FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: Manhunter [DVD] [1986]

Manhunter [DVD] [1986]
enlarge	Director: Michael Mann Actors: William L. Petersen, Joan Allen, Stephen Lang, Brian Cox, Tom Noonan Studio: Optimum Home Entertainment Category: DVD List Price: ~~£12.99~~ Buy New: £3.61 as of 23/11/2009 02:31 GMT details You Save: £9.38 (72%) New (16) Used (3) from £3.61 Seller: direct_offers_uk Rating: 4 reviews Sales Rank: 12626 Format: PAL Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over Region: 2 Number Of Discs: 1 Running Time: 116 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2 Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 EAN: 5055201804242 ASIN: B001AOHPZI Theatrical Release Date: 1986 Release Date: September 22, 2008 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Customer Reviews: A Fantastic Classic - The Influence for 'Cracker' and 'CSI' ! January 11, 2009 Mr. Laurence Williams (UK) 7 out of 8 found this review helpful 'Manhunter' is a product of the marvellous director Michael Mann (Thief, The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, The Insider, Collateral), who applies his usual array of cinematic, artistic and musical application talents to make a film which is my all-time favourite. br / br /It has all the ingredients you could wish for: a stylistic production, excellent acting, realistic characters, a thrilling tempo, mystery, terror, drama, human emotions and (above all) a fantastic accompanying soundtrack. br / br /The film is based on the Thomas Harris book 'Red Dragon' from his Hannibal Lecter series; this story being the 'prequel' to 'The Silence of the Lambs'. The book has more recently been remade into a film with the 'correct' title, but whilst it follows the novel storyline more accurately it does not compare to 'Manhunter' as a cinematic experience... br / br /Dating from the mid-80's, the plot and film are most certainly the stimulus for such programmes as 'Cracker' and 'CSI' (and latterly series like 'Criminal Minds'), due to the forensically detailed nature of the investigation, but especially the criminal psychology aspect depicted superbly by the character Will Graham (it is probably no coincidence that he is played by the subsequently famous star of CSI, William Petersen !). br / br /The way the film shows the tracking down of the serial killer, and the fact that he is revealed to the viewer before the detectives have found him, helps to build a multi-layered storyline as well as being unusual (until copied by the later programmes mentioned above). Although obviously covering extreme violence, the film rarely depicts it in any other way than by implication, description and/or aftermath imagery. This does not detract from the horror theme and, in my opinion, enhances the chilling nature of the subject ! br / br /Various matters that I have already alluded to mean that first-time viewers of Manhunter should avoid perhaps being slightly 'under whelmed', by remembering that any similarities to other films they have seen are because they copied it ! Also, to avoid any perception of it being dated, it is essential to watch the restored version as that brings the picture quality and soundtrack up to modern standards...There is also some rather 'clunky' dialogue at the beginning between Graham and his detective friend Jack Crawford which might make some stop watching there and then, but things improve dramatically from then on... br / br /Despite the viewer already knowing who the murderer is, the 'revelation' of him being detected is stunningly portrayed by Peterson as he speaks his thought processes out loud. Whilst the key clue is there all along, I doubt any viewer will have figured it out before he does ! br / br /William Petersen portrays his disturbed and gradually fixated/overwhelmed extremely well, Hannibal Lecter (Brian Cox) is played beautifully as a chillingly reserved monster, and the serial killer (Tom Noonan) shows all the character 'flaws' required of someone who feels killing is a solution to their issues with great skill; the book obviously covers those aspects more fully than the film.... br / br /Finally, a few words about the soundtrack. Mann is well-known for his talent to apply suitable music to his productions and this is no exception (which is why the best sound quality DVD issue is worth getting !). The original music blends beautifully with the plot progression but, more significantly, the addition of existing commercial tracks from talented groups such as 'Shriekback' and 'Iron Butterfly' make the production quite outstanding (they prompted me to explore the music of those groups more and buy their albums). br / br /The background of Shriekbacks 'Evaporation' to Graham's back yard detection scene is enthralling, 'This Big Hush' provides a marvellous backdrop to the serial killer 'love' scene. However, the true highlights are the use of 'Coelocanth' to support the 'Tiger in the vet's' scene and the climax of the film relying on 'In A Gadda Da Vida' by Iron Butterfly. br / br /It is noteworthy that the artistic nature of Mann's direction is especially evident in the climax, as the film is edited to fit in with that 10 minute-long music track, rather than the music being applied to the film. br / br /SEE THIS FILM !!! br / br /--- br / br /One point worth bearing in mind that a definitive DVD edition does not really exist as the various issues all have flaws and varying 'cuts' (variations even exist between those issues labelled 'Theatrical Cut' and 'Director's Cut' !). br / br /I own the Region 1 Limited Edition