RED DRAGON
Edward Norton stars as ex-FBI agent Will Graham, an expert investigator who quit the Bureau after almost losing his life in the process of capturing the elusive Dr. Lecter (Hopkins). Years later, after a series of particularly grisly murders, Graham reluctantly agrees to come out of retirement and assist in the case. But he soon realizes that the best way to catch this killer, known as the Tooth Fairy, is to find a way to get inside the killer's mind. And the closest thing to that would be to probe the mind of another killer who is equally brilliant and equally twisted. For Graham, that means confronting his past and facing his former nemesis, the now-incarcerated Lecter.
Synopsis 2:
In this chilling tale of sexual obsession and murder, Thomas Harris introduced readers to Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter, and Will Graham, the relentless FBI agent who put him behind bars. Now a vicious killer who murders entire families is on the loose, and Graham must find him before he strikes again. But he discovers Lecter has been communicating with the killer from prison-to make Graham and his family the next victims!
1 sentence synopsis:Drama and Thriller
2 hrs. 06 min. In this prequel to "The Silence of the Lambs," the story of former FBI agent Will Graham, who was nearly killed by Hannibal Lecter, is told, and it includes the initial capture of "The Cannibal."



Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Harvey Keitel
Director: Brett Ratner
Producer: Ridley Scott, Dino De Laurentiis, Martha De Laurentis
Writer: Ted Tally
Cast overview:
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0289765
Thomas Harris:
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/thomasharris/reddragon.html

Critics reviews: click on 'more' for full reviews
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808410341&cf=critic&intl=ca


Red Dragon Websites:
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808410341&cf=web&intl=ca

Red Dragon. Top of the box office and rightfully so. A must see. Prequal? Never heard of a prequel until this film. And I never realized that I had already begun reading this prequel 3 years ago in the book Red Dragon written by Thomas Harris. It is very similar to a Stephen King novel. So being a fan of Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Silence of the Lambs (fan of Jody Foster too) flashy movie commercial glimpses and good reviews, and wanting to pick up and compare with the novel I had begun but never finished and out of curiosity of watching a prequel enticed my curiosity. Kinda like watching a movie backwards. You not only get to compare the prequel to the already seen sequels, but get to see how well they could produce a movie without any mistakes after producing sequels. Lord of the Rings/ Star Wars trilogies-although undeniably monumental, felt was not near as interesting and provacative as this addition to Silence of the Lambs.
Watching the movie I pretty much realized I had forgotten the book with only faint traces and ghosts of the FBI scenes and conversations.
Just as the book, the movie seems to 'pick up' somewhere, neverminding that this is a 3rd installment in a series. We, the audience are placed in an unknown place and time where events and story happenings are already unfolding. Something has already begun. It has a past. It has depth. It is something profound. Something almost real. There are characters and conversations and a tone already set. Something is going on and that intrigues the audience. We want to know what. We want to know what is happening. Because something is obviously, undeniably happening. Tell us what it is.
The initial scene in the film leaves the audience confused, bewildered but at the same time curious and intrigued. We see the 2 main actors : Edward Norton playing the FBI agent Will Graham, confronting and discovering Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lector) as murderer. The 2 get into a scuffle and seemingly kill each other. As audience we don't really know where the hell this exactly 'fits in' but then we are allowed to breathe as the movie fast forwards a few years and the now retired Will Graham has recovered from his wounds and Hannibal is doing time and we are assured that the movie director didn't just mess up his whole production. The movie then pics up as we are oriented to time and place and pace as we compare what we've seen in the first 2 films.

