Weekend Movie Review: BRAVE 9 Stars, ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER 7 Stars

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In a showdown of 3D movies opening this weekend (indeed 4 out of the top 5 movies are 3D), Pixar's BRAVE easily comes out on top. In fact another 3D animation holdover, MADAGASCAR 3 may very well win second place over Timur Bakmambetov / Tim Burton's ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER. It's a shame too because I was looking forward to seeing how well this "newer" type of mash-up genre film could perform.

There are some MINOR, minor spoilers in these reviews. Nothing to worry about in my mind.

BRAVE is an amazing movie. I live in Nova Scotia (Canada) means New Scotland - our landscape, music and culture is deeply tied to Scotland. Many have the accent to some degree as well here. So who knows, I may be a little biased toward the content of BRAVE, but I had my reservations about the movie right from the start. Pixar proved me wrong.

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I was actually a bit surprised by the intensity of the mother / daughter dynamics despite being slightly clued into it by the run up marketing. Perhaps because this type of movie is so rare. Certainly word of mouth within the female demographics should nicely ramp. Believe me, my surprise was a GOOD one and I really appreciated watching this movie.

I purposely studied the mother / daughter pairs in the theater after the film - very, very interesting. Some were hugging. Others wiping their eyes. Others were watching the credits, then seemed to gain some insight, turned to look at each other and smile, talking about the movie; seemingly talking for the first time in a long time. Seemingly so anyway. I feel BRAVE has that kind of power and it is so needed today. I hope the marketing team can push the affinity of the movie for mothers to take their daughters. Bravo to the team. Of course the visuals continue to improve and amaze, but BRAVE had me with the females.

The 3D is suitably used, but not to the degree I feel that they should be considering. Pixar could use more depth - like some scenes in PROMETHEUS, but it was a safe 3D movie. There should be no complaints. Bob Whitehill, Pixar's 3D supervisor contacted me last night to ask whether I had seen it yet and I let him know how I felt. A spectacular achievement and a must see for mothers and daughters out there.

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ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER on the other hand suffered. Suspension of disbelief was NOT achieved for me. I could not immerse myself in the movie at any time whatsoever so in that respect it was a total failure.

The redeeming qualities of the movie were that director Timur Bakmambetov has some skill so the action scenes were quite well orchestrated. I found the historical references interesting too - like the construction of the various Washington landmarks and what was on Lincoln's desktop in the White House.

Improvements? If the President were fighting criminals or some sort of normal human threat to the nation well then the movie would have scored significantly higher for me. But vampires? It never sold me. The madly waving axe all about Lincoln's body while he positioned for his next kill looked idiotic, just as it does in the trailers. A complete waste of energy and certainly not a offensive tactic. How he came to be able to chop down that tree in the trailer with a single blow is ridiculous too. Sorry doesn't work.

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The story and character development was flawed to me as well, even in the face of the best selling book of the same name. I found it incredulous that a young boy would remember the details of his mother's murder - that he wouldn't block out certain aspects of it. The movie would have been served to us so much more effectively had Lincoln had a breakdown as a young man and suddenly realized what really happened.  If he had inherited some sort of power from his father would have helped too. We are made to realize that ANYONE could be a vampire killer if they had a simple 2 minute instruction. **Sigh**

And the ending? Well I don't want to spoil that for you, but an obvious ending did NOT take place that would have set up a sequel - a sequel that MAY have improved the story quite a bit. In fact had this ending occurred, I would have rather seen the subsequent years afterward as a movie instead of this "prequel". We may never see this now. Anyway, it's hard to discuss something I can't divulge here. We can discuss in the comments if you wish!

Here are the anticipated box office returns for the weekend:
1. Brave - $64.7 million
2. Abraham Lincoln - $17.1 million
3. Madagascar 3 - $15.3 million (-55%)
4. Prometheus - $10.7 million (-48%)
5. Seeking a Friend - $8.2 million

Special thanks to Empire Theatres for the screening!

