A let down - even with the lowest of expectations...

Rating: 4/10 (19 April 2009)

I'll admit I'm an avid Twilight series reader, though I went into the theater with a fully opened mind. I tried to keep my expectations quite low and just looked at the movie adaptation as what it was - a movie. Such a poorly adapted low-budget film.
People can argue that the reason this movie was such a poor adaptation of the novel was because of a low-budget or because of the different perspectives of what people are hoping to see. But all in all, down to the core, a movie isn't all about the scenery, the costumes, the props or the lighting and such. It relies on acting abilities. If two actors are completely submerged in their characters, know the script, and have a bit of chemistry, they can put on at least an 8 out of 10 star performance, without anything but themselves. I've seen such within my own drama department and I believed that two talented actors could do the same.
When I first heard Kristen Stewart was playing Bella Swan I was mildly ecstatic. I felt that she was an amazing actress and she stood out in my mind, regardless of the fact that I'd seen her in very few movies. I also felt she looked the part. A picture perfect Bella to the eye. But seeing Kristen Stewart in motion as Bella did not quite cut it. For one, Kristen was EXTREMELY annoying and got on my last nerve with her constant blinking. Throughout the majority of the scenes she was nervously batting her eyelashes. But although her constant habit set me off a little, I tried to endure her as not only an actress, but as Bella. And I just couldn't fully believe her. Before filming, Kristen seemed as though she'd be able to play Bella and withhold all of her qualities, add in the fact that she's a serious actress. But I felt she couldn't hold it together and all of the little things that made Bella as Bella were lost completely, especially Bella's sarcasm.
Robert Pattinson fell terribly short as Edward Cullen within the first hour or so of the movie. By far his best scenes were towards the middle of the movie, closest to the end. He was a more believable Edward than Kristen was a believable Bella - which would surprise most seeing as everyone was unsure of Robert as well as having that impending sense of fear that no one could possibly portray the perfection that Edward Cullen accentuates.
I felt Catherine Hardwick was one of the worst directors to take on this film adaptation that so many were anxious to see. This film from afar was a wonderful film and had the highest box-office and DVD sales - but that was all because of the title, "Twilight", that Stephenie Meyer had made so famous with her genuinely stunning book series. A brooding forbidden love, that I fell in love upon reading it within the first month it hit the shelves, somewhere back in 2005. I myself bought this movie because I do love/want to own most things Twilight related and I'm sure the majority of the DVD sales for this film were for that same reason. I'm not ashamed to have bought it for the purpose that it was the "Twilight Movie" but I am highly disappointed and expected much more. This movie was a flop.
But of course this is just my opinion, and you have yours as well.