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| Tim Voon... |
 Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:49 pm |
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Film Review - Twilight 2008
By Tim Voon
3 out of 5 stars
With the upcoming release of NEW MOON 2008, I thought I had better do
my overdue review of TWILIGHT, Part one of the TWILIGHT SAGA.
I first can across this movie in December 2008, during my travels
abroad. I had finished a rather eventful day at Universal Studios,
Florida; got soaked on the 'Pop Eye' water ride where I stupidly
didn't read the sign 'this is a water ride, please put on a rain
coat'. I was soaked to the bone by the end of the day, without a
change of clothing. So my physical condition on viewing TWILIGHT at
Universal was - dressed in damp clothes, unhappy partner (who was also
soaked); uncomfortable, cold and tired.
The only thing I had heard about this movie, before it was released
was that it was based on a very popular novel by Stephanie Meyer. It
has a big female following and was doing very well at the box office
because of repeat views from a strong contingent of female fans. What
I did notice upon entering the cinema was a lot of single women,
sitting by themselves with pop corn scattered throughout who all
stayed for the closing credits.
I have to admit, despite my poor, uncomfortable, damp physical
condition I did enjoy the movie. Maybe, my sense were heightened by
the fact the movie is set on one of the wettest places on earth, Forks
USA where it is supposedly cloudy and rains most of the year. In
particular, I remembered the wonderful colour tones of the movie, the
blue, grey, greens of the background which gives the movies its
distinct cool tones; an ideal setting for a romantic vampire novel.
It's a movie which hones in on the sense of alienation a lot of people
feel in this day and age. The sense ordinariness, being a forgotten
number in the masses, being unnoticed in a crowd. Thus, women will
identify with our heroine 'Bella' (Kristen Stewart). She is an
ordinary girl, who comes to a small town and becomes the romantic
interest of a vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson). It's a dangerous sort
of love, where she can just as easily become the meal, if he cannot
control his urges. It is this tantalising sense of being on the edge
of love and danger which gives this movie and the novel its general
appeal. Edward the vampire is portrayed as the perfect epitome of the
male form - sensual, passionate, handsome, physically beautiful;
someone who doesn't exist in reality. But it is this sense that
someone as powerful and perfect as Edward could miraculously fall in
love with someone as ordinary as 'Bella' which has gained Stephanie
Meyer and this movie its legion of fans.
The original musical score by Carter Burwell is wonderfully haunting,
and much easier to listen to then the heavy metal sound track.
Director Catherine Hardwicke is an ideal choice for directing this
movie. If this movie was given to another director, it may have been
handled too heavily, with a loss of the softer touches and moments
needed to make this appealing to the female fans of the novel.
On my return to Australia, I finished reading TWILIGHT in one night
sitting. This was followed by NEW MOON the following night and ECLIPSE
and BREAKING DAWN in the following two evenings. I think I only had
2-3 hrs sleep a night during this period and still had to go to work
the following day. It was worth it. Stephanie Meyer is a very good
author, her novels are easy to read and she draws you into caring for
the wonderful characters she has created.
Since then, I have probably seen the movie a few more times. Once on a
plane flight to Japan in June this year and a few times on dvd with my
friends and family. I would say the reaction is mixed. My cousin likes
the novels and movie, his wife HATES it. A close friend LOVES the book
and movie; her husband doesn't. I really enjoyed the novels and liked
the movie, but my partner shows a kind of indifference, labelling it
'just another teen vampire flick.'
Also there are mixed reactions to the main stars as well. Most women
adore Robert Pattinson (Edward). However, you will come across a few
who really don't like him. On a train ride between Osaka and Kyoto
Japan, I overheard a conversation between two girls regarding Robert.
One said, "I love Robert Pattinson, he is so gorgeous." The other
replied, "You mean Robert Woodensen." I gathered she was referring to
the fact the he couldn't act or just showed a limited amount of
expressions in the movie TWILIGHT. I felt like adding but didn't,
"well what do you expect from someone who is trying to portray a 200
year old vampire, who is bored to death of immortality and believes he
is one of the eternal damned." As for Kristen Stewart, her hair
extensions look great in the movie and she looks much better on screen
than in real life. I wish someone would write to her publicist and
inform her to lighten up on her heavy makeup and gothic sense of dress
for her magazine interviews.
Overall, I am a bigger fan of the book that I am off the movie.
Probably, because the book captures a better sense of the characters
and story. However, I am pleased with the movie, that with the
restrictions of this medium, it does do justice to the novel and
capture the quintessential sense of TWILIGHT.
I will be looking forward to NEW MOON 2009. Happy viewing.
Website - filmnet.com
Email - winklebeck at (no spam) hotmail.com |
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