Graham. The Original Tooth Fairy and Dennis Farina and Joan Allen and Micheal Mann Directing, too boot.
  
  If you own the DVD already, BUY this anyways. There will be NO dissappointment.
  
  I guarantee it.
  
  Hawk
  
  Addendum: Here is my orginal review of the movie when it was first released on DVD. The difference between THAT and THIS is amazing:
  
  "How difficult is this? You'd like to rate this movie five plus stars, because it is indeed a masterpiece (Don't listen to those whiney saps who want to compare it to Silence of the Lambs. Manhunter was a crime drama. SOTL was a horror movie. While I don't favor Hopkins cartoonish portrayal of Lechter, I'll admit it was entertaining. I prefer Cox's cerebral portrayal which resembled the book. But let's stop this bashing back and forth, it's tiresome.), on the other hand, Anchor Bay butchered it so much, it doesn't deserve the high ranking. What do you do? I'd almost like to opt for a seperate rating system here at Amazon. One for if you like the movie, and a seperate one for what fans of the movie thought of Anchor Bay's "remastering".
  For those of you who'd be interested, here is Anchor Bay's "canned" response to a recent critique:
  
  "Dear Customer:
  
  It has come to our attention that our THX version of Manhunter is missing several seconds of footage which can be found by viewing other sources.
  
  Please be aware that the interpositive of the film was used to make our disc, not a print, of which there are many with varying differences. This was and is the best source in the world for the film. We were aware of several minutes of differences between this version and the director's cut, so we went to Michael Mann for the master containing the only existing and exact version of his preferred cut.
  
  Michael Mann's cut is the version he wanted on home video, and he, as well as Anchor Bay understood the trade-off of content at the expense of state-of-the-art quality. It was with that in mind that ABE followed the quality path to create the THX disc version.
  
  We have heard positive feedback from most in regard to both of our releases and are sorry if you, our customer, prefer one of the several other versions that are in distribution in other media or territories.
  
  We were (and are) opposed to cannibalizing Manhunter to create a hybrid version of the two, and apologize to anyone who feels we didn't put our best efforts into each version. I think you know we always appreciate your feedback (good or bad) and strive to do our best for each film. In this case, the versions released are the best we could do, and for the record, we're hoping you, our customer, enjoy our efforts."
  
  Yes it is a very lame response and I took my shot back at anchor Bay telling them that in fact what they did do was indeed "Cannabilize" this film (interesting choice of words.). they never responded back.
  
  What did I really expect though. Again in summation: Five stars for the movie. 0 stars for Anchor Bay's effort/laziness."
  
  
  Score: 5
• Posted on 2007-08-28
  The Original Profiler: Petersen before C.S.I.
  
  MANHUNTER was the first movie to feature the now ubiquitous "profiler,"
  an agent who uses psychology and empathy with his target to pursue him.
  This film, based on the equally original novel RED DRAGON by Thomas
  Harris, is stylish and effective. Its luster may have been diminished
  by the many subsequent efforts in the same area (I won't say imitators),
  but it is still worthwhile for its "Miami Vice" style direction and
  music(Michael Mann directs), its taut police procedural scenes, a chilling
  "key revelation" scene, and star-making performances by Tom Noonan, Joan
  Allen, William Petersen, and especially Brian Cox as the original
  Hannibal Lector.
  
  Note: There are two earlier widescreen DVD releases of this film, each
  with extra features. One is a "director's cut" special edition, which
  has received mixed reviews. I didn't think it was an improvement over
  the original. Both editions appear to be out of print, but there are
  many "New & Used" sellers on Amazon. I would recommend the "flashlight
  cover" version over this one, which appears to have no extra features
  at all.
  Score: 5