The ‘Twilight’ Zone

The TV Guide
November 21st, 2008

OY! Yesterday was a looooong day for me and, amazingly enough, I managed to wake up relatively early today and am still going strong. After a full day of work yesterday and a 5+ hour flight from Detroit to LA, I met up with Darion, Steph and Alek upon arrival and we made our way to the ArcLight Theater in Hollywood for a 12:45AM showing of Twilight. After getting home at about 3:30AM, I was up and working by 8ish this morn. I can feel a crash coming but thus far, I’m still plugging away:


I’ve been reading some of y’alls emails and comments about Twilight the movie and I’ve determined that they are pretty evenly split — between those of you who loved the film and those of you who utterly hated it. I must count myself with the folks who liked the film. Overall, I felt that the movie version of the book was really true to the story and while some portions of the book had to be left out of the movie (no movie version is able to perfectly replicate the book it is based on), I found that the major points were included — and included well. I was VERY surprised at how much I liked the cast. It was weird seeing the characters in the flesh … and I honestly felt that every character was properly realized. Kristen Stewart makes a perfect Bella Swan, I think. For me, she nailed this part. Robert Pattinson was a very good Edward, I think. Some folks thought he was cheesy but most of the way that Edward acts in the book is cheesy (and, it must be said, that R. Pattz’s hair has never looked better, like, ever … I will say, tho, that Edward in the film looked like Brandon Walsh from Beverly Hills, 90210 circa 1993 while his voice sounded like Luke Perry, same time period.). In fact, I found most of the books very cheesy in that teen romance sort of way … the movie did a very good job of honoring that tween cheesiness. Those of you who find fault in corny aspects of the movie have to look to the book to place blame. I was worried that the dazzling scene would be really bad but they ended up handling it very well. Sure, Edward looked like a go-go boy dancer wearing too much body glitter at Studio 54 but it was apropos for the scene, I think. While I can’t speak for anyone else, my gut tells me that the folks who do not like the film merely love the book so much that nothing could measure up. As, I think, an objective reader/watcher who isn’t overly swayed by emotion, I found that the movie did a great job of bringing the book to life. My only complaint with the film lies with the music … the music used thruout the movie was horrible! So bad. The only bit of music I liked was Edward’s piano playing … the garish guitar motif that kept popping up thruout the film was annoying.

So yeah, overall … I liked the film. Darion, Steph and Alek liked it too … in fact, they were pleasantly surprised that they liked it as much as they did. The sequel New Moon is set up perfectly at the end of this movie … I’m looking forward to seeing how that one turns out. As for last night …


… we had a lot of fun :)

UGH … there is a very cool event that I was invited to tonight but I’m not sure if I will be able to make it out. I’ll need to sleep at some point … we’ll see. It’s good to be home tho, warm is where the heart is.

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47 Responses to “The ‘Twilight’ Zone”

  1. Gabriella Says:

    the sequel is called new moon.

    and i loved the movie! no movie based on a good book is going to live up all that matters is if you are entertained and i think twilight was quite entertaining.

  2. Katt Says:

    i’m so glad to hear that you liked it! i’ve been wanting to read your review all day- i’m going tonight, and i usually agree with most of your movie/tv show opinions. i’m so excited to see the movie!!!!

  3. Kendra Says:

    The music for the movie is pretty much directly from the soundtrack. I bought the soundtrack and have listened to it a few times and recognized many of the songs.

  4. Shannon Says:

    I was so excited to see the movie. I loved it and will definitely go see it again..mainly because I think I missed things when all the little girls in my theater screamed whenever Edward was on screen and giggled at non funny parts. But, thats teens. The movie was awesome and I think all the actors did a great job.

