| Overview of SotL/Hannibal Gentleman, genius, and your average cannibal down the street. That's Dr. Hannibal Lecter, incarcerated for eight years in the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. One day, FBI trainee Clarice Starling goes to Lecter for help to capture serial killer Buffalo Bill. Lecter agrees to assist...for a price. Starling's worst fears, deepest secrets, and most embarrassing memories. As Starling pours out her soul to Lecter, a deep respect grows between the two. With Lecter's clues, Starling captures Buffalo Bill. Lecter escapes from prison and leaves Starling with one final, cryptic message, "I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye." Thus ends Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal begins with Starling disgraced by the FBI after a botched drug raid. Meanwhile, Lecter is living the life of a king in Florence, Italy, unaware of Mason Verger. Verger was Lecter's fourth victim and the only one still alive. Hooked up to a respirator, revenge against Lecter is the only thing that keeps him alive. Verger plans to feed the doctor to a pack of 600-pound man-eating boars. Lecter returns to America after an Italian policeman, Rinaldo Pazzi, tries unsuccessfully to sell him to Mason Verger. In America, he is captured by Verger and saved by Starling just in time. In the process, Starling is shot and carried to safety by Hannibal Lecter. This is where the book and movie differ. In the movie, after Starling recovers, she tries to capture Lecter for the FBI, despite the bureau's faithlessness. Lecter escapes and we are back to square one. In the book, the respect between Lecter and Starling grows until it blossoms into a dark romance and Starling surrenders herself completely to Hannibal Lecter. Some may say that evil conquered good. I believe that it was another force, not evil, that dominated the end of Hannibal. Here, therefore, is where my stories begin. Have fun... |