By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - America's favorite cannibal may need to work on some new recipes.

"Red Dragon," marking Anthony Hopkins' third turn as the gruesome Dr. Hannibal Lecter, debuted at No. 1 at the North American box office. But its $37.5 million tally for the Friday-to-Sunday period was well off the $58 million bow of its 2001 predecessor, "Hannibal."

According to studio estimates issued Sunday, last weekend's champion, the Reese Witherspoon romantic comedy "Sweet Home Alabama" slipped to No. 2 with a three-day sum of $21.6 million, while the Jackie Chan action-comedy "The Tuxedo" came in at No. 3 with $10.1 million, also down one spot in its second weekend.

The top 10 contained two other new entries: the biblical cartoon "Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie" opened at No. 6 with an enlightening $6.5 million; and the Dustin Hoffman- Susan Sarandon family saga "Moonlight Mile" jumped 11 places to No. 9 with $2.0 million after expanding in its second weekend.

Holding steady at No. 4, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" became the highest grossing independent movie in history, surpassing the $140 million total of "The Blair Witch Project." After adding $8.5 million in its 25th weekend, "Wedding" has now pulled in $148 million. Nia Vardalos stars as a frumpy waitress who causes chaos in her Greek-American family when she becomes engaged to a WASP.

According to box office tracking firm Exhibitor Relations, the top 12 films grossed $103 million, up 12 percent from last weekend, and up 24 percent from the year-ago weekend when "Training Day" opened at No. 1 with $22 million.

"DRAGON" BREAKS OCTOBER RECORD

While the "Red Dragon" launch compared unfavorably with that of "Hannibal," it was certainly no chopped liver.

The new film set a new record for a film opening in October, beating the $28.6 million bow of "Meet the Parents" in 2000; and it represents the best fall opening by an R-rated movie, surpassing the $36.4 million launch of "Interview with the Vampire" in 1994.

The film was released by Universal Pictures, a unit of Vivendi Universal SA. Executives said the audience was evenly split by gender, and by viewers aged over and under 30. Exit polling data were better than for "Hannibal," which was released domestically by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

"Red Dragon" is a remake of the 1986 film "Manhunter," a pulp thriller that introduced Lecter (played by Brian Cox) to moviegoers. Hopkins took over the role in the 1991 film "The Silence of the Lambs," winning an Oscar in the process. While "Hannibal" ended up with $165 domestically, its comical ending left a bad taste in some viewers' mouths.

Universal distribution president Nikki Rocco said "Red Dragon" was positioned as more of a suspense thriller in the vein of "Lambs" than as a "Hannibal"-like horror movie.

"It's not a sequel (to "Hannibal") and we didn't expect it to play as a sequel," Rocco said.

The critics were rather harsh towards "Red Dragon," which was directed by Brett Ratner of "Rush Hour" fame: "artistic bankruptcy," said the New York Times; "high profit hack work," said the Wall Street Journal.

The film stars Edward Norton as an FBI ( news - web sites) agent who uses his old nemesis, an incarcerated Lecter, to help him track down a serial killer, played by Ralph Fiennes. Harvey Keitel and Emily Watson also star.

"ALABAMA" STILL SWEET

After two weekends "Sweet Home Alabama" has grossed $65.6 million. Witherspoon plays a New York socialite who returns to her humble Southern roots to choose between two suitors. The film was released by Touchstone Pictures, a unit of Walt Disney Co.

"The Tuxedo" has $28.1 million, also after two weekends. It was released by DreamWorks SKG, which is privately held. Chan and co-star Jennifer Love Hewitt play rookie spies.

"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was released by IFC Films, which is majority owned by Cablevision Systems Corp.

Rounding out the top five was former box office champion "Barbershop". The urban comedy, starring rapper Ice Cube, grossed $6.8 million, taking its four-weekend total to $60.2 million. It was released by MGM.

"Jonah" was released by privately held Artisan Entertainment ( news - external web site). Inspired by a series of children's videos, the film stars talking vegetables who deliver Bible-based homilies. It was released in just 940 theaters, with further expansions set for the next two weekends; by contrast, the top three movies each played in more than 3,000 theaters.

"Moonlight Mile," which takes its title from a Rolling Stones song, played in just 434 theaters, up from 22 last weekend. The tragi-comedy stars Oscar winners Hoffman and Sarandon as grieving parents, and Jake Gyllenhaal as the fiance of their late daughter. Its total stands at $2.4 million.

Reuters/Variety

LOS ANGELES, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Following are the final data for the top 10 movies at the North American box office during the October 4-6 weekend, according to studio figures released Monday by Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc.

