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Starting this week, we have a look at both the Silence of the Lambs: Criterion Collection and last week's gem, Hannibal. Due to school starting today (my senior year) I won't have as much time to write, but I'll try my hardest.
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS: CRITERION COLLECTION
Movie: 10/10
Personally, I believe this film deserved every Oscar it won. Hopkins and Foster are spectacular as the duo of Lechter and Starling and the script (while I have not read the book) seems to be in excellent form. Demme's directoral form is also top notch, making Silence of the Lambs one of the most influential and frightening films in decades. The story deals with agent Clarice Starling, who is handpicked from her F.B.I. training class to question Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lechter about the mad serial killer Buffillo Bill, who just happened to kidnap a politician's daughter. The film has top notch action sequences, which aren't over the top, but frightening and elaborate. The escape from Tennessee is my favorite as is the end confusion over Clarice's location. Silence of the Lambs is a true classic.
Video: 7/10
The quality of this Criterion collection is very disappointing in both sound and video. Of course, it is one of the first Criterion DVDs (#13) and it clearly shows to that quality. (Although, now the DVD is out of print and their is a nice MGM DVD out there, read more about all that at the bottom.) Things look to have rough edges on film, however, I've seen a lot worse. Still, it is not worthy of the rest of the film. Blacks aren't quite black enough, but I have more to bitch about when it comes to sound.
Audio: 5/10
Really disappointing. This isn't even a 5.1 mix but a stereo mix! The stereo mix, while not bad, is kind of crappy. I tried turning my stereo on to "virtual surround sound" and while the effects and such sounded better, dialogue came out horribly. A truely disappointing sound mix, MGM's is probably better. Take Lechter's intoduction in the dungeon for example... Nasty.
Extras: 10/10
This is where the Criterion edition puts MGM to shame. Both DVDs share the same deleted scenes, however, they part quickly from that. MGM"s copy has a nice documentary that Criterion's doesn't, which I have heard is really good. However, I really enjoy Criterion's serial killer files as well as their kick ass commentary by Foster, Hopkins, Demme, and writer Ted Tally. This is by far the best feature on the DVD... Ohh yeah, the FBI agent is on it too, great stuff. Really a decent commentary. My advice would be to buy the Criterion one, but judge for yourself.
Overall: 8/10
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