Random History Lesson: Lincoln's Repeater

I recently finished Bethesda Game Studios' masterpiece Fallout 3, and I've been having trouble putting it down. Today I surfed over to The Vault, a massive gaming Wiki dedicated to the Fallout series. My goal was to learn the locations of some of the game's unique weapons so I could add them to my virtual collection. While on their unique weapons page, I came across the name of my favorite weapon in the game, Lincoln's Repeater, pictured above. It's a powerful rifle with a 15-round magazine that fires .44 magnum caliber bullets, and can be found in the Offices of the post-apocalyptic version of the Museum of History.

Initially, I figured this was just a historical in-joke. There are actually quite a few Abraham Lincoln items in the game, all of which can be sold to Hannibal Hamlin, a man who, according to his page at The Vault, "dreams of creating a safe haven for runaway slaves." When the player completes the "Head of State" quest, Hamlin sets up his safe haven at the Lincoln Memorial. He's a Lincoln buff, and will buy any Lincoln-related items you find on your journey. One of these items is an "Action Abe Action Figure," obviously a joke. I assumed the Repeater was too. Then, I clicked on the Wiki's page for the rifle. Apparently, I don't know my Abe Lincoln history very well.

Lincoln actually owned a .44 magnum caliber repeating rifle (pictured above, courtesy of Smithsonian Images), and the one in Fallout 3 is a pretty faithful representation of the real one, right down to the engraving and octagonal barrel. It, too, is located in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, just like its video game counterpart.

According to the Smithsonian Web site's profile of Lincoln's Henry Rifle, "this gold mounted, engraved Henry rifle was presented to Abraham Lincoln in an effort to obtain his influence in their purchase for the war effort." It features a floral design and a cartouche that reads "Lincoln/President/U.S.A.", pictured below (courtesy of Smithsonian Images).

In Fallout 3, Lincoln's Repeater is a very formidable weapon. When found in the Museum of History, the rifle is in mint condition, and players can repair it with .32 caliber Hunting Rifles, which are plentiful around the Capital Wasteland. The Vault tells us that Hannibal Hamlin will buy Lincoln's Repeater for 150 caps or 300 caps if you can persuade him to pay more, and it must be in mint condition. Seriously though, why would you sell this thing?

The Vault makes a very good point regarding the Repeater's accuracy. Sniper Rifles technically have a higher accuracy rating in Fallout 3, but the game's mechanics actually give Lincoln's Repeater the edge. Shots fired from a Sniper Rifle (and any scoped weapon) outside of V.A.T.S. mode take slightly longer to reach their targets. This means the player must compensate for this slight difference in bullet speed. The Repeater's shots have no spread, and reach their targets instantly.

Procuring one of these in real life is decidedly more difficult than in Fallout 3, unless you possess mad heisting skills. A quick Google search revealed the Henry Repeating Arms Web site, which is packed full of rifles that look exactly like Lincoln's famous one. The site actually has a listing for a special Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Tribute version of what appears to be their flagship rifle, the Golden Boy. Strangely, this rifle doesn't even fire .44 magnum bullets. The best representation of Lincoln's original Henry rifle appears to be the engraved .44 magnum caliber Big Boy Deluxe, pictured below. It's run is limited to 1000, and it costs a hefty $1995.95, so the regular .44 Big Boy (at $899.95) is probably more realistic from a consumer's point of view.

As far as I'm concerned, it's the little things like this that put Fallout 3 a step above other RPGs of this generation. The game is utterly massive, and Bethesda still managed to pepper little easter eggs like this throughout the world. It all simply adds to the sense of immersion, which is of paramount importance concerning any RPG. And there's apparently some real history to be learned here too.

Who says video games can't be educational?

What If Pixar Made 'Where The Wild Things Are'?

”I would say it’s a movie for adults first and for a certain kind of child second."

Spike Jonze spoke those words in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. The subject of that interview was his new film adaptation of Maurice Sendak's children's book, Where The Wild Things Are. The quote baffled me, because I think of Wild Things as a children's book, first and foremost.

After seeing the movie, I'm still a little baffled at what I saw. The film was beautiful and well-made, with a huge amount of depth and character, but it arguably catered primarily to the adult crowd. The film's opening weekend box office gross demonstrates this: Wild Things made $32.5 million, and 43 percent of the moviegoers who viewed the film were 18 and older, according to an MSNBC report.

