Twilight: Take 2

As a die-hard fan of the Twilight series, my main preoccupation with the approaching movie had been whether or not it would be able to truly capture the essence of the books. Like countless other fans, I was swept into a universe that was so powerful, emotionally charged, and detailed that a production falling short of my expectations would have caused me a considerable amount of disappointment.

That being said, I was overwhelmingly pleased with the film. Just like the books, I knew the movie was bound to be an experience – just an experience of a different kind. Only two weeks ago, around 3,000 girls from all over the country flocked to a San Francisco mall to meet Robert Pattinson, causing a riotous calamity that resulted in general mob behavior and the broken nose of one unfortunate female.

I expected to be in for a partially unpleasant ride due to the discomfort adults feel while being exposed to mass quantities of preteen angst, infatuation, and hormones. Waiting in line felt like a cross between being at the zoo and an amusement park. Girls were bouncing up and down like monkeys and squealing in high-pitched tones as though they were riding roller coasters.

At first, I was sure the entire film would be unbearable due to this. I’ve always been the type to turn around and scowl at the inconsiderate moviegoers who carry on their own commentary, text message, etc. However, something magical happened during the film, and I gave in to the drug-like gravity that pulled me into the obsessed mob mentality. And yes, I’ll admit it — I screamed too.

Twilight is a character-driven piece, so I derived an immeasurable amount of satisfaction knowing that each one was beautifully translated onto the big screen. Both the big picture and minute details were retained in each portrayal. Bella (Kristen Stewart)’s quiet strength and physical frailty are accurately conveyed, and she still manages to show her clumsy tendencies by walking overcautiously through the forest, tripping down steps, dropping apples, etc. Edward (Robert Pattinson) is just as charmingly conflicted and mysterious and holds true to the character’s habits, such as insisting to open Bella’s car door and smiling with a noticeably lopsided grin.

Characters like Alice popped off the page so vividly in the book that portraying her authentically was quite a task, yet newcomer Ashley Greene does an outstanding job speaking in the same lighthearted, musical tone I’d imagined and showing off her unearthly grace in the most artfully executed baseball pitches I’ve ever witnessed.

Although this movie could definitely be enjoyed by someone who hasn’t read the book, its value would be greatly diminished, and that’s a shame. It’d be like reading Shakespeare in a language other than English… it could be good, but it couldn’t really compare either. It seems the director (Catherine Hardwicke) and screenwriter (Melissa Rosenberg) took great pains to tailor the film to fans of the series, which comes into play primarily through the complex expressions that cross the actors’ faces.

In the first cafeteria scene, where Edward and Bella first inhabit the same room together, we see a look of confused and angry frustration on Edward’s face as he focuses on Bella from another table (fans would immediately recognize this as his response to discovering that he cannot read Bella’s mind).

After reading Stephenie Meyer’s incomplete Midnight Sun (Edward’s narrative of the same events from Twilight), the full extent of both characters’ complex thought processes became elucidated. In the film, one expression would flicker to the next in a long string of thoughts that dawned on him. While he might appear spastic or unbalanced to those who haven’t read the books, readers would understand intimately why looking at Bella would cause his features to shift from fascination to desire, then to restraint, disgust, and ultimately pain.

While the personalities were dead-on, there were certain plot discrepancies that were mildly bothersome. However, the limitations placed on translating a 500-page novel into a two-hour film are obvious. The nomads’ involvement in the killings that did not exist in the novel were excusable because it allowed the sense of danger to build more gradually.

The one subtle alteration that really got under my skin was when Edward sucked James’s poison out of Bella’s wound. In the movie, there’s definite panic as Carlisle frantically communicates that it’s time for Edward to stop draining her of fluids. He clearly has a difficult time tearing himself away. However, in the novel, his love of Bella transforms into an overwhelming determination to keep her alive, and he needs no reminders of self-control.

Other plot time-savers were executed in witty ways. While Edward’s ability to read minds was scattered through the entire novel, a brief summary of the thoughts of five individuals in a restaurant did the job: “Money. Sex. Money. Sex… Cat.” Rosalie (Nikki Reed) shattering a glass bowl upon Bella’s first visit to the Cullens’ mansion encapsulates a whole slew of cold, hateful glares and still holds very true to the character.

Unfortunately, a couple of scenes managed to come out a bit on the cheesy side. The flash of thoughts and memories that roll through Bella’s mind upon realizing Edward’s true nature seemed contrived, and Edward’s furious attempt at trying to convince Bella he was a monster was entirely unconvincing. It went something like this: “I have inhuman speed, godly strength, mesmerizing eyes, a perfect body… and I sparkle in the sun.” Glitter tends to be lower down on the ladder of things teenage girls are terrified of. I’m pretty sure it’s somewhere after spiders and having a bad hair day.

Although the film wasn’t able to cover every detail, follow the plot precisely, or avoid occasional moments of melodrama, it managed to be a beautiful, artistic, and truly intelligent piece. The passion, the obsession, and the tumultuous inner conflicts felt real enough to be palpable, and while the depth of Edward and Bella’s relationship could not be explored to its full extent, it was ultimately quite true to the story. Plus, the raving lunatics who entered the theater were still chattering excitedly as they exited, and that’s a good sign too.