And Now I Can't Sleep

Rating: 3/10 (4 December 2008)

With few redeeming qualities, I've never wanted to walk out on a show so much in my life. From horrible acting and dialog to the worst sound track since the 70's, this film left much to be desired.
When I first heard about production of this movie I completely expected that it would deviate from the book. Honestly movies have to, it's just a fact. I understand the need for more action when most of the book is simply Bella's thoughts regarding the events around her. But, the main theme of the books (the love story between Edward and Bella) was almost completely left out! To a viewer who has not read the book the full-of-holes love story is confusing and completely unbelievable. The lack of development of their relationship makes it appear that the two simply hung out in the woods once or twice after school.
This film was trying to be too mainstream tween. The use of the lingo, fashion, lack or morality, and trends took away the more timeless appeal of the books and raised a lot of eyebrows. To name a few: Edward suddenly appears in Bella's room when she's dressed in a t-shirt and underwear? Yet she isn't phased by this and they have their first kiss (after he stalker-ishly tells her that he's been in her room watching her sleep every night for 3 months). Guess Bella isn't quite as shy and self conscious as we thought (or as much as the average teen age girl). Shouldn't the way he's leering at her in her underwear and telling her that he's obsessed raised a few red flags? Get out that pepper spray, Bella! His actions made sense in the book but are just plain creepy here. Jessica is practically falling out of her prom dress, yet Bella lets her know that's a great selling point. Billy is "just keepin' it real". That did make me laugh, but the kids from Forks were really irritating.
Robert Pattison's acting was alright half the time, but the other half his speech was so dazed and slow that he sounded mentally disabled. Kristen Stewart's acting was okay but would have greatly been benefited by a good script. The dialog sounded poorly edited---like a few good sound bites had been inserted here or there for effect but they couldn't really get to the heart of what they were supposed to be saying. I felt like I was watching "The Dueling Cavalier" before the sound editing overhaul in "Singing in the Rain".
The music was unbelievably awful! Between the Simon and Garfunkle imitations and the guitar laden background music during the action sequences, the music just didn't fit!
I'm not even going to get started on the horrible special effects---I'll attribute that to the low budget this film had.
What's with the sudden fascination with spider-monkeys? Guess "Jazz" and "Nessie" weren't such weird nicknames after all. . .
That all being said, I did like a few things. I enjoyed the characterization and portrayal of Charlie and James. The baseball scene was fun! The prom (excluding the improportionate length of the scene, and the part where Victoria shows up???) was an awwww moment. Parts of the scene at the Cullens house were funny/cute. Did I mention that Charlie and James were great?...
Anyhow, this movie bothered me so much that now I can't sleep. Hope the filmmakers can't either. My only hope is that this movie will make enough money to have a decent enough budget for "New Moon" that good producers, directors, scriptwriters, etc. can be hired.