Relies too much on Gore and while I think its all around ok. I mean, the book itself is much worst then the other two to begin with. But I agree, Silence is a genre defining film, A+, Red Dragon was easily one of the best serial killer films (The cast was phenomenal) this just pales in the shadow, and Lector is much more frightening when he is restrained.

Solid B

It's an okay sequel; it definitely focuses too much on gore and not enough on story, and though that may make it memorable, it's not rewatchable. I'm not squeamish about gore, but the brain-eating scene disgusted and disturbed me; kudos to the filmmakers for having the balls to show it, but it was a little too much. The story is decent until it goes off the rails at the end; the scenes in Venice are fine, but once the man-eating boars show up, it's a whole new game. The acting is pretty good, with Hopkins given much more to do and Julianne Moore creating her own Starling, rather than just copying Jodie Foster. An unrecognizable Gary Oldman is great as well in a superb makeup job. Ridley Scott does a good job of creating an atmosphere, but he wrecks it too many times with an over-abundance of gore. I'd say it's the worst of the Lecter films I've seen.