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Photo: Summit Entertainment
May I just say how much I love you guys? Reading the comments after I post one of these is so much fun, and your compliments give me the extra juice to get it done after a long day. (Mmkay that sounds a little dirty… didn’t mean it like that at all… awk-ward.) I feel like we’re all one big support group for Twilight. Aww, group hug!
(Cracks knuckles) Alright, here we go, I’m bout to lay into the movie again. Hoo-RAH!
I’m also going to plug my other article, where right now we are all voting on who we’d cast in the movie of “The Host”! Click here to vote, as many times as you want!
www.examiner.com/x-10163-Denver-Creative-Arts-Examiner~y2009m6d26-Time-for-voting-You-cast-the-movie-of-Stephenie-Meyers
Number #6 Suckiest – Congratulations, Edward is now a creepy stalker.
From the moment Bella enters the classroom, it seemed they set Edward on the wrong spin... from there it just whirls and teeters out of control. He holds his nose as she walks in front of the fan - okay, fans of the novel understand what’s going on but to the rest of the audience, she smells terrible. Or somebody farted. (Certainly not one of the vampires… or… wait. Do they? I bet they fart glitter that smells like rainbows, Stephenie.)
But let’s be honest. How many of you watched this movie with people who hadn’t read the book? And of those people, how many of you had to explain that no, Edward wasn’t creepy, he’s not a stalker, he… watches… her… sleep because it’s… romantic. Uh. Whoops. Things that came off as sweet and loving in the book were just not carried over well onscreen. I think they would have greatly benefited from the inclusion of the deleted scene of Bella having a dream about kissing Edward. Something showing that she would have loved it if Edward were in her bedroom at night would have made him seem far less disturbing. I mean, in Port Angeles, at dinner when he confesses he was following her… it just didn’t have that effect of making your heart swell with delight like it did in the novel. (No tinglies. I miss the tinglies.)
Number #6 Greatest – Edward dashing over to stop the van
A moment of pure glee! Finally! They were (too) few and far between for “Twilight” fans in this film, but here is one where I definitely felt some chills and heard some squeals in the audience. The lingering looks between Bella and Edward as they fidget at their cars after school, and suddenly, screeching tires as this supermassive blue van comes sliding towards Bella. Out of nowhere, there is Edward, and he stops the van easily, swiftly; gracefully. The look they give as they turn to face each other… (commence squealing!). Edward awkwardly removes his hand from her back, stands up and leaves.
Wait-a-second. He should have left around the front of the truck; because boy is it obvious he’s there when everyone goes rushing over. I mean, come on, how did no one else see that? That’s my only complaint. In the book, no one has any idea that he helped save her, and he also didn’t run away from her, he stayed to make sure she was fine because he was so worried. But otherwise, oh it’s romantic. This is a point in the film when they come close to actually hitting that romantic sexy tension that we love so much in the novel.
As I watched this movie with my friend Sarah, she did point out something technically wrong in this scene. She grew up in the north, went to school up north, and she reminded me that at the end of the school day, all the ice would have melted down and become slush. So, for the van to run over a patch of ice and slide is unlikely. (Slush, maybe) However, I know from living here in Colorado, that sometimes patches would melt and then freeze again when the sun wasn’t on them anymore. So, it’s 50/50. It happens in the book, I’m gonna let that one slide here.
Number #5 Suckiest – Rosalie… what happened to you?
For some reason, it is far more upsetting to me to see a naturally tan woman caked in white flour, than to see a naturally white woman caked in bronzer. In this case, Nikki Reed looks like she got hosed down by Casper the ghost. Because, oh wait, that’s what happens when you cast a Cherokee/Italian heritage woman as a whiter-than-hell vampire. And bleach her hair for thirty hours until it looks like a pasty cat you flung at her head. Now don’t get me wrong, Nikki Reed is fantastic, and does a pretty good job of playing Rosalie as a character. But, Summit, Stephenie, Catherine, we’re all big girls. Give us some credit. We understand that because you cast Nikki, Rosalie isn’t gonna look exactly like she did in the book. So, let her take off those ridiculous gloves, put down the ten-inch stripper heels and let the girl have a little bit more of her natural beauty back. The freakishly pale skin and glove bit only worked for Michael Jackson (may he rest in peace). Now, in the New Moon trailer, they’ve got her looking pretty darn good, with a high quality wig and glove-less outfit, so I’m very pleased. But then again, doesn’t just about everything look better in the New Moon trailer? Can I get a hell-yeah?
Number #5 Greatest – The times when it actually had a little dignity in the details
We can start off with the breathtaking, beautiful scenery. The opening of the film in particular, starting with the shot of the desert that blurs into the tree covered snowy state of Washington. Speaking of the opening, the speech from the novel being the start of the film is just fantastic. Thank you Melissa. And thank you Summit, for not changing the logo of “Twilight” from the novel cover.
