Movies Reviews

Twilight - Movie Review

By Anne Brodie Nov 21, 2008, 16:55 GMT

TWILIGHT tells the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan (Stewart) who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her father, and becomes drawn to Edward Cullen (Pattinson), a pale, mysterious classmate who seems determined to push her away. But neither can deny the attraction that pulls them together...even when Edward confides that he and his family are vampires. Their unorthodox romance puts her in physical danger when ...more

Stephenie Meyer’s literary phenomenon ensures that Twilight will be seen and seen again by her hardcore fans, which from the looks of things, is most of the tween age set.

It’s the film to beat in mob popularity.

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are the doomed lovers of the teen novels, he’s a vampire and she’s human. He lusts for her apparently wonderful smelling blood.

He can’t have it of course, because it will kill/compromise her.

He’s a tortured loner who lives with a motley ‘family’ of vampires. He’s seventy years old and doesn’t look a day over seventeen.

She’s a conventional teen, living temporarily with her father.

Their chemistry is immediate as their eyes lock in the high school parking lot. That’s the way they remain for the most part, in a state of chaste longing.

She wants him to bite her to satisfy his craving for her blood, but he won’t.   What is this? Honourable? How’s that for a new twist on adolescent movie fare? Not to mention vampire lore.

The vampire/human/werewolf adventures are set against nature writ large in Seattle, where rain and gloomy skies are just fine with the sun phobic vampires. The deep woods lend cover to their hunting trips – animals only – they are ‘vegetarian vampires.’

Okay so the film won’t win kudos from critics, like me, or most non-virgins.  There are, I am told, plot holes this big and too little of a couple of the characters like werewolf Jacob (are you Team Jacob or Team Edward?) and the Cullen family.
Director Catherine Hardwicke’s ubiquitous tight close-ups of Edward and Kristen are a bit much especially as Edward’s pale, undead makeup is so amateurishly obvious.
Hardwicke’s ham-handed, in yer face romance is beyond obvious to the point of obnoxious.

Stewart’s slack-jawed, breathy delivery isn’t just lazy, it’s hard to decipher and becomes a source of tremendous amusement. Pattinson is obviously struggling to cope with an American accent.

But these are paltry worthless facts in the face of the absolute adulation of the films by the teenage girls with whom I saw the film.

Each character arriving on scene for the first time got an ear-piercing chorus of screams, same for every ‘meaningful’ book line, kisses and the conclusion. The displays of passion and final credits outburst took adults by surprise.

The screening was late and we were dozing off. But the girls were obviously just powering up to dream of Edward – or Jacob - all night long.

If there ever was a movie that can’t be killed by critics’, this is it.

So how relevant are we when Twilight is excepted to bring in $60-mil on opening weekend? And that’s especially meaty for an independent film.

Flaws and all, Twilight is a sexy lite Goth flick, that should get the parents’ seal of approval and live to spawn three more outings.

35mm fantasy horror
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke
Written by Melissa Rosenberg based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer
Opens Nov 21
Runtime: 122 minutes
MPAA:  Rated PG-13 for some violence and a scene of sensuality
Country:  USA
Language: English