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Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on Thomas Harris's novel, Jonathan Demme's terrifying adaptation of Silence of the Lambs contains only a couple of genuinely shocking moments (one involving an autopsy, the other a prison break). The rest of the film is a splatter-free visual and psychological descent into the hell of madness, redeemed astonishingly by an unlikely connection between a monster and a haunted young woman.
Anthony Hopkins is extraordinary as the cannibalistic psychiatrist Dr Hannibal Lecter, virtually entombed in a subterranean prison for the criminally insane. At the behest of the FBI, agent-in-training Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) approaches Lecter, requesting his insights into the identity and methods of a serial killer named Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). In exchange, Lecter demands the right to penetrate Starling's most painful memories, creating a bizarre but palpable intimacy that liberates them both under separate but equally horrific circumstances.
Demme, a filmmaker with a uniquely populist vision (Melvin and Howard, Something Wild), also spent his early years making pulp for Roger Corman (Caged Heat) and he hasn't forgotten the significance of tone, atmosphere and the unsettling nature of a crudely effective close-up. Much of the film, in fact, consists of actors staring straight into the camera (usually from Clarice's point of view), making every bridge between one set of eyes to another seem terribly dangerous. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
On the DVD: On disc one, the film itself looks clinically sharp in a faultless widescreen (1.85:1) anamorphic transfer, while the Dolby 5.1 soundtrack makes the most of the chilling sound effects and Howard Shore's masterfully understated score. Unlike the Region 1 Criterion Collection, however, there is no audio commentary at all. On the second disc, the all-new hour-long "making-of" documentary features contributions from the screenwriter, producer, composer, costume designer, make-up effects people and even the moth wrangler ("There were no moths harmed in the filming!") as well as Ted Levine (Buffalo Bill) and Anthony Hopkins, who talks at length about creating Lecter. Conspicuous by their absence are Jonathan Demme and Jodie Foster. Aside from the usual trailers and stills gallery there are 21 deleted scenes, many of which are not whole scenes but deleted excerpts, a promotional featurette made in 1991 and an outtakes reel that proves the cast really did have fun making this scary picture. For those who want to scare all their friends, there's also an answerphone message from Anthony Hopkins "in character". --Mark Walker
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
`The Silence of the Lambs' is the classic 1990 film based on the novel by Thomas Harris. Trainee FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is asked to interview a cannibalistic killer named Hannibal Lector (Anthony Hopkins) and ask for his knowledge on profiling to help the FBI to find a vicious serial killer known as Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine).
This has always been one of my favourite films of all time - everything about it is first class. It's without a doubt one of the creepiest, most exciting and suspenseful thrillers that I have ever seen and still stand the test of time nearly 20 years later. The presentation and setting is dark, dirty and gritty, giving it the seedy feel that the book gave me, the script is nearly spot-on to the book too with not much left out (something that is rare with adaptations) and the acting from the whole cast is performed perfectly to their counterparts from the amazing novel, making this one of the best book-to-film adaptations ever. So as you can imagine, when I heard that this was coming to Blu Ray I couldn't wait to get hold of it and watch it in high def.
Well I watched it last night and I'm sad to report that the transfer to high definition was not really worth me re-buying this and "upgrading" it to Blu Ray. The picture quality was pretty bad with a very grainy look to it throughout the whole movie. In the darker scenes it looked as if there were white dots on the black areas of the screen and the rest just looked incredibly dark. I actually compared it to my DVD copy straight afterwards and I was shocked to see that the DVD version actually looked better than the Blu Ray transfer! The sound however was noticeably better.
Overall this is one of the best films ever that I strongly recommend seeing but if you already have it on DVD you should definitely not buy this version as it would be a real waste of money.
MOVIE - 5/5
PICTURE - 2.5/5
SOUND - 5/5
OVERALL - 3/5
This has always been one of my favourite films of all time - everything about it is first class. It's without a doubt one of the creepiest, most exciting and suspenseful thrillers that I have ever seen and still stand the test of time nearly 20 years later. The presentation and setting is dark, dirty and gritty, giving it the seedy feel that the book gave me, the script is nearly spot-on to the book too with not much left out (something that is rare with adaptations) and the acting from the whole cast is performed perfectly to their counterparts from the amazing novel, making this one of the best book-to-film adaptations ever. So as you can imagine, when I heard that this was coming to Blu Ray I couldn't wait to get hold of it and watch it in high def.
Well I watched it last night and I'm sad to report that the transfer to high definition was not really worth me re-buying this and "upgrading" it to Blu Ray. The picture quality was pretty bad with a very grainy look to it throughout the whole movie. In the darker scenes it looked as if there were white dots on the black areas of the screen and the rest just looked incredibly dark. I actually compared it to my DVD copy straight afterwards and I was shocked to see that the DVD version actually looked better than the Blu Ray transfer! The sound however was noticeably better.
