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Twilight movie thoughts

November 24, 2008 | Twilight

I know some of you might have read my twitter about being unimpressed once I walked out of the theater. First off, no one screamed during the movie which was good or they would have got a Nike to the back of the head.

Casting:
- Rosalie was like the biggest casting fail. She was suppose to be this like hot fierce bitch but she was definitely not.
- Jasper was okay but I think he was just a little too stiff, if would have loosened up it would have been way better.
- Mike and Jessica. NO.
- who I liked: Alice, Emmet, James, Victoria, Laurent and Charlie. I thought they were cast very well

Biggest gripes:
- not enough build up. I know you’ve read the books. They are continuously on the verge of getting hot and heavy. The one kiss was good but it just wasn’t enough. I don’t think there was enough passion between them to get the full effect of the books.
- Kristen Stewart underacts, especially in the breakup/leaving Forks scene. She’s too controlled.
- the diamond glittering effects and sounds. Seriously, could you get anymore cheesy? Totally should have looked like this (scroll down).
- a lot of the high school scenes just annoyed the hell out of me.
- they veered from the book a lot. I can understand have to adapt to a movie but this was just too much.

Things I loved:
- the bad vampires. They were cast so well and Victoria is perfect. Can’t wait to see how she does in movie three!
- the baseball scene. Loved it!
- RPattz playing the piano. Um hi, I totally melted.

Overall, they skipped way too much. Added in too much bullshit. Not enough Edward and Bella buildup. Rosalie sucked. It felt like it moved too fast and was over way too quick. It wasn’t horrible but had so much more potential. It could have been amazing. They just got the go ahead for the next three. Hopefully, they will be way better even though New Moon is next and bores the hell out of me.

Oh and did you notice Stephanie Meyers was in it for a split second? She was in the cafe.

Twilight movie = FAIL

What did you think?

46 Comments so far
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I liked it enough. I agree with you though on the sparkles, it was like Tinkerbell peed all over him! You could even hear her doing it!

YAY! You liked Laurent! That’s my girlfriend’s brother!! WOOOOO Haven’t read the books, but quick question: Aren’t they teen books? If so, then I don’t think I’d be all surprised at the cheesiness. But I will say abstinent vampires don’t make much sense to me.

I used to be totally into vampire books when I was a pre-teen and they always seemed to revolve around intense sexual feeling or lust or straight up sex. Anne Rice dug sex. Sex and vampires make sense.

So I guess your review falls in line with all the critic reviews that it’s just a “womp”.

Agree with just about all your points. The sparkles were a little weird. Like he was covered in glitter. Lame.

Rosalie was a big fail in casting but I did like the Charlie character more than I thought I would. Damn that guy drinks a lot. Also, Jacob’s wig looked obviously fake and Jasper looked like Edward Scissorhands. Scary.

Movie was a medium FAIL. Not a big one.

I posted my thoughts on the movie on my site after Chris and I went to see it opening night. I completely agree about Rosalie; she’s supposed to be the most gorgeous woman ever and I think Bella is so much prettier than she is. I actually think Victoria is so much prettier, too, and yes, wonderfully cast. I actually really liked Mike and Jessica. I thought they worked. Charlie looks so much like my dad is was really strange for me to watch (I posted about that, too), but I really liked him, and Jacob’s character, too.

I read an article somewhere about the studio being small and having budget issues when it came down to special effects fails. Because the glitter and the running scenes? Not so awesome, I agree.

I was disappointed in the movie as well, but I still found it entertaining. I actually liked Mike and Jessica, they were awkward and believable as teens. I thought the flashbacks were SO cheesy and unnecessary. And all those shots of trees? I get that it’s pretty out there, but I’d much rather see shots of Edward. I melted into my seat when he was playing the piano…

It was funny…but I’m not sure if that was intentional or not. I seriously hope they get a much bigger budget for the next 3 movies. And I really hope Kristen learns to chill out and stop acting too cool for Twilight.

I totally agree. However, I actually laughed a lot. I also think Kristen should take acting lessons – it might help.

The glitter part sucked. I didn’t like Jaspers emo stare and facial features and that they didn’t even go into what he can do. I agree with you on Roseline – not what I pictured she would be, not even close.

They need to get a better script writer if they want to make money on the second movie.

I was expecting horrible, but I enjoyed it! It was so bad it was good! Kind of like the books? HAHA…

SO much cheese, but that’s kind of the book’s fault, no? And, I liked Mike & Jessica because they were believable as teenagers. I think the biggest fail (besides the special effects) was the make-up! The vampires didn’t look beautiful – they looked pasty!

I’m on book 3 right now, and I hated HATED book 2. OMG. like, I wanted to stab myself. The sequel, and i’m not even done with book 3, should be a mash-up of books 2 and 3, because book 2 had about MAYBE 100 pages of worthy story. The rest was crap.