So the movie is playing with our curiosity, or is it the director, or Thomas Harris or who or whatever possessed Thomas? The movie is presenting images and thoughts clearly, insightfully. It opens our eyes to life in general and gets us thinking about life as society and our own individual lives. It makes us question, analize and break free from concepts we just haven't given thought to or just passively accepted as 'normal' but are indeed critical to our safety in living-to our own physical and mental wellbeing. I found very powerful words and thoughts uttered and conveyed during the film which added in making this film so great.
Harvey Keitel plays FBI agent Jack Crawford who uses emotional appeal to get Will Graham to rejoin the FBI team to get this killer (The Tooth Fairy). Will agrees and starts investigating a family's brutal murder. Will goes to the scene of investigation (the house) alone retracing and actually living the events through his psyche and close connection to this murderer. The evidence has been preserved except the bodies. We the audience are shown blood smeared walls and mangled rooms as Will Graham thinks aloud and pieces it together. As he is thinking the audience is given flashes of the actual murdered bodies which are graphically portrayed even for an 'R' rated film to a society who has no 'shock' left in them.
What has made Silence of the Lambs what it is, is the way this murderer fantasizes about his murders. He is a cannibal and an artist, but also a dramatist which Will Graham has insight into and discloses to the whole FBI team. Jack Crawford values Will 's courage and insight and therefore 'awards' him with handling this case in every aspect. It is 'his case'. "You've earned it," is one of the lines by Jack as he hands Will the latest private info on the case discovered.
Before a FBI meeting, Will replies to a questioning officer about the killer and motive. "Because it makes him God", he answers without hesitation. "If you were God, would you want to give that up?" he asks, revealing his insight and relationship to Francis 'Tooth Fairy/Red Dragon' Dolarhyde, which also adds to the identity and appeal of this twisted film. As Will is walking through the house piecing together the murder, after going through the master bedroom goes into the children's room where the camera pauses on a broken mirror above a dresser covered with dolls. Will realizes the killer had taken the broken mirror and placed them in the eye sockets of the bodies and then dragged them all together in the master bedroom and placed them as props, and later proves this when finger prints are discovered on the eye sockets because the killer took off his gloves to 'feel' the eyes. This not only reinforces how the killer was a dramatist but highlights to us the therapeutic power of enactment. The bodies were staged and offered as a presentation to appease a sick higher power.
Varied and contrasting synopsis
Character Roles, Portrayals, contrasted and compared. Along with previous film roles.
Book author, Film Writers and adaptors comparison and analysis.
Themes, hints and hidden messages by words, eye contact, tone, film disclosure, pace, silence.

Characters:

Edward Norton:
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hc&id=1800018634&cf=biog&intl=ca
Wonder why they chose Edward Norton. Tall scrawney, young looking, wimpey looking. Seemed like the role didn't suit him playing a tough independent x-FBI agent with an attractive wife and child.(but every actor in this film 'plays along' and therefore empowers him, convincing us 'yes' he is the man for the role.) Though his role in American History X with his head shaved was impressive. He really did come across as a tough guy in what I believe was one of the most powerful films ever made. I remember his character and personality revealed closely in the film 'Keeping the Faith' which he also directed and produced. Edward Norton presents a very sociable likeable meek but assertive personality in contrast to the other main characters of the film.
I did a sketch of Edward Norton a few years back from a magazine. His character has always kinda struck and appealed to me but I have found his characters extremely diversified and often unrecognizable in different pictures as his own physical appearance seems to change or maybe it's just the camera.
Dramatic scene near the end of the film: Ralph Fiennes (Tooth Fairy killer) is holding Will's son hostage in front of him. Using psychology Will (Edward Norton) denounces and insults his son calling him a 'fagot' in order to elicit a reaction from the killer who was supposedly abused by his father.
sketch:
http://ca.photos.yahoo.com/bc/jbigham2000/vwp?.dir=/Yahoo!+Photo+Album/Charcoals+and+Chalk+drawings&.dnm=sleep.jpg&.src=ph&.view=t&.hires=t