Box Office Estimates: Box Office Mojo

Must Watch: New Red Band Trailer For ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

Ok, this is getting better now. I was worried for a bit there, but things seem to be picking up nicely with this latest red band trailer for ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER.

Check out Abe dealing out some massive melee damage with his +5 Axe of POTUS! Seriously though, the awesome slo-mo and the cinematic flavor for the movie is starting to show and I like it. The vampires look creepy enough and the energy has picked up.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter explores the secret life of our greatest President, and the untold story that shaped our nation. Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (director of Wanted) bring a fresh and visceral voice to the blood-thirsty lore of the vampire, imagining Lincoln as history’s greatest hunter of the undead. 

Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Producer: Tim Burton
Writer: Seth Grahame-Smith
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Cast: Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Anthony Mackie 

Have a look for yourself:

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER has an axe to grind with us on June 22.

New Featurette For ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER Repositions It To More Of A Superhero Origins Movie

I just don't know guys. I would love to see something happen in the alternative history of a US President, but does this work for me? Not yet. Yes, Tim Burton is amazing at getting us to suspend disbelief for his movies, but he's not directing this one - just producing. I will admit here that I am fearful that this movie is not going to do so well.

I think the casting looks good and the visuals are dark enough, but the premise leaves the trailer audiences LAUGHING. That's not a good sign for a movie that takes itself seriously. One can hope that the trailer was just not put together in the correct fashion, but that may be grasping at straws.

This featurette has author Seth Grahame-Smith talking about the movie with director Timur Bakmambetov and Tim Burton. They are talking as if this was actual history which kind of baffles me. The whole thing seems backwards to me. 

Are we seeing a reactionary measure here to try and save the movie by instilling the thought of a superhero genre? It may be too late. I cringe when I hear people laughing during the trailers and I admit without the knowledge of what is going to happen in the movie, seeing Lincoln blowing up a tree with his axe looks ridiculous.



To each their own. I have learned to never totally count out anything Burton touches! ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER opens June 22.

MUST SEE: First Trailer For ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

While it obviously looks like suspension of disbelief is a KEY ingredient to this feature, you can be assured by this film's pedigree: Produced by Tim Burton and directed by Timur Bekmambetov (WANTED).

It looks like Abraham Lincoln has superhero strength as he is wielding his famous axe around like Paul Bunyan. The president's an agile wall jumper too! Can all of this be presented in such a way that we believe it? With Tim Burton supervising I believe so.

Here's the quick storyline:
President Lincolns mother is killed by a supernatural creature, which fuels his passion to crush vampires and their slave-owning helpers.

Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Writer: Seth Grahame-Smith
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Cast: Benjamin Walker, Dominic Cooper, Anthony Mackie
Release: June 22, 2012



More soon!

Must See: Cool Photos / Poster From ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

As you probably know, Seth Grahame-Smith's book ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER is being adapted by Timur Bakmambetov. The studio has released some cool images and a poster.

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A behind the scenes featurette has also been released BUT NOT VIEWABLE FROM ANYWHERE BUT THE US. Really smart move there. I won't embed anything I can't watch first. Studios need to smarten up and stop using geographic restriction sites like MTV and Hulu. I digress.

Here's the movie's storyline:
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter explores the secret life of our greatest President, and the untold story that shaped our nation. Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (director of Wanted) bring a fresh and visceral voice to the blood-thirsty lore of the vampire, imagining Lincoln as history’s greatest hunter of the undead.

This should be a cool adaptation. I haven't read the book and I don't think I will before the movie to preserve some naivety about what is going to happen - though the title is clear enough!

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER opens June 22.

Sources: IMP Awards | EW | Movie-Infos | via Collider

MUST SEE: New Poster For ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER

We haven't seen a lot of material from the production of Timur Bekmambetov's ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE KILLER yet, but this lenticular poster goes a long way towards mitigating that. Tim Burton Productions is behind the movie as well.

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Yes, these two images are really just one poster, but with lenticular lenses in front so that when you walk by it the poster changes from day to night. Cool. We have seen similar efforts before and they are an impressive memory trigger that the movie will be different and in 3D.