  5. Shannon Says:

    I also absolutely loved Jasper and Charlie :)

  6. Kent Says:

    “Tween cheesiness” is precisely why I likely won’t see this movie. But some of my friends are so excited about it that it’s like going back to the 60’s and the Beatles are together again (not that I was actually there, of course ;-)
    Did anyone on here catch Kristen Stewart on Letterman last night? She was brutal! Her inability to string more than a few sentences together was embarrassing. Although she claimed to be thrilled to be on his show, she actually just came off looking/sounding/acting like she’d just rolled out of bed and couldn’t have been bothered to think up a story or two to share with the host and his audience. Doesn’t anybody coach actors on press promo tours anymore?
    It got to the point where Letterman actually said to her something along the lines of ‘you and I couldn’t be more different’. Ha! So true. Granted, he’s a bit of a grandpa and she’s only 18 but yeesh… she totally blew it.
    Even her statement about wanting to drive to Russia from Berlin or London – and his subsequent answer that it would have to be Berlin (for obvious reasons) went right over her head! Bit of a tool if you ask me.
    Oh well, I’m sure she has lots of new fans all the same as of this weekend and well beyond…

  7. Brenda Says:

    Don’t they have a tunnel between the UK and France…called the Chunnel or something like that? So technically, she still could drive to Russia from London…

  8. Zanne Says:

    Yay, Trent, I’m so excited that you liked the movie! :) It’s gotten some bad reviews so I was hoping you’d be able to give it a little good press. I liked it enough that I’m hoping they’ll film the sequel, which will require this one to make a certain amount of money, which will require people to not be swayed by the bad reviews and go see it! :)

    By the way, Kent, you and Dave are both wrong. Kristen Stewart can drive to Russia from London – ever heard of the Chunnel? Give her a break – we were all tools at 18! ;)

  9. Denise Says:

    I’m going to see it tonight and I’ve heard a lot of mixed reactions as well which got me a little worried. This has really restored my hope though because I am pretty much going in with similar expectations. Thanks for raising my level of excitement back!

  10. Kent Says:

    Yup, you’re right, I guess I spoke/wrote too soon didn’t I… thx for setting me, er, straight (now I hope I don’t run into her or R-Pattz in a dark Chunnel somewhere ;-)

  11. weendizzle Says:

    Great review Trent! I have nothing else to add but I AGREE!

  12. Azzy Says:

    I saw it yesterday, we had like a “sneek peak” premiere here in Sweden the day before the real premiere. I have to say, the movie was ok, but not awesome. Robert pattinson was amazing as Edward! I really liked billy burke as charlie and also anna kenndrick who played jessica! Kristen stewart looked really good as bella but unfourtunately her performance was not so good, like at all.. She has a one face expression through the whole movie and a very monotomous voice. LOOVED the baseball scene!!!:) I’ll give this movie a 3/5

  13. Jes Says:

    YAY! I am glad you liked it. I was soso after seeing is last night (some scenes were just a bit shocking to my system, i.e the first whiff ed takes of bella), but just went again a 2nd time a absolutely loved it. YAY for Twilight.

  14. Roxster Says:

    I can’t wait I’m going in a few hours and I’m so pumped…Kent I saw the interview and you’re right. Chunnel or not, it was such a horribly awkward interview to watch. Kristen is always very shy with press things and gives short, brief answers, but this was prob the worse I’ve seen from her.

  15. Shell Says:

    I agree that the book’s essence was pretty much translated to screen storywise. However, I was really disappointed in the leads’ performances. Kristin Stewart was horrible as Bella Swan. She looked the part, but she mumbled the entire time and couldn’t get a line out without it being forced or strained. To me, the whole time I could see her trying to ACT and it was awkward. And not in the Bella Swan kind of way, but my friends’ and I’s amateur student film-way. Robert Pattinson looked like what I imagined Edward to be. Very dreamy looking. He did an okay job though. He was also a bit forced and stumbling with his lines. I feel like the director didn’t want to shoot a scene multiple times. Why not just say “cut” and do it again?!? Their performances were not convincing and the chemistry between them was lackluster. Some parts were laugh-out loud funny because they were so ill-delivered! Also, I could not feel the the crazy, passionate love between them, it was very underdeveloped. Charlie was amazing though! I didn’t expect it, but he really sold the part. The side characters were overall pretty good. I’m just really disappointed with the main characters! =(

    The director also got some things wrong when it came to cinematography, bad lighting and bad composition. And those are things that are pretty basic that we take for granted in most films.

    I loved the book, but I was totally prepared to see something pretty different from the book. Obviously, you can’t translate everything into a 2 hour movie, but that doesn’t mean the story can’t be convincing. And that the acting can’t be great either…sigh. Hopefully New Moon will get the movie part right.

