Three years prior to the start of the film, FBI Agent Will Graham had succeeded in tracking down and capturing the serial killer known as Hannibal Lecktor, but at a cost: he was both mentally and physically damaged from the encounter. After some time in a mental hospital, Graham recovered and left the FBI to devote more time to his family. Three years later, FBI Agent Jack Crawford approaches Graham with an assignment: a new serial killer is on the loose, dubbed the "Tooth Fairy," who kills families and arranges their dead bodies. Crawford knows the killer works in lunar cycles, and they have just thirty days before the killer strikes again. Graham agrees to assist with the case, but soon realizes that he must confront Lecktor in order to get inside the killer's mind and uncover a motive before time runs out and the "Tooth Fairy" kills again.

Manhunter is a film that had escaped me until now. Being a big fan of Silence of the Lambs, I wonder how I could've missed it before. I'm glad that I've finally seen it though, as it's a terrific film. The actors all do a great job with their roles, especially William Petersen. The character of Lecktor (spelled differently than in Silence of the Lambs) really isn't in Manhunter that much, which was somewhat of a disappointment. The extra footage in the Directors Cut (mostly in chapters 6, 7, and 29) is really not that important; the two biggest extra scenes involve a conversation between Graham and his wife and another conversation between Graham and the administrator of the place where Lecktor is kept. Also worth mentioning is that in both cuts, there is some rather jerky editing in chapters 5 and 28.

Picture:
Both versions of Manhunter are presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, but the similarities end there. The theatrical version is THX approved, while the Director's Cut is not. The print used in the theatrical version is quite good with only a few minor noticeable blemishes, such as marks. Slight grain is visible throughout the film, but its really not that noticeable or distracting. Colors appear vibrant and flesh tones are accurate. Blacks throughout the film are rich with a very few exceptions. Overall, I was really impressed with the theatrical version's print, given that its fourteen years old.

The Director's Cut, on the other hand, doesn't fare so well. The overall picture quality is vastly poorer; one can immediately tell a difference between the two versions. Colors bleed and often have a darker appearance. Grain is more noticeable and runs rampant throughout the film. While not completely unwatchable, I can't imagine sitting through this version again when the much better theatrical version was also included.

The score above for the picture reflects the theatrical version; the director's cut would score 1 ½ stars of 5.

Sound:
The theatrical cut of Manhunter is presented in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Surround 2.0, while the director's cut is presented in Dolby Surround 2.0 only.

On the theatrical cut, the 5.1 track has added depth over the 2.0, though the main focus of the track is in the front with the rears providing little surround and mostly ambient noise. Dialogue sounds somewhat flat, though usually it is easily understood and clean.

On the director's cut, the 2.0 track is less different than the 5.1 track than one would expect, mostly because the 5.1 track is front focused. Surrounds are also less aggressive than on the 5.1 track. Fortunately, the dialogue is mostly the same as in the 5.1 track.

The score above for the sound reflects the theatrical version; the director's cut would score 3 stars of 5.

Extras:
Both the Regular and Limited Editions of Manhunter include the same extras, for the exception of the "collectible booklet," since the Limited Edition disc contains nothing besides the longer cut of the film. The "collectible booklet" is actually a small vanilla envelope labeled "Manhunter Files" and stamped Confidential. Inside are twelve loose pages that contain: numerous photos, a transcription of Petersen's first report on the Leeds crime scene, the toilet paper note from the "Tooth Fairy," the ad mockup from the National Tattler with Lecktor's coded note, the original poster art, a text essay comparing Manhunter to Silence of the Lambs, and the chapter listings for both cuts. This is easily one of the coolest "booklets" that I've seen, though most of it consists of pictures.

The other extras include: the ten minute featurette "The Manhunter Look" that consists of a conversation with the cinematographer Dante Spinotti; the eighteen minute featurette "Inside Manhunter" that features interviews with the stars; biographies and filmographies for Mann, Cox, Petersen, and Noonan; the film's trailer in widescreen; and the THX Optimode calibration signals. "Inside Manhunter," though relatively short, features a great wealth of information and new interviews with the cast; it's a must watch for fans.

Summary:
Manhunter is a terrific film worth a look for both fans of director Michael Mann, or fans of Silence of the Lambs. Manhunter as a film comes Highly Recommended, though I recommend skipping the Limited Edition and picking up the Regular Version instead, as the extra three minutes just aren't worth the extra $15.