Lincoln

[Monger]

I loved this this movie. Yes, it is dense in dialog, but I found it totally fascinating. At times I felt like I was in the room actually watching history take place. It's too bad some people have the attention span of a gnat and can't realize how important the events of this movie are.

The performances, direction, and cinematography are all top caliber. Like the best action movies, it made 2 1/2 hours fly by. I'll be totally surprised if there aren't multiple Oscar nominations.

I agree you really feel engaged in quite a few of the scenes as though you were actually there. This was definitely intentional to especially in any scene where Lincoln is telling a story. You the audience, just like all the politicians around him, are forced to listen to his random tales without interruption and you are just kind of left staring at that spectacle. It's amazing. Some of the lighting and scenes are so excellently done too.

Spoiler:

When Lincoln hears the bell chiming to signal the end of the debate over the amendment and he walks toward the window curtain, being covered by the light. That scene left me so shocked. Then there is the scene at the end where he tells his butler that he must take his leave. Everyone watches him walk slowly down the hallway and we all knew he was no more.

 

[Monger]

I saw this on Friday and kept forgetting to post my thoughts!

Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, and Sally Field were incredible. Each of them stole their scenes. On the other hand, I felt this was one of Joseph Gordon Levitt's weakest films of late. He seemed out of place and his performance at times forced. The supporting actors were great, as well. Strathairn, Spader, and Holbrook come to mind.

Some may find the subject matter boring, and I admit, the American Civil War is one of the most boring and laborious parts of history for me personally, but Spielberg managed to keep me engaged the entire length of the film. The dialogue was intense and intelligent. The sets and costumes elaborate and perfect. The cinematography was top notch.

Spoiler:

I was really moved by a few scenes, namely the vote on Amendment 13 and the scene with Tommy Lee Jones and his wife.

I was disappointed in the ending, which fell a little flat. Hearing about Lincoln's assassination, rather than seeing it, felt cheap and wrong. It's my only complaint about how anything was handled in the film, and sadly, it's a pivotal moment (or what should have been a pivotal moment). I felt cheated by its omission.

Overall, this is an excellent film and I do hope everyone gets a chance to view it.

I hated Levitt's role in the movie, but I also hate him and he is my least favorite part of Lincoln and Dark Knight Rises. His appearances in this film were forced and irrelevant.

Spoiler:

They were also insanely stupid. It's an important aspect of American history to illustrate the pressure children and teenagers felt to participate in the wars. Some thought it a necessary hurdle to prove you were a man while others thought it honorable or fun or a way to prove your worth to the country/extreme patriotism. I think Lincoln's two sons are supposed to represent both schools of thought in that sense. One of the issues is just how the eldest one is handled. I was really bothered how they threw him into the later scenes after he joins up. Seriously? This dude just enlists and all of a sudden he's with Grant in all the important scenes like some politician/pencil pusher? What even happened here? There was no sense of resolution or importance in the end. They should have shown him say he was going to enlist anyway and never brought him up again. Instead he becomes right hand man in ten minutes. They would constantly show shots of his face during the later scenes for no real reason either. He struck me as someone casted entirely just to ride the Batman bandwagon rather than because he actually fit the role. He felt so lifeless compared to the rest of the cast, of which all had distinct qualities that made them all memorable.

 

[The Josh]

One of the movie critics on one of the local news stations here have lincoln 2 stars as opposed to the new twilight with 4. What a tool.

 

[wofford29]

I hated Levitt's role in the movie, but I also hate him and he is my least favorite part of Lincoln and Dark Knight Rises. His appearances in this film were forced and irrelevant.

Spoiler:

They were also insanely stupid. It's an important aspect of American history to illustrate the pressure children and teenagers felt to participate in the wars. Some thought it a necessary hurdle to prove you were a man while others thought it honorable or fun or a way to prove your worth to the country/extreme patriotism. I think Lincoln's two sons are supposed to represent both schools of thought in that sense. One of the issues is just how the eldest one is handled. I was really bothered how they threw him into the later scenes after he joins up. Seriously? This dude just enlists and all of a sudden he's with Grant in all the important scenes like some politician/pencil pusher? What even happened here? There was no sense of resolution or importance in the end. They should have shown him say he was going to enlist anyway and never brought him up again. Instead he becomes right hand man in ten minutes. They would constantly show shots of his face during the later scenes for no real reason either. He struck me as someone casted entirely just to ride the Batman bandwagon rather than because he actually fit the role. He felt so lifeless compared to the rest of the cast, of which all had distinct qualities that made them all memorable.

The entire conversation Lincoln has with Mary after his son decides to enlist is about where he's going to be and what he's going to be doing. Lincoln states specifically in the scene that he'd place him alongside Grant pushing pencils. He even threatens in the scene before to use the same power as commander and chief to hold him out entirely. He didn't become anything, he was placed.

 

[ZaCHw117]

One of the movie critics on one of the local news stations here have lincoln 2 stars as opposed to the new twilight with 4. What a tool.

Must be a communist.

 

[Kal-El]

Just saw this tonight. I was very pleased.

 

[Biojex]

One of the movie critics on one of the local news stations here have lincoln 2 stars as opposed to the new twilight with 4. What a tool.

 

[SOLIDSNAKE]

I just saw lincon vampire hunter on 3D and let me tell you its got to be one of the worst movies of 2012.
I hope this is better.

 

[Biojex]

I long for the day when people stop mentioning that movie in the same sentence as this one....

 

[Batty]

I just saw lincon vampire hunter on 3D and let me tell you its got to be one of the worst movies of 2012.
I hope this is better.

Nope. Pretty much the same exact story and acting.

 

[Reinhardt]

I just saw lincon vampire hunter on 3D and let me tell you its got to be one of the worst movies of 2012.
I hope this is better.

Great post. Both movies look so similar.

 

[Something Sexy]

I just saw lincon vampire hunter on 3D and let me tell you its got to be one of the worst movies of 2012.
I hope this is better.

Do you know you are trolling or does it just come naturally?

 

[IrishJedi]

Guys, it's the dude who says The Dark Knight Rises is the best movie of all time.

 

[BadMoon]

Great post. Both movies look so similar.

 

[plasmid303]

I just saw lincon vampire hunter on 3D and let me tell you its got to be one of the worst movies of 2012.
I hope this is better.

This post really got a snort out of me. Good job, Snake.

I'm seeing this on Friday.

 

[carbo-fation]

You guys are too much! Snake was just being sincere.

 

[Wetanut]

Saw it this afternoon. Everyone in this movie was spot on. Day-Lewis was fabulous as was Sally Field (yes, I really like her!!!) standing toe to toe with him. Tommy Lee Jones as Thaddeus Stevens was phenomenal. Too bad Robert Lincoln didn't have more to do in the film because, what there was of him, Joseph Gordon-Levitt did a very good job. As much as I was familiar with the slavery amendment, I was still enthralled by the voting roll-call. Quality is all Spielberg ..... what more need I say?

 

[Reinhardt]

You guys are too much! Snake was just being sincere.

That's why it's so amusing. Kinda like if autobot john did movie reviews.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

Guys, it's the dude who says The Dark Knight Rises is the best movie of all time.

 

[Reinhardt]

Guys, it's the dude who says The Dark Knight Rises is the best movie of all time.

And who loved Transformers 2.