Film Three-day Cumulative

1. Red Dragon .......... $36,540,945

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $36,540,945

2. Sweet Home Alabama .......... $21,325,435

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $65,334,029

3. The Tuxedo .......... $10,035,750

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $27,988,910

4. My Big Fat Greek Wedding .......... $8,223,801

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $147,717,828

5. Barbershop .......... $6,634,684

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $60,018,041

6. Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie .......... $6,201,345

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $6,201,345

7. The Banger Sisters .......... $3,484,958

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $24,299,294

8. The Four Feathers .......... $2,057,714

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $15,517,239

9. Moonlight Mile .......... $1,882,703

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $2,327,627

10. One Hour Photo .......... $1,733,871

BOX OFFICE SO FAR: $28,780,731

Reuters/Variety

John L.:  The horror that was 2001's "Hannibal" hurt the opening of Red Dragon, but it seems that word of mouth will get this prequel to "Silence of the Lambs" a good run at the box office.  Things are picking up quite nicely as people are starting to get back to the cineplex.  Full review of Red Dragon coming up.  Plus, the return of the Video Nose Pick of the Week with a full review of "Monster's Ball," that contained Halle Berry's Oscar winning performance.  

RED DRAGON - FULL REVIEW

Oh goody goody, just what we needed, another Hannibal Lecter story.  Michael Mann's Manhunter was not good enough, so we have to have Anthony Hopkins return to do all three Thomas Harris stories. That's alright, since Hopkins is very good at playing this psychopath and it will make a good video box set in 6 months.  Red Dragon is the sequel to Silence of the Lambs.  This story is about how FBI agent William Graham (Edward Norton) uses the psychological profile analysis by Doctor Hannibal Lecter to figure out who is going around killing whole families in their home and then biting them.  This story has been told before in Manhunter, but no one saw that movie when it was released so very few know it even exists.  Go to a video store or your local library and pick it up if you have not seen it.  Red Dragon is not really about Lecter at all. He is more of an extended cameo in this movie.  The main focus is on Graham and Francis Dolarhyde (Ralph [pronounced Rafe for some reason] Fiennes) the serial killer trying to become a manifestation of a beast. Their stories are separate and interlocked.  Norton is an odd choice for Graham as he still has that somewhat baby face that makes it hard to take him seriously as seasoned Federal agent with strong intuitive near psychic powers of deduction.  He pretty much channels much of his "Fight Club" acting to portray this part, but he is still pretty good here.  You root for him to catch the bad guy and to go toe to toe to liver to heart to eye to cheek to bone with Lecter.  Fiennes also is not who I picture as Dolaryde, but he has played evil before and that helps sell his actions well here.  Dolaryde is made to be sympathetic with his interactions with his blind co-worker Reba (Emily Watson).  This relationship has always bothered me in the book and the previous movie.  It is a bit too contrived and convenient for my tastes.  You feel sorry for Reba, and would like to think that Dolaryde is really an okay guy, but then he sets people on fire and puts broken mirrors in women's eyes.  The relationship is a waste of time as any good side shown is made pointless.  He's a killer. Show him getting picked on as a kid by his grandmother and we will understand where his problems come from.  Don't throw in a love interest who never really has any impact on what he does.  The only person her like (love?) did was stop him from killing her.  The only reason Lecter is in this movie is that they finally acted out the scene where Graham catches the good doctor and is critically injured.  It takes up the first 10 minutes of the movie and is interesting, but not as dramatic as I had hoped. I would love to see how Lecter became to be what he did.  A young Hannibal movie or novel would be very interesting in my opinion.  Hopkins has to spend the majority of the movie locked in the same cell set from Silence of the Lambs only getting out in the opening flashback and one scene where he is tied to a retracting rope in a gymnasium where he gets his half hour of free time.  It is the smallest role to get top billing in a movie since Marlon Brando played Jor-El in Superman the Movie.  All Lecter gets to do is give out mysterious clues to who Dolaryde might be, but we never get into the head of Lecter making the audience just make up their own backstory.  Is he motivated by lust, greed, or is he just insane?  Is Lecter gay, straight, bi, or tri?  All has been hinted at throughout the series but nothing is ever established.  Mystery is good, but after 3 movies it is time to reveal something, especially since it is very unlikely that Hopkins will return for a fourth installment and he would be very hard to replace.  A true prequel with a young Lecter could help with that casting problem.  Red Dragon was made to have a movie with the same title as the 1981 book and to have Hopkins play in all three stories, oh yeah and to make a lot of money at the box office. Last year's Hannibal should have fleshed out the character but it did less development than Red Dragon. If another movie is made or story is written, all of the unanswered questions should be exposed, or at least some of them.  Red Dragon is okay thriller entertainment and has a few gross moments but nothing too extravagant.  If you have seen Silence and Hannibal, you really don't need to see this movie at all since the opening bit where Lecter is caught is nothing special.  A mild recommendation.  Final Review:  2 1/2 stars out of 5; 6  out of 10; B-; thumbs up.

