JESSICA’S TWILIGHT MOVIE REVIEW
So, Last night or should I say early this morning, I went to a midnight showing of “Twilight”. I am an uber twilight fan, a twilighter, a twi-hard, fanpire, whichever you choose to convey the message of a die hard twilight fan. I read all the books, which was hilarious feat for me, because I’m almost 5 years out of high school and have no one else to speak of, no little sisters, cousins, nieces, who are also as into the realm of Twilight. But as things turn out, I fell in love with the books, once I read half way through the first one and then read New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn in about a day and a half each.Needless, to say I was into the books. And when all the press for the film was being released (and still is, at this point) I watched and read every possible cast and crew interview, exposé and feature there was online or on TV for me to indulge on my twilight obsessive-ness. I was in great anticipation of the amazing super-natural love story between Bella and Edward to be maximized on the big screen.
And then I did something I probably shouldn’t have. I read the script for the film. Which, I believe is the shooting script they used. I know, I know –It was super-bad of me. Especially, In retrospect, I kind of ruined my experience watching the film. But, At the time, I just couldn’t help myself, but unfortunately I knew what I was getting myself into. Which brings me back to last night and my review of twilight.
First off, since I kind of already knew what to expect, at least story/plot wise, I think I subconsciously started to critique the film itself as a whole. The way I would do other movies, while simultaneously, enjoying every momentous twi-hard revelation and inside jokes. Like the first time, that Robert Pattinson shows up on screen for the first time and I let out a “awwwwwwww” moment with the rest of the theater, or uttering such lines as “and the lion fell in love with the lamb” aloud, seeing Stephenie Meyer’s theatrical debut in the cafe scene and hearing Rob Pattinson’s song in the back round at the restaurant scene, was just utterly great and both distracting at the same time. But, those parts of the film I truly enjoyed, as a fan girl.
And then there is the movie critic in me, whose taste in film is very unique and biased to fine thespians of the trade. Which is not to say that Robert and Kristen weren’t good, in theory as Edward and Bella. Let’s just say for someone, who isn’t Team Jacob at all, I was way to happy to see Taylor Lautner on screen more than I was with any of the Cullens. Kristen Stewart, in my opinion, was never believable as Bella, in part because it seemed, she didn’t get enraptured into playing the part of Bella, as Robert did Edward, he seemed a tad more serious about the material, than anyone else in the whole film, Kristen took herself so serious, Bella was a bit cartoonish, when pleading with Edward. The acting was sub-par outside of the immediate leads, with the exceptions of Peter Facinelli and Billy Burke. I was although quite pleased with the visual flashbacks, when Edward and Esme were turned by Carlisle and when Ephraim Black and The Cullens made the treaty after hunting near the reservation. The Sepia tone, dream like flashbacks were in-fact necessary. Which brings me to the music, actual score for the film wasn’t as dark, haunting and heart-wrenching as it should have been, for this type of love story, Bella’s Lullaby also didn’t fit the mood of the film or what Edward’s feelings were trying to convey to Bella.
The Shaky hand-held camera look didn’t help the cause. Even though the books are voyeuristic in nature. The film I imagined a bit more cinematic in look. Catherine Hardwicke, took the more literal translation of the book and made the Twilight appear more like a documentary than movie, such as with the cases of Hardwicke’s other teen dramas “Thirteen” and “Lords of Dogtown”. I guess which is always a draw back of filming on such a grand scale digitally. Which made the special effects and stunts look cheap and unrealistic. Every time a vampire ran, it looked as if they were attached to wires. The 25 uncalled for close-ups were unnecessary. The film seemed edited haphazardly and the series of events didn’t build a solid foundation for Edward and Bella to be in an incendiary-type love, their feelings almost seemed forced and flimsy -at best. The continuity of the whole movie was just off, especially in the case of how fast the events seemed to happen, which is often the case when book are translated into film. The movie mostly tried to toe-the-line between cinematic epic and low-key romantic fervor, which worked against it most time, because it just made the Twilight seem uneven. I although, still definitely can’t wait to see if “New Moon” does in deed get green lighted. Hopefully, Summit will reach their $150 Million goal and make a better sequel than twilight is as a film. Hopefully, more money will make a big difference in such things as special effects, cgi and god please better make-up.
I know, I will probably get hated on for this review, it might seem scathing, but in truth, it is all out of love for the books and for the love of cinema.
-Jessica
22, West Hartford, CT
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