The Truth

Rating: 5/10 (3 January 2009)

Kristen Stewart cannot act her way out of a paper bag in this movie. What is frustrating to me, especially, is that I've seen this girl sprout more emotions in other films in one scene than she conveys as Bella in this entire movie. It is laughable, and most of all, a disappointment - I know she can do better. If this is honestly how she believes Bella is portrayed, then I will boycott New Moon and any other illegitimate films from the Twilight series made by her.
The lighting does nothing to flatter her at all. Kristen Stewart, whom under good light is fairly attractive, in an odd and uncommon way, looks like a greasy tom boy. We all know (that is, the Twilight readers and die-hards) that Bella is attractive, but not in an overly so way that it makes it obvious to how she gains the admiration of a handsome, god-like creature such as Edward. The clothing they chose for her was ridiculous and did not accentuate anything about her features and structure.
I would like to point out that it is obvious, painfully so, that Stewart was not cast for her abilities, but merely the chemistry between she and Pattinson. While the heat was fan inducing at times, there are only perhaps about a hand full of these moments, which as we all know cannot possibly compensate the joke she has made out of a dearly beloved character. At all. I do also wish to mention that I felt the urge to snap shut Kristen's almost constant open jaw. Not only did her monotone acting make her appear brain-dead, the near drooling did nothing but make the cherry on top of her life-lessness.
I would like to give a light slap on the butt to the idiotic writer who gave these actors some of the most horrific lines that made me turn my head away in shame - and embarrassment - at seeing Twilight slaughtered on screen. It is, with horror, that I read that the same writer is assigned to massacre New Moon. I dearly hope and pray that this pathetic screenplay writer, and Kristen, read some of the heart-breaking reviews on their performance and choose to shape up the next time around, because if there is even a modicum of idiocy with the next segment, I (and many, many others that I know) will not be on the train for Eclipse and the already bastardized Breaking Dawn.
If anything, it is obvious that Rob Pattinson saved and made this film. There were moments where I could have sworn I saw him struggle with the lines they forced him to say, but he made through it, and I am grateful that the two hours and $8 wasn't a complete waste of my precious life because of him. To all that questioned his ability to play Edward in the beginning, I know many if not all left feeling satisfied - at least more so in him than Stewart.
The actor of James was so bad that it was like rubbing salt on an already open wound with their laughable and exaggerated "hunting" scenes that really weren't even necessary. I had issue with Carlisle's actor because he seemed very stiff and one dimensional, not as the noble, strong character we know him to be through the books.
Good things I would like to point out are the actors of Rosalie and Emmett. Excellent portrayal of the characters. Though obviously not Oscar worthy, they at least were not laughable, like Alice's high-pitched, kill me before I stab you with a fork voice or the corny vision of this generation's youth with Eric and Mike Newton. Charlie was great as Bella's father and made me very happy.
I am not saying I hate this film, as angry as this review may sound. I am completely aware that any book-to-movie deal will always have it's faults and disappointed fans, but the film was about 20% closer to the ridiculous side than it is anything else. I don't speak for everyone; I know some were pleased, strangely enough, by Kristen's portrayal. I have seen the movie multiple times, and it wasn't as bad as I originally thought the second time around. The soundtrack is amazing and I adore every song, of each that bring to mind of the excellently captured landscapes of Forks. I honestly hope that the increased budget offers more support for better clothing, an acting coach for Kristen, and non-laughable special effects. There were mistakes that were easily spotted, such as editing problems, a very novice accident that I wouldn't have expected for such a highly anticipated film. I suggest the next movie focus on fleshing out Bella - the REAL, heart-sick and vulnerable Bella - and spend less money harassing people with ads and promotion and more on the things that matter. We're here for you; the fan base isn't going to turn away just because you didn't do it halfway decently the first time around. Second time, maybe. We're intelligent enough as a whole to recognize failure when we see it - merely look up the reviews for Breaking Dawn to understand where you're headed.