4 Shots From 4 Films: Primary Colors, Dick, FDR: American Badass, Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies


The greatest President of all time, Rutherford B. Hayes

The greatest President of all time, Rutherford B. Hayes

4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.

Happy Rutherford B. Hayes Day!

In honor of my favorite holiday, I wanted to share 4 shots from 4 films about Rutherford B. Hayes.

However, my plan ran into a little problem.  Despite the fact that he’s the best President that this country ever had, there aren’t any movies about Rutherford B. Hayes.  He is literally the most underappreciated leader this country has ever had.  (In 2011, the President joked about Hayes not being on Mount Rushmore.  For that reason, I voted for Gary Johnson in 2012.  Don’t you mess with Rutherford B. Hayes)

So, here are four shots from four films that deal with other people who exist in the shadow of Rutherford B. Hayes.

4 Shots From 4 Films

Primary Colors (1998, dir by Mike Nichols)

Primary Colors (1998, dir by Mike Nichols)

Dick (1999, dir by Andrew Fleming)

Dick (1999, dir by Andrew Fleming)

FDR: American Badass (2012, dir by Garrett Brawith)

FDR: American Badass (2012, dir by Garrett Brawith)

Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (2012, dir by  Richard Schenkman)

Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (2012, dir by Richard Schenkman)

Shattered Politics #91: Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (dir by Richard Schenkman)


Abraham_Lincoln_vs._Zombies_(movie_poster)

Well, here we are!  Last month, I started the process of watching and reviewing 94 movies about politics and politicians.  I started Shattered Politics with D.W. Griffith’s 1930 film Abraham Lincoln and now, three weeks later, we’ve reached the final day of Shattered Politics.  We have four more films to review and what better way to start things off than by taking a look at yet another films about Abraham Lincoln.

Now, I’ve previously reviewed three films about Abraham Lincoln.  I’ve reviewed D.W. Griffith’s creaky 1930 version.  I’ve reviewed Henry Fonda as Young Mr. Lincoln.  And, of course, I’ve reviewed Daniel Day-Lewis in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln.  And, on the very site, reviews of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter have been posted by both Arleigh and Ryan The Trash Film Guru.  (For the record, I’ve also reviewed The Lincoln Lawyer and The Conspirator. So there.)  That’s a lot of films about Abraham Lincoln and why not?  He’s our greatest President.  He freed the slaves, he won the Civil War, and, ultimately, he was the first President to be martyred by assassination.

However, when one considers all of those films about Abraham Lincoln, it’s hard not to notice that none of them featured zombies.  And, considering how much we love zombies here at the Shattered Lens, that has always struck me as being a major oversight.

So, thank God that, in 2012, the Asylum released a film called Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies.

For that matter, thank God for the Asylum.  Mainstream critics and snarky blogger types love to criticize Asylum-produced films but you know what?  Nobody makes films quite like the Asylum.  Quite frankly, people who attack an Asylum film for having a low-budget or for being over the top are missing the point.  Asylum films are supposed to be fun.  They’re the type of films that are meant to be watched with a group of your closest and funniest friends.  At their best, Asylum films are movies that you laugh with as opposed to laughing at.

As far Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies is concerned, everything you need to know about the film is right there in the title.  The film opens with young Abe Lincoln decapitating his zombified mother and then jumps forward several decades.  Abe Lincoln (played, with a lot of gravity and melancholy by the excellent Bill Oberst, Jr.) is now President.  When he discovers that a zombie outbreak has occurred at Fort Pulaski, Lincoln takes a break from writing the Gettysburg Address and leads a group of secret service men down to the fort.  With the help of Gen. Stonewall Jackson (Don McGraw), young Teddy Roosevelt (Canon Kuipers), future lawman Pat Garrett (Christopher Marrone), and a handsome, alcoholic Southern actor who is using the name John Wilkinson (Jason Vail), Lincoln kills a lot of zombies and even reunites with a former lover (Rhianna Van Helton).

And, seriously, you have to love a film that features Abraham Lincoln using a scythe to chop off the heads of the undead.  If you’re watching a film like this and you’re worrying about narrative logic or historical accuracy, then you may be taking life a little bit too seriously.  The title promises Abraham Lincoln and zombies.  And the film totally delivers.

And how can you not appreciate that?

6 Trailers From The Asylum


This week’s edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse and Exploitation Film Trailers is devoted to films that were produced by one of my favorite production companies, The Asylum.  

(As a sidenote, it is true that I usually try to feature trailers that are a bit older than these but what can I say?  I talked it over with the trailer kitties and we all love the Asylum.)

Enjoy!

1) Almighty Thor (2011)

While I enjoyed the other, better-known Thor, I could not help but think that it definitely would have been a better movie if it had featured more dinosaurs.  Apparently, the Asylum agreed.

2) Sherlock Holmes (2010)

Again, any movie can be improved with dinosaurs.

3) Mega Piranha (2010)

Among the Syfy Saturday Night Snarkers on twitter, Mega Piranha remains a truly iconic film.  This is perhaps the Citizen Kane of giant piranha movies.

4) Snakes on a Train (2006)

This trailer is actually kinda scary.  Agck!

5) Battle of Los Angeles (2011)

Could it really be any worse than Battle: L.A.?

6) Abraham Lincoln Vs. Zombies (2012)

Who needs vampires?

What do you think, Trailer Kitties?