Mixed-Feelings

Rating: 7/10 (30 November 2008)

I went into the theater knowing it wasn't going to be a spot on adaptation of the novel, but that didn't stop me from being excited about it, nor did it stop me from leaving the theater with mixed feelings.
The way the scenes were shot was decent and fit the rugged/woodsy feel of Forks. Though, it did give me a headache after a while watching the camera shake up and down or side to side.
The adaptation wasn't bad, though I was having to explain a lot of the scenes to my mom and sister since neither read the books. I especially loved the wandering vampires (James&Co.) character build up. They left out some crucial scenes from the book and changed important ones, like the meadow scenes.
The cast itself... will never compare to the ones in the book, but of course humans are only humans. The Heroes: I was fairly happy with Pattinson, though I about died at his expression when Bella entered the Bio class. Bella(Stewart)... was a babbling idiot, emotionless and bored looking. Alice, I wasn't happy with. The happy, bouncy, nymph-like, I love Bella, Alice was no where to be seen. I would have loved to have heard more then one or two lines from Jasper, he was cast well. Carlisle made me cringe, too much make-up and dyed hair made him laughable, but he did play the part well. Emmet, Esme, and Rosalie were perfect. Though Rosalie's hatred for Bella was there, it wasn't explained. Charlie was wonderful, as was the high school cast. Jacob made me laugh >.>
The Villains: The little tidbits before they met the Cullen's on the field was fantastic. The only time were I felt like they portrayed the actual grace of the vampires that was so prevalent in the book, was when the three entered the field. James, Victoria and Laurent were awesome. I really felt the catty and wild feel of Victoria and the evil, calculating character of James. They conveyed it well. The ballet scene was wonderfully done. My only gripe was how Bella escaped her babysitters and took the cab to the studio. Then where James actually bit Bella.
I wasn't totally let down, and I laughed at some of the added dialog. I just wish some of the core elements of the novel had been put in the movie and the major things that were changed, remained true from the novel. I would recommend people to watch it, but to definitely read the book beforehand.