A must-see movie of the year!

Rating: Null/10 (23 November 2008)

I'll admit, being a HUGE Twilight fan, I was hesitant that the film would ruin the book. I've had my share of that and didn't want to see it happen again. This wasn't better than the book, but it does stand on its own. It doesn't need an internationally bestselling novel to accompany it.
When the theater grew dark, and the screen finally showed the word "Twilight," you would have thought that Edward Cullen was actually in the theater because of all the screaming and cheering. Then, to add to that, when Robert Pattinson (Edward) appeared on screen, I didn't think my ear drums would be working for the rest of the movie. Not to say that I wasn't excited, I just wasn't screaming my head off. The same reactions occurred for when Peter Facinelli (Dr. Carlisle Cullen) and Cam Gigandet (James) appeared on screen.
The cast was (almost) perfect, which is one of my few complaints. All of the actors playing the Cullens were perfect in their perspective roles. I loved watching the emotions in Robert Pattinson's face as Bella got closer to Edward. I could see the struggle that Edward goes through every moment Bella is near him. He did the role perfectly. Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen), Nikki Reed (Rosalie Hale), Jackson Rathbone (Jasper Hale), Kellan Lutz (Emmet Cullen), Peter Facinelli (Carlisle Cullen), and Elizabeth Reaser (Esme Cullen) all looked exactly like I had pictured their characters to look. The only let down was Kristen Stewart as Bella. She didn't look like I thought Bella should, and she didn't portray Bella like I thought Bella should be portrayed.
Like I said, the movie isn't as good as the book, but it's good on its own. The focus is a little shifted from the novel (not so much on how their relationship develops and how they deal with all the complications, but more on the romance itself), and of course it isn't as in-depth as the novel. Otherwise, it's just about perfect. I can't wait to see what happens in the future movies!