While Eric Yorkie stinks in my opinion, Mike Newton, oh how I love thee. And Jessica, you two-faced hew-were (sound it out), I adore you.
Thanks for making Bella clumsy, and an even bigger thank you to Kristen Stewart for pulling it off naturally. When she slides on the front steps in front of Charlie that looked so real, because it wasn’t overdramatic. People who fall on purpose tend to flail around a lot. Also, points added for Bella’s beautiful lullaby, and for the fact that Robert Pattinson played it himself. Granted, it was in a weird dream-like room that we hadn’t seen nor do we see again in the movie, and the song was supposed to be hummed as she fell asleep, but no matter! It was a good song, much more dignified and classy than I would have expected and I will leave it at that.
Number #4 Suckiest – The “How long have you been 17?” scene
There was a perfect opportunity for all that to be clarified in the car ride, just like it was in the novel. The car scene in the film even was a bit sexy and had the right kind of tension. To add this conversation to it would have made it better. To drag it out waiting for this crap scene, (where they’re somehow able to wander off school property without someone noticing?) and have it become this the weird spinning crap when Edward comes clean to Bella? Bad Catherine, bad!
Then he starts hauling her off like some twangy country and western song, “Come here woman so I can teach you a lesson”… excuse me? He’s a gentleman, hello!
So then he tosses her on his back (okay now, that I’d be totally fine with) and starts running. Yeesch. I get that it cost a lot of money (and pain) to achieve this effect, but once you saw the final results, wouldn’t you fix it? This is too big of a black mark on the film to just ignore.
He sets her down and unbuttons his shirt to reveal his sparkly self. Instead of looking the least bit organic, like it could actually be real, they chose to go with the “My Little Pony On Crack” look. With the added bonus of twinkly sound effects, as if we weren’t able to grasp the blinding result on the screen. Come to think of it, that sound effect was probably added so that upon further viewings, when you are eventually blinded, you know what’s going on. Pause the film at 52:37. You can almost hear him saying, “Ugh, my sparkles suck.”
The “as if you could outrun me!” line… yes, I get the self-loathing and frustration, but really it just sounds like the super-awkward kid in high school who thinks he can trick everyone into thinking he’s funny if he shouts really loud. Ouch, Edward, that was my eardrum. No, I will not meet you at your locker after lunch.
Okay, every second of this scene is like a slap in the face. My cheeks are numb and I’m having trouble counting all the glaring problems here. Hold on. Okay, now Edward has pulled the tree branch and says he’s like, some nasty killer psycho and she should obviously go running in the opposite direction, hands flailing over her head. Instead, she blurts out, “I don’t care.” Riiiiiiiii-ght. Sigh; let me explain this to you, actors and directors. Bella… does not care because she loves Edward, can feel that he’s a good person, and knows he would never hurt her. Kristen… says it like she truly doesn’t give a damn he’s a killer. There’s a big difference between loving someone, and just being an ignorant crazy person who likes to date self-destructively.
Then Edward speeds off, mid-freaking-conversation to jump around some trees. Okay, veering dangerously toward the awkward kid in class again. The line about heroin is devastatingly misused, for without the entire explanation, it sounds hopelessly overdramatic.
Finally, we get to a bit of dialogue that doesn’t suck so much, and is actually kind of satisfying. This scene ends (mercifully) with us being dragged across the meadow scene, grasping at it frantically, but as we’re being shoved, we are forced to move on. Shame on you, Catherine!
Number #4 Greatest – Catherine Hardwicke Yay/ Boo
Do any of us realize just how bad this could have been? Oh my God… I watched some behind the scenes clips (I’m sure 99% of you have seen these too) of Stephenie Meyer talking about the kinds of offers she was getting, and then some of the things that Summit themselves suggested, and my jaw just hit the floor. Floor length gowns with chokers, Bella on a jetski… we were saved from sheer ruination by Catherine Hardwicke. If they had hired someone who didn’t understand the girly, giggly, teenage-love side of this story… it would have been utterly damned from the beginning. Catherine set in place certain rules that further directors cannot touch, and for that, we thank her endlessly. (Multi-racial casting, for one.) No matter how much they will improve on the following films, we owe a debt to Catherine Hardwicke. She will forever be our installed “safety”.
But, in the ways in which she failed us all… ah, Catherine. Do I really need to get specific here? The buck stops with you, Madame, and I hold you responsible for most of this list. It is your job to get-er-done and that is why they pay you the big bucks. I know ya got it in ya, look at “Thirteen” and “Lords of Dogtown”! You don’t suck! So… what happened?
Number #3 Suckiest – The lack of heat!
