The movie does have a budget a few thousand times bigger than the just-as-fun ABRAHAM LINCOLN VS. ZOMBIES, but it isn’t a classic film like the two Russian films that Timur directed (NIGHT WATCH AND DAY WATCH) that first brought him to my attention a few years ago.  Benjamin Walker provides the right acting chops to kick ass and give speeches in this movie while Rufus Sewell coldly delivers as the main vampire bad guy, Adam.   ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER weaves a decades spanning alternative history of why the war between the North and South erupted during the 19th century while wisely leaving out the last moments of Lincoln’s life.  Mary Todd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is sexier looking in this movie than she was in real life and she does get a little action in the movie, but I miss the stronger and more action driven parts that Mary has in movies like THE THING and SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD.    In the end, I do wish the film was even bigger and had Abraham Lincoln face off against the big bad main vampires for more screen time.   The film packs lots of different pieces in it and I wonder if making the film longer would have given it more time to breathe (the movie clocks in just over 100 minutes).

Given the budget the film the film was made on, I wonder if studio execs will be trying to find a way to get a sequel made (which I hope they will never do since the ending of Abraham Lincoln’s life is known, but Hollywood logic never makes sense anyway).   Did I see it in 3D?   I didn’t feel the need to see this film in 3D and I will save my 3D viewing choice for AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and the new RESIDENT EVIL sequel.   Catch the film in 2D and skip the 3D, or wait for the DVD/ Blu-ray release.   If you catch it on DVD or Blu-ray, do a double header with ABRAHAM LINCOLN VS. ZOMBIES.

This movie review is (c)6-24-2012 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com