Eerie and Beautiful

Rating: 8/10 (27 November 2008)

I read all four books before seeing this film, and although I would not claim to be as hardcore and devoted to the series as some, I feel I can count myself as a loyal fan. I was nervous about seeing the movie because the previews and promotional material just made it look cheesy and goofy. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by what I saw.
The music (Burwell's "Bella's Lullaby," in particular), cinematography, and, of course, scenery were all breath-takingly gorgeous. It especially lent to the film an eerie, dreamlike quality that fits the beauty of the romance perfectly. The setting is as much a character as any of the others, and the film's use of it demonstrated that well.
I realize that some viewers may be upset by the tiny changes to the plot and narrative point of view the film employs. However, I think the film makers made wise decisions in translating the story to the big screen. Nothing major is changed, but a few things had to be shortened for a movie's sake. Unless someone would be especially bothered by that, I'd definitely recommend seeing "Twilight." It's a haunting love story the film tells well, complete with beautiful cinematography and talented actors.