Clearly I’m not the target audience for the new Catherine Hardwicke film Twilight. So the fact that the film was not completely appalling is perhaps its greatest achievement for audiences unfamiliar with the impossibly huge following the novels by Stephanie Meyer have garnered. But after viewing this plodding contemporary spin on Romeo and Juliet, it is unwaveringly apparent that a suitable way to portray a vampire’s tremendous strength and lighting speed is nonexistent.

Young Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) leaves the sunny familiarity of Phoenix, Arizona to live with her disaffected father Charlie, the chief of police in Forks, Washington. Going to a new school in the middle of the semester initially proves daunting for Bella, even though a group of unusually friendly kids (including Angela Weber, Eric Yorkie, Mike Newton and Jessica Stanley) immediately befriend her. Generally preferring solitude, she has her eye on biology partner Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), a 17-year-old boy whose unnerving mood swings, odd eye color changes, inhuman speed and unbelievable strength are incredibly off-putting to say the least.

As her fascination for him grows, he reciprocates occasional feelings, becoming overly protective and falling for her in return. Over an hour into the film, the dark secret behind Edward’s abnormalities is finally revealed – he’s a centuries-old vampire. Although it’s hardly a secret for anyone who’s ever heard of the novel Twilight and its sequels or for anyone who’s glimpsed the theatrical trailers. But Edward’s family of vampires isn’t your standard breed of coffin-sleeping bloodsuckers. They don’t need sleep, possess astonishing strength and speed, and have learned to curb their appetite for blood toward animals alone (“vampire vegetarians” of sorts). Edward can also read minds and his other family members have supernatural powers such as envisioning the future. As Bella and Edward fall deeper into love, a dangerous group of outsider vampires decide to engage in a thrill-of-the-hunt battle over Bella’s tantalizing human blood.

Narrated by Bella, Twilight doesn’t quite seem to capture the appeal of the novel, especially in the lengthy romantic sequences between the ill-fated couple. When the mushier love scenes illicit giggles from fans, it’s evident that what is intended to be serious in the film isn’t always received that way by audiences. And Twilight is essentially one long love story, mimicking Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet, with its only originality lying in the use of vampires (which has already been done via werewolves in Blood and Chocolate and with Selene in Underworld). We see a more human side to the mythical creatures of the night as the Cullen vampires try desperately to avoid being monsters. But the great twist, surprise ending, or unpredictable revelations that one might assume must be contained within this saga with indescribable fandom never comes – even with munificent amounts of humor, believable chemistry, and enjoyable performances, it is still a plainly generic romantic drama.

With talks of sequels taking place before the first film was even finished, there’s no doubt that Twilight will make ungodly amounts of money, regardless of negative criticism, based simply on how many people are already familiar with the novels. It could be said that Twilight is the next Harry Potter in terms of crazed fans. But for all of its baffling appeal with teenage girls and obsessed moms and it’s lack of originality, the biggest downfall is the special effects – wirework through trees, vapor trails to show speed, sparkles for diamond-like skin, and time-lapse and harnesses for gravity-defying agility. Several of the scenes in which Edward must utilize his super powers get laughter even from the die-hard fans. And you’d think that they would be the ones taking everything the most seriously.

- Mike Massie

 

Click HERE to read the review of Twilight

Click HERE to read the review of Twilight: New Moon

Click HERE to read the review of Twilight: Eclipse

Click HERE to read the review of Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1

Click HERE to read the review of Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2

Click HERE to read the Exclusive Interview with Taylor Lautner, Rachelle Lefevre and Edi Gathegi

Click HERE to read the Exclusive Interview with Charlie Bewley and Daniel Cudmore

Click HERE to read the Exclusive Interview with Justin Chon

 

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