Hopkins Angry at Hannibal Censors

``Censorship is tyranny,'' he told the German newspaper Bild.

``It is hypocrisy. No one is being forced to see 'Hannibal','' Hopkins said when asked about reports that the film might be censored in Italy, where part of the story of the cannibal mass murderer takes place.

``That would ruin the film and destroy it,'' the British-born actor said following the premiere of his film at the Berlin film festival. ``In Italy a lot of people are already running to their psychiatrists -- even without having seen this film.''

Critics have assailed the film for its gratuitous violence. ''Hannibal,'' the sequel to the 1991 ``Silence of the Lambs,'' has been attacked for being particularly gruesome. In one scene Hopkins' character eats the brain of one of his drugged victims -- while he is still alive and talking.

Four women fainted and were removed by ambulance after seeing the movie in Italy on Sunday.

In both Germany and Australia, authorities are considering giving the film a rating which would restrict it to audiences over the age of 18.

Despite lukewarm reviews, ``Hannibal'' brought in a massive $58 million in the first three days of its release in North America. Only two movies have taken more money on their opening weekend.

Hopkins defended the film, pointing out that English tragedies in Shakespeare's time were also filled with blood and violence.

``It was a gruesome world and that is the way it was portrayed,'' he said. ``There was torture, people were killed and murdered...There are really a lot of people interested in Hannibal Lecter.''