Twilight

[Jen]

I just finished watching Twilight. Angela and I are covering Vampire lore plus the Twilight books and movie on our next episode of Anomaly, which we're recording next Friday (May 1st) with our non-geek friend Holly.

I have to say that I had absolutely zero interest in this movie until Holly started talking about how much she loved the novels. Her mother pushed them on her and she ate them up then started insisting how much we would love them.

I heard it was a teeny-bopper movie and it didn't sound particularly interesting because of that. But I was willing to give it a shot, since Holly liked it so much (even though she said the books are better). I really enjoyed the movie. It was romantic and creepy and I guess that's a good combination. :D 

Anyway, I think I want to read the novels now. Should make for an interesting Anomaly discussion. What did you all think of the movie? I think they bring an interesting perspective on life as a Vampire. Though the thought of one watching me as I sleep TOTALLY CREEPS ME OUT NO MATTER HOW HOT THE VAMPIRE IS...  :blink

[Dan M]

My wife and I watched it a few weeks back.  I thought it was awful.  Not the story, but the execution.  The female lead was not very good, and the director was way out of her depth.  It's no surprise that she wasn't asked back for either of the sequels.

The clumsy filming of the pivotal scene where Bella reveals to Edward that she knows he is a vampire?  Wow!  Go back and watch it.  The camera zooms in.  Then jarringly cuts back to a wider view.  Then it starts a 360 spin around the characters, but only goes 280 and then cuts back to the wide front view.  All while the characters distance from each other jumps at each cut.  It's one of the worst-filmed key scenes I can remember in a movie.

There was more I didn't like, but that's the most egregious example.  I liked the score.

My wife has read all the books, and she says they're 100 times better than the movie.  (She hated a whole different list of things about the movie, and she's generally a very forgiving viewer.)

I haven't read the books, and I'm not going to.  Based on the movie, I don't see anything in these stories that I haven't seen done already, to greater effect, in Buffy, Angel or Underworld.

[Rico]

I'm with Jen on this.  I liked the movie quite a bit.  Just watched it a couple days ago.  I haven't read any of the books, but I have been reading a fair amount of this sub-genre of fantasy involving vampires, weres, witches, etc. by a couple of other authors I like.  I enjoyed most of what the movie was trying to do.  The scenery was really beautiful and I loved the forests, mountains and non So-Cal locations.  Dan, I do know what you mean about some of the camera work.  It was a bit odd, at times.  But I think that was very intentional.  I think they were trying hard to shake up the normal conventions of movie styles.  Whether it works for you or not is obviously up to the viewer.  I loved the baseball scene a lot and the music.

My one little gripe is I thought Bella fell for Edward a bit too quickly and easily.  I'm not sure how they play that out in the books but it just seemed a bit quick to me.  Anyway, I'm looking forward to the next film coming out in Nov. and I might give the books a shot sometime.

[Dan M]

That's interesting Rico.  I've watched that particular scene a few times, and I have a hard time believing that the clumsiness of it was intentional.  I think the director, who had never tackled this type of movie, was trying stuff she didn't know how to do. 

I thought Bella's characterization and portrayal were a major weak spot for the film.  I didn't understand the character's motivations or believe what she was supposedly feeling.  Like you said, she falls for Edward too quickly.  She kept saying she wasn't scared of him.  Why the heck wasn't she?  And the actress sure delivered her lines like she was scared.  (According to my wife, in the book she really isn't scared.)

I'm glad you both enjoyed it. 

[Rico]

As always, it's in the eye of the beholder.  There are many unusual, quick cuts and weird pans in the movie.  For me at least, I think that was suppose to set up the supernatural and strangeness of it all.  For me, it worked.  They use slow motion, very quick cuts, pans, wideshots, etc. and kind of mix it all up at times.  Also keep in mind the DP (director of photography) has a lot to do with this - as well as the director.

[KC]

I actually liked the movie better than the book. Crazy, I know. ;) The movie made necessary cuts from the novel. Mind you, I still strongly dislike both and I have spoken my peace about it many times, but I have to give the movie credit where it's due, especially in how the character of Bella was changed.

I found Bella to be such an unlikeable character in the books. She's described as average-looking but everyone wants to date her, she starts dating the most handsome guy in school, she takes on this martyr role that seventeen-year-olds do not realistically undertake, she not at all afraid of vampires simply because she loves one, she "accepts death" when it seems like its coming her way. Plain and simple, she's very much a Mary-Sue. A kind of goth Mary-Sue, but a Mary-Sue nonetheless. What I hate most of all is that she constantly refers to her father by his first name in the books, citing the reason that her parents are divorced and she never really grew up with her father. That just irks the crud out of me to no end.

That said, I really like the way that Bella was played in the movie--hardest acting job ever!--simply because they edited out the Mary-Sue in her character and Kristen Stewart did well in her role. I was proud of the movie for that, and it almost made up for my feelings on the books... almost.

