Review: Twilight (2008)

Twilight
2008
120 minutes
Rated PG-13

How do you judge a film where the core element doesn't work but everything else does? To say that I kinda liked Twilight but didn't care for the romantic drama at its center may be the epitome of absurdity. On the other hand, it should be noted that the other elements of the film are worthwhile. And really, is enjoying Twilight despite the flaws of the main love story any different than enjoying Quantum Of Solace despite the abysmal editing of the action scenes?

A token amount of plot - Bella (Kristen Stewart, making her character's immaturity seem almost noble at times) has just moved to Forks, Washington to live with her father for awhile. She almost immediately attracts the attention of the brooding and handsome Edward Cullen. They quickly hit it off, but Edward is off-putting and afraid of forming a real connection. Eventually, Bella learns the truth (refreshingly, she actually uses her brains and does research): that Edward and his family are actually vampires and part of Edward's attraction to Bella is driven by his desire to drink her blood.

For those living in a cave for the last few years, Twilight is the first of four books that have scorched the best seller lists. The tale of the forbidden romance between the young schoolgirl and the centuries-old vampire who happens to look and act like James Dean with super powers has captivated young girls, older women, and a token number of males. While most vampire fiction (Dracula, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Interview With The Vampire) use vampirism as a metaphor for rape, the Twilight series (apparently, since I have not read the books), uses it as a metaphor for forbidden, but consensual sexuality (I'll get into the alleged symbolism and 'deeper meanings' in a separate article).

The problem with the core romance is that Edward is brooding, boring, and bland. His opening scenes, where he is physically drawn to Bella's pheromones, are laughably played, to the point of resembling a bad mime act. Yes, Robert Pattinson is a handsome stud of a man, and he'd probably be great in the sack, but what exactly would he and Bella do when they aren't brooding about not having sex (or really, about not even kissing)? He's not funny, he's not charming, and for the first half of the story, he's so rude and obnoxious to her that we question Bella's judgment for continuing to pursue him (he doesn't treat her all that much better when they do start dating). He doesn't wear flowing trench coats or half-buttoned dress shirts, but merely puffy winter coats and t-shirts. He can't even act gallant and romantic when saving her from potential rapists. He doesn't bother to leap from a rooftop and strike a bad ass pose (he's a vampire - he could do that if he wanted to); he just pulls up in his car and flashes the beamers a couple times. Yes, teenagers usually don't care about personality and charm, but it still doesn't make it easy for us grownups to care about this romance and its implications where we know that Bella could do a hell of a lot better, even among other vampires.

It doesn't help that much of their romance is basically them staring at each other and engaging in halted, awkward attempts at conversation about how unhealthy their relationship is. If the majority of your relationship involves talking about your relationship, that's not healthy. The film also stumbles in the third act, by arbitrarily introducing rogue vampires who randomly decide to hunt Bella (to be fair, unlike the book, these villains are introduced at the beginning of the film). It's like the author of the novel decided 'wait, we need to create a situation to bring about the rescue/protection fantasy' and awkwardly tossed in evil vampires. It is faithful to the novel, but that doesn't make it good.

So if the core romantic storyline doesn't work, what does work? Well, the supporting characters are surprisingly engaging, even when they don't have to be. Bella's new friends at school are all friendly and charming, but just a little obnoxious in that 'teenager way'. The Native American neighbors are humorous and opinionated, even if they are in the story mainly to introduce local folklore (I'll assume they play a bigger part in the future stories). And Edward's vampire family is genuinely entertaining, and the gently awkward first introductions at their house is a highlight of the film (when Bella arrives, they are all frantically fixing her a meal, using their kitchen for the first time and desperately trying to learn how to actually cook). Of course, the first appearance of Edward's physician father elicits chuckles, as his vampire makeup is so cheesy that I half expected his name tag to read 'Dr. Acula'. Even Bella's newly married mother (Sarah Clarke), who has gone on the road with her minor-league baseball player husband, is given a final scene of empathy and warmth that belies her complicated life choice.

Most importantly, Bella's father (Billy Burke) is portrayed as a completely capable and loving father, not domineering, rarely judgmental, and occasionally funny. Frankly, the shockingly realistic relationship between Bella and her father was the one I cared about in the end and almost makes the movie worth recommending on that basis. They truly love each other and care about each other, and the third act confrontation between them (in which Bella is forced by circumstance to spew hateful things to him to keep him out of danger) is so devastating that the film wobbles by not actually showing their reconciliation.

So, in the end, Twilight is handsomely produced, well-acted (save Pattinson, who was better and far more of a catch as Cedric Diggory), and relatively engaging teen melodrama. That I didn't buy the core romance would usually be a fatal problem, but I found the rest of the film charming enough to compensate. I liked the ridiculous vampire baseball game (dig those old-fashioned pinstripe uniforms), I laughed out loud at both of the scenes between Bella's dad and Bella's boyfriend, I liked that Bella's female friends are allowed to be pretty and engaging and completely living their own lives unrelated to the central plot. Truth be told, I am genuinely curious to discover what happens next to the people of Forks, Washington, even if I couldn't care less if Bella and Edward end up together.

