*WARNING SPOILERS*
Silence of the Lambs was one of those movies where it brought attention to many people AFTER audiences watched it and talked about it with friends. It was indeed a eye catcher but it wasn't a #1 blockbuster, stand in line movie. Unfortunately, Hannibal Rising won't be the same thing. The movie itself, acting, and storyline isn't horrible but there are little quirks and stuff that could've been better which didn't offer in Hannibal Rising.
I personally loved Silence of the Lambs, and Hannibal. I thought Hannibal was actually pretty amazing with the story build up and explanation of Hannibal's character. It wasn't that feeling with Red Dragon because I felt like Red Dragon had the same ol' stuff as Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal Lecter aiding the FBI and etc.. etc.. The biggest peak and quirk of the movie was at the end where the Prison Guard says "Hannibal, there's someone here to see you. It's a female detective." The best part.
So Hannibal Rising. It told story of Hannibal as a child, how he became who he is, and what happened him with him. However I felt like it wasn't much of a trauma. I mean it's pretty tragic seeing your parents getting killed, and your sister getting killed and eaten. But there was a lack of emotion and anger out of Hannibal himself. I wanted to see scenes where Hannibal is PISSED OFF!! It was more like "nooo sister, please don't kill my sister" and then he walks off into a snowy forest and collapses. I wanted to see him finding some inner anger, burying his face in the snow and screaming at the top of his lungs.
But that isn't the worst part. The whole movie is based on revenge and I wish it wasn't just about that. I wanted to see some revelation from Hannibal where he realizes "Hey... I like eating humans"... and "hey, this killing people thing is starting to be addicting." Because in Hannibal (the movie after Silence) he tells Clarice, "I want to get out of retirement and get out into public life" meaning he has this thirst for killing and eating people. I wanted to watch Hannibal grow up into the psychopath we know of him. But there is none of that. He just wanders around killing people that killed his family and that's it. I liked the part where it portrayed Hannibal of how he grew fond and knew so much about the human body. It's always been a build up of understanding with Hannibal series and you really know in Hannibal that he knows a good load about how the human body works. He can kill a pick pocket with one stab to the artery near his inner thigh. That's knowledge right there.
And I go back to the quirks thing. I wished there was a point in the movie where it had some GOOD tie in's with the future. There were some but very subtle. You had to be a Hannibal fan to really notice it. (For instance, the music Hannibal plays in his medical school dorm room is the same as the Ridley Scott's Hannibal. The intro sequence of his movie plays the same music.) I wanted to see Anthony Hopkins pop out somewhere. That would've been awesome. But we all know that Anthony has no interest in watching this movie (why???)
Over all, it's not a waste of money, but it's not a Silence or Ridley Scott's Hannibal.