One of the summer's biggest box-office crazes is the film that follows our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, on his journey to destroy the blood-sucking demons troubling the country.
In 2010, Seth Grahame-Smith wrote a book in which Abraham Lincoln fought to abolish not only slavery, but the existence of vampires. The story was such a wild success due to its fantastical plot, one that was so exciting in its unrealisticness, that it was put into development as a film, produced by Tim Burton.
As with many, I was unaware of this story until I saw the trailer and began to hear major buzz as its premiere approached. Many of my friends were highly anticipating going to see the movie, and so I became interested in going as well.
The film develops Lincoln's deep-seeded vengeance against vampires: at 8 years old, he watched as his mother was attacked by a vampire, his father's cruel ex-boss, Jack Barts, in her sleep and slowly died from the venom.
For the next 10 years, Abraham, played by Benjamin Walker, harbors heavy resentment toward the man but is unable to fight back. Eventually, he meets a vampire hunter named Henry (Dominic Cooper), who teaches him how to effectively kill vampires.
In all honesty, there are several parts of the movie that are quite laughable. For example, halfway through, Lincoln returns to his native Indiana from Illinois to finally kill Barts. After he locates Barts at his business, the two men wind up in the midst of a fleet of wild horses. Neither of them gets trampled, jumping from horseback to horseback, getting into fist fights, and at one point, Barts swings a horse around by his leg and launches it at Lincoln, who narrowly avoids the flying animal.
At that point, my friends and I all laughed out loud.
All in all though, I was very impressed that I did not find the movie more ridiculous. It is admittedly a very wild plot in the first place, but because it takes itself more seriously than just that, I was able to take it more seriously as well.
There were several aspects that I really appreciated.
First, the visual effects and transitions were very well done. Although I found the plot to be jumpy in several points, jumping from locations and plot points, the way that the scenes were tied together were seamless and interesting.
Also, I enjoyed the way that the plot intertwined with actual history. I felt so clever when I knew what would happen to Lincoln's son before it happened, basing my guess on the history I actually knew.
One of the major points in the film is that vampires will die if they are touched with silver. Therefore, Lincoln carries an axe with a silver edge so that he can more directly kill vampires with one swing.
During the Civil War, the Confederacy joins forces with vampires because the vampires are vicious fighters and can turn themselves invisible, which is no doubt a huge advantage while fighting a war. Once Lincoln discovers this, the North sets forth to collect as much silver as possible in order to make into weapons and destroy the Southern forces.
While "Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter" is obviously a story that is fictional and as unrealistic as it gets, it is extremely entertaining and serves as a great summer escape.
My friends and I saw the movie in 3-D, which I don't usually do, but I felt that the 3-D added a nice touch to the visual effects, and added a bit more thrill to the movie.
I highly recommend that you see this movie with some friends that like to laugh at movies that don't necessarily need to be highly intellectual or serious; after all, that is not what makes this movie so good.
Abraham Lincoln has just been given some major cool points, and it's all thanks to some vampires and a silver-edged axe. Go Abe.
Maggie McVey is a 2012 graduate of Oneonta High School. 'Teen Talk' columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/teentalk.
Teen Talk
Weekend Reviews: Abraham Lincoln, the newest Buffy
- Teen Talk
-
-
On the Go: We can't let age define us
I hate the concept of age. I understand wanting to quantify your existence, but age is blown way out of proportion.
-
Weekend Reviews: British TV show works in the U.S.
Up until this year, my first year at college, the only time I'd heard the words "Doctor Who" mentioned were in passing by my friends who had a passion for science fiction. I, for the most part, do not.
-
Teenhood Today: Bob, the Houdini hamster
My family is not pet-oriented, but that doesn't mean we haven't had pets.
-
A Word of Advice: How to become an 'alpha' male
This one’s for the lads and gents, maybe the ladies, too, if they’d care to eavesdrop on this man-to-man I’m about to lay down on the male readership.
-
On the Go: Patriotism doesn't mean keeping status quo
I've been labeled many things, but when anti-American and unpatriotic came into the picture recently I was surprised. I know I have some controversial opinions, but since when does that equate to not loving America? I'm a born and raised American kid, and I love America.
-
Luhrmann brings Gatsby new life
Sure, you would think that being a college student and having finals rapidly approaching would equate to my growing anticipation for the summer and being done with my first year of college.
-
Teenhood Today: Only you can determine your impact
The question I am most often asked is, "What do you want to do with your life?"
-
A Word of Advice: Just do something
If you're not going upward, the only direction you can go is down. To stagnate is to surrender; to do nothing for yourself; to give up on a better day completely. If we sit around feeling good enough in all aspects of life, or just too lazy to fix them, well, as Albert Einstein put it, "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
-
On the Go: Life is like the Cliff Walk
Over spring break, my family and I spent time in Newport, R.I. While we were there, we walked a path known as the Cliff Walk. This walk is nestled between some Newport mansions and some cliffs overlooking the ocean. While we were walking, my sister and I noticed how this path was a perfect metaphor for life and the journey it is.
-
Weekend Reviews: 'Host' plot offers no surprise
Just when we all thought we would be safe to turn on our televisions and re-enter the movie theaters after the last "Twilight" film was released on DVD and Blu-Ray, the cinema gods decided to toy with our emotions once more.
-
Teenhood Today: Responsibility is at heart of gun debate
I'm a hunter. That means that I know exactly where my meat came from, and I know that the animal died in a humane way. Plus venison is my favorite meat.
-
A Word of Advice: Make your building blocks positive ones
One block, two block, three block, the world around you building you up.
-
On the Go: Embrace changes in life
Life is evolving, progressing and changing.
-
Weekend Reviews: Thrifting makes you look incredible
-
Teenhood Today: Finding a happy medium when packing
Packing suitcases should be a sport.
-
A Word of Advice: Don't let power of envy rule your life
Envy is a very powerful thing. Whether on the receiving end of it, or dealing it out yourself, making people want something can be more powerful than any insult you can put on them. It's like waving a steak in a dog's face and putting that dog behind a glass barrier. He sees something in front of him that he wants, something someone else has that he just can't get.
-
On the Go: Don't let happiness hibernate
When was the last time you did something for the first time? When did you last smile? When did you last laugh out loud? When did you lose track of time just chatting with someone? When did you last learn something new?
-
Weekend Reviews: Oscar frontrunners hold relevance
Once again, it is that time of the year: either you’re complaining about the weather or your lack of a valentine, or attempting to view all of the films nominated for this year’s Academy Awards.
-
Teenhood Today: Follow through on good intentions
Most of the time, people have good intentions.
-
A Word of Advice: Change is a brilliant thing
From the beginning of human history, we have come to be through adapting to our environment. So why do we all fear change when it hits our own personal lives?
-
On the Go: We can't let age define us
