Manhunter or Red Dragon
 

I just watched Manhunter and the later Red Dragon on DVD. Both movies are based on Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. What is interesting is remakes are usually decades apart whereas these two are separated by about 15 years.

Manhunter is directed by Michael Mann and has more than a hint of Miami Vice flavor. However, once I got past the pure 80's kitsch, the story was purer and more emotive than the later Red Dragon. Peterson, as the original Will Graham is more vulnerable and emotionally involved than Ed Norton.

While the stories are broadly the same, much was changed in the re-make. Lecktor gets a more prominent role and Dr. Chilton is more of the fool first seen in Silence of the Lambs. Who would have guessed that Hannibal the cannibal would become the most popular character to emerge from Silence.

So, which is better? My vote goes to Manhunter for being less gimmicky and focusing more on the detective Graham and how he gets into the mind of the Tooth Fairy.

Manhunter!

I have not seen Red Dragon. Liked Manhunter when I first saw it on release and went out & bought Iron Butterfly right after. I'd never heard the middle all those years. Bought Manuhunter on VHS & not too long ago picked up the DVD. About a month back I watched for the first time in ~10 years. The film has a surreal element to it and is sparsely populated between COLOR & spare like Hannibal's cell. Will Peterson does a great job and all of Mann's visual gimmicks work nicely in this film. I should see Red Dragon however as I do like the story.

OT -

Another must see Will Peterson film is "To Live & Die In LA".

Manhunter

That's another great Eighties thriller. Not as flashy as Manhunter but better for being not. I've got it somewhere on VHS.

I haven't seen Red Dragon, but Manhunter makes my all time favorites list.

So far it's Manhanter 5-0!

So has anybody read the book? I first saw Manhunter and loved it, so I got Harris's book and read it. I thought the movie wasn't a very good adaptation of the book, and some of the book that wasn't in the movie just blew me away. Then I saw Red Dragon when it came out, a much better rendering of the book. But, you know, I like Manhunter better as a movie. I think Will Peterson got burned into my brain as Graham, and Ed Norton just didn't come off as good.

So it's 6-0?

Haven't seen all of Manhunter yet. But that flaming wheelchair in Red Dragon is pretty creepy.

Red Dragon is one of the scariest books you'll ever read.

As for film, Manhunter all the way.

Manhunter... IMO the stronger film by a large margin.

Manhunter is the better movie. It was filmed in Atlanta. The prison in the movie is actually the High Museum of Art.

The Red Dragon is an excellent novel. Highly recommended.

John

Manhunter

Manhunter!

I liked them both even though Red Dragon got on my nerves at times. The flaming wheelchair was definitely eerie. When you get down to it Manhunter was directed by Michael Mann and Red Dragon by the guy who directed the Rush Hour movies and it shows.