"He looks at you like you're something to eat..."

Rating: 7/10 (29 March 2009)

To have not heard about the "Twilight" series, you'd have to live under a rock. And even then it would be unlikely, as the Twilight super-fans would hunt you down, pull you out from under the rock, and brigail you with every minute reason that Twilight is the greatest series ever written. There's no denying it - Twilight is a pop-culture phenomenon.
And so, it is inevitable that a movie would accompany the wildly successful books. But is it any good? Honestly, it's hard to say. Though debatable, it is pretty much accepted as fact that a movie rarely - if ever - lives up to the book. As someone who has read (and loved) the entire series, "Twilight" obviously can't live up to the book completely. But overall, I found the movie to be a very enjoyable experience.
For those of you who don't know, Twilight is about seventeen-year-old Isabella Swann (Kristen Stewart), who - because of her mother and stepfather being constantly on the road - moves to a small town in Washington called Forks to live with her father (Billy Burke). Once there, she is drawn into the world of the mysterious Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). Though he keeps her at arm's length at first, she eventually discovers his secret - he is a vampire. And, of course, she falls in love with him.
The director did her job fairly well. She stuck close enough to the story - not majorly altering any plot points (though die-hards would probably punch me in the face for saying that when it comes to the scene in the meadow). But again, this is a movie, every detail couldn't have possibly been squeezed in.
The acting. Kristen Stewart manages to capture the look of Bella Swann perfectly, though her acting was a bit below par here and there. You notice it, but overall it doesn't detract from the movie. Robert Pattinson...oh boy. How can I say this without sounding like a nit-picky, obsessive die-hard? I'll put it like this: if you haven't read the book, his performance will seem fine. Those of you have are likely to thing he was wrong for the part. And you'd be partly right. Pattinson does not capture the cool, confident demeanor that Edward exuded. Truth be told, Edward's character in the movie feels more than a tad awkward in places.
As for the rest of the cast, Billy Burke is wonderful as Charlie. He expertly captures the charmingly gruff disposition of Bella's dad. He is humorous, but can also be dramatic. Casting him was a stroke of genius. Taylor Lautner is excellent as Jacob Black, and Gil Birmingham was did well as Jacob's father, Billy. Edward's "family" were all great. They look and act almost exactly as you'd expect them too. And it would be a shame not to add that Anna Kendrick, who plays Bella's shallow but well-meaning friend Jessica, brings an utterly realistic portrayal. She is a normal teenage girl, and her performance is not at all contrived. It's as if no one told her it was a movie - she seemed totally herself.
The villains were portrayed rather well, all things considered - Cam Gigandet being the obvious standout as James. In fact, he was probably the most convincing actor in the entire movie, when it came to actually capturing the feel of a vampire. He was psychopathic, but not too over-the-top. Great, great bad guy.
The atmosphere of this film was amazing. The grays, blues and greens were all used to magnificent effect in literally bringing Forks to life. The special effects - honestly - are give or take. They are superb in spots, and lackluster in others.
Also, be warned - though there is a fair amount of action, it is mostly in the film's climax (which is awesome, by the way). This film is a love story first, so if you're not the chick-flick type and are just looking for some spectacular, bloody vampire action, Underworld would be a better choice. But for a love story with a dangerous twist and an exciting, action-packed conclusion, you may have found what you were looking for.
Sure, the acting screams "teen movie" in places, but this IS a teen movie. Yeah, the script has a few awkward moments - but again, teen movie. Some of you will love this film, hailing it as a masterpiece and a perfectly acceptable representation of your undoubtedly favorite novel. Some of you will hate it, claiming it is a piece of garbage with poor acting that was insult to the book you love and adore. But my personal opinion on this movie? I liked it. It was neither perfect, nor awful. It is a good movie - more of a tribute than actually living up to the incredibly high standard that the book set. But that's okay. It's a good movie, and I recommend it - even if you've never read the book.