  16. chase Says:

    I, for one, thought the movie was done exceptionally well.

    usually book adaptations into movies are a little frustrating
    but, for Twilight… I thought summit did a great job

    the characters felt like the characters in the book
    I felt like they really owned them and understood them quite well

    I thought everything in the movie was extremely relevant
    and there wasn’t that many scenes taken out of the book
    mostly just the important ones
    but the little stuff they showed in the movie was nice too

    I mean, I guess I can understand why people might have gotten mad/upset
    but, I believe the changes were made quite well in my opinion
    because you got to please both book fans and un-book fans as well
    so I think they pleased everyone.

    I didn’t feel like anything was all that corny
    my only pet peeve was the flashbacks
    I liked the Carlisle flash backs
    but.. during the other flashbacks… I loathed ‘em
    like when Bella and Edward are on the couch and he sucks her blood – hated that! I thought it was SO ridiculously cheesy

    AND the flashback with the wolves and vampires – rah!
    if those two flashbacks were done differently I thought it wouldn’t pull the movie down as much with people saying, “how corny!” and use it against the movie, ya know?

    oh, and the skipping out in the airport… boo!
    I thought the airport scene should have been in there
    it would have added lots of adrenaline and excitement, ya know?
    leading up to the climax
    but oh well.

    I wish the other characters would have been more involved
    within the movie, like the Cullen family
    I know it was limited space but still
    I think we all know their personalties well
    but I would have liked it displayed more in the movie
    it seemed like they were kind of absent
    all the characters were good
    some of the dialogue was a little bit awkward, but thats that

    SOOO YA…

    I guess the most part I surprised how much humor in the movie there was
    with all the characters and what not
    I liked it quite well.
    : )

    oh! and I knew Victoria was going to be @ the prom
    and see Bella and Edward
    I KNEW it : )

    cannot wait for New Moon!
    ahhhhhhhhhhhh

    p.s. I thought Edward “glowing” was done quite well.
    not too much just right!

  17. AmyM Says:

    way to keep everybody realistic, Trent! Your review is fantastic and silences the grown ups who wanted the movie to be exactly the way they read it. well done.

  18. Melissa Says:

    I’m glad you liked the movie Trent…I must say I thought it was AMAZING!!! I’ve seen it twice already lol once last night and now again today. I loved everything about it. Rob Patts as Edward was sooo perfect and dreamy. Kristen played a really good Bella too and then rest of the cast minus Jacob were awesome.

    I have to disagree with you on the music…I thought it fit in with the movie perfectly.

  19. Ashley Says:

    I read in entertainment weekly that Twilight has to make at least 100 mill for them to make New Moon because New Moon would cost a lot of money because of the special effects

  20. Sarah Says:

    Hey Trent, you do know that the acoustic guitar song is performed by Robert Pattinson, don’t you??? I came home to look up the soundtrack as soon as I got home from the theatre….I really like the soundtrack.

  21. Haley Says:

    I thought the movie transfered to film quite well. The only thing I notice was it seemed so rushed, but obviously that is the case when a book goes to film. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Charlie. Don’t get me wrong, he was always good for me in the book, but they brought him to film very well. Overall, very good adaptation. Okay, I’ll be honest – I did hate one thing. Rosalie’s hair. I truly do not think the most beautiful woman in the world ( I dont recall her exact birth date but early 1900s or 1800s; no dye) should have dark roots and (close to) bleach blonde hair. It just irked me. Anyways – looking forward to news about the next film.

  22. becka34 Says:

    the movie was so good i thought it brought the characters to life from the book so well i am so looking forward to the sequel althought new moon was kinda depressing to me as edward was gone most of the book

  23. patchyboy Says:

    its getting not so great reviews, its a vampire movie, they always suck…

  24. Emily Says:

    Yay! I can’t wait to see this movie! I hope I love it like you did!

    P.S. Trent I like you better with dark hair. Pink is the New brunette!!!

  25. Alex Says:

    Just saw it a couple hours ago…wish I could say I really liked it. I mean, it wasn’t bad…not at all. I just thought it seemed rushed …I get that it’s a movie and things have to move fast paced but it just seemed like they pasted a few scenes from the book into the movie, you hardly got to see Bella and Edwards relationship progress that much. Idk…maybe I’ll realize I liked in in a couple hours. It was OK…room for improvement. I thought Roberts acting kinda sucked in the beginning but got better towards the end, and I still don’t know how I feel about Kristen Stewart.