Anthony Hopkins.
http://us.imdb.com/Name?Hopkins,%20Anthony
I love Anthony Hopkins. He gets alot of roles but he doesn't get to me like John Travolta or Bruce Willis. I think what appeals to me most is his father figure roles(Father figure roles in particular in 'Mask of Zorro' his relationship with Antonio Bandaras teaching him to fight; and his relationship with Brad Pitt in 'Meet Joe Black'. and his tone of voice. He gives me peace and relaxes me. He seems to have so much wisdom and when he utters his wisdom I always take it like it is comming from Anthony and not crediting the writer or director or whomever. I can't imagine that he is saying the lines of someone else, rather he convinced the director to have his own free reign for a moment. One of his lines that struck me: "Scars are a testimony to the past. That it really happened." Also in his conversation from lock up to Edward Norton: " A rational society would either kill prisoners like me or put us to some usefull purpose." That again alludes to the (movie's unspoken message) Red Dragon higher power controlling us in society as pawns for a sick purpose. Being played out for someone's 'pleasure'. Another topic of Anthony's wisdom had to do with fear. He tells Will that he is full of fear but that he is in no way a coward. He said his fear dominates him and it is only with mastery and experience can a man control fear. Will's eyes were full of admission and he seemed to take the words to heart. It was almost as a bond was forming between the killer and the capturer.
Red Dragon's depiction of jail and Anthony's demeanor and dignity maintained therein is a false impression of reality. There is no bargaining power when you are in custody. When Will is making appeal to his intellectual aid, there is bargaining. However, opposite of Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter is much more compromising and therefore revealing that he really is not 'holding all the cards'. Norton is very good at calling Anthony's bluff demonstrating his insight into the true facts.

Ralph Fiennes:
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hc&id=1800019488&cf=biog&intl=ca
I'm not too firmiliar with Ralph Fiennes and only remember him from the film Avengers which I couldn't stand. (exept Uma) Oh yeah and the English Patient-need I say more. Fiennes presents a cold callous emotionally disturbed front. Though attractive and authoritative in appearance he also seems very withdrawn and shy. Head shaved-military look. Intimidating, but sensitive. His relationship with Reba (played by Emily Watson) who suffers from blindness, offers us more insight into his character. First of all his choice and attraction and the way he replies to her in conversation. Reba hits at the most personal questions and issues addressing Francis Dolarhyde's ('Tooth Fairy/Red Dragon') own disability with a mouth deformity but affectionately stepping closer, touching him and embarrasing him. Francis allows Reba intimacy and discloses to her his most personal side. Reba admires and believes in Francis making him a man acting as a perfect compliment. On many occasions Reba's questions are met with silence by Francis. Reba's blindness adds tenseness to the scene as we dont know what Francis is thinking or whether or not he will even bother to respond at all-maybe just hack her to pieces on the spot. The audience can see the eyes of Francis and his own inner thought struggles as glimpses of smiles burst through with immediate retractions and changed emotion in the eyes reveal to us just how disturbed this man really is.
The scene with Francis Dolarhyde prancing around the house naked after spending the night with Reba presents an awkward image of the Dragon when glimpses of his small genitals shown contrasted with his muscular tatooed body and Godlike demeanor.

The Dragon: Who or what is the dragon and it's significance? Is Thomas Harris (Book author) the only one to rightfully answer that or does he even know it himself or is it meant to be deciphered by the attentive audience member?
Francis Dolarhyde ('Tooth Fairy/Red Dragon') is commisioned by his thoughts to murder his lover Reba Mclane. Francis fights this commision and even discloses as much info to Reba in order to protect her because of his love for her. The questions left for us are: Who is this controlling entity? Who is the real killer? Does blame fall on Francis Dolarhyde (since no signs of mental illness seem to be present-but then again what is a mental illness?) Is he in fact a 'good man' worthy even of our love and sympathy? Who or what is the red dragon? Satan? And how much of an impact and control does the entitie's with It's demands have on us individually and collectively in society?
Revelation Chapter 12 is what the Red Dragon is based on though the film doesn't read any portion of it only alludes to it as it does with suggestions of many other ideas that dare mustn't be said.
Revelation Chapter 12:
http://bible.christiansunite.com/bibles.cgi?v=bbe&b=Re&c=12



