I'd like to start out by pointing out a difference between "dumb" and "fantastical". The concept of Abraham Lincoln fighting vampires isn't inherently stupid, it's just an interesting fantasy concept. If done right, it can be an interesting story about Lincoln's hardships in fighting vampires (hint: it is) or at least an entertaining action movie. If done wrong, it could be a facepalm-worthy load of cliches and explosions.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a far better movie than most critics give it credit for. The characters are fleshed out and interesting, the conflict is genuinely compelling, and the movie manages to be genuinely clever at a number of points. It's a movie that's worth watching. This is an example of how to take a fantastical concept and do it right, by making a well-written and epic story. In addition, as the movie gets on, the battles get progressively more and more epic. In fact, this movie's best fight scenes are even better than the last fight in The Avengers, and you all know how I feel about that movie.
On the other hand, there are some small problems with it. The most obvious is that a number of shots in the film just look goofy, especially the various slow downs and zoom-ins. Again, these become less frequent as the film goes on. Another problem I had is the somewhat black and white view shown of the south. By depicting them as vampires, the film disregards the actual problems at the heart of the civil war, and the complexities that surrounded it. However, the film chooses other ways to show the bittersweet nature of the war, and the choices surrounding it. Finally, I was disappointed with the way that the female lead was portrayed, but I guess that it can be excused due to the film's setting. It upsets me that her main motivation in the final plotline of the film is related to her child. Maybe I'm not considering the realism of it, but it just bugs me.
In conclusion, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is a film truly worth seeing if you can take the premise seriously. With such fleshed-out characters and such a great story, it would be a shame if you couldn't.
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