  26. Jessica Says:

    I think if I hadn’t of read the book I would have really liked the movie. But I feel that they left out some important stuff…oh well none the less it was good but the book is a million times better.

  27. aimie Says:

    i loved it. i love that bella was stronger in the movie than in the book (as i am sure you did too, trent). i didn’t like that jasper constantly looked constipated and they never really explained his “powers” so it just seemed off. to me… (no flaming)… it seemed they were down playing jacob’s part in the “discovery” of the cold ones… and he was barely in the movie (he is barely in the book too but…)perhaps they will be recasting that roll in the sequels??? i HATED his wig!!!

    all in all i think the movie was 90% true to the book and about 75% of the book made it in the movie. pretty good percentages all the add ons were good to the plots. i loved the ending!!! there HAS to be a 2nd and 3rd and maybe 4th

  28. Stacey Says:

    Hi Trent! I saw the 8pm ArcLight last night and let me first say I was most impressed that the crowd was filled with adults! As I am an “adult” I was “giddy” that I was joined by peers. I too think the movie did a nice job of trying to capture as much of the book as a movie can in 2 hours (I realized later that I would probably watch a 4 hour version of this movie so they could get it all in!). I love the casting (Nikki as Rosalie might be slightly off as she’s pretty but not the prettiest girl alive). But, I too agree that THE SCORE was the most AWFUL theatrical score that I have EVER heard!!!!! SERIOUSLY! Didn’t anybody listen to that shit? It was worse than soap opera score and it tried way to hard to “be dramatic” and this would have been a great time for LESS is MORE.
    Lastly…Kristen Stewart on Letterman was just nervous (to comment on one of your other reader replies). Poor girl! She’s working ’round the clock now and who wouldn’t be nervous under all this pressure! I felt bad for her, but she’ll get it right someday…

  29. alejandro Says:

    I HAVE NEVER READ THE BOOK. and watched it jus to see what the hype was all about.
    XD god the first half was HILARIOUS!! lol, so dramatic. i didnt find any of it cheesy but WAY dramatic like a telenovella :P

    but once the kiss happened i found to actualy enjoy the movie better, cuz u cant deny that that was one freakn hot scene :P
    but i wish there would have been more jacob too cuz i so was rooting for TEAM JACOB, but theres not much to root for u know. overall, worth watching though :D
    pretty much a realy good parody :)
    (said with the best intentions :P)

  30. shelby Says:

    the movie sucked balls.

  31. Laynie Says:

    for some reason the whole show was like a total comedy to me

  32. Laynie Says:

    also our theater was totally OBNOXIOUS! everytime ‘edward’ came on everyone was all “OHHHHHHH” which only added to my giddy manner

    but i hate when i read a book and then see the movie and all the names are different then i pronounced in my head

  33. vanessa Says:

    I loved my theater experience. All the screams when Edward came in. So much fun…i never read the book but the movie exceeded my expectations. So much fun….the made robert (edward) so hot and creepy. it was fun.

    ready for sequel….beginning to read book now!

  34. Ashley Michelle Says:

    I went to see the movie last night with a couple friends ( we are all in our 20’s) an the place was filled with little teen girls an there parents they all were soo excited to see the movie some were jumping up an down other were taking pictures of themselves with the pics it was fun…
    I actually really liked the movie I went in there with an open mind knowing that yeah some things would be cut an others would be added but just knowing that the story would still be same I thought they did a really good job!. My friend did keep commenting on Jaspers face though cause it was kinda funny!! I just cant wait for New Moon they left the ending wide open for it!!!
    Did anyone else catch the jab “Edward” made about he leaves her alone for 2 seconds an the wolves come down to play or something..