The directing was very awkward at times, but I do like Catherine Hardwicke, whose movie "Thirteen" scared the crud out of me without being a horror movie. And I can't lie, I saw the movie for the guy who played Edward... yeah, I'm driven to see a lot of movies simply because my attraction to handsome boys. The guy who played Jacob helped with that too. I like pretty things, what can I say? :P

There's a lot more I could say about the movie that have good and bad points, but I think I covered my main issue of interest and one the many reasons why I can't pick up the next book: Miss Bella Swan. I'm glad that teenagers are reading because of Twilight, but give me Buffy any day.

[Dan M]

Also keep in mind the DP (director of photography) has a lot to do with this - as well as the director.

As does the editor.  However, the director is ultimately responsible. 

[Jen]

I'm going to talk about this without using spoilers. I may reference something that was said or a small scene but it won't be a major spoiler...just a heads up.

I wasn't really looking forward to this movie, so I had zero expectations. I was only watching it as a reference for Anomaly's next episode. Perhaps this fact has helped me see it differently than you two, KC and Dan...and enjoy it for what it is.  I could pick part this movie as well, but I'm not going to because if I did I'd also have to do that for several Trek and certain Star Wars movies. There were weak points in Twilight. I did notice them but I enjoyed the story, so I was willing to forgive some of the cheesiness. Plus it was a romantic book/movie that was written for teens, not adult men and women (though there are many who like them). If you take that into consideration it makes sense that it's over the top. I personally don't have any issues with the camera work or directing...I've seen MUCH worse.

Bella is a seventeen year old girl... I have been a seventeen year old girl and it doesn't surprise me in the least that she would fall for a boy that quickly. At 17, I was instantly in love with a guy I slow danced with ONCE. All I knew was his first name, but I pined for him for a whole summer...hormones tend to do that. :D   Add to the fact that Bella is in love with a vampire, a creature who is supposedly irresistible by nature, for the purpose of the hunt, and there's your explanation.

Some jaded teens may call their parents by their first name. I've heard it before and it irritates me too, but it's not uncommon. When I was a teen I tried it too... I was told not to ever do it again, but my parents weren't divorced and my father wasn't a push over like hers. By the way, like Bella's dad,  my dad did come to the door with a shot gun when Dave first came to meet my family. Only my Dad (John Wayne) took it a step further. He chose that moment so shoot in the air to scare off a huge flock of birds (he had never done that before)...luckily it did not scare off my future husband.

Average looking girls got the popular/attractive guys all the time in my school. They had...other attributes the guys were interested in. Again, not surprising. It can also be explained away by the fact that her love interest had been around for quite a long time and maybe saw something in her that was unique (he couldn't read her thoughts for one thing). And he is a vampire, maybe there is some hypnosis going on. He also mentioned that being a vampire meant that females were always after him (not in those exact words but it was mentioned).

I don't know why she would be described in the book as average. I don't think it's an accident her name is Bella. It means "beautiful" in Italian and it also happens to be the first name of a very famous actor who played vampires for most of his acting career: Bella Lugosi. Maybe "average" to the author means "pretty", but not a beauty queen.

The girl always falls for the handsome guy and, more often than not, the handsome bad boy. Authors keep using it because it works. A story about a vampire that doesn't want to be a monster has been done before, yes. And it has been done differently, I'm not sure it was better...just different. And just once I'd like to see a human male fall for an attractive vampire female who isn't out to use him. :D 

I liked the various powers the vampires had, and the reasons they stay out of the light. They had a cross in their house, he referenced a popular Christian notion (and the lion will lay down with the lamb). When preachers speak of the lion and the lamb lying down together, they are referring to the time of peace when Jesus will reign as King over the earth. There was a scene soon after he referred to himself as a lion and Bella as a lamb, when they were laying in a field staring up at the sky...and doing nothing else. It's interesting, I haven't seen that in other vampire stories. Not sure what the intent of the author or director was, but it was different.

Also, the movie was tastefully done...the love scenes were not sex scenes. I'm not against that, but Bella is a teenager and it is a movie for teens, so it was good that the director kept it fairly innocent this go round. That may change in the next movie (as she grows up).

The setting offered interesting differences as well. The Native Americans played into the story, and I found that different/interesting.

I also thought the soundtrack was cool.

[KC]

You bring up good points, Jen. The fact that Bella fell for Edward so quickly never bothered me--heck, did you see that guy?! Dang, I'm twenty-two, and I'm crushing on him. Again, I like pretty things.

Stephenie Meyer loves to use the word "average" for Bella and "beautiful" for Edward. It's written from Bella's point of view, so I guess I can see why she doesn't see herself as gorgeous, but even in interviews Meyer refers to her as "average." It's bizarre. And I gotta say, I'm a little envious of the school you went to, Jen. Actually, scratch "a little," add "very, very envious." :P

As for the whole calling the father by the first name thing, I know it's not uncommon, but at the same time it would be nice to have more movies, books, and stuff that portrays a positive growing relationship after a painful family separation. My own parents are divorced, and I've known my share of peers who had divorced parents and still referred to them as "dad" or "mom" despite the acid dripping off their tongue. I guess it's just my own personal experience getting in the way, but to me it's as if Bella isn't even acknowledging the fact that Charlie is her father and thus disrespecting him, and I don't find that to be a likable trait at all. There were a lot of things that I didn't like about her character that I could have forgiven, but I think that's what turned me off the most when I read the book. Again, loved her in the movie--soooo much better in the movie. :)

I absolutely loved when the Dad whipped out the shotgun in the movie. That was just plain awesome. I'm pretty sure my dad would do the same thing if he had a shotgun.