Really, we get it. This book was written by a religious woman who came up with a great reason for them to abstain from sex. If it were me, I would’ve been even pushier than Bella was, but hey, I buy into the story and it didn’t bother me (too much). For some reason, the books were able to pump the hot, steamy, shuddery sexual tension into nearly every line. The dialogue, the action; it was so seductive. What you missed in actuality, you got in undertones. This is something that they completely neglected to have in the movie! This is the undercurrent, folks. The bloodflow, the heartbeat… the heat! Even with the icy cold vampires, there was heat! Instead, we got this strange awkwardness that left us going, uh… what happened to Edward and Bella? They’re kinda… acting like fifteen year olds on a first date. Edward ain’t acting like he’s had a hundred years to practice the art of seduction.
Number #3 Greatest – The “Don’t move.” kissing scene
The amount of heat cooking in this scene almost, almost makes up for the complete lack of it in the rest of the movie. Oh man, I felt the room spinning during that one! I mean, that moment when he surrenders control and pushes her down to get on top of her… oh my. Asldkjlllllllllllllllllll… wait, what was I saying? Of course, it was ruined by Edward launching himself off of her like a stunt man on a springboard, but I forgive because that’s what he did in the novel. Only, less like Travis Pastrana and more like, “Hey, let’s cool this down a bit”.
Number # 2 Suckiest – The cheese factor
Just overall, the tone was different. In the novel, it feels like it’s happening to you. In the movie, it feels like you’re being told about it. That’s a very dangerous line to cross, and you have to be extremely careful when you do it. You have to make sure that your audience is brought into the world, not left on the outside looking in. If you act cavalier about it, take things like that for granted, you can come across cheesy and stupid. And that’s exactly what happened here; it’s the trap door that the “Twilight” movie fell thru.
For instance, the terrible, terrible “we have to explain” dialogue, which could have been avoided with decent backstories. We missed so much that we could have gotten with a few extra minutes of not grainy footage of their collective pasts. Mark my words, you people will regret leaving this stuff out later on, because you’re eventually going to have to explain it to the audience. Otherwise, by the time we get to Breaking Dawn, people are going to be having aneurysms. And if you don’t fix it by then, I’ll be begging for one.
The makeup, oh the lines on their foreheads are so obvious it’s painful. Look at Esme in the kitchen scene. Which reminds me, why the hell are they living in this modern architecture house? Wasn’t their home a Victorian-style mansion of sorts? I hate modern architecture and I was born in the 80’s, I can’t imagine someone born before the 1900’s would think much of it either. And thank the Lord almighty for Chris Weitz and his ability to make Laurent look pale. I guess nobody wanted to touch the African American guy with white makeup before, but come on! He didn’t even look ill, let alone dead.
The porn-stache on Charlie can go, pretty please, give the man a goatee or a beard or just shave his damn face. We get that he’s her Dad simply because he acts like it, which is a million times more important than facial pubes. (Whew - that’s a gross term.)
The restaurant scene, and the “What are they thinking?” bit. “Money, money, sex, sex, cat.” Cat? What the – and the expression on the dude’s face! Makes me laugh yes, but… so no appropriate. Just eternally weird.
Which also reminds me… Edward’s little savior act in Port Angeles. In the novel, he doesn’t even get out of the car because he’s afraid of what he’d do to the men that are after Bella. (By the way, they were grown men, not tweeny-bopping boys whose @sses the Jonas Brothers could kick.) So, to kick up the action, Catherine thought it would be best for Edward to get out of the car and… what? Go “Booga booga!” at them and then have them just… run away? Are you freaking kidding me? This is insulting! How can we possible imagine anyone being afraid of Edward Cullen now?
The odd introduction of Billy and Jacob Black. Awk-ward. Two syllables. (Wait, that’s normally two syllables. But… you get the idea.)
After Edward flirts with Bella in his bedroom, he leaps out of his window and tells her to hang on tight as they jump around like monkeys. Yet after hauling Bella up the final tree, he lets her climb around all by herself? Theoretically he could launch himself out and catch her if she fell, but it just doesn’t seem very “Edward-like” of him to heave the accident-prone love of his life hundreds of feet up in the air and then leave her to her own discretion and petty-human arm muscles.
Number #2 Greatest – Kristen Stewart
Bella is written as a loner, an awkward girl who doesn’t get along with girls her own age, who is moody, and a bit dark. Kristen Stewart captured this perfectly, whether because she’s similar to Bella in personality or whether she’s simply a good actor, we do not know. I found that out of all the ways they turned this novel into something childish, they were saved by casting a girl who could act, who could make it seem natural, who could react genuinely. A girl who isn’t going to giggle and say “like totally” in every sentence. My God, how would we have dealt if this had been some Hillary Duff - type actress? I’ve read plenty of blogs about Kristen’s annoying habits, something about inhaling a lot and blinking too frequently… and I just keep coming back around to the fact that some people have too much time on their hands. (Cough cough, not me, no way.) Every actor has certain behaviors, and if you stare at them under a microscope, you’re going to find them. (Shia LaBeouf says, “No, no, no, no, no!” Robert Downey Jr. talks super-fast, and Keira Knightley pouts.) Especially if you’re angry at them and looking for a reason to hate them.
