Twilight
2008 – Sci-Fi & Fantasy – PG 13
The Plot:
When Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) reluctantly moved to the perpetually overcast town of Forks, WA, and set out to carve a niche for herself, she assumed it would be one similar to the low-profile social position she held back in Phoenix. First on the list of surprises was the unfamiliar attention from the male population of her new high school; second, the attention from one male in particular: Edward Cullen, Vampire (Robert Pattinson). Before long, the unlikely soul mates find themselves in a passionate relationship with a variety of significant setbacks, including Edward’s special-needs diet (he doesn’t eat humans, but Bella’s scent inspires a nearly impossible to harness bloodlust) and the human girl’s mortality. Though things proceed relatively smoothly at first (Edward even introduces Bella to his adoptive vampire family), a visiting vampire clan consisting of James (Cam Gigandet), Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre), and Laurent (Edi Gathegi) catches Bella’s unique scent and threatens the young couple’s budding, if dangerous, happiness. James, known for his powerful tracking ability, becomes obsessed with making Bella his next victim. Fearing for Bella’s safety and that of her loved ones, the Cullens must combine their collective talents in order to stop the highly predatory James before his goal is accomplished. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
The Good:
Just about everything. A wonderful movie based on an even better book, although I didn’t find this movie seriously lacking from the novel version, as I usually do. They stuck to the storyline of the novel very closely, and I even think a few of the scenes from the movie worked better than the book, such as the scene in the woods where she confronts him about being a vampire. They couldn’t have cast better on almost all of the main characters, Edward is perfect, Alice is perfect as are Emmett, Jasper, Carlisle and Esme.
After reading the whole series of books and then watching the movie again, I did find that the movie doesn’t follow the book as closely as it could, which is kind of disappointing, but it’s still a great movie.
The Bad:
I’m not too fond of the casting on Bella or Rosalie. Bella shows almost not emotion throughout the entire movie – she always has the same expression on her face, which got a little annoying at first to me, and I’m not sure if she should have been quite so emotionless, even though it’s slightly how the character was written. I personally blame the director. But then after watching it a few times, I got over it. Rosalie was good in this movie, but she just didn’t seem to fit the character that she really is in the latter books in this series, but I guess I’ll wait and see. I’m also anxious to see how the character to Jacob Black does in the latter movies – he is quite a cutie!
The Recommendation:
It doesn’t matter if you’re into vampires or not, or sappy love stories – I think you’ll love the Twilight experience!
