Movie Review: Twilight
After being thoroughly disappointed in the fourth Twilight series book, Breaking Dawn, I had to pump myself up to see the movie adaptation of Twilight. I dragged my boyfriend along. He was reluctant, thinking it would be a sappy romantic flick. I expected the same.
He walked away happy. I walked away conflicted. I was pleasantly surprised by some supporting cast performances: Jessica (Anna Kendrick), Carlisle (Peter Facinelli), Rosalie (Nikki Reed) and Charlie (Billy Burke). These four left the strongest impressions on me. The remaining Cullens… not so much. Jasper (while pretty mute in the book) was made comical with some success (they took it a little too far after his first introduction – I expected a more menacing look rather than deer in the headlights). Alice was cute but hardly pixie-like, as I had imagined her. Emmett was nonexistant while Esme had a few superficial lines. The deficiency in depth is understandable; it mirrors the first book. It is noticable only because the relationship between Edward and Bella pales compared to that described in the book.
Bella sighs so frequently! Edward speaks haltingly. Yes, there is tension but it just didn’t convince me that a deep relationship had been formed. Indeed, there courtship was rushed. While the movie stayed true to the book… and there were definitely small things that only those who had read the books would pick up on (Edwards smirking at Jessica, “She feels slighted” – his questioning glace during the cafeteria sceen, “Why can’t I read this girls thoughts?” – the apple in Edwards outstreatched hands, “Temptation”), I felt there should have been more time spent on the forging of this relationship. After all, so much of what happens down the road is because Bella and Edward love each other so unconditionally. I just didn’t feel the chemistry!
The 120 minute running time could have easily been expanded to ease the transitions between story lines. My boyfriend, while delighted it wasn’t all sappy, missed a lot of the plot because it wasn’t reinforced.
All in all, a decent adaptation for the target audience. I believe the next film will have a larger budget after such a strong opening so I’m looking forward to a more polished sequel. Jacob looks promising as well! Who knows, they may alter the fourth movie (if it gets done) and improve it (anything will be an improvement really).
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I have to revise. After reading In and Out of Place, I have to comment on the third person perspective. Maybe I was asking for too much between Stewart (Bella) and Patterson (Edward). It was difficult for Edward to “figure Bella out” and that came across. But what I didn’t see was how he went from frustrated to love. Sure, there were a few lines (“I tell you I can’t read your mind and you think something’s wrong with you.”) that showed he appreciated her unique thought process, but when does that become love? And Bella was more aggressive with Edward than I imagined.
Now I think of it, my frustration lies in the delivery of the lines rather than the lines themself and in the pacing of the film. I wasn’t completely disappointed… I just wasn’t completely sold either. Edward and Bella – as the couple -never clicked for me.
Colleen said,
November 24, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I agree with much of what you say. There was ZERO character development. If you hadn’t read the book, you’d know next to nothing about the Cullens. So sad.
kyoske said,
November 25, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I agree the Cullen family certainly seemed to take the back burner on this one. We got NO origin stories, just a few glimpses.
Thanks for linking and crediting my post.
As for the relationship between Edward and Bella. I agree the movie depiction seemed understated as to how, when, or even why Edward seemed to like/love Bella. I assume we were supposed to infer two things:
1. Since he cannot read Bella’s thoughts she is interesting to him. He can’t cheat like he does with everyone else. This allows him to pursue her like he would have before he became a vampire. It also makes him have to act normal, if he could read her mind, he could be smooth, but since he cannot, he actually has reverted to a slightly clumsy pursuer.
2. Bella refuses to see Edward as something monstrous despite knowing what he is. The vampires accept what they are, and from what I can guess Edward is aware how vampires are viewed in the world. After all Edward bemoans the loss of his soul a lot in the books. I assume the fact that Bella likes him, is not scared of him, but knows what he is, makes him question his own thoughts on what/who he is. I think the actor did a good job of bringing this out, but he just didn’t get a lot of dialogue.
The ‘Twilight’ books are often described as “eroticism of abstinence” In it Bella and Edward have a palpable connection and desire for one another, but constantly they are unable to be physically intimate with one another beyond kissing and slight caressing. I was unsure if a film could capture this. Whereas certainly they did do a “Abstinence is great” short film when Edward and Bella did everything two people can do on a bed besides have sex, the film did maintain the tension rather well. You could see their desire to be very close, to “give in to temptation” but they never do. This was done by placing the actors in close proximity, but without actually touching. It is almost maddening to watch at times, and it stirs in the audience the desire to see them be more intimate. In the book, and in the movie, they drag this out as much as possible, to create a more climactic effect during the few instances where Bella and Edward manage to be intimate for even a few seconds.
Maria said,
January 5, 2009 at 1:34 pm
I saw the movie with a friend before reading the book, and I have to say, I thought the fans think the Twilight series is better than it is. The book, in my opinion, was not movie material. There’s no actual plot (sorry, truth hurts). The story is basically like a diary of a teenage girl who crushes on a boy at her school. He just happens to be a vampire and unbereably beautiful, but other than that… what there is left? So many nitpicks Twilight fans are commenting on, I also found them in the book when I read it later.
When I saw the movie first I thought it was pretty silly, just one more romance movie and I don’t understand why he’s vamp. I think the fact he’s a vamp should’ve been exploited rather than just being the woah sexy! factor for the relationship between him and Bella. Nothing new there. What’s a 100 year old vampire doing in high school is beyond me and I felt there should have been an actual explanation for that. I bet a real vampire (i know they don’t exist, but you get what i mean, i hope=D) would have better things to do.
As to me, Edward and Bella’s relationship seemed awkward, forced and lacking in chemistry in the book already. They always seem uncomfortable around each other (at least Edward always does and Bella gets loose only sometimes). There is zero spark between them and the things that that saved them for me was the dazzle effect, the cheese because I looooooove cheese for itself (gonna use some of their cheese for my bf ;D), and the awkward sexual tension (pretty nice to read, I could relate to Bella). Meyer wants us to believe they are sooooo in love she made me believe it for a while, too. But they are both boring lifeless people with an equally boring relationship, why and how do everyone them to a be a fun, exciting onscreen couple? I don’t get it :/
And I thought they had some nice kisses, at least! (more steamy than expected)
I think the book is better just because it somehow sucks you in (unlike the movie), but technically it isn’t all that great either.
Nicki said,
January 5, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Maria, I agree with you on many points, especially the Edward / Bella connection. The books also need much more editing and improving before they can be considered solid… but that they have been so successful does say something about it’s overall themes and content. It appeals to many teens (even boys!) and, as a Librarian, anything that gets the kids to read is good enought for me!
coffee said,
January 17, 2009 at 6:59 pm
i don’t understand what is the appeal of Robert Pattinson (Edward), his nose looks funny