I haven't seen Manhunter either, though I've heard that it and Red Dragon are very, very similar. As far as Hannibal goes, my first thought is that it is way over the top. Personally, I think part of what makes Lecter so menacing and chilling is how real he could be, and that edge is lost in Hannibal which is almost like watching a comic book unfold, minus the tights. Secondly, yes, in the books, Thomas Harris goes to great lengths to explain Lecter's origin (another comic book story telling mechanism I imagine). Supposedly, he was sexually abused as a youth, on top of the wolves taking the sister. Iin reading this, it was rather disappointing as it goes a long way in demystifying Lecter, which is yet another reason I do not like the book/movie.