Conclusions:
Again this is a must see film if you are a movie person. This is not a Blair Witch production with no substance. You are getting your money. This movie is jammed packed. Of note too is the surprising element of humor intertwined but appropriately placed. (making evil a touch more palateable)
I believe the ulimate message in the film to be this: Is God perverted?
The question of good and evil. The question of good and evil in each one of us. Our relationship to evil. Our relationship with ourselves. Our relationship with evil people and how much they dominate us or are apart of us and our families. The movie appeals to our inherited perverted nature and state.
Of personal discovery: of which you may or may not agree with. The movies that are seemingly the most scary or address evil with graphic portrayal are at the same time the most honest, in the end vindicate the true nature of God (His Righteousness) and give us peace. They are also the most thought-provoking, insightful and intelligent. I'm thinking of the films, The Exorcist, Scream in particular Stigmata. After the demons have been dealt with true peace is realized. Can you remember the tranquility in the garden with the slow motion effect in Stigmata's closing scene. Or the sunrise set in Scream. Or the waves washing the shore closing the scene of American History X which was exactly the scene that opened the film. These films have the greatest release and power because they free us from society's institutions that bind us and refrain reality.
Is God perverted? Will Graham playing the good man and father at a critical moment abuses his son with words calling him a faggot. That act seems to finalize the question right there as the audience without a doubt believe's in Will and his upright character.
Who or what is Satan was another theme boldy suggested if not outright said. Is Satan a part of us and what is His role and influence on our society? How much are we responsible for our actions and led to do deeds willingly, consciously in support of a higher power's appeasement and pleasure?
Reba Mclane politely refuses an offer for a ride home from Francis Dolarhyde in one of the early scenes. But when Francis says "Do it for my 'pleasure", Reba aboards the vehicle. Who do we 'pleasure'? Who is our God? Who pulls our strings? Are we all pawns of an extremely organized evil clearly and thoughtfully presented for the whole world as spectacle? Whose show?
Is the Dragon an entity that we empower by not working at keeping our families together but sacrificing them to the God of money, sexual perversion, false church appearances, media and world presentations, war??
Check out the film and let me know what you think.
jbigham2000@yahoo.com

RED DRAGON
Edward Norton stars as ex-FBI agent Will Graham, an expert investigator who quit the Bureau after almost losing his life in the process of capturing the elusive Dr. Lecter (Hopkins). Years later, after a series of particularly grisly murders, Graham reluctantly agrees to come out of retirement and assist in the case. But he soon realizes that the best way to catch this killer, known as the Tooth Fairy, is to find a way to get inside the killer's mind. And the closest thing to that would be to probe the mind of another killer who is equally brilliant and equally twisted. For Graham, that means confronting his past and facing his former nemesis, the now-incarcerated Lecter.
Synopsis 2:
In this chilling tale of sexual obsession and murder, Thomas Harris introduced readers to Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter, and Will Graham, the relentless FBI agent who put him behind bars. Now a vicious killer who murders entire families is on the loose, and Graham must find him before he strikes again. But he discovers Lecter has been communicating with the killer from prison-to make Graham and his family the next victims!
1 sentence synopsis:Drama and Thriller
2 hrs. 06 min. In this prequel to "The Silence of the Lambs," the story of former FBI agent Will Graham, who was nearly killed by Hannibal Lecter, is told, and it includes the initial capture of "The Cannibal."



Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Harvey Keitel
Director: Brett Ratner
Producer: Ridley Scott, Dino De Laurentiis, Martha De Laurentis
Writer: Ted Tally
Cast overview:
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0289765
Thomas Harris:
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/thomasharris/reddragon.html

Critics reviews: click on 'more' for full reviews
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808410341&cf=critic&intl=ca


Red Dragon Websites:
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1808410341&cf=web&intl=ca