Grade: B-

Comments

[Rokchik7]

Also, in my own review (which can be read here: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=7294922&blogID=451023319 ) I said,

Kristin: I think Kristin is a very talented actress. Her portrayal of Bella as a the stubborn, curious, down to earth, mature young woman who's faith in herself and Edward (and herself with
Edward) is unshakable could not have been more pitch perfect. However, I felt like she was too intense too much of the time. There are times when Bella is vulnerable. Where she is warm..and while she might not work that hard at her relationships with her human friends, she isn't such a total wet blanket.

Robert: was a great Edward. He clung to the Midnight Sun portrayal of Edward. The Edward who hates himself for being a killer. The Edward who has an intense and severe reaction to Bella as her hair is blown by the fan.
However, he never relaxes. Sure, Edward never truly relaxes around Bella until much later, but after the meadow scene (which beautiful, btw) he does say it gets easier to be around her...this isn't seen in the movie. I would have enjoyed a bit where he relaxes (just a bit) and enjoys his time with her. Some of his playfully sarcastic banter is missing.

[Rokchik7]

This is the best review I've seen written by someone who has not read the books. You're balanced and not hating it simply for it's new take on vampires.

I think there was a mistake made in rushing to the chase and fight scenes instead on focusing on the build up to and into the relationship with Edward & Bella. I understand why it was done that way, but something like...showing Bella marking days off of a calendar, would've been a useful device to show that more than a couple of weeks have passed by the time she and Edward are declaring each other.

I think they didn't really explain how absolutely delicious Bella smells to Edward. Although it is played for laughs in the film, in "Midnight Sun" you get the full impression. Edward is nearly undone by her scent and plots ways to kill all his classmates so he can drain her.

As a book reader, I think you would only gain if you read the books. And I appreciate that you didn't try to punish the movie for having a small budget by ranting about the special effects or trying to devalue it by mentioning it's tween/teen female audience (as if that's something to be ashamed of or some how it makes it not as worthy). Also, thanks for not trying to "remove" the vampire element to "see what we have left". I really don't get some of the critiques I've read that do these things.

[Pupadup4oBama]

I think I agree with your critique 98% - I'm a 37 y/o female and I though the kid was adorable....but then again, i'm a sucker for those James Dean types.

[IndyReader]

I've never read these books and probably won't, but as far as the movie is concerned I'm not impressed with the lead vampire kid at all. If he's who played Cedric Diggory in that episode of Harry Potter, I must have missed it. I think I've gotten too old for these half-baked kids everyone finds so attractive today.

[mwestorca]

OK - so I LIVE in FORKS (plural), Washington where our lives have been turned upside down by Twilight Fans for the past year. My 11 year old granddaughter has spiked hair so she can look like Alice Cullen in the book. I have forced myself to read all four books. They are they most popular books about NOT having sex that have ever been written - "lust for the abstinence crowd."

In my town, of about 3500 people, everyone's playing the twilight game. There are maps to pick up so you can go find Bella's house. There's a designated parking space at the hospital for "Dr. Cullen." A local bed and breakfast inn has been designated as the Cullen's home; tourists are allowed to prowl the grounds and read the note kept posted on the front door welcoming them and explaining the Cullen's absence (they are off visiting vampire relatives or attending a movie in Port Angeles, etc.).

There are t-shirts and coffee cups and bumper stickers and who knows what all at every store in town. There's no movie theater. So the nearest one, in Port Angeles, hosted the event of the week with kids camping overnight in tents outside the theater to get tickets for the opening of the movie.

Americans are very strange people, say I . . . but it's rather innocent in the long run. I hope my granddaughter decides to read Little Women and Anne of Green Gables before it's too late, though.

[Scott Mendelson - Huffpost Blogger]

I didn't realize why you had emphasized Forks (plural), until I realized I had written the town name twice, and the second mention merely read 'Fork'. As always thanks for the correction.

Scott

[thisoldbroad]

Apparently you weren't around teenage girls in high school. Having been 1 myself, I thought Bella's reserved nature & awkwardness was well portrayed. When you find your 1st love, all that persons flaws are never an issue.

Re: "Yes, Robert Pattinson is a handsome stud of a man, and he'd probably be great in the sack, but what exactly would he and Bella do when they aren't brooding about not having sex (or really, about not even kissing)?" Good grief man! What movie were you watching??????

17 yr old girls that haven't done much dating dream of romance & adoring princes, not getting a stud in the sack. There was no brooding about not having sex - matter of fact, it never came up in the movie. This was a fairy tale come to life for her - romance & the adoring prince. JACKPOT!

Perhaps for your next review you could actually see the movie & take your wife so you can get her reaction to it as well.

