Seen it twice...my thoughts.

Rating: 10/10 (22 November 2008)

I became a fan of the books late in the game. I got them ALL in August (2008) and read them all within 5 days. Since that time I have read them each about 5 times. I am also reading them allowed and recording them for my husband who HATES to read (and I ain't spending $30 a pop on the CD's). So I have the books just about memorized. I heard someone mention there isn't a plot, well there is...to see if true love can SURVIVE. Now I did not have HIGH expectations because I know what I saw in my head could in no way be done perfectly in reality so I went in HOPING that it would at least be good. I was greeted with a VERY good portrayal of what I read. Of course MANY things were left out or changed...I mean how many girls loved the blood typing...not in the movie, and how many liked the jacket being left behind and she gets to wear his and SMELL him...also not in it. OK the beginning was FAST, I know this was done to get to the meat and potatoes of the story so I forgive them for that. But there were three things that I was a bit stubborn on 1.) the kisses 2.)Baseball 3.)Sparkle Edward. So I can say I was NOT disappointed. SPOILER possibly (depends on how you look at it)** The kiss is described as chaste in the books because of his fear of cutting her. A lot of hype on the internet about it being more "frenchy"...it wasn't, it was the perfect combination of chaste and passionate!!! Baseball WOW~!!! They did such a good job that I wanted more the only flaw I found was when the Cullens converge to protect Bella...they all move like Apes and are hissing and it looks a little weak, did not have the "power" effect that is supposed to be there. But I like the vortex shot, what I mean is the last time Rosalie bats, when she swings, she does it SO HARD that the swoosh creates an air vortex that spins Esme's hair around and back into her face...it made the shot real. SPARKLE: OME! I dreaded this because I truly did not think they would be able to do it. But they succeeded...yes, it is a little cheesy but I think it is cheesy because there are these "ting ting" sound effects to his glisten...what was that about. I never imagined a sound when he shimmered...so that was a little weird.
Okay, the second time I went I took my cousin who has NOT read the books. When a movie is made from a book they usually are trying to tell the story so that ANYONE can watch and follow but they messed up in a few spots here. In the beginning when Edward sees Bella in the cafeteria and he is looking at her with puzzlement...we readers know it is because he cannot hear her thoughts, but my cousin was like "What the?" Then in Biology when she walks in and he scent is blown towards him, he grabs his nose and convulses like he might be sick. My cousin was like "Okay, he falls for her but she makes him sick?? WHAT?" So I had to explain to him what was happening. Other than those items I think people can follow it and ENJOY it. My husband LOVED it, he was the reason we went back a second time. My cousin enjoyed it too. So two guys liked it and so did I!!
**I couldn't understand why Jaspers gift was not explained, it seemed like Edward began to tell Bella but just stopped with Alice. I really liked the wolf references in the film to prep for the next one and of course the ending was very smart!!!
I recommend this movie to everyone, it is the perfect mix of funny, sweet, angry, scared, sad and romantic!!