Last night I partied like it's 1999. Well, not really, but I did go see the movie premier of Twilight at 12:10 am. I am too old to go to bed at 3:30 am and wake up by 7 am; my body hates me right now. Katie and I sat amongst a sea of cackling swooning girls and woman with a few men sprinkled in the mix. It's a strange thing being in a theater full of estrogen. Actually, it's absurdly annoying being trapped at the mercy of inappropriate laughter and the buzz of the loud whisper of the female voice. However, it didn't ruin my Twilight experience. I am not ashamed to admit that I am a compulsory steadfast fan.
While I'm not a movie critic expert, I'd like to express my obsessive thoughts on the film before I attempt to force it out of my mind completely (give me a week -- I am going to see the movie again!) First, I must say that Kristen Stewart rocked my world; she made the most perfect Bella Swan. I was skeptical at first after watching the trailers (I might add, over and over again.) The editing made her sound monotone and unemotional, but in the movie, she was perfect. You could get a really good sense of her deniable fear toward Edward that was overwhelmed by a sense of desire. She was awkward and clumsy, innocent yet not completely naive.
Stephanie Meyer purposely steered away from much physical description of Bella Swan which gave the readers, and ultimately the viewers, an easier way to step into and accept her character. We do know that Bella had dark brown hair and eyes and she was thin and pale. She was "normal" and unremarkable by any sense of the imagination except by Edward. In the book, the readers had an inkling that she must be more beautiful and amazing than her meek description, after all, Edward Cullen was in unequivocally in love with her. Kristen Stewart was a naturally beautiful Bella Swan just as I imagined.
I know the unrelentless controversy surrounding the character of Edward Cullen. Who could define for each Twilight fan the most impossibly beautiful man alive (or dead)? Bella describes him with perfectly angular features, bronze hair in casual disarray, and a dazzling crooked smile. For me, yes, Robert Pattinson was the flawless match. He has a unique look that is seductive and makes a girl want to look again, and the second look is to see if he's truly handsome or perhaps not so. It is part of a good recipe for curiosity which in turn makes a ideal Edward Cullen. He's a vampire. Bella shouldn't want him, but she does. It's almost onomatopoeic.
My only negative critique of Pattinson's portrayal is at the beginning of the movie when Bella walks into class and finds the only empty seat next to the mysterious Edward Cullen. Pattinson's reactions were too strong and almost comical. The entire theater laughed, and in the book, this wasn't a funny situation. After reading excerpts from Edward's version of the story in Midnight Sun, we know that Edward's inner turmoil was very serious. To be fair, perhaps it was just the nervous laughter and excitement in the theater. Perhaps, Pattinson was adding a bit of comic relief to the deathly and powerful feelings swimming in his head. I am anxious to see this scene again when the buzz dies down.
I was slightly disappointed with the cinematography of the film; it was very obvious that it was created on a low budget. The dazzle of Edward's skin in the sunlight was a particularly lame, as were the "special power" scenes of flying, running, jumping...etc. Unfortunately, the continuity director/editor missed many obvious mistakes. There were are few scenes where actors would be talking and lips weren't moving, or the committed classic blunder of misplaced of moved objects from scene to scene. Next time in New Moon, please throw in another mil and make things happen the right way.
With the picky letdowns, I am still a Twilight addict. Overall, despite the mistakes, this was irrevocably one of the best stories that I have seen on film. With that, I would like to share my four favorite scenes.
- The first favorite, of course, is the highly anticipated kiss.
It was innocent and passionate. With Bella's longing and Edward's thirst, it was a perfectly executed moment between the two actors.
- My second was the "meeting-the-family-for-the-first-time" scene. I won't go too much into it, because I don't want to ruin the fun for anyone. I will say that it was intense, nevertheless, it appropriately made the viewer almost uneasily comfortable with the Cullen family.
- My third favorite scene was when Bella was in the hospital after her "fall" down the stairs and out a window. Between us, Edward, and the rest of the Cullens, we know she just had been pounded by the vampire, James. When Edward told her that she should get away from him, the hurt desperation in Bella's actions and tone were gut-wrenching.
- In the second to the last scene, my final favorite, we find Edward and Bella at the prom dancing alone. Again I won't ruin it, but Robert Pattinson's expressions stabbed me right through the heart with a wooden stake. (We know in Twilight vampires can't really be killed that way!) I don't remember the exact quote but it was something like "Isn't it good enough for you to spend a lifetime with me?" Uggh, stab.
Obviously, I have a momentary obsession, and I could write more, and more, and more. Before I close, I do have one final thought.
Edward Cullen, bring on the shackles, I am your prisoner.
