and yes, I read the book. I went to see the movie over Thanksgiving, in a small, desolate movie theater in Illinois. My first reaction went something like this:
What! Where did that come from?! That's not what's supposed to happen!
OK, so the plot followed the book fairly closesly, and I completely understand the need to delete/tweak scenes for a movie audience. I especially liked the baseball game, which was one thing from the book that the movie truly brought to life, and laughed out loud as the vampire family tried to cook dinner by watching the Food Network. (although, wouldn't they remember how to cook from their human lives?)However, the movie lacked the fundamental point of the book -- the build up of the relationship between Edward and Bella -- and for that it felt like a waste. Here are some of the bad points:
The Casting - not only did all the teens look 25, but some of the main characters were very miscast. Robert Pattinson fit the look of Edward, but his acting was so over the top it was laughable. Kristen Stewart as Bella was horrid - completely out of place as the "damsel in distress" the book painted.
The Makeup- Why do all TV vampires have to have powdery skin with bright red lips? They're supposed to look like marble, not chalk!
The Acting - Robert Pattinson was horrible. Cute, but horrible. Good thing Edward is MIA for a large portion of book 2.
The Screenplay - Most of the dialogue was missing or changed from the book-- and the dialogue is what makes Bella and Edward's story somewhat believable. And what's worse - they stuck in direct quotes from the book at all the wrong moments.
The Direction - this is supposed to be a fantasy movie for teens and young adults, not an indie drug documentary. What was with all the grainy shots? And the repetitive piano score? And all the stupid montages?! And the really bad special effects? One would think that movie about vampires that can do extraordinary things would have taken that into consideration.
My overall grade: C-
What was your take on the film? Did you like it as much as the book?
Friday, December 5, 2008
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