Hannibal

I've often wondered how Jonathan Demme, the warmest, most intuitive of filmmakers, managed, in his biggest hit, to create a benchmark monster - Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs (1991). It may be that Hannibal reflects everything Demme mistrusts about power without conscience and intellect without feeling. Writers once commonly referred to villains as "bad actors." Hannibal is more like a bad director. Often described as the devil, he's more specifically the anti-God. He controls life or death like a natural catastrophe.

New releases of video cassettes; reviews by New York Times critics."The Silence of the Lambs." 1991. Orion. $99.98. Laser disk, $29.95. 1 hour 58 minutes. Closed captioned. R.On the theory that it takes one to know one, the FBI enlists a jailed serial killer to help track down another one on the loose. From his prison cell the cerebral Hannibal (the Cannibal) Lechter Anthony Hopkins), looking as if he were about to dine on one of his victims, sizes up Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), the naive but very smart young FBI agent assigned to pick his brains on the current case.

Hopkins says that he is a bit like Hannibal Anthony Hopkins tells Barbara Walters on ABC's`'20/20" tonight that he's a bit of a loner, like the villain of 1991's "The Silence of the Lambs" and the sequel "Hannibal," which opens Feb. 9. "I like being on my own. I don't have any major friendships or relationships with people," he says. "But I keep to myself, very much to myself, so that makes it easy for me, to play these parts - not just Hannibal Lecter - but the parts like `Remains of the Day.' Men who are very self-contained, very sure of themselves, very quiet and remote.

* Julie Baker, North Carroll, 5-5, Soph., G -- The heir apparent to the Panthers' graduated point guard Ashlee Douglas. Baker is young and inexperienced but has the natural ability to play the important point-guard position. Look for Baker to split time with junior Cori Bradford early in the season before taking over the job.* Julie Backof, Westminster, 5-9, Sr., F -- One of the best all-around athletes in the county, Backof is coming off a solid season in goal for the Owls' soccer team. Now, she must turn her attentions to basketball where coach Bernie Koontz will rely on her heavily to do a little bit of everything.

Why didn't someone in Hollywood think of this sooner? New Line's Freddy vs. Jason opened in theaters Friday, and the genius at work here is so evident, the amazing thing is no one ever considered it before. Take characters from two successful movies, put them together in one guaranteed awe-inspiring film, then sit back and watch the box-office grosses grow and grow. Freddy, that dream-monger from all those Nightmare on Elm Street movies, and creepmeister Jason from Friday the 13th parts 1 through 1,000, together again for the first time.

If all goes according to plan, a new museum will open next summer dedicated to Maryland's African-American heritage. On Thursday night at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, the effort to see that museum reach fruition will get a substantial boost from a gala event that will commemorate the tragedy and triumph that is part of every African-American's heritage. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Morgan State University Choir and a starry lineup of guest artists, including Bill Cosby, James Earl Jones and Nnenna Freelon, will be joined by local and national politicos, African ambassadors, corporate sponsors and lots of other folks interested in launching the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.

HANNIBAL, Mo. -- Mayor Richard Schwartz worked his jaw nervously as he answered calls: No, the Bear Creek dam was not in danger. Yes, volunteer sandbag-fillers were welcome. Yes, he would take time to see visiting Missouri Sen. John C. Danforth.And then tapping one of the blinking phone lines he received news that made him exhale sharply: a local factory where workers had valiantly spent the past two weeks sandbagging and shoring up walls to keep roof-level water from entering had just imploded.

Whether we want to admit it or not, crime is rapidly becoming a major problem in Columbia and the rest of Howard County.Trapped as we are between two major East Coast crime centers -- Washington and Baltimore -- it is almost inevitable that our community will increasingly become a target.At a recent meeting of concerned residents living in the Hannibal Grove apartment complex in Wilde Lake, one resident rightly noted that "we can't build walls to keep the criminals out."So, we are left to seek alternatives.

Western Maryland College senior midfielder Erin Murphey knows how to go out in style.The Francis Scott Key grad set a new Centennial Conference single-game record in points with her three goals and three assists in Western Maryland's 9-0, season-ending win over Bryn Mawr on Monday.Murphey, whose 30 goals, 19 assists and 79 points in three seasons are school-career marks, was selected as a CC Player of the Week for the third time this fall.The Green Terror (9-7-1) won its final five games and finished 6-3 in the conference.

Francis Scott Key EaglesCoach: Joe Linthicum.1993 record: 6-6.Top players: Carri Ryer, Sr., F; Kelly Jirout, Sr., F; Lisa Turner, Sr., MF; Jaime White, Sr., D; Pam Lochner, Jr., D.Outlook: The Eagles have some solid talent returning, but also have some voids to fill. Linthicum is hoping the veterans can hold down things in the early going while the newcomers get settled in at the varsity level. Ryer and Jirout give the Eagles a lot of speed up front and Linthicum is confident the Eagles will be able to put the ball in the net. Turner appears ready to take control of the midfield in the middle.