Horror Movies

Movie Mama Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Cam Gigandet, and Nikki Reed

Directed By: Catherine Hardwicke

Running Time: 2 hrs.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some violence and a scene of sensuality.

Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller and Teen

So the next stage of the best-selling book phenomenon has begun. Twilight has made it to the big screen. For those of you who do not know, it’s a classic tale of forbidden love, but with a monumental twist. Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) is a vampire, and Bella Swan’s (Kristen Stewart) blood is the sweetest he’s ever smelled. While falling hopelessly in love with her, he must learn to tame his burning desire to kill her. This kind of tension makes for a great story.

A great story, but not quite a great film.

No doubt audiences will be packed with teenage girls, but you’ll also find middle-aged women, as well as a few single guys checking out Twilight. If the theater is sold out, there is sure to be an energy there that you’ll be hard pressed to find with any other flick. Giggling, cheering, clapping, and swooning–be prepared to experience it all because die-hard fans will be filling the seats.

These fans will love seeing their beloved characters brought to life on the big screen, but Twilight is not much more than a dramatic reading of the book. The acting is B-rate, and the dialogue is simpering and shallow. The suave, dangerous but cool Edward Cullen makes an appearance for mere seconds and is then replaced with Robert Pattinson’s brooding and pouty version for most of the film. Kristen Stewart delivers nothing more than blank stares (which I think are supposed to be smoldering looks of passion?) and distressed huffs. I never quite believed that she was irrevocably in love with Edward. She liked him, yes. Was intrigued, yes. But in love with? Not a chance.

The effects budget is shamefully minimal and it shows. It is said that when the sunlight hits Edward’s skin that he dazzles Bella–he is so brilliant and beautiful that he looks like an angel. When the sunlight hits him in the film, however, he looks like he has some sort of scaly skin disease. The super-human powers the vampires possess were captivating on page, but on screen they just look stiff and odd.

It was hard for me to get used to the extreme close-up cinematography. Faces took up an entire half of the screen with towering foreheads. By the time you could focus in on what you were supposed to be seeing, the camera would pan away, which just left me frustrated. The pace of the script is erratic. At times it moves way too fast and sweeps over scenes that I was looking forward to. Other times it lingers on question and answer moments between Bella and Edward with slow, vacant dialogue. This movie told us what we needed to know. It never showed us.

PROS

Bella is pretty selfish throughout most of the film, she’s not even a very good friend, but she is willing to die to save her mother’s life. That’s got to be a pro, right?

Even though Bella and Edward barely kiss or hold hands, they love each other and would die for each other. To love someone that much before “trying them out” is almost unheard of in modern Hollywood films. It is an idea that young generations need to be exposed to.

Twilight also deals with divorce. Bella’s parents split up when she was young, and she has lived most of her life with her mother. Having to move to a completely new town and get used to a new house with a new set of rules is difficult, let alone the awkwardness of getting to know one of your parents all over again.

CONS

Just a heads up on the trailers at the beginning, a horror preview was shown at my particular theater. It was for the film The Unborn. The preview is not appropriate for younger audiences. Even I found it terrifying and had to look away several times.

I had minimal objections to this film, but here are a few things parents should be aware of:

One of Bella’s friends wags his butt at her in front of a diner window. When Bella tells her mother over the phone that she is interested in a boy, her mother asks her, “Are you being safe?” which alludes to her thinking it is okay for Bella to have sex as long as she uses protection. There is a brief kissing scene which in itself is pretty mild, however, Bella is wearing only a tee shirt and underwear at the time. Edward stays the night in her room, and Bella falls asleep on his chest. There is some violence but it is never bloody or gory. One of the “bad” vampires breaks Bella’s leg. Bella pulls a shard of glass from her leg. The Cullens rip the “bad” vampire’s head off (though you barely see it) and they burn his body. One of Bella’s friends, Jessica (Anna Kendrick), wears a few low cut tops and comments that a dress she is trying on “makes her boobs look good.”

OVERALL

Die-hard fans will be indulged, but those who haven’t read the book will find it dull and unoriginal.

Megan is the staff family movie reviewer for pluggedinparents.com. For more parenting articles on health and safety, nutrition, baby, money and tech, family life, pets, and movie reviews, visit pluggedinparents.com today!

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