On that note, let's take a quick look at the history of Pixar. This is a studio that has never made a bad film. Pixar has also never made a children's movie. They specialize in family films, which are named as such because the good ones are accessible to the entire family, not just children. Toy Story, Finding Nemo, A Bug's Life, WALL-E, Up, especially The Incredibles, these and more Pixar movies prove that somebody out there knows how to make something the entire family can watch and enjoy, too.

Where The Wild Things Are deserved this treatment. I'm not bashing on the film's quality. I think that Jonze more than accomplished his goal, if the aforementioned quote is any indication as to what that goal was. The question here is, was this an acceptable goal for a director adapting a children's classic like Where The Wild Things Are?

I'm going to be bold and say no. Regardless of the overall quality of Wild Things, I believe the kid factor is something to take into consideration. Let me pose a question: would a six-year-old understand that the Wild Things are representative of Max's emotions? Like Jonze said, maybe a special kid would, but I believe this character device would just confuse most kids.

That's not to say I'm not giving kids their credit. Children are surprisingly perceptive sometimes. But Jonze admitted openly that he did not make a movie for kids. My question is, why not? His vision came to fruition, but why didn't that vision include a more kid-friendly film?

For the record, I don't think this movie is too scary for kids. Sendak said in a featurette that he thought Jonze's film "respects kids." He also told worried parents to go to hell. The film doesn't feel dumbed down; it's even visceral at times, but kids grow up seeing much worse on television. I believe the bigger problem here is the confusion factor.

Whether Where The Wild Things Are is a fitting movie to take your kids to remains to be proven one way or another. I've speculated a lot, but I haven't actually talked to a kid who watched the movie. If any of you have talked to any kids who saw it, please post your and their thoughts, I'd be very interested to hear them.

All I'm trying to say is, Pixar seems to have the blueprints for making films with universal appeal, and I wish I could have some crazy psychic powers that would allow me to see what this film would've been like if Pixar had taken the helm. I do not believe Jonze's Where The Wild Things Are is a bad movie, I rather enjoyed it actually. I'm just a little disappointed that young kids probably won't get it.

In conclusion, here's a link to a clip that gives us a glimpse of what could've been. It's a YouTube video that I've posted before showing an early animation test for Where The Wild Things Are. Pixar legend John Lasseter directed the test footage, which was shot in 1983 when Disney had the rights to the movie. It's extremely intriguing, check it out.

Sweet Deal: Stephen King's 'Under The Dome'

You can't argue with a price war like this. According to an Associated Press article, both Amazon.com and Wal-Mart have slashed the price of the hardcover version of Stephen King's new novel, Under The Dome, to be released on November 10. It's available on Amazon.com for $9, and on Wal-Mart.com for $8.99. That's quite the price cut, considering the publisher's list price for the book is $35.

The synopsis tells us that this book revolves around a town in Maine that inexplicably becomes encased in a dome-like forcefield. I hope there are some unintentional parallels to The Simpsons Movie in this book.

Very Short Film Review: Where The Wild Things Are

I started writing this review a few times and never could quite hit the notes I wanted to so for now, conciseness is a virtue.

Spike Jonze's Where The Wild Things Are is very different from anything I've ever seen before. On the one hand, it's one of the most beautiful films I've ever witnessed. Filming in Melbourne, Australia, was an inspired choice by Jonze, as was his decision to use puppet-style suits to portray the Wild Things. I cannot imagine a more fitting portrayal of the Wild Things or their world.

On the other hand, Jonze's adaptation is very complex for a kids' movie, perhaps too much so for some children to understand. The crux of this film is the conflict and angst within Max's mind, as represented by the Wild Things and their seemingly petty conflicts. I feel like that might be tough to grasp for some kids.

This all would've been a non-issue if so much of the film weren't spent creating and trying to resolve these conflicts. The wild rumpus and the dirt clod fight had the kids in my theater laughing, but they were probably scratching their heads through much of the narrative.

I don't have too much else to say about Where The Wild Things Are right now because I'm still trying to grasp what I saw. It's what I call a "singular" film, one that can't be replicated. It's a hugely original retelling of a Maurice Sendak book that's been around since 1963, if that makes sense.

I would fully recommend going and watching this movie. Everybody seems to watch it and comes away with something different, which is one mark of a special film.

Go see it, and tell me what you think.

My Score: 3 stars out of 5

Your Favorite Movie Scenes

Picking a favorite movie is tough, but picking a favorite scene is near impossible. Peter over at /Film recently made a very cool post about his favorite movie scene. He chose the "Tiny Dancer" bus scene in Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous, one of my favorite films of all time. I have posted 10 of my favorites below, in no particular order. Spoilers ahead, if you haven't seen some of the films. Post your favorites in the comments section!

