Paraphrase Practice

Excerpt from A.O. Scott's review of the movie "Lincoln":

After a brutal, kinetic beginning -- a scene of muddy, hand-to-hand combat that evokes the opening of "Saving Private Ryan" -- "Lincoln" settles down into what looks like the familiar pageantry and speechifying of costume drama. A flock of first-rate character actors parades by in the heavy woolen plumage of the past. The smaller, plainer America of the mid-19th century is evoked by the brownish chiaroscuro of Janusz Kaminski's cinematography, by the mud, brick and wood of Rick Carter's production design and by enough important facial hair to make the young bear farmers of 21st-century Brooklyn weep tears of envy.


Paraphrase:

The movie "Lincoln" begins with a scene reminiscent of the beginning of "Saving Private Ryan". The movie opens with a violent, dynamic, and muddy hand-to-hand combat scene. After this dramatic opening, the movie moves to the more familiar look of movies about the past, particularly to do with the costumes and sets. The characters wear the heavy wool coats that people of that standing wore during the time period. Janusz Kaminski uses his skills in cinematography to create a shaded and brown look that makes the movie feel more like mid-19th century America. Production designer Rick Carter also helps to do this with the mud, brick, and wood that he used throughout the movie and also the facial hair that 21st-century bear farmers in Brooklyn would be jealous of.


Revised:

The movie "Lincoln" begins with a scene reminiscent of the beginning of "Saving Private Ryan". The movie opens with a violent, dynamic, and muddy one-on-one combat scene. After this dramatic opening, the movie moves to the more familiar look of movies about the past, particularly to do with the costumes and sets. A group of some of the best theatrical professionals processes by throughout the movie wearing in costumes that look like the clothing of the time period. Janusz Kaminski uses his skills in cinematography to create a shaded and brown look that makes the movie feel more like more simple mid-19th century America. Production designer Rick Carter also helps to do this with the normal building materials of the time period that he used throughout the movie and also the facial hair that modern day Brooklyn hipsters would be jealous of.