[Hannibal Rising] shows us the death of a little boy, and the birth of a monster, but at no point does it make us want to look over our shoulder.

In a nutshell, it's all about the hideous ways of killing, flesh-pounding images, slain heads, blood and gore.

Thomas Harris is now hoodwinked by his creation's faux pedigree. He's scripted him a ridiculously Eurotrashy upbringing, one so silly, it'll remind you of Dr. Evil's memory-tripping: "Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons..."

Routine, boring, and typical...