Hands down Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins oozed superiority. Behind those eyes the wheels were always turning. You were his puppet. His Lecter was more than just a man. With Cox, right from the get-go he's slumped on his bunk, rubs the sleep out of his eyes and converses casually (at least by comparison). Nothing to fear, nothing intimidating. If it weren't for William Peterson's performance, I think we'd have a hard time buying the subtext of the conversation.

Hopkins for the win. His performance is hammy, for certain, but it's hammy in such a brilliant way. Hopkins' Lecter seems almost superhuman, a terrifying force of nature, as if he's the devil himself somehow locked up behind bars.

Cox's Lecter isn't terrible, but he doesn't make too much of an impression.

Counterpoint...

I've always preferred Brian Cox and the original MANHUNTER (the RED DRAGON remake was rather awful. Stinkin' Ratner!)

The thing for me is that I find understated evil much more menacing. Hopkins, while terrific, was so over-the-top bugfuck crazy from the get go, he, for me, became a cartoon character, like Caeser Romero's version of The Joker or something.

Brian Cox's calm demeanor shielded the mind of a killer. Again, to me, much more nervewracking.

Taking nothing away from Hopkins, of course. The man is a delight to watch... his tragic turn as Stevens the butler in The Remains of the Day is probably one of my favorite performances ever committed to celluloid.

Hopkins. His portrayal of a barely controlled psychopath is what did it for me - although the follow up delivery of the liver and fava beans line was rather comical. I think if he'd not made the slurping noises it would have been more powerful.

Tony Hopkins for the win. That is how you do cinema menace; By being over-the-top. I hate "realism" in films.

Cox's Lecter is a serviceable villain but he leaves no impression on the viewer. However, I actually picture him when reading the books.

"I've always preferred Brian Cox and the original MANHUNTER (the RED DRAGON remake was rather awful. Stinkin' Ratner!)"

I thought RED DRAGON did the book a lot better justice than Micheal Mann's film; In terms of visuals and story. However, Mann wrote a tighter film.

Also I think the best Lecter film is Silence of The Lambs however the best book, IMO, is Hannibal.