Michael Mann is a master when it comes to establishing the mood of a scene, and all of his films have some really beautiful shots. But when it comes to things like characterization or even a plot that makes sense, Mann is severely lacking.

• Thief --- I've never seen.
  
  
• The Keep --- I've never seen.
  
  
• Manhunter --- I saw and hated. The book is very good. The movie stinks.
  
  
• L.A. Takedown --- I've never seen.
  
  
• The Last of the Mohicans --- A gorgeously beautiful but rather silly movie.
  
  
• Heat --- Another beautiful movie. Also very boring, and several big scenes just don't make any sense at all.
  
  
• The Insider --- Probably his best work that I've seen. Aside from one shot that made no sense, this is a great movie. And very, very beautiful shots.
  
  
• Ali --- I've never seen.
  
  
• Collateral --- A silly movie that still manages to be entertaining.
  
  
• Miami Vice --- I've never seen.
  
  

Am I the only one who thinks that the more we find out about Hannibal Lecter, the less interesting he becomes?

I don't know that Hannibal has quite jumped the shark yet, but he's definitely strapping on the skis.

Am I the only one who thinks that the more we find out about Hannibal Lecter, the less interesting he becomes?

I don't know that Hannibal has quite jumped the shark yet, but he's definitely strapping on the skis.

LOL! I think Hannibal jumped the shark in the book Hannibal.

Red Dragon was great, Silence of the Lambs was amazing, but Hannibal was little more than a potboiler imho. I didn't read Hannibal Rising and I don't plan to see the movie.

Balls = testicles :o

Testicles = Kogan(Japanese) :o

Ballsy means showing courage or have the guts to do something. Cajones is the Spanish word for balls. So when you hear things like "he has brass balls" or "that took a lot of balls" it means that someone demonstrated courage or foolhardiness.

Thanks, Scott. I got it.

Red Dragon was great, Silence of the Lambs was amazing,

Totally agree.

but Hannibal was little more than a potboiler imho.

I didn't read the book, but I saw the movie. Meh. I didn't loathe it, but I can't say that I liked it.

I didn't read Hannibal Rising and I don't plan to see the movie.

Ditto.

...I'll have to see Last of the Mohicans, which is based on another book I like. Daniel-Day Lewis is one of my favorite young (to me) actors.

Michael Mann's "The Last of the Mohicans" is my FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME! I'm always posting that, it seems, but it's true. I sob each time I see it and it moves me beyond belief.

Not much dialogue, either. It'struly a moving picture, as in (nearly) silent film.


I also really like "Heat" and "Collateral," both directed by Mann. The latter didn't really get to me until I saw it on the small screen.

I agree with Mark S on his breakdown of the Mann films. Especially on Manhunter and Heat. I have also seen Thief, which I was not impressed with.

Lisa

Michael Mann movies:

• Thief
  
• The Keep
  
• Manhunter
  
• L.A. Takedown
  
• The Last of the Mohicans
  
• Heat
  
• The Insider
  
• Ali
  
• Collateral
  
• Miami Vice
  

I'm in the minority with cobalt79 in liking The Keep. I think Manhunter is FAR superior to any of the Hopkins Hannibal movies that I've seen, including TSOTL (imo, one of least deserving Best Picture* winners in recent memory). I liked Collateral. Heat was good but would have been better if shortened by about 30 minutes. I didn't care much (but hardly remember) Mohicans; yet I still laugh every time I think of the line "I WILL come for you!" Miami Vice is quite probably my favorite TV show of all time.

Didn't see any of the others.

*I just looked and it was pretty crappy competition in 1992.

...I still laugh every time I think of the line "I WILL come for you!" ...

I'm gonna have to bitch slap you for that, Jim, that's sacrilege! Besides which, the line is "I will find you. Whatever it takes. Stay alive. I will find you."

"I will come for you" can be read...differently. :p