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
A Charlie Brown Christmas, directed by Bill Meléndez
This scene still surprises me to this day. Charlie Brown wonders aloud about the meaning of Christmas throughout this magnificent TV movie's short 32 minute runtime. When Linus steps up and recites Luke 2:8-14, A Charlie Brown Christmas becomes more than just a Peanuts movie. It's a commentary on the commercialization of a religious holiday. Think what you want to about Christmas, it's still remarkable that a television network like ABC still plays this movie every holiday season, despite the fact that it is so obviously religious. I'm not kidding when I say that the day they stop playing A Charlie Brown Christmas in December is the day I quit watching television forever.

The Interrogation
The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan
Much like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Michael Mann's Heat, Batman (Christian Bale) and the Joker (Heath Ledger) don't have a whole lot of sit-down time together in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. Following the film's epic Tumbler/Batpod chase, Batman interrogates the Joker in an attempt to learn the whereabouts of Harvey Dent. The exchange between Bale and Ledger is perfectly-written, and the Joker manages to make some harrowing points that border uncomfortably on truthfulness. It's a brutal, intense and pitch-perfect scene that went a long way toward earning Ledger his posthumous Oscar.

"It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me."
Batman Begins, directed by Christopher Nolan
The final act of Batman Begins is definitely a little on the strange side, with Ducard (Liam Neeson) arriving in Gotham and revealing a twist that I don't quite understand to this day. Also, Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), the person to whom Batman (Christian Bale) says the above line, is a character I've never much liked in Christopher Nolan's Batman movies. But after Batman rescues Dawes from Victor Zsasz, he utters the above line, one of the movie's best, simultaneously telling Dawes his true identity and being completely badass before gliding off to finish his job.

"I am your father."
The Empire Strikes Back, directed by Irvin Kershner
This one needs no explanation. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) battles through the Bespin Cloud City to rescue Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), only to fight Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones) before Yoda (Frank Oz) tells him he’s ready. One of the most shocking twists in film history comes about as Vader utters the immortal line above, right after cutting Luke’s hand off. Truly epic. Sad note: I didn’t have to look up any of those names while writing this.

"Get away from her you bitch!"
Aliens, directed by James Cameron
The ending of James Cameron's masterful sequel Aliens seems to go on forever, but the payoff is fittingly epic. As the Alien Queen attacks Newt (Carrie Henn), Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) emerges clad in the mech-style loader she used earlier in the film to carry supplies. Ripley utters that immortal line, and proceeds to battle the Queen as Newt and both halves of Bishop look on. She finally opens the airlock door, ejecting the Queen into space and oblivion in one of the most suspenseful and intense endings ever filmed.

The Chase
The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan
The Dark Knight's chase scene is one of the best ever filmed. Christopher Nolan has a tendency for using practical effects, and it pays off in spades here. In this scene, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) plays the bait as the Joker (Heath Ledger) chases the armored car holding Dent, driven by Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) in disguise. Throw Batman (Christian Bale) and his Tumbler into the mix, and you've got one amazing chase scene on your hands. Some of the highlights include the reveal of the Batpod and the semi truck flip at the end of the chase.

Construction Site Parkour
Casino Royale, directed by Martin Campbell
One of the early scenes in Casino Royale is also one of the best. James Bond (Daniel Craig) chases a bomb maker through a construction site. Thing is, the bomb maker is played by Sebastian Foucan, one of the French originators of parkour. Also known as freerunning, parkour is an activity in which the runner gets from point A to point B making it look as cool and acrobatic as possible. Craig and Foucan do so, in styles very different from each other. The scene is fast, well-filmed and an absolute blast to watch.

“Kill the Queen!”
Shaun of the Dead, directed by Edgar Wright
I consider this scene to be the culmination of Edgar Wright’s masterful comedy Shaun of the Dead. The jukebox comes on in the Winchester as Shaun (Simon Pegg) and his friends whack the bartender, a zombie, over the head with pool cues to the beat of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.” It’s really funny, and it pretty much defines the film’s brand of comedy. It’s British, it’s dark, and it’s hilarious.

“Twist and Shout”
Ferris Bueller's Day Off, directed by John Hughes
This scene is so famous that it is recreated in the streets of Chicago every year. In the movie, Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick), one of the coolest high school students ever to grace the silver screen, tries to demonstrate to his friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) just how much fun they’ve had on their day off. Ferris dances and lip-syncs in the middle of a parade, and The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout” eventually comes on. The entire parade joins Ferris in one of the most euphoric scenes ever put to film. I want to get up and dance every time I see it.

