I totally picked the right time to go (1:00 p.m. on Sat.) because the theater was full of people like me (30+ with and without kids) rather than squealing teens. I realize this kind of made me miss out on part of the whole experience because I didn’t get to hear them sigh and see their faces as their little hearts fluttered at Rob’s hotness.
First off, let me say that I really loved the movie. It was very well made and very well acted by all and the scenery was gorgeous. I also took it in for what it was, which many people seem to be having a hard time doing. If you’re planning on going to see it, please keep in mind what exactly it is that you are going to see. It’s a teen love story with vampires. It’s not non-stop action or blood or sex. If you read the books, you know this. If you didn’t, well, just know that it isn’t your typical “vampire” tale and it has some cheesy dialogue. It’s supposed to. It was in the book. If you don’t like that kind of thing and/or didn’t like the book, then go watch something else instead.
That said, on to my review which contains spoilers. Yes! There are spoilers ahead, so if you don’t want to know, then don’t click and read more…
Let’s start out with what I LOVED, shall we?
Edward/Rob Pattinson – Rob is perfectly perfect as Edward and is totally worth the price of a ticket or two or three. He’s brilliant! And sexy as hell. Even when he has to utter cheesy dialogue, he owns it and manages to make it all sexy and tortured. He does have some hilariously funny facial expressions that aren’t supposed to be funny, but they totally are and you just have to go with it. He’s just so ridiculously pretty that you can’t help but be taken by him.
Note to Rob: I’m so sorry I called you skeevy recently. I take it back! You’re very pretty and hilarious (seriously people, watch his interviews) and even though you look a bit unkept sometimes, your awesomeness trumps all.
The Kiss – Oh my! That kiss was H-O-T! It was intense and those two definitely have some chemistry. I need icons!
Vampire Baseball – How awesome was this scene? So awesome! I’m so glad they made this much bigger than it was int he book. It was beyond fun. Alice was the cutest ever when she pitched. It definitely emphasized her pixie-ness.
Alice – Ashley Greene is seriously the most adorable little thing on the planet. She was just perfect for Alice. I’m still not a fan of that hair, but it wasn’t nearly as distracting as it looked in photos.
Things I would have liked to have seen more of…
I wanted more of the Cullens, especially Emmett and Alice. I don’t say this just because I dig Kellan and think he has a lot of potential, but because he had more going on in the book. His back story was totally skipped over and he’s the big bad-ass of the group and they didn’t really give him much time to showcase that. Also, Alice had way more going on in the book and they didn’t explore the beginnings of her friendship with Bella. I think that would have been very cute to see them spending a little time together, even if it was in some kind of montage or something.
Jasper was never a favorite character of mine, but I wish they would have delved into his ability to calm people. Maybe it couldn’t be conveyed on film?
Random comments on random stuff…
Jackson Rathbone’s facial expressions are freaking priceless. They are totally giggle worthy and I know he was probably trying to be serious, but he just ended up looking frightened and perplexed most of the time.
I think Cam did a great job portraying James. He was like an animal and I mean that as a compliment to him. The way he would sniff the air and get that look on his face. It was all primal and crazy. I don’t ordinarily find him hot, but he was pretty sexy in the movie.
Kristen did a great job as Bella. I think one of my favorite parts of her acting in the film was in the ballet studio. I know people seem to take issue with this scene, but I think she did a really great job. I believed she was in horrendous pain and that the venom was burning her like fire. It made for a nifty change from the usual way that turning into a vampire is portrayed.
The stuff I didn’t like. Yes, my reasons are totally shallow, but whatever…
Nikki Reed – I’m sorry, but she just didn’t work for me in this film. I know she’s talented in general and I know she’s actually kinda pretty with her natural brown hair, but as Rosalie, she was just a bad pick. Aside from looking just awful with blonde hair, she didn’t bring anything new to the table. I know Rosalie is a bitch, but there was an opportunity to bring a little something else out of her and she just didn’t.
Taylor Lautner – My biggest problem with Taylor portraying Jacob is the fact that when he was on screen next to the other Native American guys, he just didn’t blend. Maybe it’s because he’s 16 and his bone structure is still changing or something? Then there was the wig. It was bad. You can’t put someone in a wig like that and then stand them next to other young Indian men with their real beautiful flowing hair and expect it to work.
Once I see the movie again, because I’m totally going to, I’m sure I’ll have a lot more comments. For more fun and random commentary, check out Mycah’s comments over at Chick Habit. 
I really enjoyed your review and I can’t wait to see Twilight. We still have a month’s wait ahead of us here. Torture!