                                                VIDEO NOSE PICK OF THE WEEK

MONSTER'S BALL - FULL REVIEW

Halle Berry became the first woman of African-American descent to win the Best Actress Academy Award whereas Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost) and Hattie McDaniel (Gone With the Wind) won for Best Supporting Actress when she she starred in the Southern drama "Monster's Ball."  It is the story of a grizzled Southern Corrections Officer, Hank (Billy Bob Thorton) in charge of the Death Row inmates who somehow falls in love with the wife, Leticia (Berry), of the guy he just electrocuted.  The situations that lead to Thorton and Berry becoming lovers is quite tragic and extraordinary.  Every scene seems to lead to one horrific moment after another.   A guy throws up, a man sees his wife and kid just before he is sent to the electric chair, a man has a quickie with the local hooker, grown man cries, more vomit, bzzz bzzzz bzzz, racist cop, racist pop, suicide, car accident, and more crying are what the audience has in store for them as they try to get through this tragic and to a degree uplifiting tale.  Thorton is an odd guy to watch on screen.  He is a good actor and is quite good here as the reluctant racist who knows better, but due to his upbringing has much difficulty overcoming his demons.  He takes care of his dad, Buck, played by Peter Boyle who likes to call the local black kids "porch monkies" who don't know their place like they did in the good ol' days.  Boyle has come a long way from mumbling "puttin on the 'itz" in Young Frankenstein.  I am surprised he did not get an Oscar nomination as he steals every scene he is in and is detestable and sometimes pretty funny as he puts down his ex wife and makes passes at Halle Berry.  Heath Ledger shows up as Thorton's troubled son, Sonny.  He does not do much, but his big moment is quite shocking and abrupt and will wake anyone up who even thought about sleeping through this movie.  Coronji Calhoun as Tyrell is also quite powerful in his struggle to please his momma, Leticia.  He has a weight problem that makes you feel sorry for the character and hope that the actor just put on the pounds for the role.  He was my favorite in the movie.  Sean "P Diddy" Combs plays the doomed inmate/husband, Lawrence.  Combs is good here and is made sympathetic mainly because we never learn what he did to get put on Death Row.  J Lo must have blabbed.  I am personally for the death penalty, but seeing poor Lawrence crying and drawing his pictures made you realize that these are people too.  There was potential for Lawrence to be better than what he became and it is tragic to see a vibrant life snuffed out for what was probably not worth the trouble to begin with.  A serial killer he did not seem to be.  Halle Berry gives one of her better performances here, not necessarily her best.  Her best will always be the junkie Vivian in "Jungle Fever."  Very few things go right for her here, and it is difficult to watch at times.  The character Leticia has her big dramatic moments, but they are pretty standard stuff that has been seen before. Nonetheless, she is good in every scene.  The only thing that really hurts her is that she is too attractive for the part and it is hard to disassociate from that fact.  Her love scene with Thorton is much talked about as it should be.  It is necessary to the plot as at that point, both people needed that release, and the intensity of the lovemaking helped confirm those feelings.  Anything less would have not worked.  It is shot in a voyeuristic, symbolic way that takes the eroticism above the standard late night Cinemax deviant level.  The moments before that when Berry gives her drunken  "make me feel good" demand is most likely what got her the Oscar in the end.  Oh, and for those who care, Berry is quite the much nekkid.  After hiding her assets for so long, it is nice to see a A list actor willing to be proud of what the good Lord gave them. However, I am a bigger fan of her 2 second flash in Swordfish than her grinding in Monster's Ball.  While watching this movie I kept saying to myself it is one of the worst films I have ever seen.  I was getting totally depressed as each scene was more cringeworthy than the next. But as it played out and you saw where they were going with it and how Hank and Leticia changed I realized it was not as bad as it looked.  The movie is meant to get those feelings from you of uneasiness, but delving deeper, positive things are gradually shown.  The ending was a bit too nice as certain truths are revealed, but it was not enough to ruin the experience.  This movie is not for everyone, and is hard to watch, but after it is over you will remember what you have just seen for quite a long time.  Final Review:  4 stars out of 5; 8 out of 10; B+; thumbs up.

REST OF THE TOP 10 IN 10:

1.    Earning over $20 million in its second week, shows that Witherspoon is not a fluke and is for real as a box office threat.

2.    Tuxedo is holding up fairly well, but it looks like the Rush Hour and possibly the Shanghai Noon movies are the only ones American s want to see Jackie Chan in.

3.    The Blair Witch has been vanquished by overweight Apollo worshipers.

4.    Barbershop's controversy has not hurt its box office at all as it is one of the more profitable movies of the year.

5.    Teaching youngsters about religion can be fun when it is done with fresh produce as Jonah A Veggie Tales makes a small but significant blip in the box office top 10.

6.    Due to its very limited marketing campaign, it is amazing that Veggies made as much as it did.

7.    Goldie Hawn needs to finally grow up and stop playing the same ditzy blonde she has done since the 1960s.

8.    Four Feathers is a surprise misfire by the ones who made it.

9.    Susan Sarandon is doing double duty in the top ten with Banger Sisters and Moonlight Mile about a family coping with the sudden death of their daughter.

10.    Robin Williams is having a mixed year at the movies, so fortunately One Hour Photo did not cost that much to make and is better received than Death to Smoochy.

That is it for this week.  If something interesting is released I'll check it out, if not I will break out a Video Pick of the Week.  Bye for now.