Here's the official storyline for the movie:
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter explores the secret life of our greatest President, and the untold story that shaped our nation. Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (director of Wanted) bring a fresh and visceral voice to the blood-thirsty lore of the vampire, imagining Lincoln as history's greatest hunter of the undead.

Look for ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER on June 22, 2012.

THE DARKEST HOUR Feature Trailer AND Featurette!!

Guys check out this trailer and featurette for THE DARKEST HOUR! There's a bunch more new shots to amaze over - got to hand it to Timur Bekmambetov (and my buddy and stereographer Kasimir Lehto), it looks good.

For you music buffs, apparently the first song is 'I Need Air' by Magnetic Man and the second song that drops in (at 00:14) is 'Stress' by Justice (Remixed by Nero).

Here's the storyline:
The Darkest Hour follows five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack. The 3D action-thriller highlights the classic beauty of Moscow alongside mind-blowing special effects from the minds of visionary filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov and director Chris Gorak.

Director: Chris Gorak
Writer: Les Bohem
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Max Minghella
Release: December 23, 2011





More when I get it!

Song Source Info: Quy Dinh/Tommy

Check Out The New Motion Poster For THE DARKEST HOUR!

Very cool. As I have said before, I think we may finally have a sci-fi movie here that presents alien life forms as truly alien! I have been waiting for this for a long, long time.

If you haven't seen the trailer for THE DARKEST HOUR, definitely check it out.

Here's the official storyline for THE DARKEST HOUR:
The DARKEST HOUR is the story of five young people who find themselves stranded in Moscow, fighting to survive in the wake of a devastating alien attack. The 3D thriller highlights the classic beauty of Moscow alongside mind-blowing special effects.

Release: December 25, 2011
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Director: Chris Gorak
Writer: Les Bohem, Jon Spaihts
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, Max Minghella, Rachael Taylor

Here's the motion poster (courtesy of Collider)!

MUST WATCH: New Trailer For THE DARKEST HOUR!

Wow. Where did this thing come from? Ok well I knew it was coming but this trailer walked right up to me and smacked me in the head. Sure there was some concept art out there a while ago but this trailer speaks for itself! This movie has possibilities written all over it!!

And it's pedigree is exceptional. Produced by Timur Bakmambetov (ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE KILLER), directed by Chris Gorak (RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR), written by Jon Spaihts (PROMETHEUS) and my good friend Kasimir Lehto (UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING) is the Stereographer - these guys know what they are doing and are extremely creative.

This was a native 3D production and they used Sony F-35s with Element Technica Quasar rigs provided by Panavision.

The special effects and 3D are going to be amazing! Can't wait for this one on multiple levels. Emile Hirsch (SPEED RACER), Max Minghella (THE SOCIAL NETWORK), Olivia Thirlby (DREDD), and Rachael Taylor (CHARLIE'S ANGELS - TV 2011) star.

So what has me so amped? Read my thoughts after the trailer - don't want to spoil it for you...



I just can't get over the refreshing angle on an alien species! This is right on so many levels I can't begin to say. So often sci-fi is based on creatures we can relate to (humanoid) and on planets that we can actually live on (Star Trek TOS anyone?), I am so hoping that this one actually presents us with aliens that are COMPLETELY alien! We can see only visible light obviously but the universe is more than that. Finally!! This is like a dream come true if they actually can pull it off and that I am not wrong about the creatures.

Look for THE DARKEST HOUR on December 23.

Robin McLeavy Snags Her First Tentpole! The First Lady Of A Vampire Hunter!

Apparently Robin McLeavy has edged out Mary Elizabeth Winstead for the coveted role of Mary Todd, the wife of Abraham Lincoln. However the movie is ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER so there is bound to be some "artistic freedoms" from actual historical fact. Or will there? :-)

Regardless, director Timur Bakmambetov is choosing to use lesser known actors for the roles. This suits me just fine. Audiences will be suspending their disbelief quite often in this movie so for me lesser known actors help. LatinoReview broke the story of her landing the role.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER is staked out for a June 22, 2012 release.