Red Dragon - almost as good as the book

Very rarely can I sit AND enjoy a movie based off a book. Many times I have been let down by books to movies. If you've watched 95% of the Stephen King movies, you know what I mean.

I very much enjoyed the novel "Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris. When I heard that a movie was going to be made, I was excited but at the same time a big scared that so many people were going to get a misinterpretation of one of the best books I've ever read.

My first fear was in the fact that yes, this is the first book Hannibal was introduced as a literary character, but that he also was not a main focal point in the novel. He was there, but he was not the main character.

The book was true horror - it was a page turner. But could this movie do it any justice?

We rented the movie in hopes that we would not be disappointed. We were not.

My husband had not read the book and he thought the movie was fantastic. I have read the book and thought they did a great job.

There were a few key points in the book that were skipped, obviously due to movie time constraints. But overall, everything was there. There was a smidge more focus on Hannibal than I would have liked, but I believe it had to be there to explain the character Hannibal as well as inspector Will Graham.

A couple subplots were also missed but again, due to movie time constraints.

A main complaint, albeit not mine personally, was the ending in the book went too fast. Well, I have to say, the ending in the book for me made me feel like I was in a whirlwind movie - and the movie brought my feelings to life and made it fit.

I would definitely say this is a movie that isn't for children under 17 - I might even stretch it to say 18. I would definitely recommend that after you watch this movie to get the book (same title) by Thomas Harris and enjoy the full flavor of the Red Dragon.