I went into Hannibal with the knowledge that Jody foster would not be in the film. I was very skeptical. I kick myself emphatically now. 

Putting in another Oscar worthy performance is Sir Anthony Hopkins returning to reprise the lead role of Hannibal the Cannibal. Taking the place of Foster is Julianne Moore. She fills the shoes very nicely and isn't afraid of the big bad cannibal like Foster.

Also appearing are Gary Oldman and Ray Liotta to the shock of this moviegoer who saw neither name in the mags about this movie. I will let Liotta's role be a nice surprise.

In the directors chair is film Veteran Ridley Scott who brought us the Alien movies(the ones worth watching)

and my personal favorite Bladerunner. 

This sequal finds Hannibal on the loose still and hiding in the open in Florence. Pursuing him is a plethora of 'good' guys depending on your point of view.

We have an Italian police detective trying to solve a murder and collect the reward on Hannibal. The actors name escapes me but he is very good.

Then there is Oldman playing the fourth victim of Hannibal from Red Dragon, the first novel with Lecter. The wheelchair bound Mason Verger whose face looks like the Arseface character from Garth Ennis' Preacher comic books. Hannibal convinced Mason to cut his own face off with the help of some pharmaceuticals. He only wants to feed Hannibal to a pack of maneating pigs. 

And of course Clarice Starling. Her motives are not as clear-cut as the others. The question becomes does she do it for love or justice.

Hannibal takes little time to capture your insides and squeaze them. It takes you on a wild killing spree where justice is eeked out by a maniac.

It's a love story. It's a bloodbath. It's a trip to somewhere dark that you may or may not come back from. It's great filmmaking and worth watching if only to see what happens next and how the horrors outdo themselves. I left wanting a big meal.