Load of rubbish!!

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

The Silence of the Lambs directed by Jonathan Demme is close to a masterpiece. Expertly shot and acted this is another in the line of Hannibal Lectar films and arguably the most well-known. Anthony Hopkins will forever be known for his chilling portrayal of Lectar(he won an Oscar for this) and Jodie Foster once again shows why she is such a fine actress. The pacing is good and Buffalo Bill is a maniac you want caught, even if it means siding with a cannibal. To Demme's credit the film makes Lectar far more interesting than any other character despite the fact that he isn't in the film much. Great watch.

One of my favourite films of all time - which makes me a little bit strange in my family's eyes! The film tells the story of you young FBI Cadet/Trainee Clarice Starling's (Jody Foster) first big case. She's thrown into the wolves den and asked to interview an infamous cannibalistic serial killer, Dr Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). Little does she know that she was chosen for ulterior motives, nether the less, she manages to extract information by forming a close bond with Dr Lecter - something nobody previously has been able to do. The information she is trying to get should lead to the capture of another serial killer, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) who has previously cross paths with Dr Lecter. Currently terrorising the eastern states of the US, he's killed five victims and kidnapping the senator's daughter. Lots of psychological warfare is and will be used in order to get the required information and track down the killer before it's too late for the senators daughter.Based on a Thomas Harris book of the same name this is actually one of those rare things, a film which doesn't ruin the feeling left by the book. Directed by Jonathan Demme the film is dark and tense, and acts as a benchmark for thrillers and horrors - proving you don't have to go overboard on gore or graphic visuals to make something haunting and memorable.The casting is brilliant and believable but its Hopkins and Foster who really drive this film from start to finish. Hopkins in particular delivers a performance which is classy but scary at the same time and will forever live in cult memory. From the minute you first glimpse Lecter in his cell, watching the wide eyed Starling approach you sense that something isn't right with him - massive credit to Hopkins for this delivery, it's haunting and disturbed, a kin to a caged predator watching curiously to see what has just entered his cage and what he can do with it for fun. Ask somebody to quote a line from the film and 9 times out of 10 it's be a quote about fava beans and Chianti. The visuals are dark and dirty, Demme chose washed out, almost sepia, colours throughout the film and it really adds a lot of texture to the experience. It almost feels like you've got dirty by watching the dirtiness of what's happening in front of you. I loved this film and would happily watch it any time I happen to catch it repeated. This is rare example of film which tests my ability to rate it - I refuse to give out 10's but that self-imposed rule could have been broken for this masterpiece so easily. 9 out of 10.

Sweeping a feat at the Oscars that only two other films have ever accomplished, The Silence of the Lambs keeps you on the edge of your seat. Literally. Or hiding under a blanket and a bowl of popcorn. The characters instead of making an eye line between each other often talk straight into the camera where you automatically are put in an uneasy seat. The intensity is directed right at you. And the story becomes more immersive. A perfect once in a lifetime combination happened when you get spectacular acting, writing, and directing all in one 2 hour time block...it still gets my heart racing. If you haven't seen this movie, I recommend it to anyone seeking a mental thriller. Perhaps once deemed gory in the early 90's, but by today's standard the film sits pretty tame but again mentally thrilling. There's no "boo" in this film. But you still might be brimming with fear by the third act. Enjoy movie lovers.

If you consider yourself a movie fan but have yet to hear of the Criterion Collection turn in your movie fan card. I've touted the amazing things being offered in the past by companies like Twilight Time, Shot Factory, Olive and Arrow. Criterion was one of the first companies to bring forth full-fledged special editions of classic movies with numerous extras that make them worth tossing out the old version of a film in favor of theirs. If you need an example of why here is one.Released in 1991, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS was the second time that the character Dr. Hannibal Lecter appeared on screen having been seen just a short time in Michael Mann's MANHUNTER. But the performance of Anthony Hopkins in this version will forever be sealed in our minds as the perfect performance to associate with the character. But maybe you're not familiar with the story.Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is in training to become an FBI agent. Her desire is to work in the behavioral science department. She's called to the office of Agent Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) for a special assignment. They're doing a survey of serial killers and he wants to send her to see Dr. Hannibal Lecter in prison in the hopes he will respond better to her than most and agree to answer the questionnaire.Starling goes to visit Lecter at the facility he is imprisoned in for the criminally insane, first having to deal with the facility's head Dr. Frederick Chilton (Anthony Heald) before being taken to the now iconic cell block that holds Lecter. Behind a Plexiglas wall she sees him for the first time and he converses with her. But Lecter is one to use psychiatric measures against those he confronts and the pair play a cat and mouse game until he finally agrees after a traumatic experience with the man in the cell next to his.Crawford is actually working on a current case, another serial killer the press has called Buffalo Bob. His assignment to Starling was in reality a hope for clues that Lecter could provide. He takes Starling along with him on the case as they begin to investigate the latest victim. Each has been killed but held captive after several days and each has had portions of their skin removed. As Starling delves deeper into the case and her communications with Lecter, he begins to offer her clues to aid in finding the new killer. But at what cost? Her sanity? His freedom? Or is there something more going on here?The film is one of those perfect movies that works on all levels. The direction of Jonathan Demme is some of the best ever committed to celluloid. He combines all of the pieces used to create a film that terrifies and fascinates at the same time. That combination of music, cinematography, acting, sets, costuming, stunts, makeup and more are all molded into a movie that you won't forget after seeing it just once. Having the opportunity to watch it more than a single time just helps you to appreciate the effort and end results all the more.The film was released in blu-ray format before in a collector's edition by MGM so why bother picking up this version instead? That's where Criterion shows what they do best. To start with the presentation of the film with a 4K digital restoration approved by director of photography Tak Fujimoto. The images on screen are the best you will find for this film. But the extras are not limited to that.The audio commentary track from 1994 with director Demme, actors Foster and Hopkins, screenwriter Ted Tally and former FBI agent John Douglas (the actual agent Crawford was based on) is here. A new interview with film critic Maitland McDonagh focuses on both the film and a brief discussion about serial killers in reality and on film. There are 38 minutes of deleted scenes. If this wasn't enough there are four documentaries that feature hours of interviews with the cast and crew. Then there is a behind the scenes featurette. The storyboards used for the film are on hand to view. The original trailer is here. And this new version includes a book featuring an introduction by Foster, an essay by critic Amy Taubin, articles written by Thomas Harris, the author of the book the film is based on, from 2000 and 2013 on the origins of Lecter and lastly an interview with director Demme. That's an extensive amount of extras along with the best presentation of the film ever all brought together by Criterion.While I've been aware of Criterion this is my first time viewing one of the versions they've put out. I'm glad to see that they live up to their reputation. As a matter of fact they have exceeded it. They not only put out versions of popular films such as this one they make it a goal to seek out classic films of the past as well as foreign films that might not have gotten the attention or been made readily accessible to movie fans around the world. It's a tremendous and thankless job that they do. After my experience with this film let's hope that they carry on with their goal and achieve it daily.