Long-awaited sequel to Silence Of The Lambs is set ten years later and has FBI agent Clarice Starling (portrayed here by Julianne Moore) being placed back on the Hannibal case after she's accused of messing-up a drug bust. Well it just so happens that our favourite cannibal serial killer (Anthony Hopkins) who's been hiding-out in Italy starts-up killing again and it's up to Clarice to find him not only for the FBI but for a disfigured millionaire (who is Hannibal's only surviving victim) that wants revenge.

Disappointing is the first word to come to mind when you're talking about Hannibal. Granted, it's an okay film but there's problems on hand mainly because trying to follow-up such a superb original isn't easy (and Thomas Harris' source novel is apparently trash).

Hopkins is still subtlely menacing, though Moore is put on the back-burner for most of the first half. But the main problem here lies in the gore quotient and the fact there's just too much of it - this only helps diminish what little suspense there is and makes it lack the mood the original captured so well.

Overall though it's not horrible but there's a few plot holes (such as how Hannibal can easily cross customs despite being on the FBI's ten most wanted list) and a morbid little final scene; but this completely fails to reach the level of the original because of the gore, plotting and complete lack of mystery (we know there's going to be a showdown, folks).

Harris' critically lambasted novel turns into a middle-of-the-road sequel.

Directed By: Ridley Scott.
Written By: David Mamet, Steve Zaillian.

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, Ray Liotta, Frankie R. Faison.