Last night I saw Twilight with one of my best girls. And we loved, loved, loved it. It actually surpassed my expectations. Sure there were some cheesy lines, but I expected that since the first book is full of them. Sure the special effects weren't stellar, but they had something to prove with this movie and its small budget, and New Moon will be done even better (bring on the werewolves!).But, looking past those little things, the movie was like a dream I didn't want to end. The actors were brilliant. Robert Pattinson was nearly flawless, making even this 28-year-old married gal swoon just a bit. Kristen Stewart had down pat the combination of angst and head-over-heels in love. The whole movie - as did the book, but the movie even more so - brought me back to high school, to what it felt like to be so crazy about someone that's all you thought about, that's the only person you wanted to be with. You wanted that person in your bedroom at night, and here Bella gets that with one sexy vampire.
And the Cullens. Sigh. I love that family. They too were beautiful. My girlfriend and I audibly gasped when Carlisle (Peter Facinelli) entered the movie for the first time. Esme was just as I pictured her in my head. Emmett was handsome and silly, Alice cute as a button, and Rosalie beautiful yet seemingly unattainable like a super model. Jasper was a little Edward Scissorhands-like to me, but I can understand his vacant stare since he's new to this "vegetarian" thing. I also thought one of the best characters, and the actor who did one of the best jobs, was Billy Burke as Bella's father Charlie. He played the perfect version of a father who doesn't quite know what to do with a teenage daughter, but he tries really hard. And he's supportive and protective and sarcastic. Loved him. The supporting cast was great, too. Bella's friends Mike, Jessica and Eric were hilarious and very real, and I'm excited to see more from Jacob in the second movie.
But in the end, it came down to Bella and Edward for me. They had great chemistry on screen and I felt they were true to their characters. Very true.
All in all, hands down, great movie. It made me rediscover my love for the series. I don't know how they make teenage girls feel (I can only imagine all the Robert Pattinson posters lining bedroom walls all over the world), but for me the stories are nostalgic and sweet and a wonderful escape.
10 comments:
I agree - Bella's father was perfect. I loved the entire cast - except Edward. Something just didn't click there for me. Granted, it was difficult casting given his description in the book. Overall, though, they did an excellent job capturing the story!
I LOVED Charlie and Emmet, but the rest of the cast just didn't do it for me. I can confirm, though, that the teenage girls watching it in the theater with me loved it - they squeed every time Edward came on screen, and one of them almost had a heart attack during the fight scene at the end. :)
I have to respectfully disagree about Edward, Em. I think he was cast perfectly. Young, strong looking, serious, but with a James Dean-like sexy smile.
When he got out of the car with her for the first time at school, with his sunglasses on, and put his arm around her because, whatever, he was going to hell anyway... Um, hello? Very reminiscent of Rebel Without a Cause. And oh so dreamy - to me anyway. :)
And Jessi - It's like we're reliving Titanic all over again. Remember what the theater was like then? Sobs coming from every seat.
I thought the cast was perfection! And I could care less about the special effects. Can we talk about that first kiss moment! Oh man. Also, I want to be Cullen. I loved it, despite some off moments. I'm also obsessed with the song they dance to in the gazebo. I've been listening to it non-stop.
I think Rob Pattinson was a great cast for Edward. Starting the books after knowing he was cast, I factored him in to my description, but beyond that, I loved that his accent slipped sometimes. He seemed other worldly, older. He also has a lot more behind his eyes than a "beautiful" actor would have. He was deep and you could tell he was always thinking. I can't wait for the next one.
I can't even put my finger on what it is that I didn't like about Edward - because I agree, the scene with the sunglasses was great. I guess it was just not how I pictured him, but I can't think of anyone I would cast in his place. I don't think there is anyone who would live up to my expectations of Edward. :)
I know Em, that's totally it. You can't cast someone well-known because that wouldn't work. So it had to be someone new-ish. But, I can understand your fight with it if he's just not meeting you expectations. That's just too sweet. And the problem with books turned into movies - which is a whole other post!
Very true about the Titanic comparison. I was in high school when that movie hit theaters, and I had several friends who dumped their boyfriends because "he couldn't compare to Leo."
Edward Cullen is ruining the romantic expectations for an entire generation! :)
I saw titanic the night my first boyfriend dumped me, and cried through the entire thing. I still hate that damn movie. Haven't read twilight yet! must get moving on that.
Since movies are a rare treat for me these days, I'll wait for this one to come out on DVD, but I will definitely rent it! After only seeing trailers for Twilight, I have to admit I pictured Edward more like a young Johnny Depp than Rob Pattinson, only because I don't think Rob is hot. At all. (I know there are PLENTY of people who will disagree with me about that, but hey - it's my opinion). Maybe he'll grow on me after seeing him in the film. ?? I do think Kirsten Stuart was cast perfectly as Bella though.
CMS - a younger Johnny Depp is a very interesting idea for Edward. He's also very moody and dreamy at the same time. Good reference!
When I see photos of Robert Pattinson out at premieres or doing whatever in real life, I don't find him attractive at all. So, I think for me it's the hair and makeup to make him a vampire, the amazing driving skills, the "protector" personality, and the smoldering stares of his character that make him easy on the eyes as Edward.
And that's still borderline creepy because he's a young dude. (But if I think of him as Edward, then he's like 100, right?) But if I were a teenager, I would be infatuated. Much like I was with Johnny Depp when he was on 21 JumpStreet. :)
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