And all those girls who sit there and whine that she can’t act, well, half of them are watching “Gossip Girl” and “One Tree Hill” and “Smallville” and thinking those are the greatest trained actors in the history of the world. Which is a hell of a stretch. If you’re going to claim Kristen Stewart sucks, you can’t say she needs to be replaced by a CW actor. I don’t know any of those people who have starred in Academy Award nominated films in the last two years, (Into The Wild) or who have worked alongside Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Meg Ryan, Sean Penn, and Bruce Willis. Case closed.
I’m not going to sit here and demand she win an Academy Award for “Twilight”. I’m fortunate enough to not be mentally damaged (though some would disagree). However, I think she saved this film from becoming a complete parody of the book we all love by anchoring it with a realistic depiction of Bella. Remember, she’s playing the role of someone who we’d all like to imagine doesn’t exist. Because when we read this book, it’s ourselves going through this, it’s me, and it’s you who is in love with Edward. (And who Edward loves!) So any actress standing onscreen is going to be immediately recognized as one because she’s blocking our view of Edward. Going into it with that in mind, look at her again.
Number #1 Suckiest – The almost criminal neglect of developing the love story
So many fantastic lines, wasted! If you notice, they don’t actually say “I love you” once in this whole movie! The point is… so much time is spent on everything but the damn love story in this movie. Charlie, Renee, Jessica, Eric, Mike, Jacob, Billy, Weyland, the nomadic vampires set-up, the baseball scene, come on already. This is a love story. So make it that way. Sheesh.
Number #1 Greatest – Robert Pattinson.
Ah, is there much to say? Just look at him. I drooled all over myself when I first saw him in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” as Cedric Diggory, so you can imagine my hysterical joy when I found out he’d be playing Edward Cullen. Now, some of you do not share my views, and that’s unfortunate, but the majority of fans are thrilled to have him. (See video of him being choked by fans in NYC) The eyes, the lips, the cheekbones, the jawline, the crooked smile, the soulful singing, the deep mind… sigh. Good stuff, Summit. Let’s be completely honest here. Most actors when given this role would never have done the massive amount of research that Robert Pattinson did for it. This guy took it seriously, as serious as an Academy Award nominated role. Which, for the Twilight movie, was so deeply appreciated instead of just winging it and knowing that he’d be loved no matter what. So thank you, Robert, for taking it seriously and for giving us the best Edward Cullen we could possibly deserve. Thank you, thank you.
And that’s it! Wow, I can’t believe I finally finished it. Whew. Cheers, everyone, to a fantastic “New Moon”, and I’ll be right here waiting when that one is released on DVD as well. Same for “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn”… which I’m having difficulty even wrapping my mind around. But I am rubbing my hands together in anticipation. It’s gonna be good stuff, stay tuned! Thank you so much for reading, again, from the bottom of my heart.
♦ Honorable Mention ♦
I wrote this in my notes but completely forgot to include this in my article!
When they say goodbye at the car, it is so gut wrenching and beautiful. From Bella’s look of panicked desperation at the thought of being apart or even losing him, and Edward trying to reassure her but truthfully being terrified himself… then he tells her that she’s his life, crushes his eyes together in pain, and looks so torn that it just kills me! And they end with the cars peeling out leaving Edward teetering precariously between them. Excellent.
Also, this too! The scene in which Bella "breaks up" with Edward, packs in front of her father, then breaks his heart to save him as she leaves... this was done so beautifully! With so much maturity and intelligence, I was wondering why this scene was so much more sophisticated than the others. I truly loved how they didn't explain what was happening to the audience before it starts, so you're confused just like Charlie as Bella tells Edward to get out! Then she runs up the stairs and as she opens her bedroom door, we catch a glimpse of Edward's silhouette. Fantastic! I just loved it!
Link to "Top Ten Greatest and Suckiest Things About "Twilight" the Movie - Number 10: www.examiner.com/x-10163-Denver-Creative-Arts-Examiner~y2009m6d8-The-top-ten-greatest-and-suckiest-things-about-Twilight-the-movie
Link to "Top Ten Greatest and Suckiest Things About "Twilight" the Movie - Number 9: www.examiner.com/examiner/x-10163-Denver-Creative-Arts-Examiner~y2009m6d15-The-top-ten-greatest-and-suckiest-things-about-Twilight-the-movie--9
Link to "Top Ten Greatest and Suckiest Things About "Twilight" the Movie - Numbers 8&7: www.examiner.com/x-10163-Denver-Creative-Arts-Examiner~y2009m6d30-The-top-ten-greatest-and-suckiest-things-about-Twilight-the-movie--8--7
Also, some of you have asked where you can follow me on Twitter. (That's very flattering, thank you!) Since you asked, here's the link! twitter.com/meganhorizon
Comments
Hi, I'm one of the one's who watched the movie prior to reading the book and really did hear any of the hoopla over the movie or Robert Pattinson. Most of your comments were on point. But I never thought of Edward as a stalker. Since the movie was from Bella's POV, all the scenes were about her seeking out Edward and trying to illict information about the Cullens. I wish the car and meadows scenes were extended and reflected as written in the book. I wish we could have seen them fall in love more, the questioning of each other.
