I.M.O.: TWILIGHT REVIEW

Okay! Just got back from the theater. I thought there would be blood (from decapitated heads of screaming fan girls). 

I believe that I was able to contain myself (struggled at it, actually) and kept my focus on the main  objective of this post…and that is to give my unbiased review of the book-turned-movie.

A primer for those who were not able to read the book: IT’S BASICALLY A LOVE STORY. An ordinary girl who fell in love with a vampire. THE END. Also there’s this war between werewolves and vampires, you know like Underworld-ish.  Pure and simple. So why so much fuss? Well,there’s Edward’s perfect features (too beautiful to be real) and Bella’s seemingly flawless beauty. For me, it’s excruciating. The movie is excruciating.  But before I reveal why. Let’s move along to a more serious discussion.

Casting was probably a main consideration.  Fishing out the fresh faces that would be apt  or perhaps tailor-made to play the part is a skill of a crafty Casting director. Screenplay is also a tough cookie– trying to compress an entire novel is a challenge. What’s frustrating though is even before the movie was released a lot of people are already criticizing the film.  Needless, to say it will always be frustrating for people who read the book and then watched the movie as opposed to doing it in reverse.  That’s just my opinion. Take for instance, Harry Potter.  Although, I  do  follow the Potter franchise, I did not read the entire series.  And every time I go out of the movie house, I hear whining (from those who read the book) questioning why this or that was omitted. I on the other hand, remains to be an unaffected and somewhat-satisfied viewer. I wasn’t that of an avid fan and still clueless as to why all of a sudden there was pure bashing. Anyway, So here I am. I’ll probably do the same but will not try to over do it. Let me highlight some points to make the review easier.

THE CHARACTERS:

The Cullens -  The vampire family. Yep, they were exactly how it was in the book. Marble-like complexion, eyes that change in color, flawless, God-like.  Also, Thank you contact lenses. Rosalie which was played by Nikki Reed was not how I pictured in the book. She wasn’t that jawdropping ( like it would turn you Lohan-type). I pictured her skinny too. But other than that, they were perfect. Edward as portrayed by Robert Pattison is perfection (except the teeth. I was quite particular with the teeth and his voice was somewhat off. I don’t know if it was because he was trying not sound British). He had good chemistry with Kristen Stewart (Bella Swan). *heart break*

THE SWANS - Charlie Swan, Bella’s father was really the comic relief in the movie. Bella Swan  (Kristen Stewart) was too erratic. I was distracted by how her head jerks when she speaks. But then again, the chemistry oh, the freaking chemistry compensates her passive acting. (What? The last time I saw her was in Panic Room!). I even thought that she was a boy then. Her facial features does resemble the fragile Bella (yet somehow androgynous).

THE BLACKS - The Werevolves (OOops, spoiler?!)   Jacob, previously seen as Shark Boy wasn’t that lame. Playing Edward’s rival to Bella’s unwavering attention doesn’t make him that big of a competition in the movie. Also, I think his hair was  too long. (See, I’m very particular with details which makes me a bad critic). Pre-pubescent Jacob is so-so. Let’s wait for the sequel.  Perhaps, I might put my doubts aside. For now, I rest my case on Jake.

THE VILLAINS - Ok, at first I thought Laurent was not African-American.  Haha. Turns out he really is. I think I missed that part in the book. I still can’t get over the fact that he was one of HOUSE’s fellows (House M.D.). Not bad at all. James and Victoria did justice to their roles. Hands down to that.

THE PLOT (Screenplay)

Fast-paced. Again  back to my point before  that a playwright’s goal is to veer away from omitting the gist of the novel. Sequencing was appropriate given that fact that we really can’t shove every single detail. What I like best would be the baseball game part. That was exactly how I depicted. Funny thing was that the dialogue was  in verbatim. I mean not all but most of the important ones are. I know right? It’s like you are re-reading the book itself. I felt like a total geek when I was able to recite some lines (out loud and in my mind). 

THE LOOK & FEEL

I think settings are important in luring the reader or viewer into the writer’s world. It’s all about LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Forks, Washington as depicted is very HUMID actually it is pretty wet. It was all modern. I mean generally, the novel was too but just a minor reaction on the Cullen residence. I thought was somehow Classical like an old mansion. In general, I must admit that it was all captured. Some minor changes were introduced but it did not affect the story in general.

THE SOUNDTRACK

I’d like to be able to listen to it again. It’s the music that I can relate to.  I will get a copy. Paramore, Muse, Linkin Park, Collective Soul just to name a few.Woot!

 SOME OTHER LINGERING THOUGHTS:

***Why it’s excruciating? It’s painful to watch two people who can’t stay away from each other. It’s an irony, like opposites do attract. It’s like  they have they’re own gravitational pull.  Of course, it’s a love story. And the struggle is always there.

Plus, you can’t help to look on your left because there’s a couple groping each other like there’s no tomorrow. But that’s another story.

 *** Demmit, he owns those Ray-Ban’s like he’s born to wear them forever. Another excruciating part,  because Edward is too beautiful to be real.  (insert Fangirl squeal). Oh, dang! I think I just shot myself in the head.

  ***The cars. The cars are looking fly, my friends. Volvo, Chevrolet.. Heck, I don’t even know anything about cars. I just know they look good, specially if vampires the the ones driving it.

So how do I find the movie? I felt love sick. I felt “kilig”. It’s agonizing to find me in this situation.

Like there’s an outburst of endorphins. OOh, adrenaline rush the moment Edward stepped out of that Volvo.

Alright. This is a far as I can probably go because the next thing I will write will probably be unbearable even for little kids.

Did you see the movie? If not, to each his own.  If you did, I just have one question: Did it dazzle you?

Perhaps….. I will delete this when i step out of this euphoric state. For now, I’d linger on this fascination because life is hard and dying in Edward’s arms seems easier.

Meanwhile, back to reality. Work’s a few hours away.