Red Dragon. Top of the box office and rightfully so. A must see. Prequal? Never heard of a prequel until this film. And I never realized that I had already begun reading this prequel 3 years ago in the book Red Dragon written by Thomas Harris. It is very similar to a Stephen King novel. So being a fan of Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Silence of the Lambs (fan of Jody Foster too) flashy movie commercial glimpses and good reviews, and wanting to pick up and compare with the novel I had begun but never finished and out of curiosity of watching a prequel enticed my curiosity. Kinda like watching a movie backwards. You not only get to compare the prequel to the already seen sequels, but get to see how well they could produce a movie without any mistakes after producing sequels. Lord of the Rings/ Star Wars trilogies-although undeniably monumental, felt was not near as interesting and provacative as this addition to Silence of the Lambs.
Watching the movie I pretty much realized I had forgotten the book with only faint traces and ghosts of the FBI scenes and conversations.
Just as the book, the movie seems to 'pick up' somewhere, neverminding that this is a 3rd installment in a series. We, the audience are placed in an unknown place and time where events and story happenings are already unfolding. Something has already begun. It has a past. It has depth. It is something profound. Something almost real. There are characters and conversations and a tone already set. Something is going on and that intrigues the audience. We want to know what. We want to know what is happening. Because something is obviously, undeniably happening. Tell us what it is.
The initial scene in the film leaves the audience confused, bewildered but at the same time curious and intrigued. We see the 2 main actors : Edward Norton playing the FBI agent Will Graham, confronting and discovering Anthony Hopkins (Hannibal Lector) as murderer. The 2 get into a scuffle and seemingly kill each other. As audience we don't really know where the hell this exactly 'fits in' but then we are allowed to breathe as the movie fast forwards a few years and the now retired Will Graham has recovered from his wounds and Hannibal is doing time and we are assured that the movie director didn't just mess up his whole production. The movie then pics up as we are oriented to time and place and pace as we compare what we've seen in the first 2 films.

So the movie is playing with our curiosity, or is it the director, or Thomas Harris or who or whatever possessed Thomas? The movie is presenting images and thoughts clearly, insightfully. It opens our eyes to life in general and gets us thinking about life as society and our own individual lives. It makes us question, analize and break free from concepts we just haven't given thought to or just passively accepted as 'normal' but are indeed critical to our safety in living-to our own physical and mental wellbeing. I found very powerful words and thoughts uttered and conveyed during the film which added in making this film so great.
Harvey Keitel plays FBI agent Jack Crawford who uses emotional appeal to get Will Graham to rejoin the FBI team to get this killer (The Tooth Fairy). Will agrees and starts investigating a family's brutal murder. Will goes to the scene of investigation (the house) alone retracing and actually living the events through his psyche and close connection to this murderer. The evidence has been preserved except the bodies. We the audience are shown blood smeared walls and mangled rooms as Will Graham thinks aloud and pieces it together. As he is thinking the audience is given flashes of the actual murdered bodies which are graphically portrayed even for an 'R' rated film to a society who has no 'shock' left in them.
What has made Silence of the Lambs what it is, is the way this murderer fantasizes about his murders. He is a cannibal and an artist, but also a dramatist which Will Graham has insight into and discloses to the whole FBI team. Jack Crawford values Will 's courage and insight and therefore 'awards' him with handling this case in every aspect. It is 'his case'. "You've earned it," is one of the lines by Jack as he hands Will the latest private info on the case discovered.
Before a FBI meeting, Will replies to a questioning officer about the killer and motive. "Because it makes him God", he answers without hesitation. "If you were God, would you want to give that up?" he asks, revealing his insight and relationship to Francis 'Tooth Fairy/Red Dragon' Dolarhyde, which also adds to the identity and appeal of this twisted film. As Will is walking through the house piecing together the murder, after going through the master bedroom goes into the children's room where the camera pauses on a broken mirror above a dresser covered with dolls. Will realizes the killer had taken the broken mirror and placed them in the eye sockets of the bodies and then dragged them all together in the master bedroom and placed them as props, and later proves this when finger prints are discovered on the eye sockets because the killer took off his gloves to 'feel' the eyes. This not only reinforces how the killer was a dramatist but highlights to us the therapeutic power of enactment. The bodies were staged and offered as a presentation to appease a sick higher power.
Varied and contrasting synopsis
Character Roles, Portrayals, contrasted and compared. Along with previous film roles.
Book author, Film Writers and adaptors comparison and analysis.
Themes, hints and hidden messages by words, eye contact, tone, film disclosure, pace, silence.