I agree with you regarding the Edward's mindreading in the resturant. They could of made for explicit the waitress coming on to Edward and Edward only having eyes for Bella.
But unlike you, I like them playing in the trees. You got to remember, Bella maybe clumsy but she is fearless and that is one of the key reasons why a love between her and Edward can exist.
But I'm really interested in how Taylor will play Jacob. He is a boy and Robert is
Robert is a man playing a boy. And even with the hunky body, I don't see how Taylor will be able to hold his own in New Moon and Eclispe.
Also I loved Robert's song, "Let me Sign". He sounds like Van Morrison. Robert sounds like an old celtic soul. No Jonas Brother in Pattinson's music.
Ps. As for Rosalie gloves in the kitchen scene. Nikki injured her hands in the first take and you can't have a vampire with visible scars.
Lastly, Catherine has a bigger budget this time around-so the special effects and the vampire makeup should be better. But I hear she is being replaced for Eclipse with another director. I guess because Eclipse has more of an action vibe to it.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
All of my friends who saw the movie go on and on about how awful everything was, and while I admit that the meadow scene made me want to cry because it was so bad, and the complete lack of story development between edward and bella was really disappointing, most of it I really enjoyed. It may have had something to do with Rob, but I also loved the little details of the scenery, Kristin Stewart's clumsiness, and of course, the sexiest kiss scene I've ever seen on film.
I cannot wait to see what christ weitz does with New Moon, (the previews are already making my heart race!) because he'll have a bigger budget, and a bigger fanbase (as we've all scene in headlines) to motivate him and all the crew. It's going to be fantastic!
One thing about the van/ice scene - in the book, that happened first thing in the morning (not sure if it was morning in the movie too...). Remember - Edward goes back to school for the day? So that part actually makes sense...
Rob saved the movie single handed! Not only did he have Edward down to a tee - but he NEVER bad mouthed fans (KStew did) and even if the Twilight Series is not his cup of tea - he seemmed intrested in the books - he read all of them right away - unlike other actors...
On To Rosalie...That is a shame. She does a good bitch...Her wardrobe was out of TJMAXX and yea - WHY not cast Anna Lynn McCord? She is NATUARL blonde - who plays a great bitch! Wanna know why? Nikki Reed is Cathrine Hardwicks "pet" movies Nikki and Cathrine have done together - 13, Lorda of Dogtown, Its the only way to explain how a naturally "tan" girl got the role of a pale, blonde vampire.
It sucks - the rest of the movies will be so much better - When we all have our Box set and Twilight movie nights - when we pop in the first of the series - it will look even worse by the end of the night - Although I am kinda scared for Breaking Dawn
I loved the movie - LOVED the books - and am obsessed with Robert Pattinson. I have nothing bad to say about any of it!
Megan, I completely agree with everything. Great writing. I love reading your articles.
P.S. Sonya, luckily Catherine Hardwicke is not directing New Moon either. Chris Weitz is.
Oh my... you have saying every thought that I have for the film. I meant, I love the book I love the way the love story developed in Stephanie novel, but I was so sad of the movie. I meant i see the movie before read the book and when I read the book I was so disappointment. This movie look like a completely different one or a bad copy. The only think I’m not with you is on Kristen, I meant, she just look annoying, I don't feel like she was in the role, there's no face expression on her and not feelings, I don't know I don't like her as Bella. But Robert, that’s other thing he save the movie, he's a great actor and I know he would love to do a better job here, but he have to act with what he have. So I’m looking forward to see what its going to happen in New Moon. I think Catherin fail in so much and Summit know that and that’s why she isn't in the New Moon or Eclipse. What make me nervous is that I read somewhere that is a provably that she could direct Breaking Down, that suck
#5 Suckiest:
Nikki wore the gloves coz she cut her hand open and had a massive cut/scar across her hand
and the overly high heels were to make ashley look shorter coz ash is actually taller than nikki but obviously alice is suppose to be tiny. so they had to make rosalie look taller to give the effect that alice is short
awesome! i totally agree with everything you said! it does kind of seem weird that they never said i love you, it seems that they saw each other and just instantly fell in love. it definitely wasn't like that in the book. the people that haven't read the book will just be going off of this movie when they go see new moon, and they're going to wonder why all of a sudden they are hopelessly in love with each other. and why bella would go to all the trouble to chase after edward all the way to italy if they've never professed their love to each other.
anyway, love your articles, hope you have more twilight articles up your sleeve. thanks!