“Stuck in the Middle With You”
Reservoir Dogs, directed by Quentin Tarantino
I can’t choose one single scene from Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction for this list, but one certainly stands out from his debut Reservoir Dogs. As the rest of the gang leaves to find where Mr. Pink stashed the heist loot, Mr. Blonde (Michael Masden) decides to stay behind, say some cool lines, and torture the cop they captured during the confusion of the heist. He does just that, eventually cutting the guy’s ear off and drenching him in gasoline, all the while with “Stuck in the Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel playing on the stereo. Just as Blonde is about to torch the cop, a gutted Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) pops up, riddles Blonde with bullets, and reveals himself as the rat within the heist operation. It’s a ridiculously cool reveal, and one of my favorite “aha!” moments in film history.


Obviously there are more great scenes in film history. Pulp Fiction and Goodfellas should be on the list, but I honestly think it'd be a disgrace to try and pick just one or two defining scenes from those movies. Post your favorite scenes below, I'm curious to read them!

Something To Check Out

I received my copy of this week's Entertainment Weekly in the mail a few days ago, and in it I found a very moving, poignant photograph. I haven't exactly kept my anticipation for Spike Jonze's Where The Wild Things Are a secret, but I think this picture is one anybody can appreciate.

Sadly, I can't find the pic online, and I can't scan it due to copyright infringement laws and such, so I thought I'd just describe it. Check it out at the newsstand, and pick up the issue if you can. It's got some great photos of quite a few upcoming films.

The one I'm speaking of is on page 47, and it's not the one at the bottom of this post (I like that one too). It covers the entire page, and shows Jonze leaning over the film's child star, newcomer Max Records. The backdrop is a forest no doubt used somewhere in the film. The photo's caption features a quote from Jonze about the hardships of filming in the wilds of Australia, and one from actress Catherine Keener telling about the relationship between actor and director.

The photograph is beautiful on its own, but it's even more beautiful when one considers what these two have been through together. Filming was tough, but the act of getting this movie off the ground probably seems miraculous to many involved. WTWTA came very close to joining the ranks of Terry Gilliam's The Man Who Killed Don Quixote as a film that could've been great but couldn't be made.

The photo shows the two as weary travelers who probably expected to reach their destination much sooner. They're finally there, and we'll see the finished product on October 16. I just finished listening to Karen O's soundtrack for the movie, and if the finished film stacks up to the album, then we're in for a unique, eclectic and very special cinematic treat less than two short weeks from now.

Merch: Where The Wild Things Are

I saw a TV spot for Spike Jonze's Where The Wild Things Are last night, and I can officially declare that I'm overjoyed that I will finally be able to watch this film on October 16. It's finally October, meaning WTWTA is just a couple of weeks away.

I was surfing Jonze's blog for the film, appropriately titled "We Love You So," and I thought I'd share some stuff I found there. Check out the blog for yourself, it's really a cool piece of Web culture, and its scope definitely extends beyond that of the upcoming movie.

Firstly, this is probably the coolest piece of movie "merchandise" I've ever seen. Sold by Opening Ceremony, a company I perceive to be a bit on the high fashion side of things, the suit is exactly what it looks like: a full adult unisex wolf suit, just like the one worn by Max in the book and movie, made of faux fur. I can't tell you how cool I think it would be to wear this thing to the premiere of the film. One problem: it'll set you back $610.

Opening Ceremony's site has some jewelry as well as other fashion pieces based off different characters from the film, one of which (the parka pictured above) costs a hefty $895. Expensive, but very cool nonetheless.

We don't have an Urban Outfitters up here near Bellingham, but if you're in the market for some WTWTA stuff and don't have the budget of Donald Trump, you may want to check it out. Most of their clothing for the film, like the baseball tee shown above, is in the women's category, but they have their share of graphic tees, apartment decorations and general merchandise too. The baseball tee costs $28, and most of the other items are comparably-priced, relative to their category.

I plan on picking up the soundtrack CD sometime in the near future. People are raving about the film's music, which is probably a relief for Jonze because he took a chance and unconventionally chose Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to head up the music for WTWTA. I can't wait to listen to it.

By the way, if you don't feel like spending a small fortune at Opening Ceremony or trekking to Urban Outfitters, go ahead and do what I did: shop at Hot Topic. If you can wade past the sullen face of Robert Pattinson, check out their graphic tees. You can't really go wrong. Mine is pictured below.