I've never read the books (for you die hard Twilight fans who just read that sentence, let that allow you to stop reading...then again allow me to instill the "you don't have to try crack to know that it's bad for you" arguement)...but hells no is that going to stop me from writing about this (I used 1.3 hours of my time to watch so now here's the trade off).
Yeah, I didn't read the novel but that doesn't mean I have no idea what the word "Entertaining" means.
There's a great term I learned about in Production class called cross promoting/marketing etc. You write a book. The publishing company of that book (considering that it becomes a big hit) is also owned by the same people who own a movie studio and toy factory and god knows what else. There used to be a law that made it impossible to be able to use cross promoting/marketing etc. I can't recall the details but that law no longer exists and everyone is using it to their advantage (I'm have no judgement on this issue, it's simply what's happening...and frankly I can't tell if it's good or bad, nor is it my place to say so ;-)
Back to this movie in question. Well, for starters it is not an entertaining movie. Yes, the New Moon movie was pretty boring and cheesy if you ask me. Should you shocked? May be not lol. While watching I couldn't help but notice the genius behind it though. They are using the same formula as the Harry Poter Series: One movie per book. And it's working amazingly. This movie gave me nothing more than that of "Please wait for the next film to come to find out what happens next." Hell. Pretty damn genius.
The first movie I can think of that had the balls to pull the whole "We're going to end this movie with a fat 'To be contnued' sign on it" was Back to the future II into Back to the future III. And man was I livid when that happened. Imagine having seen BTTF II in the theatre and having that happen. People must have rioted. But now it's regular for that to happen. And that's exactly what this 4 part book series Twilight is doing.
Personally it's whack, but for die hard 13 year old teenie bopper fans who the love the fact that their favorite characters are now on the big screen, I understand that all logic understanding on what makes a good movie is out the window for them. They're more likely to care about how cool the Vampire guy Edward looks in his clothes or how awesome it is to be Vampire etc.
WHY am I reviewing this movie?
Becuase I want to warn everyone from having to go see it with their significant other. From what I hear the novels are very very "Teen Romance." As in, if you love watching the Day time soaps on TV you'll probably love the New Moon. Why? Because in the course of 1.3 hours NOTHING HAPPENS. Well, things happen but it's more like "TV Show" happens. TV episodes have this sort of pace where they want to keep the viewers watching for the next week. Only with Films it's kind of whack because you have to literally wait another year.
Yes, there are movies that did a great job in giving the viewers enough to chew on to where they can wait for the next sequel with out feeling robbed (District 9 is a great example of this...sequel or no sequel it stands on its own as a quite good film from start to finish ;-).
Twilight is heavy on the Romeo and Juliet love formula. Bella loves Edward just as he yearns for her. The sexual tension stems from the fact that he is vampire and she is a human which basically makes her meat for him and his vampire peeps. They go the whole movie trying to figure that out.
Sidenote: I just went on IMDB and read some reviews, and thankfully plenty people who've read all four books are very open to mention how whack of a film it is. They hate the acting, the dialogue etc. Take it from a fresh mind who has no idea what the series is about: It's simply a bad film, but if that's not enough for you take it from the die hard book fans who also couldn't stand it as a movie. The reason why bring this is up is because I love it when people use the whole "You haven't read the novels so you wouldn't understand" argument.
It's true women love the idea of this movie and they will simply pay the money to see it because it has to do with romance and vampires. The movie made 141 million its first weekend (that's how strong the books are...they have a serious fan base...it's mind blowing really, something I'm def going to do more research on).
I ended up having to watch it with a good female friend of mine (Who I love spending time with and have known for quite a while) and boy was I falling asleep. The ending of the film (which I won't ruin) was simply bad. Bad, bad, bad. An episode of Saved by the Bell would have sufficed better than that ending.
It's films like this that make me cringe at the film industry (which is based on making money first and entertaining the people second). They'd rather put out something halfass because the schedule permits it as so and because they know that they will make a killing by playing it safe (i.e PG 13 vs Rated R etc.....why not make Twilight into a very dark serious film...push the envelope etc....). It's a fine line between making movies that are entertaining to watch and movies that designed to get butts in seats or fill venture capitalist pockets (More power to them, hell, If I'd had the opportunity to invest in a film like Twilight you're damn right I would have done it. Sure it's a high cost but the risk is very minimal, even for film standards, and the gain is very very beneficial). Fans hate the film but investors love it. LOL, go figure.
Let's get into the dynamic between the characters. Edward is the all dreamy Alpha Male Vampire who can do no wrong and is desired by all females. He's very chill yet will not hesitate to act when pushed to do so. Then you have some one like Bella who is the stereo typical 'average girl.' Every woman, and believe me when I say, EVERY WOMAN sees her herself (subconsciously) as a Bella in some way/shape/form. Watching Bella go through the motions in the film will bring back memories for all these girls who, at one point in time, had crushes of the own for guys like Edward. Maybe they were dumped or too shy to act or cheated on or the guy moved away etc...The metaphors can go on for miles. Why do you think the very average looking Kristen Stewart was cast and not a heart throb like Megan Fox (which would make guys flock to see it by the millions? Kristen Stewart is the type of actress that looks like she's going to commit suicide for someone telling her she looks fat today. Had they cast a hotter chick I could have def understood why everyone in the movie would be vying for her love and attention.
They you have the Jacob were wolf character. Even the fact that he's now a Were wold can't save him from the sad slot of Wussyness he's put himself in. It's so true what they say, how a woman isn't driven by logic but by her emotions. Everything Jacob tells her is spot on yet she ends up not listening to his warnings and choosing Edward again and again because simply put, YOU CAN'T Convince a girl with LOGIC. You've got to get down and dirty with her emotions. Guys suck at this. Many men will remain door mats for women they adore to walk all over because they cannot trigger a woman's emotions.
If you simply must watch Twilight here's something for you to do so you won't fall asleep too quick: Observe the way Edward carries himself around Bella and then observe all the other men in the film and they way they carry themselves around Bella (especially the ones who also have a thing for her) There's a big difference. She's not head over heals for Edward just because he's a vampire (but yes, that is part of the formula). My point is that every guy has his own "Vampire" in him that girls will find irresistible. It's already within you. You just have to figure out a way to get it out. You can't fake authenticity. And they is no one way to do it.
Who You Should go see this Movie with:
If you must go see it with your little Sister/cousin etc. It was created for 13 years olds, sadly enough.
DO NOT SEE IT WITH:
+ Women you are trying to get intimate with. I'm talking a girl who you've never had sex with and would like to have sex with. If you go watch it with her know that you are making it all the harder to get her naked that same day. I personally don't go to the movies with girls I'd like to get intimate with but that's a whole other topic for another thread ;-)
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