Btw, sorry that I haven’t been commenting as much as I should. Bad me! :/
I agree with you on the baseball scene! My favorite, other than the ending of course:) Some scenes they did well, others they screwed up eh. I had a hard time dealing with the book/movie thing, this is the first time I’ve seriously read a book and watched a movie after so it was an experience.
Riikka: I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it when you finally get to see it. I know you’ll enjoy it. Rob is just too damned pretty.
No worries. I totally trump you on being a bad commenter. I read everyone’s blog/journal/site and rarely ever comment. I always mean to and then just don’t. Bad me!
Dora: Yay for the baseball love! It really is awesome. I totally left out the ending. Good stuff! It can be hard to deal with the book/movie thing. The one book that I was terrified of seeing turned into a film was Stardust. I just knew they were going to screw it up and I would loathe it. I was super surprised by how much I enjoyed it once I saw it though. I totally fell for Charlie Cox and was happy with the way everything turned out even though many parts and details were nothing like they were in the book. I’m hoping that the Twilight DVD will include a bunch of stuff that they left out and some alternate versions of things as well. It would be weird for them not to have even filmed certain things, like the back stories of the other Cullens.
I have been waiting on your review so I’m super happy I have someone who’s seen it now. Freaking Riikka/Mariana just has to live in another country and miss out on all the goodness! BOO!
Eh, I’m so obsessed, all my entries on Chick have something to do with Twilight. *Kill it* and might as well strap in, I’m sure my reply to your review will be long, hehe!
Anyways, yes Rob is the shit… nuff said.
ASHLEY IS SOOOO CUTE! I love her! She totally makes me smile EVERY time I see her. May it be as Alice, herself or what. She just has this prescence that makes me light up. I do wish we’d gotten more of development with Alice and Bella. I try to look at the film as a whole and it’s already “long” run time and think what I’d cut… really nothing, but I suppose I’d love some little montage or something too (And did you see the Edward & Bella leaves scene in the credits?! Where is this!). I think they are gonna need to do something in the next movie, because so much has to do with their friendship later, and when the Cullens leave, I dunno but they should just do something before they leave and show their friendshipping booming. It shouldn’t be left up to “the people who know” that they are friends, it should be stated in the films like how Alice tried to say hi and Edward wouldn’t let her. You can clearly see Alice is trying to make friends, so it needs to be recipricated on Bella’s end even if it’s a short scene for the movie goers who don’t know the books. Regarding Jasper, I think the reason his power was left out was because it didn’t have part in this story. People needed to know about Alice w/ the nomads and the ballet studio, but saying Jasper can calm (or just he has a gift too, simple enough), while it wouldn’t have took much time no, but it didn’t really have nothing to do later on, like with Emmet too. I think if they use the opening scenes of New Moon being the epilogue/birthday party and saying something then it will be fine.
The more times I see the ballet scene the more I think how perfect Kristen is as Bella. She really looked like she was in tremendous pain, Rob’s facial expression is chuckle worthy but then his song plays and I weep… I seriously turn into a mushy love struck girl in fear for them with the montage and “Let me Sign”… I believe It might be my favorite scene of all… it’s just: Epic. Hehe!
I’ve been watching some interviews with the cast, and I dunno Taylor is just weird for me. I don’t know if it’s his age, looks, etc. but just doesn’t do it for me. Even though I did like Jacob more in the film than the book, I just am worried how New Moon will be with so much Jacob. Eh… We’ll see in 2010 (OMFG WTF!!!) won’t we.
Mycah: It totally sucks that our girls have to wait to see it. I’m itching to hear what they think, especially Riikka.
I need to see it again so that I we can see who ends up having the most Twilight-related entries down the road. Hahaha!
Yes indeedy. I’m gearing up for a shiny Rob-spam so be prepared.
She totally is and I must see more of her work. They kinda have to do something in the next film because their friendship is incredibly important in the books. There could be stuff added when the DVD comes out too which might explain things a little more. I keep talking about the DVD release even though it just came out in theaters, but I feel like it’ll be one of those releases that is chock full of goodies for the fans. I guess that does make sense about Jasper and Emmett, but I still wish there was something, no matter how small. Even that little snippet in the trailer of Emmett telling Edward that “she’s not one of us” would have given a little more of his protective nature and that was like a 2 second scene. I’m still happy with the film as a whole, so I can’t complain about that stuff too much.
It is epic. That song is a killer and totally brings everything together. Must see it again soon…
So I’m not the only one who isn’t diggin’ Taylor then. That makes me feel better. Maybe he’ll grow into his own by the next film? I hope so because there is a hell of a lot of Jacob in the next one and you need a good screen presence to carry off that much storyline. I don’t want to wait for 2010 either. Maybe they’ll finish it early. *crosses fingers*