TWILIGHT: REVIEW
Forget
'James Bond', forget 'Australia'! Unless you have been living in a cave (then
again, after seeing this movie, maybe some of you are), 'Twilight' is the most
anticipated film around.
Based on the unbelievably successful
books by young author Stephanie Meyer, 'Twilight' is the first in a series of
four. It begins with heroine Bella Swan who has been sent off to live with her
small town sheriff father somewhere in the north-west called Fork which resembles
the oddness of Twin Peaks.
Bella becomes an instant hit at
her new high school capturing the eye of the playground's pretty boy Edward Cullen
- the foster son of the town's doctor. At first, Bella and Edward do not get along
- hesitation is matched with admired gazing. He acts strange within her presence
but slowly, affections emerge. In a spontaneous double act of bravery, Edward
rescues Bella from an out of control car and prevents her being harmed in a gang
attack. On a whim, she figures out he is a vampire which is a worry as a band
of rogue neckbiters hit the town in search of fresh supplies.
The
fresh faced vampire dynamic is handled well by director Catherine Hardwicke, her
last film 'Lords of Dogtown' was another youth orientated drama. Best not to compare
little details with the book or as a fan you could become frustrated. That said
however, both the mirror fight and the intriguing vampire baseball game translate
well from the page.
The girly aspects of the Bella and Edward
story are duly noted, cold yet compassionate, it's a classic case of wanting what
you cannot have. Dread is at a minimum, this is no 'Lost Boys'! A non frightening
and slow paced story is told, aimed at mainly a younger audience who will appreciate
the awesome chemistry between the pale skinned duo.
If the
ooooh's and ahhhh's overheard in the screening I attended are any indication,
it must have hit the spot. Robert Pattinson plays Edward offbeat with a soft edge,
but Kristen Stewart as Bella is a find, striking and drawn to her character. An
established singer/songwriter, she proves her acting bravado in the Sean Penn
film, 'Into the Wild', wasn't just a one off.
Also of particular
note is child prodigy Nikki Reed (Thirteen), as Rosalie Hale and Elizabeth Reaser
(The Ex-List, Greys Anatomy), as Esme Cullen who sprout an array of particularly
memorable one liners.
Music from an adverse range of artists
such as Muse, Paramore and Linkin Park, litter the soundtrack with rocking beats
amid the romantic interludes. With pre-production already started on the second
book, 'New Moon', Bella and Edwards story appears here to stay on the big screen.
Shane A. Bassett
