The movie moves rather slowly, but it would be terrible if it didn't. The pace of the movie is perfect for the drama, because it builds suspense and keeps us guessing. You can't wait for the next clue in the mystery, and for Jodie Foster to go back and have another chat with Hannibal. And to wrap things up, the movie is actually scary. Not like The Grudge scary or The Ring scary, but actually scary. The last ten minutes of the movie you will hardly breathe, much less be able to move. The tension is so thick it could probably only be cut with a chainsaw, and the ending will leave you wiping sweat off your forehead. If you sat through even one abysmal horror flick this past year, invest 2 hours into one of the best movies of all time, and prepare to clap for Anthony Hopkins at the end.
"Put the lotion in the basket!!"