Characters:

Edward Norton:
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hc&id=1800018634&cf=biog&intl=ca
Wonder why they chose Edward Norton. Tall scrawney, young looking, wimpey looking. Seemed like the role didn't suit him playing a tough independent x-FBI agent with an attractive wife and child.(but every actor in this film 'plays along' and therefore empowers him, convincing us 'yes' he is the man for the role.) Though his role in American History X with his head shaved was impressive. He really did come across as a tough guy in what I believe was one of the most powerful films ever made. I remember his character and personality revealed closely in the film 'Keeping the Faith' which he also directed and produced. Edward Norton presents a very sociable likeable meek but assertive personality in contrast to the other main characters of the film.
I did a sketch of Edward Norton a few years back from a magazine. His character has always kinda struck and appealed to me but I have found his characters extremely diversified and often unrecognizable in different pictures as his own physical appearance seems to change or maybe it's just the camera.
Dramatic scene near the end of the film: Ralph Fiennes (Tooth Fairy killer) is holding Will's son hostage in front of him. Using psychology Will (Edward Norton) denounces and insults his son calling him a 'fagot' in order to elicit a reaction from the killer who was supposedly abused by his father.
sketch:
http://ca.photos.yahoo.com/bc/jbigham2000/vwp?.dir=/Yahoo!+Photo+Album/Charcoals+and+Chalk+drawings&.dnm=sleep.jpg&.src=ph&.view=t&.hires=t

Anthony Hopkins.
http://us.imdb.com/Name?Hopkins,%20Anthony
I love Anthony Hopkins. He gets alot of roles but he doesn't get to me like John Travolta or Bruce Willis. I think what appeals to me most is his father figure roles(Father figure roles in particular in 'Mask of Zorro' his relationship with Antonio Bandaras teaching him to fight; and his relationship with Brad Pitt in 'Meet Joe Black'. and his tone of voice. He gives me peace and relaxes me. He seems to have so much wisdom and when he utters his wisdom I always take it like it is comming from Anthony and not crediting the writer or director or whomever. I can't imagine that he is saying the lines of someone else, rather he convinced the director to have his own free reign for a moment. One of his lines that struck me: "Scars are a testimony to the past. That it really happened." Also in his conversation from lock up to Edward Norton: " A rational society would either kill prisoners like me or put us to some usefull purpose." That again alludes to the (movie's unspoken message) Red Dragon higher power controlling us in society as pawns for a sick purpose. Being played out for someone's 'pleasure'. Another topic of Anthony's wisdom had to do with fear. He tells Will that he is full of fear but that he is in no way a coward. He said his fear dominates him and it is only with mastery and experience can a man control fear. Will's eyes were full of admission and he seemed to take the words to heart. It was almost as a bond was forming between the killer and the capturer.
Red Dragon's depiction of jail and Anthony's demeanor and dignity maintained therein is a false impression of reality. There is no bargaining power when you are in custody. When Will is making appeal to his intellectual aid, there is bargaining. However, opposite of Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter is much more compromising and therefore revealing that he really is not 'holding all the cards'. Norton is very good at calling Anthony's bluff demonstrating his insight into the true facts.

