Hannibal Season 2 Blu-ray Digital HD

I was so happy that this show--from the beginning--was not a misfire; the potential for failure was great I think, in both the ratings and impressing the true fans of the Hannibal franchise. But that is certainly not what happened, and I am so grateful that there is something that deals w/these characters & this type of material in a faithful yet creative way, and then pulls it all off w/the amazing acting/writing/production/photography thing. The production company has the money behind them, and each episode is like a movie in terms of the look, editing, and overall mood; it doesn't have the look of a 'CSI' type show, or even 'Sleepy Hollow' for that matter; if you don't like the look of a show, everything else--no matter how well done--becomes totally secondary, and it is such a huge element on how much you enjoy a show or will even tune in again; 'Hannibal' has a look all it's own, and the imagery presented never ceases to startle and amaze; this is the only show where an overshot of a man fishing in a river w/bodies flowing downstream around him has never looked so beautiful(I hate to say it...lol...). The 'side serial killers' are very interesting as always, and they are all dealt with ending in various results, as are some of the main characters. You see something coming to some of them at some point, but what and when and at whose hands is half the fun of the show; I am loving the introduction of some of the familiar names from the Hannibal series; Freddy Loundes and (esp.)The Vergers certainly provided some interesting history and twists on their personas(so far...), not to mention some interesting 'events' too. I think it is important for those who have issue w/some of the character/event liberties taken with the Harris work to remember his material merely provided the framework, and all this takes place before 'Red Dragon'. That is such a great way to do it, because you still get the 'attitude' of the Harris books, but you get so much more created and executed by people who are obviously fans and obviously have a flair for what they are doing; the prequel idea of the series also means there really isn't a time limit on how long the series can be until it hits 'Red Dragon' plot territory, if it does at all; Mads is to be commended for having such a daunting task of both being effective in his role and having the fans of the films accept him. There is no problem there at all. I never even think twice about it. Even when he is flipping a coin to decide whether someone in the show lives or dies. It's a nice added element that he is also very much 'athletic' in the early days; his fight w/Jack Crawford as the opening to Season 2 is something you will watch at least twice, as it is just as effective, intense, and photographed as anything I have seen in a great action film w/similar 'hand to hand' sequences; there are more 'soap opera' like elements in the series at this point too, and I mean that in the sense that you can't wait to see what happens to who next; it really is addicting, and I am happy there will be a Season 3, and am hoping for a Season 4. The highlights for myself were the semi-faithful fate of Mason Verger and his cohorts, the pigs(they're back....), the serial killer with the metal animal suit he created, and the other killer with the thing for horses; The actor who plays Verger channels Gary Oldman perfectly, yet still manages to add his own menace to the character in addition to all its pre-existing qualities; the teardrop kleenex in the martinis is just a cool little detail. And of course, there are all the things you don't see coming, such as the fates, appearances, and disappearances of certain characters. And there's a final scene at the end that only leaves you wondering where the show will take you next season, esp. if it continues on it's roughly faithful story structure. However, make no mistake: This show is brutal when intended too be, and the violence could be considered excessive and gratuitous by some; I actually find that part of the attraction in some ways, but I was also raised on horror stuff starting w/the old Hammer Horror Film, so it pretty much rolls off me; In many ways, this show is like 'True Detective' in the violence and morbid imagery department, only turned up to 11. Horror enthusiasts will enjoy the 'creative violence', and if you've seen 'Hostel', this won't give you any problems... The 3 phrases muttered most before hitting the rewind button were 'Oh...No Way!!!', 'Oh My God' or 'Holy S***!!!'(not necessarily in that order...). And so, to answer my review title question(a question muttered by Hannibal in one episode...): No, there is nothing wrong here. This show just excels at everything it does, and then some. Sometimes you have to remind yourself this is actually on a network station. I prefer watching them on disc though, since there is no destroyed momentum w/that whole 'commercial' thing. The blu-ray looks amazing here too. It is overall impressive beyond expectations. You don't say that much with network TV anymore, and it is certainly even rarer you say it when someone tackles an iconic series in a genre like this. It is so great to see someone gets it so right on occasion. Read more

Absolutely stunning. As much as I adored Season 1 way back when it first came out, Season 2 far exceeded my expectations. Just as hauntingly, grotesquely beautiful as the first, and even more psychologically tumultuous -with James Hawkinson's same incredible cinematography, Bryan Fuller's poetic and deviously intelligent writing, and the astounding table set-ups of food stylist Janice Poon maintaining and enhancing the previous mood of the series. The acting is, as always, exceptional, leads and supporting cast alike handling the deeply psychological dialogue and subtext with finesse and realism. Dancy and Mikkelsen play off of one another with an even tauter electricity than before, accented and intensified by the realizations and decisions that shape this season's plot line, and the returning women in particular - Dhavernas, Park, Anderson, Torres, and Chorostecki - develop more as fully rounded, weighty, game-changing characters. Dhavernas becomes a true third player, but perhaps not in the way one would expect. Park brings to light the true intelligence and compassion of her character, with shocking results. Torres is a tour de force, and allows the weakening body of her character to stand in sharp contrast to her powerful, unyielding, intelligent mind - particularly seen in her determination to live on her own terms. Anderson reveals an insight and bravery in hers that should make the audience pump their fists in elation more than once, and Chorostecki quickly and violently cuts in as a pivotal pawn in the game itself. Fishburne smolders along with his own quiet energy, and gains a good bit more perspective as a character as well. Thompson and Abrams maintain the comedic element of the season, while also bringing touching and moving moments to the table (no pun intended). Esparza as well brings a humor and sympathy to his originally off-putting character. This season begins at a full tilt, opening with a scene at the top of the action, sucking you in before you even have a chance to get your bearings - and never letting you go. Without giving anything away, I can say that it ends in a sequence that is, frankly, bloody incredible, and one which touches on the full spectrum of human emotion while tying up the season nicely and setting it up for the third. To me, this season honestly felt like two - with two tight, lean major arcs - all fat cut out to create a sleek, polished final product. The first season was a bit more traditional in this manner (if you can call anything in this show traditional), with one big extended arc - though still a lean cut, with little to no filler or buffer aside from the necessary character development required of the start of a series in order to hook a slippery audience emotionally. Speaking of emotions - while still retaining the framework of the characters introduced in season one, the humanization of them was, overall, flipped - causing a rather frightening and unsettling disparity in the way one feels about each and every favorite and least favorite character. The average audience member may come out of this season with a new favorite, or with the bewildered expression of someone who cannot genuinely dislike a single one. Perhaps even with the genuine dislike of every single one - who knows? We as an audience are introduced to the darkest and lightest parts of the characters' natures, we see them at their most vulnerable and at their most calculating, and we ponder on their fates and on the outcome of all of these twisted lines of deceit for thirteen episodes until the stunning season finale. I, for one, cannot get enough of this show. It has had me in its grasp for a long time, but only now has it captured me hook, like, and sinker. It is brilliant, nuanced, beautiful, and beautifully acted, with an incredibly twisted and mind-bending storyline and some of the most loveably messed-up characters ever devised. The dialogue is without compare, the allusions deep and intense, the subtlety meticulous, and the love and hate so palpable you can almost taste it. Or smell it, at least. It is gory without being excessive, and brilliant without being pretentious. Don't let it be the one that got away. Prepare yourself, and tuck in to the second course of the most deliciously disturbing show on television. Read more