Friday October 4, 2002 marked the opening of one of the best films I’ve seen this year. Red Dragon, the story that began it all, brought Doctor Hannibal Lecter to movie goers for the third time.

Thomas Harris, author of The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal, published Red Dragon in 1981, seven years before The Silence of the Lambs. It was the first time readers had the chance to meet Lecter, while following ex-FBI agent, William Graham as he searches for a serial killer known as the Tooth Fairy.

In 1986 director, Michael Mann, released the film Manhunter, the first to be based on Red Dragon, but I highly doubt it was as successful as the more recent version will be.

Sir Anthony Hopkins again portrays Hannibal “The Cannibal” in the Brett Ratner directed film, alongside Edward Norton (Primal Fear, Fight Club) who plays Agent Graham.

Hopkins delivers another stunning performance, putting the crowd on the edge of their seats in anticipation. You could feel the sense of familiarity with the character, that of an old friend.

Hopkins and Norton accurately portray the game-like relationship between Lecter and Graham, who was the detective to catch Hannibal years before, despite an almost fatal struggle.

Red Dragon follows a similar story line to The Silence of the Lambs, with Graham looking for insight from Lecter in hope of apprehending the Tooth Fairy. Although the “quid pro quo” aspect of their meetings is not what it is with Lecter and Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster in The Silence, it is definitely a game of cat and mouse between both characters.

Taking the film from another angle, we can focus in on Francis Dolarhyde, played by Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient, The Avengers), who has a very interesting secret.

Dolarhyde lives by himself in his grandmother’s old mansion, where he makes plans for his ultimate becoming. He has begun the transformation from man to the great red dragon. Just goes to show how much a William Blake painting can mean to a man.