TWILIGHT
US, 2008, 122 minutes, Colour.
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billie Burke, Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, Jackson Rathbone, Peter Facinelli.
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke.
Not being – by a long shot – part of the demographic for Twilight, I have to defer to the teenage girls who have read Stephanie Meyers' books, think Robert Pattinson is adorable and have flocked to see the film.
The girls will tell you that this is a vampire film. A vampire film? It looks a lot like a high school film. And it is.
So, much of the expected characters and events in a high school is here again (although the Indian lad explains that he has to go to school on the reservation, still in 2008?) . This time we are in Forks, Washington state, where it is cold, surrounded by forests and mountains, but the students seem more agreeable than in most high schools. Although there is that strange group that comes into the cafeteria, the Cullen group, about five of them all cared for by the nice doctor of the town. Yes, they are the vampires.
Twilight does not rely on a lot of the traditional horror-movie lore about vampires. Yes, the are immortal and, yes, they don't sleep or eat. They are attracted by blood and there are some renegade types who kill humans (well off-screen) but the Cullens have opted for harmonious living with humans and control their appetites for blood and limit it to animals. Edward (Pattinson) is the soulful, Byronic hero (who has graduated again and again over the years) who knows he is a predator but does not want to destroy anyone. That is why he makes it so hard for Bella (a vigorous and sympathetic Kristen Stewart) who has moved back from Arizona to stay with her police chief Dad in the town where she originally grew up, to like him.
Bella is put off by Edward's aloofness (and his wanting to change courses instead of sitting next to her in the lab). But, the attraction is there, especially when he uses his powers to save her from being injured by an out-of-control car. Just as Edward says 'no' to killing people or vampirising them, the youngsters' falling in love is particularly chaste with Edward, deeply in love, saying no to anything further. Interesting, in view of other rather open and permissive lifestyles shown in a number of American high school movies (except those High School movies), that Twilight is so popular.
The action has some lyrical sequences with Edward taking Bella on flying, clambering and swooping flights through the air and trees. Vampiric powers are shown to be an advantage as well for the family's playing baseball, which they can do unobserved during thunder and lightning storms.
There is a crisis for Bella and Edward with the rogue vampires – and Bella has to reflect on whether she would be happier living her quiet life in Forks or being a vampire with Edward forever. We will find out more because the final shot indicates sequel (and the publicists indicate that it is in pre-production).
Director Catherine Hardwicke, formerly a set designer, has a talent for stories about teenage girls with Thirteen and her Gospel film, The Nativity Story.
1.The niche audience for this film, readers of the novel, teenagers, teenage girls? Well done for this audience? PG13 horror? Romance?
2.The popularity of the novel, the series? The adaptation?
3.The opening in Arizona, the transition to Washington State? The town of Forks? The house, the streets, the school, the forests? The vampires’ home? The musical score?
4.The title, the reference to vampires? The vampire tradition, vampire films? The difference with this film? Immortals, preying on animals (and the prologue with the deer)? The vampires and their control? The contrast with the killer vampires? The isolated life, in North America, Washington State? Normal but remote? Their kindness, rescuing the dying? The treatment of the themes, the lack of blood, the no to sex?
5.Bella and the voice-over, her comments about death, dying for someone else? Her mother and Phil? Going to Washington, going to her father, his police work, quiet? Settling in, introverted, the gift of the truck, his Indian friends? Her old memories? School, the students, Michael and Jessica and their friendliness, the Chinese student, the photographer for the paper? Ensuring her privacy?
6.The vampire family, their appearance, in the cafeteria, the explanation of their background, Cullen and his being the father figure? The doctor at the hospital? The flashback and his treatment of Edward in 1918? The opening hunt, the deer? Their ordinariness in school? The lavish home? The bonds in the family?
7.Edward and his look, his manner, aloofness in the laboratory, wanting to change course, his absence, Bella’s irritation with him? Yet the attraction? His saving Bella from the car accident? Not answering her questions about how he did it, the atmosphere of mystery? Their further talking, his opening up, the bond, going into the forest, the explanation of his life?
8.The special effects for the vampire exhilaration, movement, flying, climbing?
9.The effect on Bella, her love for Edward, talking and sharing, the visit to his family, their preparing the Italian food, playing baseball? The intervention of the killer vampires? The crisis, Edward taking her to her father, her packing, her plan, her hurting her father with her comments, the pursuit, the killer vampire and the phone call, the information through Victoria, in Phoenix, the ballet school, the video of mother and daughter, the fight with the vampire, the loss of blood and the breaking of her leg, Edward to the rescue, in hospital?
10.Edward and his family, inviting Bella, their allowing it, Rosalie and her disapproval? The change in Edward, becoming more human and humane, helping Bella, fighting to save her, the vigil in the hospital?
11.Bella’s father, efficient at police work, silent, the murder situation and his investigation, the unhealthy meals, the meeting with Edward, Bella’s leaving, the end? Her return to the town?
12.The town, the Indian man, his son and his friendship with Bella, the range of students at school?
13.The prom, Bella and her injured leg, Edward taking her, dancing?
14.Bella and her age, love, the possibility of her allowing herself to become a vampire and live eternally with Edward?
15.Rosalie, the final images – and the build-up for a sequel?
16.A teen film, love, sexuality, commitment?