Ralph Fiennes:
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hc&id=1800019488&cf=biog&intl=ca
I'm not too firmiliar with Ralph Fiennes and only remember him from the film Avengers which I couldn't stand. (exept Uma) Oh yeah and the English Patient-need I say more. Fiennes presents a cold callous emotionally disturbed front. Though attractive and authoritative in appearance he also seems very withdrawn and shy. Head shaved-military look. Intimidating, but sensitive. His relationship with Reba (played by Emily Watson) who suffers from blindness, offers us more insight into his character. First of all his choice and attraction and the way he replies to her in conversation. Reba hits at the most personal questions and issues addressing Francis Dolarhyde's ('Tooth Fairy/Red Dragon') own disability with a mouth deformity but affectionately stepping closer, touching him and embarrasing him. Francis allows Reba intimacy and discloses to her his most personal side. Reba admires and believes in Francis making him a man acting as a perfect compliment. On many occasions Reba's questions are met with silence by Francis. Reba's blindness adds tenseness to the scene as we dont know what Francis is thinking or whether or not he will even bother to respond at all-maybe just hack her to pieces on the spot. The audience can see the eyes of Francis and his own inner thought struggles as glimpses of smiles burst through with immediate retractions and changed emotion in the eyes reveal to us just how disturbed this man really is.
The scene with Francis Dolarhyde prancing around the house naked after spending the night with Reba presents an awkward image of the Dragon when glimpses of his small genitals shown contrasted with his muscular tatooed body and Godlike demeanor.

The Dragon: Who or what is the dragon and it's significance? Is Thomas Harris (Book author) the only one to rightfully answer that or does he even know it himself or is it meant to be deciphered by the attentive audience member?
Francis Dolarhyde ('Tooth Fairy/Red Dragon') is commisioned by his thoughts to murder his lover Reba Mclane. Francis fights this commision and even discloses as much info to Reba in order to protect her because of his love for her. The questions left for us are: Who is this controlling entity? Who is the real killer? Does blame fall on Francis Dolarhyde (since no signs of mental illness seem to be present-but then again what is a mental illness?) Is he in fact a 'good man' worthy even of our love and sympathy? Who or what is the red dragon? Satan? And how much of an impact and control does the entitie's with It's demands have on us individually and collectively in society?
Revelation Chapter 12 is what the Red Dragon is based on though the film doesn't read any portion of it only alludes to it as it does with suggestions of many other ideas that dare mustn't be said.
Revelation Chapter 12:
http://bible.christiansunite.com/bibles.cgi?v=bbe&b=Re&c=12



Conclusions:
Again this is a must see film if you are a movie person. This is not a Blair Witch production with no substance. You are getting your money. This movie is jammed packed. Of note too is the surprising element of humor intertwined but appropriately placed. (making evil a touch more palateable)
I believe the ulimate message in the film to be this: Is God perverted?
The question of good and evil. The question of good and evil in each one of us. Our relationship to evil. Our relationship with ourselves. Our relationship with evil people and how much they dominate us or are apart of us and our families. The movie appeals to our inherited perverted nature and state.
Of personal discovery: of which you may or may not agree with. The movies that are seemingly the most scary or address evil with graphic portrayal are at the same time the most honest, in the end vindicate the true nature of God (His Righteousness) and give us peace. They are also the most thought-provoking, insightful and intelligent. I'm thinking of the films, The Exorcist, Scream in particular Stigmata. After the demons have been dealt with true peace is realized. Can you remember the tranquility in the garden with the slow motion effect in Stigmata's closing scene. Or the sunrise set in Scream. Or the waves washing the shore closing the scene of American History X which was exactly the scene that opened the film. These films have the greatest release and power because they free us from society's institutions that bind us and refrain reality.
Is God perverted? Will Graham playing the good man and father at a critical moment abuses his son with words calling him a faggot. That act seems to finalize the question right there as the audience without a doubt believe's in Will and his upright character.
Who or what is Satan was another theme boldy suggested if not outright said. Is Satan a part of us and what is His role and influence on our society? How much are we responsible for our actions and led to do deeds willingly, consciously in support of a higher power's appeasement and pleasure?
Reba Mclane politely refuses an offer for a ride home from Francis Dolarhyde in one of the early scenes. But when Francis says "Do it for my 'pleasure", Reba aboards the vehicle. Who do we 'pleasure'? Who is our God? Who pulls our strings? Are we all pawns of an extremely organized evil clearly and thoughtfully presented for the whole world as spectacle? Whose show?
Is the Dragon an entity that we empower by not working at keeping our families together but sacrificing them to the God of money, sexual perversion, false church appearances, media and world presentations, war??
Check out the film and let me know what you think.
jbigham2000@yahoo.com