You know, I thought I was pretty well informed about the American Civil War. I know things that most people don't. I know, for example, that the Confederate anthem was "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (not Dixie); that the Vice President of the Confederacy was Alexander Hamilton Stevens; that the actual name of the South's Ironclad was "The Virginia" (not the Merrimac). This movie, however, showed me just how ignorant I really am. I never knew that the South used Vampires at Gettysburg. Nor did I know that it was possible to gather several hundred tons of silver, smelt it into ammunition and bayonets, and ship it in secret from Washington to Gettysburg in one day.

To be fair, the movie is a lot of fun. Its special effects and stunts are very good. Please, though: Civil War buffs and Lincoln afficianados, avoid it. It'll only make you crazy. Alternate history is one thing; done well (as it was in Inglourious Basterds) it is less a strain on psychic distance. This film, with its amalgam of historic accuracy and wild divergence, outstrips the bounds of alternate history and enters the realm of the comic strip. I frequently felt like I was reading a graphic novel as the "jump-out-and-scare-ya" scenes and the deus ex machina triumps of good over evil unfolded. This movie is less watched than experienced and it is NOT for kids.

All that said: see this flick. It's a refreshing change from the plethora of remakes Hollywood is foisting on us this summer. It's a new idea and--however bizzarre--it deserves credit for that. How they ever pried open the purses of this thing's producers is a mystery--but I'm glad they did. Three smiles for this one    :).

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I'm a chronic reader of Yahoo's "Answers," just to inform myself what people are thinking about in the great world outside my house. And here's a report from that world; You would be amazed at how many young people are asking, seriously, "Was President Lincoln a vampire hunter?"

At least I hope they are young people.

It sounds like the book was better than the movie. I got the book because it sounded like a hoot and I was impressed by how well the writer merged history with the vampire myth. I didn't know that Lincoln had been in love with a girl and she died before they could marry. That was mentioned in the book (Vampire killed her, don't you know) and I asked my sister who is something of a Civil War enthusiast. Turns out, that's true.
The book had an eerie element to it that was kind of convincing. I enjoyed it a lot and looked forward to the movie.
I think if Lincoln had had the oportunity to be a vampire hunter, he would have jumped at the chance. I do not think he would have befriended a vampire because it would go against his Christian principals. However I do think I heard he was involved in a possible seance after his children died. So anything is possible.