Potus Geeks Summer Reruns: Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter
On March 2, 2012 author Seth Graeme-Smith released his fantasy novel entitled Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. It was part of a series of novels (called Quirk Classics) in which the author transformed either classical literature or historical characters, injecting an element of monsters into the story. For example, another title by this author was Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and the same publisher released another book called Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters.
The book is written as a biography of Abraham Lincoln, based on "secret diaries" kept by Lincoln and given to the author by a vampire named Henry Sturges. When Lincoln is eleven years old, he learns from his father Thomas Lincoln that vampires are in fact real. Thomas explains to his son that a vampire killed Abraham's grandfather (also named Abraham Lincoln) in 1786. Young Abraham is also shocked to learn that his beloved mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln dies not from milk sickness but rather to being given a "fool's dose" of vampire blood, the result of Thomas's failure to repay a debt. Lincoln vows in his diary to kill as many vampires as he can. The story goes on to parallel much of Lincoln's life, only with vampires.
A movie based on the book was released on June 22, 2012. It was be released in 3d as well as in regular cinema. The film was directed and produced by Timur Bekmambetov and Tim Burton. Seth Grahame-Smith, wrote the adapted screenplay for the movie. Here is some of the cast:
Benjamin Walker as Abraham Lincoln
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Mary Todd Lincoln
Rufus Sewell as Adam, the lead vampire villain
Jimmi Simpson as Josh Speed, Lincoln's friend and assistant
Dominic Cooper as Henry Sturges, Lincoln's mentor in vampire hunting.
Anthony Mackie as William Johnson, Lincoln's valet and friend
Robin McLeavy as Nancy Lincoln, Lincoln's mother
Alan Tudyk as Stephen A. Douglas
John Rothman as Jefferson Davis
Cameron M. Brown as Willie Lincoln
Below is the official trailer for the movie, one that will be on my must-see list for sure.
On the weekend it opened it showed at 3,108 theaters in the United States. It grossed $6,300,000 on its opening day, and ended up grossing $16.6 million over the weekend in third place behind Madagascar 3: Europes Most Wanted and Disney Pixar's Brave.
The story begins with Lincoln as a child who befriends a young African American boy, William Johnson, and intervenes when he sees Johnson being beaten by a slave master. When the slavemaster attacks Lincoln's mother later that night, Lincoln's father tells his son that the slavemaster, named Barts, poisoned Nancy. Nine years later, after his father's death, Lincoln plans revenge against Barts and attacks him, but Barts, who is actually a vampire, overpowers him. Before Barts can kill him, Lincoln is rescued by Henry Sturgess. Sturgess tells Lincoln that vampires exist, and offers to teach Lincoln how to become a vampire hunter. Lincoln accepts and, after a decade of training, travels to Springfield, Illinois in 1837, where he begins to slay vampires. In Springfield, Lincoln befriends shopkeeper Joshua Speed and meets Mary Todd (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who is also being courted by Stephen A. Douglas. Though he is warned by Sturgess not to form any close relationships, Lincoln eventually begins having romantic feelings for Mary.
The film follows Lincoln's rise both as a vampire hunter and as a politician. The movie presents slavery as the means of providing sustenance for the vampires and when the civil war breaks out, the real enemies of the north are the vampires who are threatened by the prospect of emancipation. The film has a very interesting ending that won't be lost on potus_geeks. (A sequel with a different vampire hunter in the White House perhaps?)
Serious historians lacking a sense of humor hated this film. It takes many liberties with history and there is much to nitpick in this regard. Those who hate blood and gore in your horror films should also give this movie a miss. But for followers of Rule 62*, it is good fun. I think my copy is due for another watching very soon!
*Rule 62: Don't take yourself too seriously. -
Bill Wilson
The book is written as a biography of Abraham Lincoln, based on "secret diaries" kept by Lincoln and given to the author by a vampire named Henry Sturges. When Lincoln is eleven years old, he learns from his father Thomas Lincoln that vampires are in fact real. Thomas explains to his son that a vampire killed Abraham's grandfather (also named Abraham Lincoln) in 1786. Young Abraham is also shocked to learn that his beloved mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln dies not from milk sickness but rather to being given a "fool's dose" of vampire blood, the result of Thomas's failure to repay a debt. Lincoln vows in his diary to kill as many vampires as he can. The story goes on to parallel much of Lincoln's life, only with vampires.
A movie based on the book was released on June 22, 2012. It was be released in 3d as well as in regular cinema. The film was directed and produced by Timur Bekmambetov and Tim Burton. Seth Grahame-Smith, wrote the adapted screenplay for the movie. Here is some of the cast:
Benjamin Walker as Abraham Lincoln
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Mary Todd Lincoln
Rufus Sewell as Adam, the lead vampire villain
Jimmi Simpson as Josh Speed, Lincoln's friend and assistant
Dominic Cooper as Henry Sturges, Lincoln's mentor in vampire hunting.
Anthony Mackie as William Johnson, Lincoln's valet and friend
Robin McLeavy as Nancy Lincoln, Lincoln's mother
Alan Tudyk as Stephen A. Douglas
John Rothman as Jefferson Davis
Cameron M. Brown as Willie Lincoln
Below is the official trailer for the movie, one that will be on my must-see list for sure.
Click to viewOn the weekend it opened it showed at 3,108 theaters in the United States. It grossed $6,300,000 on its opening day, and ended up grossing $16.6 million over the weekend in third place behind Madagascar 3: Europes Most Wanted and Disney Pixar's Brave.
The story begins with Lincoln as a child who befriends a young African American boy, William Johnson, and intervenes when he sees Johnson being beaten by a slave master. When the slavemaster attacks Lincoln's mother later that night, Lincoln's father tells his son that the slavemaster, named Barts, poisoned Nancy. Nine years later, after his father's death, Lincoln plans revenge against Barts and attacks him, but Barts, who is actually a vampire, overpowers him. Before Barts can kill him, Lincoln is rescued by Henry Sturgess. Sturgess tells Lincoln that vampires exist, and offers to teach Lincoln how to become a vampire hunter. Lincoln accepts and, after a decade of training, travels to Springfield, Illinois in 1837, where he begins to slay vampires. In Springfield, Lincoln befriends shopkeeper Joshua Speed and meets Mary Todd (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who is also being courted by Stephen A. Douglas. Though he is warned by Sturgess not to form any close relationships, Lincoln eventually begins having romantic feelings for Mary.
The film follows Lincoln's rise both as a vampire hunter and as a politician. The movie presents slavery as the means of providing sustenance for the vampires and when the civil war breaks out, the real enemies of the north are the vampires who are threatened by the prospect of emancipation. The film has a very interesting ending that won't be lost on potus_geeks. (A sequel with a different vampire hunter in the White House perhaps?)
Serious historians lacking a sense of humor hated this film. It takes many liberties with history and there is much to nitpick in this regard. Those who hate blood and gore in your horror films should also give this movie a miss. But for followers of Rule 62*, it is good fun. I think my copy is due for another watching very soon!
*Rule 62: Don't take yourself too seriously. -
Bill Wilson