10 Captivating

2001's Hannibal had quite the tough act to follow in 1991's terrifically chilling The Silence of the Lambs.

Even after roping in a returning Anthony Hopkins as the titular fiend and director Ridley Scott - fresh off his Gladiator success a year earlier - the film couldn't cement itself into the hearts and memories of those who had adored the original cinematic appearance of the iconic serial killer.

Despite some success at the box office, the movie itself was criticised for being 'just plain boring' and 'toothless'. Yet, one factor still shone throughout the underwhelming sequel.

Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter crept his way through the film with the same level of engrossing questionable righteousness as he did in the original flick. However, this time around he offered another delicate nuance to the character in the form of some possible regret over not being able to pursue his storied infatuation with Julianne Moore's depiction of Clarice Starling.

This left the audience feeling even more conflicted about a character whose idea of justice was to serve the condemned pieces of themselves for dinner.

Hannibal would not be remembered fondly as a classic in the same vein as Silence of the Lambs, yet Hopkins' unassailable class in the role will always be a thoroughly watchable spine-tingling delight.