Review: Twilight

[roguem]

The movie is not set for release here until January, but they had a pre-screening last weekend. So I was happy to see it early.

I went in to the screening with very low expectations. I’d read both good and bad reviews, and was convinced I’d end up agreeing with the bad ones, as I doubted they’d be able to translate the book to screen in a good way.
It’s not a brilliant cinematic achievement, but I liked it. They managed to take they key points form the book and put together a good story for the film. The changes that had been made in settings or information were for the most part understandable, and as a fan of the book I have to say I was pretty happy.

I think people who have read the book will get more out of the story, as there are a few threads that never really get to the surface of the film. My main complaint of the film is the editing; it feels fragmented at times. Jumping from situation to situation without letting certain things really develop and some characters left by the side.
I have a feeling there are dropped scenes, and I hope there will be a slightly extended version available at some point as I think the movie would have benefited from an extra 15-20 minutes. I probably would have dropped the flashback and fantasy shots for more story, even though they were short I would rather have had more of the story.

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson do a good job as Bella and Edward. I think they were good choices for the role, though I have to agree with the critics that Edwards initial reaction to Bella’s scent was a bit much. Other than that I have no complaints.
Initially I was not happy with Peter Facinelli being cast as Carlisle, but it didn’t take long before I let go of that. He was actually a very nice choice.
People have been going off on Jackson Rathbone, mostly because of his hair, but I have to say I thought he was the perfect choice. I just wish we’d have gotten to know him and the rest of the Cullens better in the film.
I also think Ashley Greene was perfect as Alice. I love the character and I was happy that they had found a good actress as well.
I liked the rest of the cast as well, there weren’t really anyone I felt was out of place or that I would have changed for someone else. Just wish there has been more time to get to know some of the characters a little better.

Personally I probably would have tightened the beginning of the film to leave more time to focus on James and building up the tension of that. Which also would have let us get to know the Cullens a little better.
All in all I really enjoyed the film. It’s not perfect, but I think it’s as close to the book as they could get within a 2-hour run time. It will end up in my DVD collection and I am very curious how they’ll translate the rest of the books to the screen. So in short, I’m happy. But I think those who have read the book will get more out of the movie experience than those who have not.

 

 

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/ladywolf_/]

Jeg likte filmen jeg og. Syntes den var veldig vakker. Boka ligger på stuebordet - men har ikke hatt tid til å lese den enda.
Sexy liten sak den filmen her - veldig gled jeg fikk sett den under førpremieren...

[roguem.livejournal.com]

Ja, den var nydelig filma. Stort pluss til kamera der altså.
Trur nok du kjeme til å like boka, den går jo litt djupare inn i alt.

[http://users.livejournal.com/ladywolf_/]

hadde tenkt å lese den i sommer, mn jeg fikk liksom aldri kjøpt den. Nå er den min! Nå skal den leses! jeg må bare lese ferdig i hvert fall en av de andre bøkene jeg holder på med. Tror nok jeg kommer til å kose meg med den.

[roguem.livejournal.com]

Ja, er nok lurt å komme i mål med andre før du begynner på denne. Eg raste igjennom den på to dager. Var rimelig villt med takne på kor treigt eg leser. ;p

men då har du isåfall noko å kose deg med i jula. :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/ladywolf_/]

Joda. Men så holder man på med to massive bøker fra før.. Så jeg har nok mer noe å kose meg med på nyåret :p

Tenker det går fort å pløye gjennom den da.. Det er så bra når man treffer bøker som virkerlig bare er perfekte å lese fort. Meg og Dan Brown bøker.. De går så utrolig fort..

[roguem.livejournal.com]

Oisann, då så ja. Har ein del å ta tak i eg og, men pleier å ta ein og ein.
du raser nok igjennom dei ja.

[lostandalone22.livejournal.com]

I didn't read the book before seeing the movie, but I really enjoyed it.

[roguem.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked it. I'm looking forward to the DVD.
I do recommend the book though as it fills in some info, and it's quite good. :)

[roguem.livejournal.com]

It's not the best thing ever, but I really enjoyed it.