Emily Rented Twilight. Turn away now if you don't want spoilers because I make no Promise to avoid them.
My point of view. I think book three was out before I'd even heard of this series. It never really interested me; don't get me wrong, I like stories that involve all manner of Supernatural Beings—this however is not a Vampire/Werewolf story, it's a romance—and while I'm all for a bit of Romance in my Adventure Stories, I'm generally not looking for escape in a flat out romance story. Something about this whole saga just kind of feels off, and I can't explain it. Most likely it's the raging hordes of Fan Girls—and if there is a group of people that scare me more than Fan Boys and LARPers, it's Fan Girls. That and the wear-all-black, emo, vibe that sits on top of this whole thing.
Having said all that, I went into the movie experience giving this thing the Full Benefit of the Doubt. I wanted it to be good. Mostly it was, but there was some real awkwardness in this interpretation of the source material. I understand what the director was trying to put across, but it just felt uncomfortable.
The entire first half of the movie, all the encounters with Edward just felt awkward. I know the director was trying to put across that Eddie (is it coincidence that he and Herman Munster's Son have the same name?) had an almost insurmountable desire that he was trying to suppress—But I have to look at it this way, he's been a vampire now for just over 100 years, I got the impression that he was turned by a "Vegetarian" and so he's probably been a Veggie since the beginning of his monstrous career (though he did claim to be a killer...but I think that was just more awkward coping), he's apparently Matriculated quite a number of times—so he's spent a LOT of time surrounded by teenage girls—even if he's Bored to Death (Ha Ha) he's got to have developed better social graces and coping mechanisms by now.
But what do I know. All in all it was an okay movie, I didn't hate it—I got into it, except when Ed was acting weird. The story was compelling enough. Though its execution fell short of its potential, it wasn't enough to make me hate the movie (I'm looking at you Cat in the Hat).
After watching the Movie, Emily watched some of the Bonus Material and I saw the director and all the awkwardness came into sharp focus—she was putting a lot of her own awkwardness into the character of Edward. I'm sure the next film will greatly benefit from the introduction of a new director.
Now, all this is fine and Dandy, I'm still not going to read the books—not my thing. But let's get to what's really important: There was a trailer for Astro Boy at the front of the DVD—now that's quality entertainment.
The entire first half of the movie, all the encounters with Edward just felt awkward. I know the director was trying to put across that Eddie (is it coincidence that he and Herman Munster's Son have the same name?) had an almost insurmountable desire that he was trying to suppress—But I have to look at it this way, he's been a vampire now for just over 100 years, I got the impression that he was turned by a "Vegetarian" and so he's probably been a Veggie since the beginning of his monstrous career (though he did claim to be a killer...but I think that was just more awkward coping), he's apparently Matriculated quite a number of times—so he's spent a LOT of time surrounded by teenage girls—even if he's Bored to Death (Ha Ha) he's got to have developed better social graces and coping mechanisms by now.
But what do I know. All in all it was an okay movie, I didn't hate it—I got into it, except when Ed was acting weird. The story was compelling enough. Though its execution fell short of its potential, it wasn't enough to make me hate the movie (I'm looking at you Cat in the Hat).
After watching the Movie, Emily watched some of the Bonus Material and I saw the director and all the awkwardness came into sharp focus—she was putting a lot of her own awkwardness into the character of Edward. I'm sure the next film will greatly benefit from the introduction of a new director.
Now, all this is fine and Dandy, I'm still not going to read the books—not my thing. But let's get to what's really important: There was a trailer for Astro Boy at the front of the DVD—now that's quality entertainment.
I do have to correct you on one thing there is no, "wear-all-black, emo, vibe that sits on top of this whole thing," to my knowledge. At least not in the books.
ReplyDeleteAND you must have missed the part in the movie where he says Bella is his own personal brand of heroine. She smells better to him than anyone ever has and he was very surprised by how badly he wanted to kill her.
Also he left the "vegetarian" lifestyle for a short bout, but he only hunted "bad guys" (murderers and such).
Thanks for watching the movie with me!!
I really think you'll like the coming action in the next movies.
The Emo Vibe is not there as a result of the Author or Director; it's just a casualty of writing a Vampire story—the Emos will gather.
ReplyDeleteI didn't miss the part where he called her heroine, but I don't think his struggle with that came across as such—it just came across as uncomfortable and awkward.
It was never explained that he left the "veggie" life for any period of time or for any reason. He claimed that he was a killer; but it was during a look-I'm-scary, half-hearted, we-shouldn't-be-together, even-though-I'm-"dying"-to-be-together, threaten-you-for-your-own-good scene.
Those that read the book could fill in the blanks, but for the uninitiated they really didn't develop the characters enough. If they had cut out or pared down all the agonizingly long camera panning here and there and up and down and in and out—and everybody-breathe-dramatically-for-a-minute-or-two scenes, there would have been plenty of time for the missing character development.
I totally agree with you about the character development.
ReplyDeleteGood thing there's a new director for the next one.
P.S. I just finished watching it again, gets better everytime!