  35. amanda Says:

    i thought it was great…any complaints I really have are about ‘not enough’ whether it be not enough explanation of how deeply bella and edward are truly connected or not enough of the cullens (they made me NEED more)—but this was inevitable in an adaptation like this…there was no way to include all of this and keep it at a decent running time…this leads to my concern for people who never read the books…i had to explain a lot of reasoning and actions to my friend cause there were a lot of things we learned in the books that weren’t so obvious on screen. Dont get me wrong she loved it…but i left trying to explain the feeling that ‘its so much more than that’

    overall i think it was awesome….robert pattinson blew me away as edward and i looooooved the cullens (each and everyone of them) And the first scenes with Jacob? i had my doubts…but that last scene? THAT was Jacob

  36. catherine Says:

    LOVED the movie… it was actually better than what I thought it would be. I thought it would be really cheesy.. and frankly, the trailers made me doubt about Kirsten Stewart’s acting skills. But really, she wasnt half bad! Rob got Edward to perfection IMO, exactly how I pictures myself when I read the book (I guess I’m lucky lol). During the movie, everyone gasped and laughed, Oohs and Aahs all the time.. it was great! That first scene where Edward enters in the cafeteria all the girls just went crazy XD For my part I was just .. yeah you guessed it: *DAZZLED*! Man, Robert Pattinson sure is HAWTTTTTT. :)

  37. Grace Says:

    Grievances:

    Narration, unless a film is a drama, is a sign of laziness and lack of imagination. Not to mention that the narration was only inserted to start off the film and disappeared altogether half way through. This is my fist example of many illustrating the level of inconsistency and lack of direction.

    The Character Development: limited and nonsensical. We knew Charlie’s friend who was Santa Clause one year when Bella was four yours old better than other key characters.

    Is Robert Pattinson playing Edward Cullen or Edward Scissorhands? For about 35 minutes of the film I was utterly frightened for Bella – His strange erratic behavior being more like a version of Hannibal Lecter in a wet dream than a strange dazzling vampire bewildered and intrigued by a human girl. Then, suddenly they’re walking to class with his arm casually slung around her like he’s Freddie Prinze Jr. and She’s All That. It was one extreme to the other – it felt like two different films, neither twilight. Poor Rob never had a chance; I actually believe the poor man did what he could with what he was given.

    Vampires Who? The ethereal beauty one comes to expect from the cold and undead turns out to be layers of tacky white makeup extremely visible to the camera lens – while Bella (Kristen) remains the “fairest” of them all. I have respect for the thespians in this film and believe many of them to be talented but was it truly an impossible task to find fair skinned actors, or natural blonds for that matter. We all know Nikki Reed (plays Rosalie) is a hot brunette beach babe under all that bleach and chalk. I have to wonder if anyone took time to sit down and discuss the qualities, mannerisms, definitions of what a twilight vampire should be like. Mostly, the only reason why I knew them to be vampires was the excessive makeup and eyes. Jackson Rathbone (plays Jasper) , even though I just read a review commenting on his constipated appearance, seemed to be the only one that gave real thought to his character as a vampire trying to be humanish. Though, with the obvious limited direction given to them I feel that they did okay with the personalities of their individual characters.

    I found myself thinking really hard about the book to make sense of what I was seeing on screen. In other words I wonder if I hadn’t read the book and seen this film, would I have understood what was going on? It was like connect the dots. They gave some dots, like a random walk, connecting and stumbling to the finish.

    Effects: Fast Food – Cheap and Unsatisfying! I am ignorant to the expense of such things, but I have to assume that the price was so ungodly high that all they could afford was the poo I witnesses. Okay, well, did Catherine Hardwicke (whos been a key player in many fantastic films) make Lemonade? – Unfortunately, no. This is the one place where a movie like this could have been totally wild – It’s limitless, vampires ya’ll! Yet, what we got was miniscule, inconsistent, and weak. The biggest trick up their sleeve, it appeared, was that silly “magic carpet” and yet they even managed to belittle that.

    Fight scene: If my head was about to be torn off and thrown in a fire you bet I would have taken at least a couple of Alice’s fingers with me! For about 45 seconds they’re throwing each other around and breaking glass then the dude just stands there and lets the Swiss Family Robinson dismember him. What! Is hiring a choreographer too expensive too?

    I don’t even know how to describe the filming. It was more like a college student in film school and this was his senior project. There were large quantities of close ups which are usually fine but these were exceptionally “in your face” close. Then other times it was like some drunk picked up the camera and wobbled around people practicing lines. It simply lacked imagination and only assisted to further handicap the films potential.

