Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

"Some men are just to interesting to die".

That is the theme of the book Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. But that theme is lost in its translation to screen. I still really enjoyed it. It was just different. But I realized something after pondering on the movie for a few minutes after I saw it.

The book is far to deep and filled with character development (I know, hard to believe, but it is) for the average movie goer, and to completely ridiculous for the philosophical thinkers of the movie world. So it puts itself in a pickle. And justifiably so, it goes for the easier target, the action-seeking-summer-movie-goers.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is exactly what it sounds like. It is a retelling of history in which the great 16th President is, in fact, a vampire hunter. The vampires or the nation, who mainly live in the south, use slaves to feed off of. Abraham finds himself in a pickle when he seeks revenge on the man who killed his mother when he was 8 (historically accurate... just in case you care).

He soon finds himself under attack from the man he thought he just killed via a bullet in the eye, however, this man is a vampire. He is saved by a man who followed him from the bar named Henry Sturgess. The man trains him to hunt vampires and Mr. Lincoln uses his talent while gaining political popularity and becoming the great man we all know and love!

Now, the book is so different, I find it hard to compare the two. The are both great in their own ways. The book is more historically accurate and has a deeper undertone than its theatrical counter part. But, as I said, the book is to deep for some and to ridiculous for others and just right for a few insane people such as myself. When it comes down to the wire, you gotta make your money back and then some. So, they changed it.

The changes made it a fun, adventurous movie that I feel, those who don't care for history (also known as fools) will still enjoy it. There is a specific antagonist in the film, which is not in the book. Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist) plays a very sinister leader of the vampires known as Adam. Which leads me to believe he was the first vampire. Adding this character made the on screen transition more smooth, since most people don't like films in which there isn't an obvious villain.

I guess, within all of this rambling, I am trying to say the differences made for this movie were necessary. That is what many people do not realize. Not everything is about pleasing the fans of the book (although I was pleased with the movie). The fans of books are just a small percentage of who the studios are trying to target. They are trying to open people up to the movie who have never heard of it before.

I loved the book and really enjoyed the movie. Can't we all just get along? I'm talking to you book purists! It's ok if the movie isn't exactly like the book!

My rating: B

In Anticipation: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

There are very few movies that, before they come out, the trailer and any mention of the film makes me as giddy as a school girl. Yes, I get excited for movies, but there are very few trailers I will watch over and over again and smile and giggle every single time.

The last I remember was Inception. Yes, that may have been less than 3 years ago, but considering thousands of movies have been released since then, that is a pretty significant amount of time. Before Inception it was The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford. And I don't remember what was before that. I remember when I was a manager for a movie theatre, I would walk in to a theatre that I knew would show the trailer for it and watch it as much as I could. The IMAX experience being the best of course.

But I digress.

I present to you Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

Now, if by some chance there is anyone on here, reading this, that doesn't know me, I am obsessed with Abraham Lincoln. He is, in my opinion, the best human to ever walk the Earth. I read so much about him, that I sometimes worry about myself. And I have read the book this movie is based off of, and it is EXTREMELY historically accurate. Seth Grahame-Smith, the author and screen writer, more or less just took a biography and inserted vampires anywhere someone in the great President's life died. It is a very good book, and I highly suggest it to anyone who is looking for a new book to read.

That being said, here are 5 reasons I am as giddy as a school girl whenever this movie is mentioned.

1. I have an unhealthy obsession with President Lincoln.
2. There are vampires involved. And not the kind of wimpy vampires that have flocks of teenage girls running and screaming in the movie theatre whenever him and his stupid lame werewolf boyfriend take their shirts off. Actual, real, bad ass vampires.
3. It has Civil War scenes, but with Vampires ripping people to shreds. (Hopefully)
4. It has the most bad ass President this country has ever had being more bad ass than I have ever imagined possible.
5. Did you see him cut down that tree with one swing? Of course you did!

I just hope that this trailer doesn't get my expectations up to high. And I swear to all that is Holy, if this gets anything less than an 'R' rating, I will find Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov and I will come at them with the fires of hell at my heels and I will not stop until their legs are twitching'! 

You have been warned.

And what an awesome poster!