2001, 2hrs 7 min., Rated R for strong gruesome violence, some nudity and language.�Dir: Ridley Scott. Cast: Anthony Hopkins (Dr. Hannibal Lecter), Julianne Moore (Special Agent Clarice Starling), Ray Liotta (Paul Krendler), Giancarlo Giannini (Pazzi).

I'm sorry, the sequel to The Silence of the Lambs was seriously lacking what made its predecessor so classic: great psychological interaction between Dr. Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) and Special Agent Starling (played this time by firebrand Julianne Moore), now reduced to old tapes and letters and the rare (confusing) phone conversation. Hannibal's back, and I don't mean crossing the Alps with a herd of elephants to take Rome. No, this is Dr. Hannibal Lecter, newly moved to Florence instead, and he just likes to torture and eat people in cool ways. Everyone's got a hobby. Some build model airplanes; others eat the faces off people.

I wasn't sure I'd even see the film until I remembered that Ridley Scott (Bladerunner, Gladiator) was directing, so I decided to give it a shot. It's not that I didn't like it, I just didn't feel properly entertained. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of plot full of zingers. No twists, but that's actually refreshing in the thriller genre nowadays.

You know, Hopkins has a lot of fun and all, but Dr. Lecter really is becoming a caricature of himself. Maybe seeing him outside the cage and creating havoc was a bit too much for two hours.

Sorry, Julianne, but this film still needed Jodie Foster to portray Starling. Moore wasn't given a whole lot to do, and when she did it didn't really require her to show off her talent. Sure, she had a few good lines and can look distressed, but Jodie could still have taken the role to new heights in her search for Dr. Lecter.

Go ahead, try and recognize the consummate professional actor Gary Oldman. Gee, that doesn't give away his role, does it? As Mason Verger, Hannibal's fourth victim and the only one known to survive, he's got a serious vendetta, and wants Clarice on the case again after 10 years.

Ray Liotta's character a little over the top in the "you must hate him" factor. Anyone that uses the phrase "cornpone country p**sy" TWICE is definitely being thrown too many lines of disgust.

If you're really hungering for a thriller, Hannibal will satisfy your appetite. But it may leave a bad aftertaste.

The verdict:

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