Just After Twilight...

As I might have mentioned earlier, I love Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight. It is possibly my favorite book. I have many reasons for this, but notably, it is one book that any sane person, once they have started reading, simply cannot put down. And I have tested this theory. Even the most steadfast “I won’t read it” friends of mine always give in, and always finish the book and demand New Moon. So needless to say, I was one of the die-hards who could hardly wait to experience the film adaptation of this book.
Book to film transitions are always rocky and never whole. Considering the audiobook of Twilight is 12 hours long and entirely in first person, I accepted the fact that the more omniscient point of view of the film medium, along with a time limitation (though I for one would have been fine with a 3 hour movie as opposed to a 2-hour movie. Harry Potter did this, and survived just fine) I expected some things to be cut and left out, and new things to be added.
The addition of Emmett’s humorous lines, and Charlie’s gun-cocking protective-father-ness was welcomed with laughter and a great respect for the screenwriter, who, I will admit, besides the reckless and stupid addition to flying through the treetops (vampires CANNOT fly!!!!!!) and the half-hearted attempt to give the nomadic vamps a pointlessly added storyline, kept as true to the book as “humanly” possible.
As I have not seen the 12 plus deleted scenes that we’ve already been told will be on the DVD, I am not sure to blame what was carelessly left out on the screenwriter, or the editors who cut them out. There were many important elements that were left out, that folks who have not read the books (sad but true, I went to the film with a girl who had not read any of them) will be left confused about. I’m not sure if the following is a spoiler, but just in case, I will warn you, watch the movie first! My non-twilighter movie companion had these questions: Who are all those people and why do they live together? And what was with the venom thing? My question is why did the film not include at least a little of Edward’s explanation to Bella about why these vampires have come together as a family? At least Edward and Esme are explained, but Jasper and Alice’s extraordinary circumstances are left out. In fact, the entire storyline of James’s hunt for the human Alice, resulting in her being changed into a vampire for her safety and protection from him, was left out. I think it’s important because it is what drives James most: his need for revenge on the Cullen family. As he says in the book, he is driven by his desire to make things even. Alice was taken from him, and so he will take from Alice and her beloved family. For the second concern, the film skipped over Alice's explanation that the venom in the bite of a vampire, meant to painfully disarm a victim, is also what changes a human into a vampire. When Bella is screaming "it burns!" and Edward must suck out the venom, no one who hadn't read the book had a clue why. It is mentioned at prom later, but it fell on deaf ears by then.
The other things that everyone I watched the film with noticed are: it is never explained that Bella’s Lullaby is just that. It is noted on the soundtrack, yes, but it would have taken 2 whole lines to have Edward explain that the song hes playing on the piano was written for her. The scenes in the beginning are choppy and rushed, and it is hard for me to believe that Edward and Bella love each other at one point. He is so angry (much more than in the book) and she is so stoic (where is the swooning? Where is the being dazzled look? She looked like an absolute rigid statue in the forest when she announces she knows what he is!!! Where’s the love, Kristen Stewart?) that this very important, pivotal scene (which should have been in a meadow, fyi) is just not right.
So now that I’ve torn it to pieces, I will let you know, about 5 seconds after I left the theater I was DYING to see it again. It was extraordinary, beautiful, and mesmerizing to watch Robert Pattinson transform himself into the outrageously deep, thoughtful, and mysterious Edward Cullen. His portrayal is uncanny. Also, Ashley Greene’s Alice is pitch-perfect (no pun intended, as even her balletic baseball movements were perfectly executed). My only complaint casting-wise is Jessica. In the book, she is not a ho. In the movie, she is a ho. Nuff said.
Otherwise the casting is perfect (well, except Rosalie, but with Nikki Reed’s close relationship with director Catherine Hardwicke, what did you expect?) The dialogue was wonderful (only one or two of my favorite lines from the book were left out), the cars and the town of Forks were represented with uncanny precision, and though the Cullen’s house was not what I imagined, it was great just the same.
One last note on additions that were unexpected but much loved was Bella's imagining of Edward feeding on her. With the lipstick? And the awesome sofa? Gorgeous.
I know that in someone else’s hands, this movie could have been a disaster. But I heartily congratulate everyone who made it possible to be as true to the written work as it could. Those folks made us Twilighters right happy. I laughed, I gasped, I sighed, I teared up, I jumped and stifled a few screams, and altogether was thrilled by this film. I’d say a cute little Twilighter bunny has come out of this hat, complete with a t-shirt that says “Stupid Lamb.”

