measured against practically any like-themed film other than its oscar-sweeping franchise predecessor the silence of the lambs , red dragon rates as an exceptional thriller . 
(ROOT (S (S (VP (VBN measured) (PP (IN against) (NP (NP (ADJP (RB practically) (DT any)) (ADJP (JJ like) (HYPH -) (JJ themed)) (NN film)) (ADJP (JJ other) (PP (IN than) (NP (NP (PRP$ its) (ADJP (NN oscar) (HYPH -) (VBG sweeping)) (NN franchise) (NN predecessor)) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN silence)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NNS lambs))))))))))) (, ,) (NP (JJ red) (NN dragon)) (VP (NNS rates) (PP (IN as) (NP (DT an) (JJ exceptional) (NN thriller)))) (. .)))
(ROOT (S (S (VP (VBN ) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (ADJP (RB ) (DT )) (ADJP (JJ ) (HYPH ) (JJ )) (NN )) (ADJP (JJ ) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (PRP$ ) (ADJP (NN ) (HYPH ) (VBG )) (NN ) (NN )) (NP (NP (DT ) (NN )) (PP (IN ) (NP (DT ) (NNS ))))))))))) (, ) (NP (JJ ) (NN )) (VP (NNS ) (PP (IN ) (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (NN )))) (. )))