This is the story of Hannibal Lecter's (Gaspard Ulliel) early years, based on the Thomas Harris book of the same title. This prequel shows him (young Hannibal played by Aaron Thomas) in three different stages of his life; from wealthy childhood living in Castle Lecter with his parents the Count and Countess and his younger sister Mischa (Helena Lia Tachovska) in World War II-era Lithuania; the horrors on the Eastern Front of being abused by local rogue mercenaries, Nazis, Russians, the killing of his family, and cannibalism; and the years in Paris attending medical school.

Director Webber (Girl With a Pearl Earring) puts on a very stylish show of a period piece film in Europe. Both young and older Hannibal give a sympathetic emotional slant to this character rather than portraying the vicious and psychotic character audiences have seen in the original Dr. Lecter (Brian Cox of Manhunter) who was real in nature, but not as well acted as the Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) of The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal.

This film moves from the Eastern Front where he lost his family in brutal killings to Hannibal's teenage years where he lives in a work home for teenage refugees, which happens to be his family castle. In this home he is physically abused and decides to escape and make his way to Russia to his last surviving relative - his aunt, Lady Murasaki Shikibu (Gong Li), who is the widow of his blood-related uncle. They only have themselves, because both have lost loved ones in the war. The beautiful Gong Li gives a great sensitive portrayal as his aunt. But I found the other villians in this movie more exciting and even more sinister than Hannibal. These are the five rogue mercenaries (Rhys Ifans, Kevin McKidd, Richard Brake, Stephen Walters, and Ivan Marevich) who are savage outlaws. They have some very exciting and gruesome scenes.

While learning how the human body works in medical school, Hannibal embarks on the first of his cannibalistic missions. Now Ulliel reminds me of Hopkins' Hannibal but as a younger version. He plans a relentless revenge on these five rogues who are responsible for his sister's death. Bodies turn up and all leads turn to Hannibal. Meanwhile, he draws attention from Inspector Pope (Dominic West, TV's The Wire), who I found to be perfectly cast for the part.

The concluding scenes fall apart. Where as the film concentrated on the emotions of the characters in the beginning, now it gives us Gong Li in a leather suit driving a high speed motorcycle. This is when director Webber strips the author and screenplay writer Harris' script and the film becomes ridiculous. Up until this time I found the film to be a good revenge film with a great deal of gore. I won't be a spoiler and tell the ending, but the ending left me feeling dissatisfied.

Directed by: Peter Webber
Run time: 2 hours
Release date: February 9, 2007
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Distributor: MGM/The Weinstein Company