Artistic license that entertains

Rating: 7/10 (2 July 2012)

This was an entertaining movie (haven't read the book), I'd give it a 5 for effort. Two more points for CGI. So 7. There were moments where you cringed at the historical presumption and various inaccuracies, and I laughed at the candles that didn't flicker; and sometimes Walker's close up made you want to strangle him for his Abe portrayal (see it in 3D). Sure I'd watch it maybe once more, for the really artistically mindful CGI, costuming and set dressing. The opening storybook deconstruction of the District of Columbia really made your eye wander if you know the layout of that city; and the White House sets brought to comfy life many scenes in 1860s Washington that are otherwise historically black and white ((less the errors in some of the south facing outdoor sequences with the monument) (that blue and white blanket on the bed! Where can I get one?)).
This of course all comes after I divorced myself from the ethics of using the Civil War era with slavery based on some large stereotypes. The assumption of Mackie's character was a novel one none-the-less. At least Cruise's Lestat had the decency to keep history as a side story, and not turn the back story of the 16th president into make-believe. Regardless of the latter, yes, two thumbs up as something to do. Cooper is very stylish, as well as Winstead (who knew Mary Todd could look that warm), in costuming that even you might consider wearing in modern 1860s. Frutiger, Carasik, Avdyushko & Poggioli did a good a job. And all around, if you like vampires and got nothing better to do with 15 bucks to burn, sure, it's a fun interpretation that a President is a vampire slayer named Abraham. Be warned this is not historical fiction; this is a vampire slasher story with a man named Lincoln who acts and looks like someone else we know who also lived in a cabin outside Springfield, Illinois.