Vampires have represented sex since ancient folklore, and Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series of books perpetuates this vampire-human sex connection, although it is coated with Meyer's conservative message of teen abstinence. The new film based on the series creates a world that original "Twilight" fans and those not yet acquainted with the book can enjoy, despite its many cinematic problems.
The story begins with junior Bella Swan (played by Kristen Stewart) moving to Forks, Wash., to live with her father after her mother remarries. On her first day at her new high school, she quickly notices the differences between the rest of the students and the Cullens, five foster brothers and sisters who keep to themselves. One of the brothers especially attracts her eye: Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson.
As Bella falls in love with Edward, she realizes that the family is hiding a secret. All of the Cullens are vampires and have sworn to feed only on animals and not humans, as practiced by the Cullen patriarch, Carlisle (Peter Facinelli). Edward slowly brings Bella further into his life as a vampire with some reservations from his family, especially his sister Rosalie (Nikki Reed).
As she becomes welcomed into the Cullen family, Bella faces difficulties living among vampires, especially those who are less discriminate in their choice of meals. Edward desperately tries to protect her with the help of his family, but her fragility and inability to keep up with the vampire way of life nearly costs Bella her life.
The film stays true to the novel, without changing any of the major plot points. The romance between Bella and Edward, however, is incredibly condensed for a two-hour movie. The movie portrays their love story well, but it's the in-between stages of courtship — probably the most interesting part of the novel — which go horribly awry.
There are a few unintentionally funny scenes — these portions are too cheesy even for the "Twi-hards" to stomach. In one scene, Edward jumps from tree to tree carrying Bella on his back. In the book, these scenes of Edward showing Bella new and exciting things are romantic, but in the movie, they just fall flat.
The corny scenes can be attributed to the lack of relevant special effects. A movie based on a phenomenon this big should not rely on cheap imagery, yet this result is hard to avoid, as the film relies on simple wirework and CGI (Computer Generated Imagery). These effects seem to come from a TV special, not a blockbuster hit.
Catherine Hardwicke directed the film, and her inexperience is painfully obvious. She often sweeps the camera unnecessarily, especially in the forest scenes when the camera should be focused on the dialogue between Edward and Bella. Hardwicke also uses many extreme close-ups that make the viewer uncomfortable and don't serve any real purpose except to show off the beautiful actors cast in her film.
The one saving grace of the film is the acting. While there will always be those who have problems with the casting of literary characters, the entire cast does an exceptional job of portraying the characters and bringing them to life.
Stewart perfectly captures Bella's discomfort living among humans and longing for a life different than her own. Pattinson is the one that really shines, however, as the brooding, tormented Edward. His inability to stay away from Bella, combined with his remorse at putting her in danger, makes for a truly dynamic character. Edward is also supposed to be the epitome of male physical perfection, and Pattinson doesn't shy away from his duty to make the female fans drool.
Though the movie caters heavily to those who have read and love the books, others can enjoy it as well, as long as they go into the theater willing to escape from reality. The movie's fun factor outweighs its setbacks, and hopefully, with the success of this film, the upcoming sequels will have higher production values so there aren't any distractions from Meyer's tragic but entertaining love story.