I think our vision of Edward’s glittering was far better, too!

I have to say I still enjoyed it despite its many lame points. I have high hopes for the rest of the movies since I’m hoping they’ll work the kinks out on this one, get more budget and take the next one more seriously. Although, I don’t know how they’re going to make New Moon interesting…

ALSO! LADY! We didn’t have to hear the word “dazzling” ONCE! REJOICE!

I have to disagree. I don’t think it is a total fail. I do agree about Rosalie and Jasper and stuff, but I liked Mike and Jessica.

What did you think about the Cullen house?

I liked it, but totally agree it could be better.

I haven’t seen it yet, but I just finished the book on Saturday. It would be really hard for the film to live up to the book. I’m not surprised that people aren’t loving the movie.

epic fail

Yep the Rosalie character was so badly casted!!! The fact that she’s a natural brunette who turned blonde was just bad. She dressed like a hooker and was just not how I pictured her in the book. Charlie was casted great, Kristen Stewart I think is an awful actress and I really liked the guy who played Emmett.

i agree with you about pretty much everything.

but rpattz made me want to jump up and down and squee. seriously, HOW can he be SO MUCH HOTTER as edward than he is in person?

it’s bizarre.

i really need to see/read twilight to participate in all these blog posts about it today. that’s my fail : )

I disagree. While the movie did take out some of my favorite books scenes (the morning Edward stays with Bella, listening to each other’s hearts -or lack of- in the meadow) the movie was a really good adaptation of the book. The high school characters – looked like high schoolers. If I went back and looked at my high school year book, the people I thought were all hot and gorgeous probably looked like Mike and Jessica. Somethings are not able to be captured in movies like the way we can imagine them in the book – the way Edward smells, the way Bella’s heart starts to race – it’s a tough gig.

I thought they did the best they could – after all – it was a low budget film! New Moon and the others will have much better effects…just like the harry potter films.

Rosalie. Yeah. Definitely not.
Was Jasper high? He’s supposed to look in pain, not stone out of his mind….

Again, didn’t watch it (sorry but I really just can’t bring myself to get into it). But I love your review! Please do more in the future.

I don’t think it failed in the least. I’m totally going again and again just b/c Robert Pattinson is dreamy

i actually really liked twilight. but i totally agree that it seemed to go by way too fast and they definitely left some stuff out that i wish they hadn’t. and the meadow scene, yeah that should have been done so much better.

but i think i melted every time edward was on the screen, he was so swoon worthy i thought. and i agree their relationship needed a bigger build up, hopefully that’ll happen in ‘new moon.’

oh and i think i’m going to see it again and see if i like it even better, maybe seeing it a second time could make it unfail for you? maybe?

Rosalie? I don’t know if you’ve seen the actress but she is a total hot babe and in the movie? Not so much. It’s weird really.

Jasper I think was played well because if you recall in the first or so books he is scared because he isn’t comfortable being around humans as much as the others. He’s still weak in that sense.

I practically fell over laughing when I first heard Jessica talk. Oh em gee. Bad actress! And even though I thought Mike was adorable he was played by a bad actor as well.

Charlie was cast so ridiculously well it hurt me. I couldn’t have thought of a better actor for the part!

I agree with you on there not being enough build up. Something that people are complaining about it the fact that it takes Bella so long to realize what Edward is and it takes us like oh…two seconds. But you must remember that it’s a dead give away for us because we already know what the books/movies are about. Duh. She’s not suppose to know! I think they did a good job on that front. But I also think it took a while for them to get close and personal. I do have to admit, I didn’t breathe the entirety of their kissing scene because it was just that hot. The movie needed more of that hottness tho.

Kristen is an underacting actress. I’ve always thought that. The first book is suppose to be all about her and I felt it was more about Edward. Not that I’m complaining

All in all, it can only get better. I hope the directors are taking suggestions from people and maybe it will show in the next movie. I am still going to buy it when it comes out.

Oh, god, it was TERRIBLE. So bad, it was comical. We couldn’t stop laughing in the theater.

And you’re completely right about KS underacting — but she was the only one. Everyone (and everything!) else was way too over-the-top and I really wished there had been more subtlety and depth.

I didn’t even see the movie but I know who the cast is. Big fan of the books. Rosalie was disappointing. I mean the girl who played her was obviously beautiful but far from the most beautiful woman in the world. Plus you could totally tell that she was not a natural blond. It looked too fake.

Jasper was just disappointing all around. He is supposed to be this bad ass mofo and they get some preppy who was in the OC to play him. and the hair? BRUTAL.

