The Northern Tour

Due to the response for the video of my Midwest Tour, I've created a video for my tour of the Presidential Houses of New England.

Please feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think!

You can also view a higher quality version on youtube here.

The Midwest Tour

I've gotten some comments from people who wanted to know exactly where I've been going on these trips. So I've posted a video that shows the route I took on my Midwest Tour to see presidential homes (with a quick pit stop at the Mark Twain House!) in late May.

Please feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think!

You can also view a higher quality version on youtube here.

Movie Review: Young Mr. Lincoln

Synopsis: The movie chronicles the early adulthood of Abraham Lincoln, following his journey from lowly store clerk to self-taught lawyer. It mostly focuses on his first big law case in which he defends two brothers accused of murdering a local ruffian.

Historical Accuracy:
This is a bit of a tough one to call. Although the plot is almost entirely fictionalized, many of the details are accurate enough that they balance out a bit. For example, the case that takes up the majority of the movie was made up for the purposes of the film, but the defense Lincoln used was from a famous case he defended. In any case, the plot is really unimportant in a movie like this, which was more interested in getting at Lincoln's character than getting the exact chronology of his life. Even so, you wouldn't want school kids to think this is gospel truth.
Grade: C+


Period Detail:
Unlike many other Hollywood films of the period, this one looks like it takes place in the correct time period. Little touches like Lincoln playing the Jew Harp and the parade of Revolutionary War veterans add nice bits of period flair. My only gripe was that the opening and closing music were songs from the Civil War era, which was still several decades away from the action of the film. I can see how they could be considered foreshadowing, but it still bothered me. Still, it was a good job overall.
Grade: A


Casting:
I could go on about all the supporting players in this movie and how they were great, but that would be missing the point. In order for this movie to work, they had to cast one person right, and that's Abraham Lincoln. Not only is Henry Fonda right for the role, he's perfect for it. Nobody else will have that kind of face that just seems to emanate goodness or a voice that sounds humble, soft, and sweet. Even under the (surprisingly realistic) makeup, Fonda shines and embodies Lincoln in a way that wraps myth and man together. 
Grade: A+


Quality of the Film:
Like many classic films, Young Mr. Lincoln is a little bit slower and little bit more cornball than what modern audiences are used to seeing. However, director John Ford injects a naturalism and a sense of integrity into the film that make it stand out above other movies. Not only is this an enjoyable movie, it's a great one.
Grade: A 

Update: I'm Back!

I'm alive!

I've spent the past few days pulling a Walden, staying in a remote location on a body of water with patchy internet and almost nonexistent electricity (if you're asking how electricity can be almost nonexistent, you've obviously never stayed in a cabin built before 1955). 

So what was I doing if I wasn't preparing blog posts? My activities over the past few days have included getting horrific sunburns, mosquito bites, and wasp stings, engaging in water sports, watching beautiful sunsets, and painting cabins. While most of these things are more fun than they sound, I'm glad to be back on schedule.


So stay tuned for more posts!

A Very Special Movie Review: Independence Day

President Pullman, off to save the world

In honor of July 4th, a very special movie post.


There are many aspects of Independence Day (1996) to love: the alien invasion storyline, a deranged Randy Quaid, Will Smith's first foray into science fiction, and a surprisingly ripped Jeff Goldblum, to name a few. But the reason I watch Independence Day whenever it comes on TV is because I believe Bill Pullman is the best president we've ever had. 


My love for Bill Pullman is well documented at this point, but this goes beyond even that. When I see Bill Pullman as President  Thomas J. Whitmore pick up the intercomm and address a group of fighter pilots staging an attack on the alien mothership, I settle in and prepare to feel some patriotic fervor. He speaks eloquently and with conviction about the imminent destruction facing them, laying out the difficulty of their mission without getting too depressing. Then he rallies the troops with a final call to action that will mean independence not only for America, but for the rest of the world as well.