    Overall, the whole movie was overwhelmingly Awkward and Inconsistent. There were a handful of scenes where they nailed it (Esme in the kitchen), but most of the time I spent hunkered down in my seat hoping to make it trough the next hour. That said, the quality you can expect to get is that of a made for TV movie. And no excuses for Hardwicke, Spiderman had heaps of cheesy lines and yet still managed to be good entertainment. I feel bad for saying this but it was like watching one of those fan made YouTube videos. Plucking scenes from other movies resembling those described in Meyers book, interjecting a quote here and there and all the while irrelevant music streams along in the background – except for 2 hours rather than 2 minutes. I wasn’t expecting anything Oscar quality, I wasn’t even expecting it to be like the book – I was just hoping for a good peice of entertainment. It was a caboodle unrecognized hopes and dreams. This truly couldn’t have been Mrs. Meyers wonderful tale realized, could it?

    Go to the movie, watch it, make your opinion – it might be different from mine.

    Hopefully “New Moon” will be symbolic for Summit also as they begin anew.

    Tough Love,

  38. Jo Says:

    LOL, oh Trent! Your review has been the funniest I’ve read yet. I have to say I agree 100% with what you said.

    If one take the books for what they are, then you pretty much have to like the movie. It is what it is. That is Twilight. It was a really good adaptation, IMO. =/

    (You got me at the “go-go boy dancer” reference, LOL)

  39. tina Says:

    IT WAS GOOD.

  40. Klate Says:

    I haven’t seen it. And won’t…I hated the book. I know I’m in the minority and will probably be crucified for saying so. But, just wanted to chime in to say that I’m surprised you liked this series, Trent, given your love for Buffy. Buffy did all of this so much better and with so much more wit. And, not to politicize…well, maybe a little…but how much of the moolah that Ms. Meyer has made off of this series do you think she tithed to the Mormon church who just passed Prop. 8? I guess “romance” is OK as long as it’s straight and chaste. Sorry to be a hater…i know people love the books as is their right…I just don’t understand why!

  41. It's Trent, Bitch! Says:

    I think it very silly to say that just because I love Buffy that I can’t like any other vampire-themed anything. I also like watching ‘True Blood’ on Showtime — which is nothing like BtVS. For the record, I never said that I loved the Twilight saga … I was entertained by it and I can totally understand the appeal that it holds for many. Just because some folks don’t understand the “why” doesn’t mean it’s bad. A lot of folks do not understand some people’s enjoyment of goss and pop culture … doesn’t make it bad at all :)

  42. WOW.... Says:

    It was so GOOODD……..so so so good.

  43. Belle Says:

    I thought the movie was cheesy, and pretty funny. I enjoyed the experience, but I can’t say the movie was really good. I thought Kristin and Rob’s portrayals of their characters were fine, their characters are just annoying. And I loved me some Cam Gigandet!

  44. Meagan Says:

    Finally saw this tonight. I must say, I was disappointed overall. I agree with you that they included most of the important parts well, but I did not feel any chemistry between Bella and Edward at all. Other than that the movie was decent, however, the love is the central aspect of the storyline and it just wasn’t believable, nor was it played out very well. In the book it seems to have developed whereas in the movie they are suddenly in love. I suppose it’s hard to convey 1st person thoughts into action though. I’m not a huge fan of Kristen Stewart. She needs to spit our her sentences without the awkward, shy pauses and jerky movements.

  45. Meagan Says:

    Oh, and that GOD AWFUL guitar rift had me begging out loud for it to end. I felt like cheesy 80s movie ninjas were going to pop out any minute to start fighting.

  46. Meagan Says:

    PPS I just read some of the comments from above… if anything, this series is a good, fun way of easing the pain of the loss of Buffy and Angel. It shows a younger, more cheesy version of a love like Buffy and Angel’s, which I feel is one of the greatest ever on t.v. Both are so unconditional and it’s nice to see that again, unlike in True Blood where no one really knows who they love. Sigh… I need to get myself a vampire boyfriend like Edward or Angel!

  47. My Twilight Experience « The Armoire Says:

    [...] Trent was right. The music in this movie is TERRIBLE. In Trent’s review of the movie, he said that the music in it was absolutely horrible, and the only song he [...]

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