Summit Entertainment. 2008.
Screenplay by: Melissa Rosenberg
Novel by: Stephanie Meyer
Run time: 122 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Watchers Annotation
Bella Swan, newly arrived in Forks, meets the handsome and mysterious Edward Cullen. Edward is a vampire, and he is driven to protect Bella from a trio of roving vampires.
Cast
Kristen Steward, Bella Swan
Sarah Clark, Renee
Billy Burke, Charlie Swan
Robert Pattinson, Edward Cullen
For a full cast list go to IMDb at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1099212/
Plot Summary
Bella Swan has low expectations when she arrives in Forks, Washington. Introverted, Bella is surprised when so many boys are interested in her. It is Edward Cullen who attracts Bella’s attention. Beautiful and mysterious, Edward attempts to push Bella away, but he too is attracted. Bella known for her clumsiness is constantly at risk for injury. When she is nearly crushed by a truck it is Edward who saves her. Bella insists on discovering how Edward was able to reach her in time, but Edward refuses to tell her the truth. Bella and her school friends make a trip to the beach at the Indian reservation for a surfing excursion, it is Jacob Black a young Quileute Indian that tells her the myths of the cold ones. As she researches to local lore, Bella realizes the truth about the boy she loves – he, and his family are vampires. She approaches Edward with her new knowledge and he does everything he can to frighten her off. Bella is not deterred. Edward admits that his family is different from other vampire, they drink only animal blood, and he can read all minds, but not Bella’s. Their growing attraction escalates and they begin to date. During a vampire baseball game with the Cullen’s three rogue vampires appear. One of the vampires, James, smells Bella’s scent and attempts to attack. The Cullen’s whisk Bella away before James can harm her. James, a hunter, will not give up his hunt for Bella. He lures her away from Edward and proceeds to torture her while videotaping. His bite passes vampire venom into Bella. Edward and his family rescue Bella but she has been poisoned. Edward’s foster father, Carlisle saves Bella from becoming a vampire. Still healing from the attack by James, Bella now returned to Forks is going on a date with Edward to the prom. Jacob Black appears and warns Bella about Edward, but it is too late. Bella and Edward are in love and committed to each other, even though Edward refuses to make Bella immortal.
Critical Evaluation
The novel, by Stephanie Meyers is deeply romantic in an old fashioned way. It is similar in style to those written by the Bronte sisters, like Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights. The film, because of its reduced time does not achieve the same level of intensity as the novel. Kristen Stewart, as Bella tells her friend Angela that she is a strong and independent woman, that she should ask her love interest to take her to the prom. All those traits Bella seems to have in the beginning of the movie disintegrate when she meets Edward. She wants only to be with him, nothing more. When Edward warns her that he is a monster, Bella ignores the warning. Kristin Stewart as Bella walks through her lines. She is distant and emotionless. When Bella proclaims that she is irrevocably in love with Edward, she shows no visible signs of interest. There is no giddy smile, no joy in Stewart. Robert Pattinson is more believable as Edward. His determination to avoid Bella despite his attraction to his own “personal brand of heroin” is heartfelt. The two make a pretty pair as a couple, but there is no chemistry between the actors. The special effects for this film are lacking, especially those featuring Edward running. The director should have made more effort to include better special effects since the novel is held in such high regard by young women.
Information about the film
You can find out more about the film at IMDb, the Internet Movie Database at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1259571/fullcredits - cast
Genre
Drama, fantasy, horror, thriller
Curriculum ties
None
Challenge Issues
Sensual moments, violence
Challenge defense ideas
· Become familiar with the film and its content.
· Refer to the collection development policy of the library.
· Refer to reviews from Common Sense Media at http://www.commonsensemedia.org/search/twilight, or IMDb at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1099212/externalreviews.
· Try to get reviews of the film from teens that have seen it.
Why I included this title
The book and film are currently very popular with young women.
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