Fiction vs. Fiction (vs. Fiction!)- The 3 Versions of Red Dragon

 After seeing both Films and reading up on the Book, it's only fitting to do a full comparison.

It would only be a normal version of this Segment, but things were added for the 2002 Film, so it is...

**VS**

**VS**

What's the Same?

The basic Plot doesn't change between the three versions.  

It is still about Will Graham working briefly with Lecter to try and catch the Tooth Fairy.

His motivations are the same and he's ultimately killed.

What's Different?

In the Book and the 2002 Film, we read/see him capture Lecter.  However, in 2002's Red Dragon, he says that it is due to DNA evidence...which was not a plausible thing in 1980 when the Scene is set.

In Manhunter, we just are told (by Lecter) that he caught him.

In all 3 versions, Lecter uses trickery to get Graham's address and give it to the Tooth Fairy.  In Manhunter, that doesn't pay off like in the other 2 versions, as he just stops Dollarhyde before that could mean anything.

In all 3 versions, there's a Scene with Dollarhyde letting his blind girlfriend touch a knocked-out Tiger.  However, in the Book, she touches the animal in a more...intimate way, for some less than subtle foreshadowing of what would happen with her and the killer.
Both Film versions understandably cut that, at least implicitly.  The 2002 Film does keep the bit that relates to that moment though, so...weird.

In both Red Dragons, Dollarhyde does an elaborate trickery to fake his death, wait a week (give or take) and try to kill Graham at home.

Also excised from Manhunter is an odd Scene where Dollarhyde goes to see the real 'Red Dragon' painting, attacks the staff and EATS IT.
I can see why Mann cut it.

In 2002's Red Dragon, Lecter appears WAY more than he does in either version.  He has multiple meetings with Graham and we see more of Dr. Chilton as well, since they were doing retroactive world-building here.

In the final battle in the Book and Manhunter (despite location changes), Graham is beaten up quite a bit.  He doesn't quite get the graphic face wound from the Book though.
In 2002's Red Dragon, he's beaten up a bit, but no face wound.

Final Thoughts

While I haven't read the Book, so I'm not going to recommend it (yet).  If I go back and read it, I'll Edit this.

Manhunter is a fun, stylish Film that I absolutely recommend.
Red Dragon (2002) is good, but weirdly paced and bizarre.

For me, the better Film is Manhunter.
Fight me.