Review: Twilight the Movie
Human Meets Vampire in This Tense Romantic Thriller
Twi-hards, or fans of the iconic Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, have been awaiting the release of Twilight the movie for months. Stars Kristen Stewart (Bella Swan) and Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen) have given numerous television and print interviews, adding to the fervor. But on November 21, 2008, Twilight finally arrived at the big screen.
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Vanila Sky, Antitrust) and written by Melissa Rosenberg ("Dexter", "The OC"), Twilight the movie has big shoes to fill. Skating on the obsessive fan base who gave Meyer's last book in the series, Breaking Dawn, scathing reviews, it was difficult to say what the fan response might be.
Watching Twilight the movie in the theater is not much different from watching Harry Potter--except, perhaps, for the screaming of teenage girls when Edward (Pattinson) first appears on-screen. The tension is thick in the air as previews roll, and it is obvious that most movie-goers have read the Twilight books.
Different From the Book
Does Twilight the movie stack up to Stephenie Meyer's literary creation? Surprisingly, the movie does deviate significantly from the book, including a scene in which Edward and Bella (Stewart) fly through the trees of Forks woods. Edward's brooding is cut to a minimum, and there are far fewer instances of moony-eyed fawning as Bella falls in love with her vampire.
As vampire movies go, Twilight the movie is far less gruesome than most, featuring slightly more gore than the books but focusing more on the romance. The antagonists--James, Victoria and Laurent--are featured more prominently than in the books, however, seen feeding on humans frequently as the movie progresses toward its climax.
Acting Could be Better
Kristin Stewart and robert Pattinson are not as developed on screen as Bella and Edward seemed in the books. Stewart isn't nearly as relatable to the female audience, giving transparent and frequently unbelievable performances, especially at the end. Likewise, Pattinson overplays his role as the cautious and self-loathing Edward.
The supporting cast, however, was excellent, relieving some of the tedium brought on by Stewart's and Pattinson's performances. Charlie Swan, played by Billy Burke (Untraceable, The Grift) is both believable and sympathetic, as are many of Bella's friends at school who appear only momentarily on screen.
The Bottom Line
Twilight the movie is not painful to watch, and some of the fight scenes offer sufficient tension to keep the viewer interested. Nevertheless, if sequels are made from New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, the writers should focus on creating more believable dialogue and increasing the comfort of the cast members in their roles.
The writers should also find a way to improve the understanding of Twilight the movie. For viewers who have not read the books, the movie might leave several unanswered questions, and it may be difficult for viewers to understand the motivations and desires of Edward and Bella.
It is refreshing, however, to see that vampire movies can deviate from the norm. In Twilight the movie, vampires have reflections, can go outside in the daylight, and are not done in by either crosses or stakes through the heart.
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