Paraphrase Practice

A New York Times article states, "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 beard farmers of 21st-century Brooklyn weep tears of envy."

Revised Paraphrase: In the very beginning of the movie "Lincoln" it opens up with the scene of characters fighting one-on-one physical combat in the mud showing the harsh cruelties of war, the scene goes from this intense war scene to a classic period piece that is usually shown in movies. A group of the best actors in the field today are in character and are passing by in some wool clothing that was worn in the past. The clear small America that was in the mid-19th century is produced by the brownish tone of  light and shadows that Janusz Kaminshi's cinematography shows off by using mud, and is built up and used from Rick Carter's style of production design, and the facial hair that is on the actors in this scene makes people who like their beards to be healthy and soft from the 21st-century Brooklyn men full with jealousy.