I have my issues with the vampire/sunlight thing in Twilight. I like the generic idea of it, but I just can't take that part very seriously. I would make a joke about it, but it might spoil the movie/book for others... and I think it's better when it's in person. ;)

This probably reads like I'm dissing on the movie a bit, but I really did enjoy the movie when I saw it. Would I see it again? I don't think so, but at the same time, I wouldn't be opposed to watching it if it happened to be on TV or something.

[Yeoman Mara]

Ohhh, Twilight.  I loved this movie!  So cool and Edward,....  mmmm.  :wub
I think the movie was well made.  Makes me really want to read the book now!

[X]

I saw the movie then read all the books. If I had to label any issues, it would be that I wouldn't let my daughter read them until she was well into adulthood. She is pretty much everything that you don't want to see in your daughter in the terms of her grip on sanity without spoiling the books. The books were entertaining, but I would be hard pressed to find a positive personality trait from the girl.

[X]

One last thing. I can say this without going into too much detail. I think that I would consider myself a failure as a parent if my daughter was with a man that stalked her while she slept, controlled who she spoke to, and she saw absolutely nothing at all wrong with that.

[Jen]

One last thing. I can say this without going into too much detail. I think that I would consider myself a failure as a parent if my daughter was with a man that stalked her while she slept, controlled who she spoke to, and she saw absolutely nothing at all wrong with that.

You liked these books? :D  I haven't read them so I don't know. I was commenting on the movie really...but I'm pretty sure the dad didn't know "super fast and stealthy vampire boy" was in her room watching her as she slept (because he finds it fascinating since he doesn't sleep). Shoot, Bella didn't even know until he let her see him. :)

[X]

One last thing. I can say this without going into too much detail. I think that I would consider myself a failure as a parent if my daughter was with a man that stalked her while she slept, controlled who she spoke to, and she saw absolutely nothing at all wrong with that.

You liked these books? :D  I haven't read them so I don't know. I was commenting on the movie really...but I'm pretty sure the dad didn't know "super fast and stealthy vampire boy" was in her room watching her as she slept (because he finds it fascinating since he doesn't sleep). Shoot, Bella didn't even know until he let her see him. :)

I enjoyed them. I think the problem was that I saw the movie. After that I had to know what happened, so I read all the books. This is the same with the Legend of the Seeker. I saw one episode and liked it, so over the next week, I read every book. I don't like not knowing what happens next.

Bella scares me. She thinks she knows what she wants and then goes after it regardless of the sanity involved. The character in the books is much worse than the character in the movies. The best way to describe Bella is ... broken. She's sort of not all there from the beginning and only gets more broken by her own actions. Her having no reaction to being stalked is what troubles me the most. At least Edward has an excuse, he saw her as food. When he told her this, she still didn't react with any measurable amount of sanity. Don't get me wrong, it was a good read, but when it's in first person of a character you have little respect or sympathy for, it could get tedious at times.

[Jen]

One last thing. I can say this without going into too much detail. I think that I would consider myself a failure as a parent if my daughter was with a man that stalked her while she slept, controlled who she spoke to, and she saw absolutely nothing at all wrong with that.

You liked these books? :D  I haven't read them so I don't know. I was commenting on the movie really...but I'm pretty sure the dad didn't know "super fast and stealthy vampire boy" was in her room watching her as she slept (because he finds it fascinating since he doesn't sleep). Shoot, Bella didn't even know until he let her see him. :)

I enjoyed them. I think the problem was that I saw the movie. After that I had to know what happened, so I read all the books. This is the same with the Legend of the Seeker. I saw one episode and liked it, so over the next week, I read every book. I don't like not knowing what happens next.

Bella scares me. She thinks she knows what she wants and then goes after it regardless of the sanity involved. The character in the books is much worse than the character in the movies. The best way to describe Bella is ... broken. She's sort of not all there from the beginning and only gets more broken by her own actions. Her having no reaction to being stalked is what troubles me the most. At least Edward has an excuse, he saw her as food. When he told her this, she still didn't react with any measurable amount of sanity. Don't get me wrong, it was a good read, but when it's in first person of a character you have little respect or sympathy for, it could get tedious at times.

There have been plenty of characters in other movies who have acted in the same way that Bella has. Here's one example: Padme should have run screaming in the other direction when Anikin told her he killed all the sand people...and she was a grown woman, not a teenage girl. What you may be forgetting is how old Bella is. Teen age girls do stupid STUPID things because they think they are in love. It's not a character flaw it's a fact of life. ;)

I don't know what happens to her after the first novel, you may be right about her character later on. But the reason she felt like she could trust Edward was because he saved her...that's where it all started. It's a very common romantic movie theme. I'll have to think a little more and come up with other examples.