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Hopkins defends 'Hannibal', fans rush to see it
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ACTOR Anthony Hopkins defended his latest film ``Hannibal'' recently against charges it contains gratuitous scenes of disgusting violence, while it enjoyed the third strongest opening weekend in movie history.
The sequel to the ``Silence of the Lambs'' continues the story of cannibalistic mass murderer Hannibal Lecter, played by Hopkins.
The action picks up a decade after the 1991 ``Silence of the Lambs,'' with FBI agent Clarice Starling still trying to capture the brilliant but savage Lecter, now resident in Florence as a lecturer and librarian.
``We are fascinated by the darkness in ourselves, we are fascinated by the shadow, we are fascinated by the bogeyman,'' Hopkins said about the popularity of his character.
``You live through someone else's nightmare for a few minutes while you're safely in the theatre eating popcorn.
``Now if people are repulsed and terrified, so be it,'' he said. ``I don't think the people that see this film need to see a psychiatrist.''
Hannibal opened last Friday in the United States and Canada and has enjoyed the third most successful opening box office weekend ever, grossing US$58 million in its first three days of release.
Co-producer Martha De Laurentiis said ambulances had to remove four women who fainted during the movie in Italy on Sunday.
The movie has drawn lukewarm reviews, with some critics saying the impressive acting talent of Hopkins, who won an Oscar for best actor in Silence of the Lambs, goes to waste.
Hopkins said he found the character of Hannibal Lecter fascinating.
``I enjoy playing him very much,'' he said. ``When I first read the script of 'Silence of the Lambs' I was fascinated instantly by him''.
(SD-Agencies)
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