Twilight Movie Review

Becca and I went and saw the matinee on the Friday after it came out...or the Friday it did come out, I suppose. Anyway, I was very glad that we didn't try and sit in the front of the theater, or have to wait in line for an hour before the show in order to get a seat or whatever. We had decent seats, only surrounded by people still in their pajamas and with blankets wrapped around them (it was 11 a.m.) and I hoped very much that there wouldn't be screaming, squealing, or basic raucous when Edward appeared on screen, or Alice or any of them. I was nervous that I would have to deal with over excitement and giggling the whole way through. There were only two or three people that I really wanted to maim during the whole movie. I was surprised at the low number.

As you know, I've been keeping a close eye on the whole movie and its production. I've watched every clip and outtake, scene the stills, and basically anything that was posted on the internet. I checked faithfully every Twilight Tuesday for interviews with the actors and like such as. I knew the movie was going to not be everything that it could be - everything the book was. Mostly because the screenwriter was not credible. She should not have been entrusted with Edward and Bella and the Cullens as a whole. I think if they had a different screenwriter, the movie would have been fantastic. As it was, we had to deal with uncharacteristic phrases like, "It was an adrenaline rush. You can Google it." *rolls eyes dramatically*

Still, knowing that this movie was going to suck - I couldn't stop myself from giggling like several of the annoying extremists in the theater when Charlie cocked his gun before meeting Edward or when Edward jumps from Bella's truck and she scolds him because she has neighbors. I really did like the scene when Edward is wearing his little raybans (is that what they are called - the really neat sunglasses?) and escorting Bella to class while everyone stares... of course, it was ruined when Angela says, "Oh. My. God..." and then Becca leans over and recites the rest, "...Becky, look at her butt!" The way Bella discovers Edwards was a vampire was terribly rushed. Of course, it had to be...but still. I see why they condensed scenes and combined them. They didn't need Jacob to explain all the legends, the Cold Ones...they needed a reason for Bella to break off from Jessica and Angela while shopping for dresses. And in the book, we can read Bella's mind, it's her story after all, but in the movie we can't - they had to set it up. Still, the restaurant scene is pivotal in the book. It's when she and Edwards are finally, nearly, completely honest with each other. And the waitress was ridiculous - did anybody notice how AWFUL her hair was? I did like the kitchen scene, although Esme was sort of goofy and Alice's "You do smell nice" was creepy. The Claire de Lune scene and scampering up the trees as if Edward was Spiderman instead of just an incredibly strong vampire was weird...and unnecessary. And yet, the scenery was beautiful. They chose an awesome location for filming. The meadow scene was also incredibly disappointing. It was supposed to be their first date. Planned. Instead it was some random skipping portions of school. I felt like they were trying to have this deeply spiritual, romantic moment and then they skipped off back to class. Not to mention, it was still dark and creepy a bit, whereas it was supposed to be a NICE day. The baseball scene was probably my favorite. Oh, and I was terribly disappointed with how easy it was for Bella to escape to the ballet studio. I mean, seriously, Alice and Jasper were strict prison guards, she was lucky to have gotten away in the book. And they just made them both so aloof. I don't know. It was sort of retarded. And yet I expected the whole movie to be. I was just hoping to be pleasantly surprised, and yet, I wasn't.

I think that Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart did a good job. I loved the guy that played Charlie, and that was really my favorite part. We got to see more of Bella's relationship with her dad. A lot of my favorite scenes had Charlie in it. Actually, I was pretty happy with the cast in general. I only hope that Taylor Lautner will rise to the occasion when he has a bigger part in New Moon. He was rough around the edges, and it didn't matter because he's not so important in Twilight. But next movie, he'll be critical. Do you think they'll get someone stronger and bigger for him after he phases? I suppose not. He might be OK.

In the end, having low expectations seemed key. Since I wasn't too terribly ecstatic about it (though, admittedly, got more so as the release date approached) I didn't have to worry about being let down. Still, it was Twilight. And I'm a Twilight addict. Therefore, I enjoyed it. I liked it - OK? I like Edward. Even in the movie when they give him uncharacteristic lines, and I had to laugh out loud at the "death glare" Robert Pattinson tries to deliver when he first smells Bella...it was ludicrous... I will inevitably own this movie. I will probably see it again when it comes to the dollar theater. Maybe twice - depending on who I can get to go with me.