TA TALKS BACK: THE TWILIGHT HYPE

I couldn’t agree more. Listening to the commentary made me hear things that upset me, knowing they really did not even bother to make scenes right. It was very strange.

I agree. There was alot of things in the movie I was disappointed about (the meadow scene!) and wish had better special effects (the vampire’s movements). Twilight really was supposed to be this little indie film though. I think she did alright with what she was given. There were plenty of times she said “man, I really wanted to do this but we didnt have the money…” and I was disappointed in the movie. I thought it could have been a million times better if it had started the way New Moon is starting. With a bigger budget, summit support because they know it will make money, and HOPEFULLY a better script. I thought Bella’s lullaby sucked too. If you read Stephanie’s description of it in Twilight when Edward plays it for Bella for the first time, it sounds nothing like Carter’s rendition. So I am glad that they are changing composer’s too.
I think everything is moving in the right direction for New Moon to be alot better then Twilight.

I saw the film before reading the books and i did think in the beginning it was really well done, but when i read the books and got to understand more about the real story.

I now love the books and think the film could have been a little better but i still stand by Catherine Hardwicke who did an awesome job without much money behind the project. I think the cast were good the script was good and it will be a favourite for a long time to come!

I was disappointed at first in the silly FX in Twilight, but now, after several viewings, for me they’ve become part of the charm. Sure, I still laugh at the sparkly Edward and poor wirework moments, but I strongly feel that Hardwicke got the *really* important bits right in this film – it’s the heightened sensory overload of teen infatuation, a melancholic longing, and the chemistry between Edward and Bella that are crucial. She distilled those feelings through the casting, cinematography, score etc. Of course it would have been great if the FX had been convincing as well, but I can easily bracket those moments and get immersed in the film’s overall emotional affects. I saw Golden Compass. It’s a beautiful looking film but, you know, I actually felt nothing watching it, and forgot about it as soon as I left the theatre, whereas Twilight haunted me and compelled me to return (and then to read the books – I saw the film first). I’m really hoping then that Weitz can get both the FX right and the *affects* right with New Moon.

i completely agree with this article.
although Hardwicke produced a very entertaining film, she still missed out vital parts of the book, and i was quite disappointed with this. i’m a huge twilight fan, and hoped that the film would give the book all the glory it deseved.
cant wait to see how Weitz directs New Moon, hopefully with a bit more skill than Hardwicke!

Very well said, Jen! I was very disappointed in many aspects of the movie, most of which could have been much better with a different perspective from the director. In listening to the commentary, and even Ms. Hardwicke’s scribbles in her Director’s Notebook, I just don’t think she really “got it” – the essence of what makes Twilight so endearing to so many people of so many different ages.

To me, as a 41 year-old woman, this is not a story about teenage angst which I believe Ms. Hardwicke was going for, but a timeless love story that we can ALL relate to – kicked up a notch. I think she missed that. Where were the touches that made our hearts skip a few beats in the book? Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe three little words were ever even uttered in this film: “I Love You”.

I agree that some parts of Twilight weren’t as good as I’d hoped they would be. I was disappointed in the meadow scene because I just thought that scene could have been so much more beautiful and breathtaking than it was. Also the sparkly Edward wasn’t so sparkly as he was sweaty, that should have been waaaaaaay better than it was. But I think that Catherine did a good job with the small budget that she had but I’m also REALLY excited to see what Chris Weitz brings to the Twilight series movies!

i watched the movie first I also thought that the movie was well done and it included almost everything about the book but when i read the book I realized that the movie fell short in comparison to the book descriptions scenes etc. but with that low buget they had its ok i mean its not a cinematographic masterpiece but its ok you can get the feel of what twilight is about and it encourege you to read the book thats what happened to me and now whenever i want a piece of twilight i watch the movie

Amy, I agree with you 100%! You hit the nail on the head about what was missing from the movie.

I just don’t think the love between Edward and Bella was emphasized enough in the movie. It seemed like a stalker-infatuation kind of attraction, not a love-of-your-life kind of love. The words “I love you” were never spoken in the movie, and that really disappointed me. I hope that Weitz can capture their love, intensify it, and show it more in New Moon. You cannot have a honest-to-God proposal if we haven’t heard “I love you” yet and haven’t been shown the depth of their love. I think Chris Weitz is going to do great. If he doesn’t, he knows that he will be thrown to the sharks (or vampires!).

Well said. Hopefully Weitz will try to demonstrate how much Edward and Bella really love and feel for each other within the short time Edward is with Bella in the beggining of the movie and towards the end. Those emotions really need to be in the movie for the viewer to trully understand the love there is between these to. I felt Hardwicke could’ve spend more time showing how Bella and Edward really were together in the first movie and should’ve used to money for those scenes instead of all those other unescessary scenes such as the biology field trip, the diner, wayland in the boat,etc..these scenes were’nt even in the book! What happened to all those other special moments in the book that would’ve made great scenes? The lack of attention to these important details was so fustrating and I hope Weitz really sticks to what is in the book if he really wants this movie to do well. Use the money wisely for those scenes and not to ones that are unrelated to the book. No need to put sauce on a good steak or it’ll ruin the flavor.

i agree with youto an extent ( will not get into detail)
but what i reated to was how i wasn’t into all the hype until Dec 26, 2008 which is now the best day ever
i am looking foward to seeing how Chris will perform and i think he will do well with the imagery of it so really excited since he experienced.

if catherine really believed that special effects weren’t necessary to pull off the story, why did she use so many of them? i mean the tree was cool and all but it wasn’t in the book, and the time would have been much better served deepening their relationship. an “i love you,” anyone? honestly, there were seven or so extraneous scenes, and running, flying, speedy effects that wasted precious screen time. she seemed excited, she seemed passionate, but in the end? the things that annoyed me about the movie were all director related. it’s a kitchy movie for me. i enjoy it, but i enjoy it in the way that i enjoy an eighties teen flick…i can’t take it that seriously.

i have great hopes for the next film. if they build upon the good things from the first (her relationship with charlie, the fantastic casting, the atmosphere of forks), and really connect with the passion…it’s going to be fantastic.