Twilight opened in theatres to lines of screaming teenage fans across the country. Twilight was released to DVD as people held release parties in retail stores across the globe. The book series by Stephenie Meyer has caused an uproar of fans and has left everyone familiar with Edward and Bella’s love story with a twist. So what’s all the fuss about?
Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart from Panic Room and Into The Wild) is an average teenage girl who moves from sunny Arizona to the wettest, dreariest place in the United States – Forks, Wash. Bella feels unamused to be living with her father and going to a new school, setting up the plot for the all too overdone teenage flick. However, this story has a dangerous twist.
As Bella struggles with her new life, she becomes intrigued with the pale-faced, introverted Cullen family as one of them becomes even more intrigued with her. Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) steals the stage through stunningly good looks and a mysterious presence. As Bella begins to uncover the Cullen’s mysteries, she discovers they are a family of vampires who have spent their lives becoming affluent while drinking animal blood (deer, bear, etc.) instead of human.
Good thing for Bella, since Edward thirsts for her blood and is in a constant battle of self-control.
Bella falls madly in love with Edward, but who wouldn’t? Apart from the mere fact that he is a vampire, he’s amazingly intelligent, caring, and strong, the most protective lover anyone could ever have, and he loves Bella too. He’s perfect, minus the hunger for blood.
Catherine Hardwicke was the director who sought to bring this story to life on the big screen. Since directing teenage films such as Thirteen (2003) and Lords of Dogtown (2005), Hardwicke knew a lot about the audience of Twilight. Hardwicke stays close to the book although some fans may be upset that everything they love in the book is not in the movie. Hardwicke had never worked on a project as big as Twilight or anything like Twilight, so with that being said she directed a decent flick. Not a great flick because the film seemed to lack the flow of events and scenes that the book had.
Hardwicke is fantastic at creating the mood and atmosphere of the setting and story. Shot in moody, washed-out tones by Hardwicke’s regular lenses, the audience is able to sense foreboding and understand the dreariness of Forks. Visual effects, used to convey the vampires’ superhuman strength, agility and resistance to gravity, are excellent and exciting. Scenes in the deep forest as Edward seems to fly from tree to tree with Bella on his back are exactly how they are depicted in the book. These aspects of the film are flawless and breathtaking.
Casting for the movie was on spot. Kristen Stewart gives a stunning performance, bringing Bella’s earthy and withdrawn character to life. Robert Pattinson fits the role of Edward with his charming good looks and seems to find ease with diminishing his British accent. However, many of the scenes involving the two seemed forced and interactions seem awkward. This is due to the script giving the actors nearly nothing to work with. The dialogue and interactions do not express the extreme love for each other as the book did.
Other actors include Billy Burke as Charlie Swan and Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black who both do well in their small roles. The rest of the vampire family ( Ashley Greene, Peter Facinelli, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Jackson Rathbone and Elizabeth Reiser) do an excellent job giving off an aura of mystery while remaining stunningly beautiful.
Is Twilight is love-fest for teenage girls to swoon over? Yes. But Twilight can be enjoyed by other people as well. The movie is able to give a deeper look at lust and love. Those that do not particularly enjoy the book series may find that the movie added to the mood and feel of the story – and yes, Edward does dazzle.
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