Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov Screenplay by: Seth Grahamme-Smith Based on the Novel by: Seth Grahamme-Smith Cinematography by: Caleb Deschanel Original Music by: Henry Jackman
Premise: History gets written, but sometimes not all the details of what actually happened are disclosed. This is the untold story of Abraham Lincoln. Of the horrors he faced in his youth and the path he chose to try to reap vengeance on those who destroyed his family. A close look at the life of Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. (Rated R)
Review:
1) Acting - Thumbs Up: Benjamin Walker did a great job portraying Mr Lincoln, especially in the later years, as he assumed the poses and mannerisms of the President that we've come to know from photos and other accounts.
There were several surprises in unexpected faces in the film such as Alan Tudyk and Jimmi Simpson. It was great to see them and they added their awesome talents to the film, even in the small bits.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead was adorable as Mary Todd.
2) Special Effects - Total Thumbs Up: Twice in the film the land around the viewer shifts from one time to another, but done subtly with layers being peeled back one by one. These were exceptional! They also were a great way to transfer the audience to another time at the same place and impart the look and feel of the era of each sequence before actually zooming in to those involved.
The fighting scene which ran through the middle of a CGI horse stampede was a sight to see! It truly brought home just exactly the type of supernatural beings Abraham was having to deal with. Where else will you see horses used as weapons? Too much fun.
The entire train sequence too was masterful. And done in such a way as to make some of the amazing actions appear plausible.
3) Plot/Story - Thumbs Up: Depending on the viewer, they will either accept the film as an Alternate History (the best route to take) or a rewriting of it. In general, the plot maintained historical accuracy, though not always in the specifics. Lincoln had several children, not just one, for instance.
But, pushing historical accuracy aside, and adding a small amount of 'suspension of disbelief', the story worked rather well. There was an odd surprise about the vampires in this universe that played for a nice sub story. I also enjoyed the red herring towards the end.
4) Locations/Cinematography - Total Thumbs Up: Truly wish they'd done this one in IMAX. There were lots of spanning views, moonlit nights, battles, trains, stampedes - plenty of food for the eyes. The sets and locations totally fit the period and the different locations. There were even subtle hints and jokes drizzled here and there amid the posters and advertisements. That was fun!
5) Costuming/Makeup - Total Thumbs Up: A lot of care seemed to have gone into the costumes to better submerge the viewer into the time period. The makeup for the vampires was well done and appeared to fluctuate depending on how recently the vampire had fed, which was a nice touch.
Conclusion: A fun venture into looking at a past that might have been, and one filled with great action scenes and CGI work.
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 (Hubby's Rating: Worth Full Price Of Admission)
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