I am scared to see the movie because I know I will judge. I talk about the books all the time to my boyfriend and he was waiting to see the movie so he could know why I loved them so much. I know he will think it’s stupid.

I don’t agree. I actually enjoyed it.

I haven’t read the series, for the primary reason that our imagination will always do better than any actor or director could. And just because you feel it wasn’t what you imagined, doesn’t necessarily mean it was bad.

You all have to keep in mind that this was an EXTREMELY low budget film compared to what it may have been. The company isn’t the most established and it was a great undertaking to please all of you fans. Instead of slaughtering them maybe you should be thrilled someone took interest in it enough to attempt to make a movie.

Kim- if you didn’t read the series (or even the first book) then how do you know what Jamie is comparing it to?
P.S. saying that you don’t read a book because your imagination would be better then anything on TV/movies is just……sad……

I enjoyed watching the movie, but overall it was lame. I agree with you 100% about the casting. The more I think about the movie, the more lame it becomes in my mind.

it was painful. PAINFUL.

i can’t say i felt “fail” towards it. i loved it, but the books are way better. i totally agree with your gripes – the high school scenes were so messed up. what about when he saves her from the blood testing? that was so good, or touches her face before she goes to class? she wasn’t dazzled enough by him [i was though]. he totally should have been more diamondy. i barely even noticed at first. i thought rosalie was ok…but i expected them all to be more perfect, more pale…a little bit of sharper teeth. the def. needed more build up and passion. the bed scene was awesome, it should have happened 5 more times. i mean, they kissed at least one or two other times…and then at the end at the prom when they did, it was like they had no effect on each other. it didn’t seem to me like edward was fighting enough to not eat her.

buuuut yeah. i liked carlisle and esme. and i loooooved the baseball scene! i feel like they deviated a lot from the book, and did so unnecessarily. um, mike asking her to prom? it was the dance! that was a HUGE part i think, that it was a girl-ask-guy thing. i barely noticed eric asking her [until the 2nd time i saw it] and tyler never did. ugh the scene w/ them in the hospital!? i loved it in the book! ugh!

oh, and i SO cried and geeked out at the piano scene. it was just how i had hoped it would be.

ok, now i’m mad they didn’t do those parts. oh well, i still love the book & movie.

I can’t get in to the book at all and I really tried. I wanted to read it because if so many others thought it was good, there must be something to it. Nope – did nothing for me. However, my 13 yo son asked me if I would take him to see the movie which cracks me up since its a chick flick. I think he wants to be able to talk to the girls about it but is embarrassed lol I can’t deny that – so I will be going to see it – and most likely surfing the net on my blackberry throughout (:

Hmmm…moderate for me…happens with almost every book…they cut corners make some poor choices…

Def. not enough buildup…I didnt feel the intense emotion between them…and sorrrry i know you loveszz (as well as i do…he is one foxy vamp) rPattz but that boy made some weird faces…BUT when he drove her to school the first time…with the sunglasses…..damn…good scene

weird filming choices…some scenes seemed cut up…i looked up a pic of Rose in real life and she is gorgeous…but it just didnt work for me either…

JAMIE, I adore you!!

*********************!!!!********

(That was just so you’d notice this comment and notice how much you are appreciated.)

And you ARE! Holy cow, we have the EXACT same thoughts! My only disagreement is, in the baseball scene, they were running at human speed. That’s not how it’s supposed to be. They need to run as fast as Edward and Emmett.

Oh, but I did like the alteration of the graduation caps. =]

And I think the reason the movie feels like such a fail was that a fundamental part of the book is the emotion and the tension. Even though Bella obsesses over Edward a bit too much, you get so much more connected to the characters.

And what was with the non-stop close ups? It was too much.

Jacob resembled a dog. But I do like who they chose for Charlie.

Did you notice that both couples that were in the gazebo when Bella and Edward went outside at prom just conveniently both left at the same time?

!!!!!And one of the most irritating things is the sparkles. I agree. THE SOUND EFFECTS?? Are they serious?!? And I pictured it as more of a pearly, luminescent shine.

I had the exact opposite reaction to you. I thought the movie was better than the book, but mostly because I think Stephenie Meyer is a horrible writer. I enjoyed seeing the story play out without having to listen to her awful words. Aside from the sort of icky anti-feminist notions, and sort-of lack of plot, there’s a lot to be said for just two hot, young people falling in love. And Pattinson is very hot. (Stewart has good hair.)

I know I was disappointed in the movie. I felt that if someone who had not read the book had seen the movie, they’d hate it and not understand the whole point. I feel like the only reason I liked what I liked about the movie, was because I was anticipating the story line and comparing my visions of the story line with what was actually made. If that makes any sense.

Um hottest part ever? Edward walking with sunglasses on & smiling. Swoon! Or possibly the baseball scene with Emmit and Edward crashing into each other? Yeah. That was like the equivalent of a wet dream for me. Just sayin

hahahhahaha, all of this heated discussion because of a movie about vampires! i love it.
i just read the first two books. the first one was probably one of the most poorly written things i’ve ever read, and i’ve read a LOT of bad scripts in my days. it was actually too bad because i liked the idea and the story, but the writing was terrible. and oh, how it dragged on and on and on and on…
so anyway, after i read the first book i looked up the cast and i was shocked to see nikki reed was playing rosalie. i mean, i get that she’s the director’s friend and all and probably really, really wanted to play bella and out of guilt catherine gave her the rosalie role, but seriously. at least cast a real blonde. or a real actress. not someone who got fired from “Reaper”.
and in regards to the production company, a low budget can justify low quality spfx and vfx, but shouldn’t be allowed to excuse bad acting, bad directing, or a bad script. well, i guess the writing in the book itself can be excuse enough for the bad script…

at any rate, i am looking forward to seeing the movie and reading the next two books, as well as the heated debates they cause. i find it all very entertaining, but that could just be my morbid curiosity getting the best of me.

OK, I have to chime in again to say: Yes, I heard all the stories and read the articles calling Twilight “low budget,” but there is a part of me that will never be able to call anything that costs 37 MILLION DOLLARS “low budget.” That seems insane to me. It also seems like a pretty lame excuse for them not to be able to pull off some pretty key effects that are central to both the book and the movie.

Also: The CULLEN HOUSE. I hated! that part. Mostly because I was convinced I was going crazy, because I was SURE I had read that the Cullen’s house was anciently old and almost Southern-inspired in its design, as I had remembered Meyer writing about a porch that wrapped around the entire house, which would constitute some columns. I came home and had to run to the first book to re-read that part. Turns out, I’m not crazy. At least not about the Cullen house being super old, and not Brand New Super Modern Artsy House With A Piano In Its Own Room.

Oh, and I forgot. It’s Catherine Hardwicke’s fault about Rosalie. The actress who played her, Nikki Reed, knew Hardwicke; Reed wrote and starred in Thirteen, which Hardwicke directed. Favortism!

I think when I was watching the movie I was so caught up in the excitement that I loved it. if I watched the movie again, I’d probably see the same flaws.

I am horrible at critiquing movies. I love anything that keeps me entertained. Although, I DEFINITELY agree about Kristen Stewarts underacting. UGH. I hated her portrayal of Bella. She was so irritating.

I wasnt all that thrilled with it. It may have had to do more with the screaming, giggling teenagers. I was disappointed when it was over. I just felt that it could have been so much better.

I agree on the rosalie casting, have yet to see the movie but for me I had imagined Rosalie like a super model

Emmmm, they totally left out my fave part. ‘Member when Bella sees blood in her science class and has to go to the nurse’s station and Edward shows up and is all, “I’ll protect you from being sick” and shit? WHERE was that in the movie? I spent the whole hour and a half waiting for it to show up.

I thoroughly enjoyed Edward showing up and being all “get in the car!” when Bella was about to be raped.

Sexyness. Rar.

I actually enjoyed the film. For what it was, it was really fun and a decent adaptation in my mind. Sure, they left out some scenes, but of course they would. I really liked the casting in the end. I was tentative at first, but everyone seemed great (minus Rosalie. She acted fine, but she didn’t look the part). I thought Jasper was decent because he IS stiff in the books, always trying to stay controlled. And i actually loved the casting of Jessica and Mike – they LOOKED like real high schoolers and even acted that way. It’s totally how my students would have been in that situation.

Oh but the glitter effect? So bad.

We kinda have to remember it was low budget. very loooow budget

Across the board, I’ve heard that people are disappointed in the movie…which makes me sad.

I think we all have massive expectations because the book is so darn addictive. Ah well, I’m sure I’ll go see it anyway.

Thanks for the review!

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it wasn’t so low budget. What Hollywood views as “low budget,” is huge compared to other countries, but they still manage to put out good movies. Pan’s Labyrinth? $19 million. Best Picture winner Slumdog Millionaire? $15 million. 28 Days Later? $9 million. The Descent? $5 million.

Even within America, there are plenty of more underground films that become hits with critics and the film community that are made for much smaller budgets. The Wrestler was $6 million, Frozen River was around $3 million, Being John Malkovich was $13 million, Session 9 was $5 million, even Catherine Hardwicke’s Thirteen was $1 or 2 million.

Sorry to go on such a rant, but it’s kind of a touchy subject with me. Most of my favourite films were made for less than Twilight. Most of them also needed more special effects, but the crew knew how to be practical and make things look good for little money. With Thirteen, I’m surprised CH wasn’t better at this herself.

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