LOL! Your assessment is hilarious. D'accord with the exception of the praise to K Stuart. I felt like callling 911 asking for asthma medication delivered in Forks. Pluease. Seriously, if you blinked that much looking at someone - even a vampire - he WOULD offer you a drop of Visine. She was portrayed as mentally challenged, not clumsy. (maybe the actor's own challenge, who knows?) Rosalie looked like a WalMart jeans catalog gone wrong. I got the glove as protection for her hands while throwing the hissy-glass-breaking fit, though. maybe I was wrong? What's with the sparkly heels though? The meadow scene was butchered - and could have been the IT. KS stomping through the moss and tanking a stance of sate con about to be patted down was atrocious - add the asthmatic breathing gaps, and not even Rob's not so chivalrous sling-her-a-ton could save the scene. At the top of the mountain, she manages to tell him she's afraid at the worst of times. in the worst of ways... I'm eating lamb today
I'm really glad I didn't see all the negative things you all talk about in the movie - I LOVED the movie and LOVED THE BOOKS and I saw the movie 7 times in the theater and enjoyed EVERY SECOND of it EVERY TIME ...sorry you others couldn't just enjoy it like I did and intead you picked every second of it apart like that.. I still love it!! I also LOVE every person they put in that movie - I wouldn't have recast ANYONE.. Rob Pattinson was perfect - because he had some pretty tough shoes to fill.
I think you nailed everything I love and hate about the movie just perfectly. I absolutely loved the books, and have read them all four times, but the movie was lacking for sure.
They may not have said "I Love You" in the movie, but Edward mouthed it to her....in the scene where she is in the car, headed off to Phoenix with Alice and Jasper, and they are talking and he told her "you are my life".....right after that he mouthed "I love you". You have to look very closely (I rewound several times to catch it).
OMG.. good one.. i laughed the whole time lol
i agree in almost everything
good job!!
Nice work, Megan. I agree with easily 90%. But even as busy as I am, there is always time to say Kristen Stewart hurt this film. The deep emotions she felt for Edward as they parted ways in the Cullen's garage must have been very deep, very very deep, because I couldn't even see them, feel them - sense that they were there. I'm afraid she left me feeling as cold as, well a vampire. Thanks for mentioning the "weird spinning crap" in the woods.
Gosh, Megan, you are DEAD ON in your comments! I hope they do a much better job in sticking to the book when Eclipse is filmed this summer. The dialogue between Edward and Bella is precious and it would be a shame if those conversations were mangled in the name of creating more "action" in the film. These are LOVE stories afterall.
If the director is listening, please, please keep the tender dialogue between Edward and Bella -- Chap. 20 "Compromise," Chap. 19 "Selfish," parts of Chap. 23 "Monster" and of course the Epilogue. There is wonderful dialogue in each of those chapters that I hope is faithfully reproduced in Eclipse, my favorite of the four books.
Good stuff...smart analysis. It's weird because I can't NOT watch the movie yet it is such a disappointment. Its rare to have a favorite movie that you actually don't think is that great. I attribute that to the things you pointed out in the greatest moments. #1 & #2 being most poignant. Where would this movie have been without Robert & Kristen? And while its a love hate relationship with what Catherine did or rather DIDN'T do...she did lay some great groundwork. My biggest loss was the love story too. I hope we get it back in New Moon...it MUST come back for the final 2 movies to have a chance. Otherwise the movies can end up no better than paparazzi videos people watch just to have a glimpse of Robert Pattinson. So sad but I have hope!
omg, I lOVE YOU!!! You are right on!
The only things I would have added would be: ~the awkward scene when she meets the family and says, 'badly, as in I would become the meal'. UGH!! I can't even watch that part!
~And I thought the meadow scene was weird. The way their bodies were laying?? what was that??? And she looked crazy when she said 'I'm only scared of losing you.' I would have done a retake on that one.
I completely agree....Them falling in love was sorely neglected! And...Rob is the very best part of the movie! Perfect Edward in every way!
~Sonya, Catherine has no budget this time around cuz she was fired! (thank goodness).
~Oh, but I do have to give her props for the apple scene! Looks like the bookcover and was very creative to add that in!
I think Chris Weitz will do a phenomenal job, just concerned about the engagement being left out. ugh
~Also, they left out the hot, steamy kiss in the garage before she left with Jasper and Rosalie! That needed to be in
Oh, I thought the fight scene was good! A little weird when he ripped his throat to pieces but, whatev. He is a vampire! Cam Gigandet was great! I think Kristen could have stepped it up a little. She was good but needs to be better...Rob is perfect :-D
You are awesome girl!!!