The speech pretty obviously plays into many Americans' love of being the saviors of the world, but it's still effective, mostly because Pullman plays it straight and adds an air of desperation to his performance. He knows it's a crazy plan, but it's the only plan they've got. 


President Pullman (which I will call him henceforth because President Whitmore just sounds wrong) doesn't just talk a good game, he puts his previous combat fighting to use and joins his men in the skies to take down the invading alien forces. He's the George Washington of the movie presidents, leading by example and being generally awesome.


Plus, he looks like Bill Pullman, which is a definite bonus. 

Presidential House Visit: Chester A. Arthur Birthplace

Chester A. Arthur Birthplace
Fairfield, Vermont

With all the controversy surrounding President Obama's birth certificate, most people forgot that this is not the first time this has happened. In the late 19th century, there were many people utterly convinced that Chester A. Arthur was born, not in Fairfield, Vermont, but fifteen miles north in Canada. 

Stone marker commemorating site of the original home
(or is it?)

But if you take the family Bible at its word, Arthur was born on American soil. Regardless of the exact spot, we can be fairly sure it looked something like the replica that stands in Fairfield today, which was modest even for its day. His father was an itinerant preacher, and the family moved around quite a bit when Arthur was a child. 

Without the controversy of his mysterious origins, Chester A. Arthur is one of those presidents most people remember as the guys in the middle with funny facial hair. In reality, Arthur was a political hack for much of his career, and was chosen to be Garfield's running mate so he would deliver New York to the Republican cause. Arthur's work in the New York political machine is mentioned in the museum inside the Arthur birthplace, although our guide pointed out, it is often covered by a door, which was something we all got a good laugh out of.

Panel about Arthur's political career,
cleverly hidden behind a door

After Garfield's assassination, Arthur was a changed man. He passed the Pendleton Civil Service Act, which fought against the very corruption he once practiced himself. He did not want to be president and he did not run for re-election, but he made the best of a difficult situation, and actually accomplished something of note.

Also, I heard he was from Canada. Eh.

View from the home

Movie Review: Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter

Synopsis: Young Abraham Lincoln (Ben Walker) is out to avenge the death of his mother when he discovers she was in fact murdered by vampires. He is trained by a mysterious man (Dominic Cooper) in the skills he needs to kill vampires, as well as the equipment (a silver plated ax). Henry charges Abraham to kill the vampires he finds, and also warns him not to create any attachments. When Abraham marries the vivacious Mary Todd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a rift is created between Lincoln and his teacher, and Lincoln begins to get involved in politics as a way to stop vampires, who use slaves as a food source. He faces off against the head vampire Adam (Rufus Sewell) and his cronies along the way, only to meet them again after he becomes president. Can Lincoln stop the vampires from destroying the Union? Can he still wield his ax with the skill of a homicidal majorette?


Historical Accuracy:
With a name like Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, I didn't expect much in terms of historical accuracy from this movie. That being said, even if you edited out the vampires, this movie was riddled with inaccuracies. I found myself thinking: what about Lincoln's older sister Sarah? Why is everyone clapping when the Gettysburg Address was poorly received? Ultimately, these critiques seem nitpicky considering the main goal of the movie, but it was distracting for me.
Grade: C


Period Detail:
In a movie like this, the sets and costumes are the straight men that make the premise funny. In general, they do a good job of setting the scene without distracting from the action, with one exception. The one lady vampire was riding in around in pants, which bothered me since a woman walking around in pants at that time would have at least raised a few eyebrows. Still, overall, it was a fine job.
Grade: B+


Casting:
Ben Walker is no Henry Fonda, but he does a good job playing Lincoln through different periods of his life. Dominic Cooper gives Henry some flair, but Rufus Sewell really steals the show as Adam, playing up his natural creepiness for all its worth. The weak link is Mary Elizabeth Winstead, whose Mary Todd is a bit too modern, but she improves as the movie progresses. All in all, a fine job by the cast.
Grade: A-


Quality of the Film:
I did not have high expectations for this movie, but I was very pleasantly surprised. It's not exactly high art, but it is a lot of fun. 
Grade: B