brokenpurplecrayon

Let me start this review by saying, I read all the books before I saw this movie.  My impression of the books was that they were quick, easy reads, targeted towards young adults.  However, that being said, the books were works of art compared to the movie.

This movie skipped over the concept of character development and, how shall I put this, PLOT.  Not that there wasn’t a plot, or characters, but the movie only hit the very tops of the highlights.

I had no emotional investment in Bella, Edward, or their relationship.  In the book, the relationship is intense, passionate, and complicated.  In the movie, you have lots of intense staring and nostril flaring, but that’s about it.  They meet and bang – they’re ‘in love’.  But there’s not one ounce of chemistry visible, hell, I think they only had one conversation in the whole movie, and it was a one, two, back and forth exchange.

We got the tiniest of flashbacks about Edward’s making but none of the rich details about the venom coated teeth.  And don’t get me started about the throw away revelation about the sparkly skin (which was done so terribly on screen that I wish they hadn’t done it at all).  There was NO buildup about what happens to a vampire in the sun.  In the book, there was mystery, intrigue, and a lot of begging by Bella for Edward to tell her – and fear that it would burn him or some other horrible effect.

In casting, Bella and Edward were not what I initially envisioned, but they worked.  None of the Cullens or Jacob fit my view at all.  I’m hoping they grow on me in the next movie, but so far, I’m disappointed.

The movie had a couple of strengths: I liked how they did the eye color change and the scenery.  I liked the speed special effects.

Next movie wishlist: give the characters and their stories some respect and depth.