Anchor Bay 2-disc effort (as it was the 1st special re-issue), the Restored Region 2 UK Directors Cut (for the commentary and other extras) and lately have acquired the Region 2 issue originating from Japan which has DTS, a good image transfer and has the 'definitive' Theatrical cut ! br / br /All these newer issues have a very good picture quality and soundtrack, so you can't really go wrong with any of them. br / br /However, various tweaks (mostly detrimental) have been made to later issues, including the omission of crucial exchanges between Graham and the police and latterly between Graham and Crawford. Whilst the addition of some scenes is welcome, I cannot fathom why some scenes have been 'cut' like this when they are so important to the overall plot... Step aside Anthony Hopkins.. March 11, 2009 Jonny Ramon (Derry, Ireland.) 1 out of 2 found this review helpful With Brian Cox as Hannibal Lecktor, this is the finest of the Lecktor series. In this fine cameo Cox captures the character of the twisted Doctor much more realistically than Hopkins. He is more natural and portrays an incredible seductive charm, as opposed to Hopkins never blinking and rattling on about lambs etc. Both actors projected the danger of the man but, for me, Cox is the more sinister. Why? Because he is more real. I like Hopkins but Cox is indeed brilliant. br / br /William Peterson, of CSI fame, is also on top form. He carries every scene with believable dedication and vulnerability. Aided by Michael Mann's skill at adding perfect music to perfect scenes, Peterson sucks the viewer into his performance. Excellent supporting cast makes this an unmissable movie. br / br /It has dated however. The clothes, styling and soundtrack are all very eighties but, hey, it bloody works. br / br /You'll never watch Silence of the lambs again after seeing this.. br / br / Lecter before Hopkins June 23, 2009 Jacques COULARDEAU (OLLIERGUES France) 0 out of 3 found this review helpful The first episode of Doctor Lecter, before "The Silence of the Lamb" and "Hannibal". The Doctor is already in prison and he is already playing from there with some serial killers and the FBI. But the book is slightly still in construction, and the film is too. We do have the serial killer, and the new technique of profiling. But it is still not entirely squared out. The FBI man is still relying on his instinct, his sixth sense, his intuition, his inner eye to understand the feelings and the thoughts of the killer and capture him by being able to foresee what he is going to do. But that paranormal element is not convincing, though it is commonly used in some detective TV series. Thomas Harris is going to get to real profiling only in the next volume. Even the great visionary power of Doctor Lecter will become the unavoidable logic of the mind, of the psyche, of the deranged mental power of the insane doctor only then. He is a genius in his psychiatric field and his derangement gives him the capability to know no limits. But that is still to come. Here though Thomas Harris settles some accounts with journalists and has one burnt alive. He also settles some revenge with story telling and twists the story line in some unforeseen ways now and then. These moments are magic in a way since they are unexplained and they restart the dynamic of the tale that could have become humdrum. The story seems to settle some accounts with a couple of commonplace if not trite ideas. The whole logic of the killer is to think that his being seen over and over again by a women during the last five minutes of their lives as if their eyes were silver mirrors would lead him to be loved and to come to terms with his desire to kill. His last victim actually loves him in a way and/but she is blind. She loves him because she is blind and he kills her out of no reason and she will not be able to "see" him when she dies. Of course that victim will survive because our FBI man-hunter will come into the picture unannounced. Thomas Harris also deals with the idea that all serial killers were boys who were mistreated when children, probably by their parents, even more probably somewhere by their mothers. That kind of a cliché is so simple that it does not sound true nor serious, some kind of a joke, maybe a big wink with a grin at the nasty and dirty mind of the reader. But this cliché will be present in absolutely all the Doctor Lecter books, in a way or another. In this case it is really superficial. It is interesting to see, after reading it, this first episode in the story of Doctor Lecter, first episode as it came out of the mind of its author because we can see and feel the genetic dimension of the saga, because it was to become a saga and today it even has become a cultish trip into criminal insanity. br / br /Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, CEGID br / EXTREMELY OVERRATED!!! May 15, 2009 dosn't matter who I am (Rugeley, England) 2 out of 11 found this review helpful Having enjoyed all of the proper Hannibal Lecter movies, I was expecting big things from MANHUNTER. How disappointed was I?! br / br /1. Brian Cox's performance as the so-called Hannibal "Lecktor" was atrocious, he wasn't creepy at all! He's a disgrace compared to the much superior portrayal by Anthony Hopkins. br / br /2. There were definetely some frames missing in this film. br / br /3. The music was awful for this film, it sounded like they'd stolen it from SCARFACE. br / br /Overall wasn't very impressed, although it's still worthwile for Hannibal LECTER fans!

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