The Hannibal Lecter Collection (MGM/Fox DVD-Video)

 

 

This set gathers the three best film adaptations of Thomas Harris’ Hannibal Lecter books for the first time, including Michael Mann’s Manhunter, Jonathan Demme’s The Silence Of The Lambs and Ridley Scott’s Hannibal, all of which we have reviewed before.  MGM originally issued Hannibal as a double DVD set, which we covered at this link:

 

Hannibal (2001 DTS Set)

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/193/Hannibal+(2001/DTS+set)

 

 

This is the same picture and sound edition, complete with DTS and some edge enhancement issues, but in a single DVD edition.  A Blu-ray is due soon.  Image Entertainment originally issued The Silence Of The Lambs when Orion still existed on LaserDisc and basic DVD, while one of the best-ever Criterion Collection LaserDiscs was this film, which was available briefly on DVD before MGM got the rights and pulled them from Criterion.  They then issued their own DVD, which we compared to the Criterion DVD at this link:

 

The Silence Of The Lambs (First MGM Widescreen DVD + Criterion DVD)

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/190/Silence+of+the+Lambs+(First+MGM+Widescreen+DVD-Video+++Criterion)

 

 

This set offers a single DVD of the film with a slightly better looking transfer, but nothing that dramatic that we would give it more than the B- we gave the old one.  The sound mix is exactly the same and until the Blu-ray arrives with the expected DTS mix, the Criterion LaserDisc’s PCM surround remains the best sound mix of the film on home video.  Why this single does not even have audio commentaries is a mystery, but MGM has a new double set of the film out there and they lack some of the Criterion extras.  Fortunately, the disc is still out there used at a reasonable price we strongly recommend for its extras.

 

 

Then there is the first film to feature Lector, even when the name was spelled Lecktor.  Anchor Bay issued the longer director’s cut which we covered as follows:

 

Manhunter (DiviMax Restored Director’s Cut)

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/218/Manhunter+(Divimax+Ed.)

 

 

The edition in this set is widescreen, but is the shorter four-minute version with bad editing and zero extras.  Our ratings for this version is:

 

Picture: B     Sound: B-     Extras: D     Film: B-

 

 

Though this is a convenient edition of the three films, you are better off getting the double sets of the Anthony Hopkins films, the Criterion of Silence and Director’s Cut of Anchor Bay for Manhunter.  Still, if you have not sent them and you get this set, skip Manhunter and wait for the other cut.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo