Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) doesn't expect much when she moves to the small town of Forks, Washington, until she meets the mysterious and handsome Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson)--a boy who's hiding a dark secret: he's a vampire. As their worlds and hearts collide, Edward must battle the bloodlust raging inside him as well as a coterie of undead that would make Bella their prey. Based on the #1 New York Times best-selling sensation by Stephenie Meyer, Twilight adds a dangerous twist to the classic story of star-crossed lovers.
The big-screen adaptation of Twilight, Stephenie Meyer's bestselling vampire romance, is aimed squarely at its key demographic: teen girls whose idea of Prince Charming is a brooding, pale, undead teen who could kill you instantly at any moment. Such a prince is more fascinating than frightening to new girl Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), who moves to the rainy-gray town of Forks, Wash., to live with her dad (Billy Burke), the local sheriff who's puzzled by a series of "animal attacks." On her first day at school, Bella appears to (visibly) nauseate her lab partner, Edward (Robert Pattinson). Turns out the scent of her blood is this vampire's "brand of heroin," and his struggle not to kill her causes an irresistible pull toward her. Whether he's attracted for the normal reasons or because she smells especially sweet to him is vague in the book and even less clear on-screen; nonetheless, Bella falls hopelessly in love with Edward, which sets her on a dangerous path when a few nomad vampires show up in town, one particularly keen on tracking the human. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen), Twilight is full of funny moments--not all of which are intentional--and the casting, from Stewart to Bella's self-absorbed friend Jessica (Anna Kendrick) is spot-on. The weakest link, unfortunately, is Pattinson. While he certainly looks the part, his Edward could have used an extra injection of testosterone (Pattinson, who is British, used James Dean as a model for his American accent). In scenes where he growls about the temptation to kill those who would harm Bella, or flitting around a forest warning her how dangerous he is, he comes off more like a whimpering puppy than a debonair monster. The good news is, his chemistry with Stewart (particularly in their big kissing scene) is palpable, which, let's face it, is really what matters to Twilight fans most. --Ellen A. Kim
On the DVD The special features for Twilight kick off with an audio commentary with director Catherine Hardwicke and stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. There's some mumbling and groaning from Stewart (one gets the impression that Stewart is quite similar to her reserved character in the film), some standard behind-the-scenes observations from Hardwicke, and a lot of awkward self-deprecating remarks from Pattinson (of their big kiss, he opines: "This is quite difficult 'cause I have a really flat head, and so it's quite difficult to get a correct angle."). What's funny is Pattinson stumping Hardwicke with some basic plot questions, like "Why doesn't James just kill [Bella when she's packing at her house]?" While Hardwicke and Stewart attempt to answer, Pattinson doesn't appear satisfied. The deleted and extended scenes include an additional dream-sequence kiss (rightly cut because it took away from the buildup to their first kiss) and more footage of Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre). The seven-part documentary is a pretty thorough look at the development of the film, including stunts, special effects, and the involvement of author Stephenie Meyer. Another featurette looks at the Comic-Con frenzy; however, it spends no time on how the actors were cast, which would have been fun for fans who did all their own mental casting while reading the books. Also included: three music videos and trailers. --Ellen A. Kim
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Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
A New Twilight Fan:
Have read and heard all about the Twilight movies, books, Robert and Kristen, etc., thinking it was for just teenagers. Wow, was I wrong! The Twilight movie was on cable TV a couple weeks so I thought I'd watch it as nothing else good on. Well, I have watched it twice since then as absolutely loved it. And it's not just for teens...but for those of you 30+ years old that love a good love story! Who doesn't want to be swooped off their feet with your soul mate, etc.? Like everyone else adore Robert's... more info
Twilight <3:
I think this movie was based on a great story. So what if the vampires are sparkly? It's about the relationship between Bella and Edward, sort of Romeo & Juliet-ish w/o all the family drama. If people can look past all the "cheesy" parts, then they probably could appreciate the story for what it is: a LOVE story.
GOOD-SEE IT:
The movie is very different from the book "Twilight", but it has its own charm. The movie is more of a love story. The book is about an obsessive love story. The movie has some nice personal touches. The music is beautiful. Robert Pattinson sings and plays guitar in the backround music. The actors were allowed to choose their own clothes from a large wardrobe, according to Taylor Lautner. I have read a few items about the movie. The t-shirt that Bella wears when she kisses Edward belonged to the director.... more info
Pyramid67:
I am sixty-three years old and this movie appealed to me on many different levels such as a parent -even though Edward is a vampire he is a very respectful vampire and the epitome of the human type every parent would want for their daughter. This movie appeals to me as once being a young girl who was once "unconditionally and irrevocably" in love. The Cullen family also appeal to my sense of family and protecting it. I especially loved the scene in the field where they played baseball and had to stand... more info
