It was just impossible

Rating: 5/10 (30 March 2009)

OK, I'm a 33 years old Italian scientist (yeah). Rational. Down-to-earth. And I've read the four books - in English - in less than four days. Catchy, aren't they? It was unexpected to me, I didn't know anything about the saga. They might not be the Divina Commedia, but I think that labeling them as "B-literature" is damn wrong.
The movie, to me, was just disappointing. Even if I try to forget the absolute lack of quality in the make-up and visual effects, and the poor directing - not that it's an easy task - and if I liked most of the performances, the experience was somehow physically painful. I found the plot to be so... EMPTY. Where has all the introspection gone? You cannot really understand why the two main characters fall in love, and there is almost no trace of the complex reasons and thoughts which are behind them and their story. Not to mention the changes in the plot. Don't try to fool me: it's not just a matter of book-to-screen adaptation. This was a plain CRIME, the plot was robbed of so much depth! The twist in the meadow scene alone was so awful that I wanted my money back. But then, after the initial, burning disappointment, I had to face the awful truth. Turning the book into a movie was just an impossible dream. You don't have enough time to develop the characters, to let them grow and be fully exposed. I think that a more appropriate solution could have been a TV series, spanning through all the four books. OK, you'd still face difficulties in rendering a story which is full of unspoken thoughts and points of view, and you'd need to cut and adjust here and there, but... at least it would be possible not to throw away the best which is in the book.
Coming to the actors... I have mixed feelings. Pattinson is quite good in this role, but matching the mental image every reader has built of the godlike, perfect, stunning Edward is very tough. I found his voice inadequate - wasn't it supposed to be like a melody? He has very beautiful and magnetic eyes, indeed. Stewart was well chosen, however she sometimes looks a little bit too cold and inexpressive - but again: I guess the blame is to be put on the lack of dialogs and introspection wrt the book.
After all, I will surely end up watching the sequels. I was so obsessed with the books that I cannot stop. Shame on me. I hope in a better directing and a higher budget, but I've already read that the screenwriter is the same. Too bad.
P.S. A nice surprise was the actor playing Chief Swan. Hey, the man is HOT! (Remember, I'm 33 ^_^ )