I totally agree whit you… and you made it funny
Please keep writing it was really good
I wanna know if you have a twitter page so I can fallow your articles because it worth it
You did this so well! I love the "My Little Pony on Crack" comment! That was a perfect way to describe this scenario.
I am with you completely about Kristen Stewart. I don't think they could have found an actress any more natural to play that part! She is perfect for it. There are enough of those "Like OMG!" girls out there. Thank God for real actors/actresses!
okay, so everything youve wrote is 100% true !
and for #5 they do that scene in the High School Gym !
you cansee the effing banner in the background !
lmao.
Rob did excellent though (:
Soooo much to agree with.
Catherine did horrible and great at the same time, i mean you cant hate it cos its aboutTwilight come on !
lmao, but seriously i was about to kill myself when the medow scene ended i was all geared up, me and my best friend squeezing eachothers hands in anticipation and then it was over-WTX?!
im mad at that 100%
my favorite part was the kissing scene and the baseball scene (mainly due to MUSE as the background music)
New Moon is going to be ssooooo much better,
but you have to thing they also have SO MUCH MORE MONEY.
the budjet is a lot higher.
and im excited (:
and they say "I LOVE YOU !"
WOOOOOO HOOOOO !
haha, love your entries, continue writing.
check out my YouTube page where i dish about Twilight just search TwiHardsMD
Thanks, jess.
Wow...can I just say BOTH your #1s were spot on! LOVE Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen...AND HATE that they didn't develop the beautiful love story that 'is' Twilight. Without it...the whole thing falls flat. So, thank you! I really enjoyed reading your updates over the past few weeks. :)
I noticed the "#1 suckiest" while watching the movie in the theatre. it made me so mad! the movie was good, but the book was defintly much much better! they should have included SOMEWHERE in the entire movie them saying i love you. Kristen and Rob have great chemistry, but still it didn't feel like as much of a love story as the book. i hope they do a better job in New Moon portraying the love aspect of the series.
Could not agree with you more. One thing I do not understand is people's comments about Kristen Stewart's lack of emoting/facial expressions. If anything she seemed to emote too much, to be in too much pain. She seemed alternately anxious, sad, and bemused. No joy. But then, falling for a vampire is not really cause for celebration. Anyhoo, great actress, truly expressive. Thank goodness critics and directors agree with you.
i agree that robs #1 but i think kristen sucks. she shows no emotions
sucky #7- i COMPLETELY agree. they should have had their moments like the book,
the squished van scene- well...ur right. even though it wasn't like the book..it was okay...not really romantic, but confused (on bella's part).yeah...
plus, they should have cast someone MUCH more prettier than nikki..not that she's not (she's amazing), it's just that she didn't live up to rosalie's beauty (only the beauty, not the character)
i HATED the meadow scene. it should have been like it was in the book.
i kinda dislike kristen because she barely smiles in the movie and in real life. though, she is PERFECT for the movie because she is clumsy and confused like bella. she is PERFECT for this role.
the best part of the movie WAS robert..*swoon*
he is hard-working and perfect for the role. he is (just like kristen is similar to bella) similar VERY MUCH to edward. that's why both of the couples (edward and bella:rob and k) are meant for each other. i only liked the movie cause its a twilight movie
This is freaking hilarious! :)
I think that a sucky thing of the whole Twilight movie, I dont know where it would go but you know, was Catherine's cutting of the Carlisle and Esme deleted scene! Why?? You see Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie a hell of a lot but Carlisle and Esme you see twice and three times. Why, god why?
So good!!
You were so right--Kristen rocked the hell outta this film. She is the reason--not Rob--why I wanted to see the movie so badly. And I didn't even know who she was before!
I see so many jealous Twihards dissing her all the time... come on guys get over it. We know you all wish you could kiss Robert Pattinson like that.
I agree with your sucky#1. There was no passion in each other eyes at all. But Rosalie thing, I thought she look pretty and beautiful. what ever
I really am confused as to how Kristen Stewart is a "great actress". She just doesn't make me believe her characters--she plays them exactly how she acts in real life. All of them are the same.
Thank you for being so funny and honest. I love your writing. You have definitely gained a new fan!! Keep up the great work, can wait to read more!
Loved it! Finally started (& finished) the entire series of books just last week and well after reading them all and finally seeing the DVD...I couldn't agree with you more. Though back to your previous post, had you not read the book and just seen the movie, there was just soooo much you can't pick up on. So as you said, if you don't read the books and just see the movies through Breaking Dawn, you will most definitely wish for an aneurysm!
I completely agree with your comments! I think Catherine missed the point completely. She cut out scenes that are vital to the storyline and put in scenes that are not only unnecessary, but contradict the story line. (ie making them eat at a cafe every night, when so many scenes in the other books occur around Bella cooking dinner.)