Overall this is one of the best films ever that I strongly recommend seeing but if you already have it on DVD you should definitely not buy this version as it would be a real waste of money.
MOVIE - 5/5
PICTURE - 2.5/5
SOUND - 5/5
OVERALL - 3/5
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Based on the bestselling novel by Thomas Harris and winner of five main academy awards, (Best Actor (Hopkins), Best Actress (Foster), Best Screenplay (Ted Tally), Best Director (Demme) and Best Picture), there can be no doubt that 'The Silence Of The Lambs' is an absolutely great movie that, by now, has secured its place in film history.
Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is a trainee at the FBI academy who is put on a the 'Buffalo Bill' (Ted Levine) case. Eager for a lead, she seeks the help of serial killer Dr Hanibal 'the cannibal' Lecter, but in return, he demands the right to penetrate her most horrific memories, creating a wierd kind of intermacy between them.
Although this film is supposed to be a horror, its not really that scary as such (apart from the bit at the end where 'Buffalo' Bill is chasing Clarice in the dark basement), but some parts of it are pretty intense and two of these intantly spring to mind. The part where the dead is brought in for an autopsy, and the part where Lecter manages to break out of jail. The latter is extreamly violent and bloodthirsty, and will leave you gripping the seat. There are parts in this movie, like the two i have just described, that really make you want to hide behind the sofa, but there is somthing about it which keeps you frozen in your seat, like an invisible force field. I can't really describe it that well but if you have watched this film then you will know what i mean.
Overall, the acting is pretty amazing really. Jodie Foster was probably the best we have ever seen her, and Anthony Hopkins was absolutely extraordinary as the evil Hanibal Lecter, and it was probably his performance which got the film its five academy awards. 'Buffalo' Bill was just plain disturbing, but Ted Levine managed to make him better than he could have been.
So, as you can see this is a spectacular film all round and when you watch it you will see exactly why it has won so many awards and has become so popular throughout the film world.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Silence of The Lambs is one of the best, most stylish thrillers ever made. Not only is it genuinely tense and at some points (the end scene in the basement!!) pretty damn scary, it also deals with the more emotional side of the characters. That is why it works so well, because we are encouraged to care about Clarice and Hannibal. The performances are astounding from both leads who are totally convincing as the young FBI agent and the serial killer. This really is one of those films you just have to see. If you're of a nervous disposition though, have something to grab hold of every now and again, when it gets a bit much!
The only problem with this film, is the moment when Hannibal violently beats the guard to death inside his bizarre cage. It doesn't seem to ring true of Hannibal's character-you expect something more clever. However, it's in the book.
The DVD has more extras than you can shake a stick at: documentaries, deleted scenes, out-takes, trailers, stills and a bizarre phone message from Anthony Hopkins! Excellent features make this an absolute must (as though it wasn't already!). BUY IT.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Tremendous
Fast delivery,fantastic movie,incredibly believeable story,fantastic acting by both jodie foster & anthony hopkins,this is definately in my top 10 films of all time,it's also... Read more
Published 1 month ago by paul
brilliant
Forgot how much i actually love this movie. On the edge of my seat throughout. It's a great watch and as always thoroughly recommend the seller. Great value formoney.
Published 2 months ago by syra
Silence of the lambs
I enjoyed watching Silence of the lambs. I was looking out for the characters. Agent Starling being the poor working class girl making her way in a men's world.
Published 2 months ago by Emeka
Breaking the silence
While I loved and watched almost all the extras in one sip (meaning the very first time I inserted the disc into my player. Read more
Published 7 months ago by T. Dimitrios
A Classic
This is perhaps the best horror movie in history. It's nothing more or less than a classic. Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster at their finest. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Aidan M
silence of the lambs
Great dvd, good condition quick dispatch thank you very much for a good value dvd i will recommend you to other people
Published 8 months ago by kav
great film
Love this film and was annoyed to find that it had been lent out by one of the kids and never returned so went straight on the computer and on to amazon and got another copy. Read more
Published 8 months ago by gill
Excellent!
Has all the elements a great horror movie should have, without exaggerating anything. The performance of the actors is wonderful to watch, and in bluray the smallest details that... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Petri
a classic psychological thriller
I have seen this film many times since it's release but wanted it on hand so I could watch it whenever I felt like it. Read more
Published 13 months ago by C. johnson
The lambs are unlikely to ever stop screaming.
Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), a young rookie FBI agent, is enlisted to help in the hunt for a serial killer known as Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). Read more
Published 15 months ago by Spike Owen
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