Silence of the Lambs was the best Lecter movie to date. It was one of scariest movies I have ever seen, yet I admired the affection this human monster had for Clarice. The portrait he does of her holding the lamb expresses everything he feels for her but doesn't put into words.

There are two movie adaptations of the first book: Manhunter and Red Dragon. I've seen both, and it's worth seeing to contrast how two directors have completely different takes on the same story: Manhunter focuses more on Will Graham and his efforts to catch the Tooth Fairy while Red Dragon shifts more of the emphasis to Francis Dollarhyde and his efforts to find redemption. I prefer the second movie personally.

Red Dragon reminds me a lot of Peeping Tom, where we identify with the psychopath because of his tender relationship with a sympathetic woman more than his terrible crimes.

I haven't seen Hannibal or the prequel. Don't plan to.