Top Ten Upcoming Movies

*** OK I know I haven't posted in an extremely long time and I apologize, that is, if anyone actually ever reads this blog. Anyway, I will try my very very best to post more often Here goes:***
Top Ten Movies I Can't Wait To See:
1.) Twilight
I cannot express to you how much these books have meant to me. Not only are they wonderful, but they have brought me together with some really true friends that I might not have been as close to without this book to share to start us off. I am so proud to be a Captain in the ever-growing Twilight army, for which I am constantly recruiting. Everyone I tell to read the first book comes back to me weeks, sometimes even only days later, begging for the next book. I say get your own! Haha, just kidding. But this is an incredible story that I cannot wait to see how it has been captured/adapted to film. I do regret in advance though the sacrifices that I'm sure have been made, but it is impossible to keep every single detail from a book accurate on screen. Not only would it be boring to watch entirely in first person, but a lot of the cinematic visuals would have been lost. So I look forward to blogging that response.
2.) Alice In Wonderland
So this movie is not coming out until what is it? 2010? 2011? Either way, I have YEARS to wait and yet the idea of this masterpiece being done by Tim Burton gives me goosebumps of joy just thinking about it. And Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter? And ALAN RICKMAN as the CATERPILLAR???? Need I say more?
3.) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
So I have to say it: Twilight totally pushed this film back. But being the kind of "love all" person I am, (I don't choose sides in the ridiculous Potter vs. Twilight war which I think is silly. Why can't we all just get along???) I was heartbroken when I heard that I'd have to wait til next year to see this. What the heck happened? I want my Potter fix thankyouverymuch.
4.) The Vintner's Luck
OK so this movie is a French language film filmed in New Zealand set in France. It is starring the smoldering Gaspard Ulliel (my vote for Edward, though I am very pleased with the Pattinson-ness) as an ANGEL. On the one hand, we have amazing sexy moments to look forward to, and on the other hand, we have the lovely New Zealand countryside to... who am I kidding? Gaspard. Half naked. For 2 whole hours. 'Nuff said.
5.) Australia
The trailer makes me cry it is so beautiful and well-executed. Easily on my list of top ten movie trailers (hmm, maybe I should post that one next, eh?) for its use of score, dramatic editing, just... all about it. So if the trailer is that good, does that mean "mastermind trailer editors" or "bound to be an amazing epic adventure?" Can't wait to find out.
6.)Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (yet untitled)
I know it's going to be a long wait, but at least there's something to wait for. I was shocked and amazed that Depp would agree to reprise, yet again, the only role in the history of his career he's ever done more than once. And I couldn't be more thrilled. I just hope, with Elizabeth and Will's storyline complete, that Disney does not churn this out for the heck of it with some random characters that we don't care about (um, The Haunted Mansion much? That one was a HUGE disappointment.) but instead comes out with something brilliant, unexpected, and memorable. Here's hoping.
7.) Quantum of Solace
I will be the first to admit, as a former Bond purist, that I did not want Daniel Craig to be Bond. Bond is brunet! He is dark-haired, debonair, and no. As hot as he was in Tomb Raider, I just wasn't going to have it. But after about, oh, 5 minutes into the film, I was hooked. It was what "Batman Begins" did with Batman: it was real, it was gritty, it was classy, it was serious, and it was still Bond just the same. And after seeing Craig in "The Jacket", I'm glad he stuck with his natural color instead of going dark and looking creepy. So now that "Casino Royale" is one of my all-time go-to films, I am dying to see what happens next. (But I loved Vesper, 'sigh'.)
8.)The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
I love Heath Ledger. Yes, in the present tense. I will always love him, and I know I am not alone in this. This is the last film he ever made, and I want to see it. The creativity and determination of the folks who made this film possible without it having been finished by Ledger is outstanding, and in my book, heroic. Kudos to Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law for taking on the role to let this film be.
9.)Sherlock Holmes
Brilliant. English mystery at its best, I am very intrigued to see what kind of storyline they have in store for us. It is bound to be a treat.
10.) Terminator Salvation
Undeniably epic, and yet, with Terminator II being the best, and the 3rd being straight-up awful, the odds on this one being a good film are questionable. I am ready and willing to decide.

Other ones that didn't make the top 10 but I still want to see: Madagascar 2, The Time Traveler's Wife, The Reader, The Brothers Bloom, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road, Inkheart, Possession (2009, not to be confused with the 2002 classic), He's Just Not That Into You, Push, The Box, Duplicity, Knowing, Dragonball, Angels & Demons, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Defiance, The Great Pretender, Amelia, and about a million more.