The only point you made that I wanted to clarify is about Rosalie wearing gloves. Apparently Nikki cut her hand the first time she broke the bowl so Catherine made her wear gloves. I agree it looks really bad.
The other thing that really disappointed me was that they cut out all of the humor. I hope the other movies will be funnier. It's not meant to be all dark & serious.
Some of my favorite scenes are the funny ones. I loved it when Rosalie bent the mixing bowl into a dog bowl and scratched "Fido" into it, and when Edward breathed into Bella hair to repel Jacob.
Summit should take a poll before making each movie so we can tell them what to i
I meant to say:
"Summit should take a poll before making each movie so that we can tell them which scenes to include."
(Somehow the last word was cut off.)
wow your obviously not that great of a fan if you dont know why nikki wore the gloves in the baseball scene it was freezing cold pretty much every one had gloves
and if you dont know why for the kitchen scene it was because nikki was playing the part and was using the breakaway glass it CUT HER HAND thats why she had gloves.
um Melanie the bowl thing was in breaking dawn
I totally agree with #1 greatest. The fact that he has such a talent musically, can act, and cared enough about doing a good job with this role that he did so much background, even writing a letter to his vampire father asking why he changed him, trying to get a feel for Edward's anguish and despair at being a monster, awesome! And lets not forget that face! Lord in heaven, that strong jaw and beautiful mouth do it for me every time!
All i can say is i HEART you loads..
i completely agree with all of it even though i did watch the film before the books but i do think they did a sort of good job with the film because everything that was important in the book you couldnt squish it into a 2hr film so i accept they had to cut short on most of them points which i hope doesnt happen that much in new moon
and on new moon .... YES my HEART stopped watching the trailer (hehe)
I first saw the movie, before I read the books and I must say that I found the movie to be very romantic and sweet, even before I knew all the dynamics within the full story. So while I agree with many of the points in your article, I can honestly state that with not knowing anything about the series before I watched the movie, I was able to follow the story line, pick-up the innuendos and completely fall in love with the story and of course with Edward. Since then I have read all the books (twice) and watched my Twilight DVD (quite often). I still love the movie!!!!
WOW. I think this is the best Twilight article I have ever read. I never new how to explain the neglect they had on Twilight, but you nailed it. Sigh. And of course I agree with you on the greatest parts. The movie shouldn't even be called Twilight, named after the famous, genus, amazing book. Thank you for writing such an awesome article.
I've noticed more of what you messioned and it's a pity they ommited so many things.
When I saw the movie I totally loved it! I didn't like only the fact that they just kissed twice, even if there were sooo many oportunities!!! Then I found out that it was based on a book!(I live in Greece,Europe) I read it, I adored it and I was kind of dissapointed by the movie... Where is the magnificent meadow scene? Where are the endless conversations of Edward and Bella? Where are the kisses??? Bella fainting when he kisses her??? I hope New Moon will be more like the book.
I agree with everything you said. It's a nice and objective article.
thank you so much for actually taking the time to write all of this. my sister and i just laughed throughout the entire movie. but probably another good part was cam gigandet as james. he played it beautifully in my own opinion
dude, i think you're hilarious. the whole glittery farts thing was awesome. that said, i agreed with you on like everything. especially the total lack of a love story. i watched it last night and realized for the first time that they never once said "i love you". that is an absolute crime. not to mention they almost never kiss, although the one was totally amazing. and they don't joke around as much as they do in the book, they're too serious all the time. i agreed on rosalie and alice, but i also think jasper was awesome too. and very very hot. and of course i loved rob and kristen, i thought they did great. and kristen is amazing, i don't care what anyone else said. i just hope that new moon is way better even tho they left out a lot of important details. but well done, thanks for writing this article!
I agree with you on so many things! but I think one of the suckiest things that you left out was the lack of mention on Jaspers abilities. He's emotional manipulation is a big deal in the other books, especially when he begins to explain to Bella how others emotions affect him as well. I hope that they some how find a way to work that back into a big. also I disagree wit "Future Ms. Pattinson" I think Kristen Stewart did an amazing job, she was naturally awkward and so Bella, my best friend and I talked about that Kristen plays the character I imagined Bella being in my head. I'm so hoping that the next movies do the saga justice!
Megan, check out my blog to you on twilightguide.com.
Number #6 Greatest – Edward dashing over to stop the van
If you watch closely no one moves towards Bella and the accident until Edward is gone-as if he moved so fast no one noticed that was even there. Though I agree on everything she's listed!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this list. I was in tears laughing and 100% agree with everything. As a huge Twilight fan (my dignity has long been gone), I loved your honest and hilarious insight. Can't wait for "New Moon" and hopefully another great list!
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