I went to the 1st showing in 1 of our multiplexes in Spokane. The movie had sold out 4 theaters in just the 1 I was at. The line of people waiting to get in for the midnight showing were teens (girls & boys), older women & a surprising # of older couples. There was as much excited chatter leaving the theater as there was going in. Many talking about seeing it again & lots of excitement waiting for the DVD.

[Scott Mendelson - Huffpost Blogger]

I agree with you, about a teen's first love being somewhat... illogical by adult standards (I made a note of that in my review), but I can still judge said relationship as an adult, and as a parent who's daughter will someday be Bella's age. I rather liked the character of Bella... she seemed to be bright, thoughtful, and with a good head on her shoulders. I just felt that she could have done better than Edward.

I also agree with you about what 17 year olds dream about. From what I had read beforehand, I expected Edward to be an adoring prince, a complete gentleman who treated Bella the way all young girls dream of being treated... the ideal man who would shame all of the boyfriends in the theater. Alas, in the movie, I felt he was a rude, obtuse, and somewhat distant prick, and that was after he officially stopped telling her to get lost. I may be wrong, but does he ever even pay her a compliment that isn't also somewhat of a criticism ('you're so beautiful... which is why it's so hard to resist you, even though I should!')?

[Pupadup4oBama]

I think she should go for the native american kid - they look so cute together with their long hair.

[outsidein]

Reality as I've seen it is that compliments (especially amongst the self conscious tween set) are rarely welcome if you wanna 'get the girl'...and frankly, if anything was unbelievable it was that after centuries of being alive, that twitchy, scrawny, Neve Campbellesque twit is the best he could get? the scene of her in the hospital bed was so badly acted I heard people laughing out loud in the theater, I suppressed mine. Not saying that Cedric Diggory was much better...the lines came off VERY creepy...if the author wasn't using vampires as a metaphor for rape, he DEFINITELY was. For young girls to be shown this in a positive light is concerning to say the least.

And is it just me or is every form of media aimed at youth today dominated by montages? I'm so glad you pointed out that no healthy conversations were held - because everything gets washed out in the latest emo soundtrack! I felt like I was watching a drawn out, broody version of the Hills with more scenic pans and wide angle shots.

I'm not expecting that teenage girls take in the latest political thriller (why they even bothered with the Valkyrie trailer before this film was beyond me) or even smart satire, but considering the books and the films were aimed at a younger audience, Harry Potter offered far more than Twilight can ever hope to.

[PopCultureCurmudgeon]

But girls *want* a man who is a rude, obtuse, and somewhat distant prick. As Janeane Garofalo said in her HBO stand-up special lo these many years ago: If you want to get the girl, "Be a man! God! Be aloof! What's your problem? Don't call- You want me to like you? Don't pick up that damn phone!"

Especially when we are young, we like the bad boy, the rebel.

[mmiller73]

oops...misspelled dollar! guess thats what I get for not editng!

[mmiller73]

How could you possibly understand this movie withour reading the books? that is what I dont get about supposed movie "review/critics" tell me how would you convert a 500 page book into a spectacular movie with all the key scenes and action on a 37 million dillar budget. Get a clue, read the book, see it again and then maybe I'll understand if you did not care for the movie.

[Scott Mendelson - Huffpost Blogger]

If the movie cannot stand on its own, without having first read the book, then it fails as a movie. It must be its own product. The same standard applies to Harry Potter, Lord Of The Rings, or The Silence Of The Lambs. As it is, from what I've read, most of the stuff I liked about the movie were deviations and changes from the original book, so I'd imagine a more faithful adaptation would have made me dislike the movie, rather than mildly enjoy it.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/11/slideshow_of_twilight.html#photo=1 - 28 reasons the movie is better than the book from The New York Magazine.

[danick27]

did we see the same movie??? first of all, the movie is going to be a huge hit because of the love story and this is one of the only reviews of the movie that was negative about rob pattinson's performance.he was great...maybe you should see it again...but you did say that if you had read the book you probably would have hated the movie even more...give me a break! -me thinks thou does protest too much- I am beginning to think that many of the film critics of the male persuasion are having a hard time dealing with the reality of edward cullen and how much girls love him after all, i did see a bumper sticker that read,"thank you god for stephene meyer because she created edward cullen' maybe you just do not get it! did you ever think of that?

[jillsond]

Bingo. My thirteen year old daughter is a huge fan, I actually took her to Forks and did the map hunt thing and watched her search frantically for a shirt to wear to the Midnight showing. I understand the appeal for teenage girls this movie has. Teenage girls, people! I am encouraging my daughter to read Bram Stoker's Dracula, some actual literature. I'm also encouraging her to use her mind and intuition and not hope for a handsome prince, and to be just as thoughtful and lovely as she wants her partner to be. Twilight is a gateway to those horrific bodice-buster "novels". Immature and unreasonable. A goldmine, unfortunately, and something to be tolerated until reason and maturity settle in...