Generally the movies I like follow the standard story telling formula that's tried and true and works. How you do this formula is what makes a movie unique and intriguing, but if you skip it often times you miss the mark.
Our hero has an inescapable problem. The problem gets worse. Then, the problem gets even worse than that. However, because our hero changes course, OR because our hero remains steadfast (either one works) they are victorious (if it's a comedy), or they fail (if it's a tragedy). Name a movie you like and probably, unless it's experimental like a Fellini film or something, it follows this formula.
Lincoln follows this formula. Here comes the spoiler.
Lincoln has problems, mainly Vampires. He cannot escape this problem because they kill his Mother so he wants revenge. The problem gets worse (all over the country), then they get worse than that (will take over the country in the Civil War). Lincoln triumphs because he remains steadfast in his belief that all men should be free (slaves help win the day with underground railroad).
So the formula is there, but the movie is kinda boring even though there are a few super duper action sequences.
The fight on the train is pretty good. However, I don't care if the train makes it to Gettysburg.
I think the execution is off in a couple of areas.
First, we spend most of the movie hunting Vampires, but then we detour into the Civil War. We only see one battle that the Union troops lose because of vampires. So I don't really care about these disposable troops and whether or not they get the silver bullets. Plus, we already know the Union is going to win since the story is sticking kinda sorta to historical events.
Secondly, the characters are very prim proper and really kind of boring. Lincoln is only animated when he's swinging an axe all over the place, and that gets kind of repetitive. The rest of the movie he's all serious and grave and well, boring.
I thought the premise was good and that this would be a fun roller coaster action movie, but much like the third installment of Transformers, the action couldnt' save the rather lackluster story.
Lincoln Vamp hunter is a good strange attractor:
http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp02.Strange.Attractor.html
and it does follow the formula for an entertaining story, but still manages to be a mediocre movie.
The same director did Night Watch.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403358/
Now that's a strange movie and quite confusing. The story creates a world with it's own rules but doesn't always explain to the audience in words or actions what the hell these rules are. It's like there is a big back story we're not aware of and not really given enough clues to figure out so it's somewhat disjointed. It's like we see half the story, and the other half is still in the author's head.
But I do like the characters better and found it more interesting than Lincoln Vamp hunter.
Our hero has an inescapable problem. The problem gets worse. Then, the problem gets even worse than that. However, because our hero changes course, OR because our hero remains steadfast (either one works) they are victorious (if it's a comedy), or they fail (if it's a tragedy). Name a movie you like and probably, unless it's experimental like a Fellini film or something, it follows this formula.
Lincoln follows this formula. Here comes the spoiler.
Lincoln has problems, mainly Vampires. He cannot escape this problem because they kill his Mother so he wants revenge. The problem gets worse (all over the country), then they get worse than that (will take over the country in the Civil War). Lincoln triumphs because he remains steadfast in his belief that all men should be free (slaves help win the day with underground railroad).
So the formula is there, but the movie is kinda boring even though there are a few super duper action sequences.
The fight on the train is pretty good. However, I don't care if the train makes it to Gettysburg.
I think the execution is off in a couple of areas.
First, we spend most of the movie hunting Vampires, but then we detour into the Civil War. We only see one battle that the Union troops lose because of vampires. So I don't really care about these disposable troops and whether or not they get the silver bullets. Plus, we already know the Union is going to win since the story is sticking kinda sorta to historical events.
Secondly, the characters are very prim proper and really kind of boring. Lincoln is only animated when he's swinging an axe all over the place, and that gets kind of repetitive. The rest of the movie he's all serious and grave and well, boring.
I thought the premise was good and that this would be a fun roller coaster action movie, but much like the third installment of Transformers, the action couldnt' save the rather lackluster story.
Lincoln Vamp hunter is a good strange attractor:
http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp02.Strange.Attractor.html
and it does follow the formula for an entertaining story, but still manages to be a mediocre movie.
The same director did Night Watch.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403358/
Now that's a strange movie and quite confusing. The story creates a world with it's own rules but doesn't always explain to the audience in words or actions what the hell these rules are. It's like there is a big back story we're not aware of and not really given enough clues to figure out so it's somewhat disjointed. It's like we see half the story, and the other half is still in the author's head.
But I do like the characters better and found it more interesting than Lincoln Vamp hunter.
