In my lifetime, the world seems to have done several turnarounds on what they think about “Twilight.”
This film has shifted from being a cultural punching bag that only silly teen girls liked, to being proclaimed as being good the whole time during the pandemic, to a much more reasonable criticism of how Myer’s Mormon background influenced the world of twilight (as well as the fact that she wrote mythology for a real world group of Native Americans about how they can turn into wolves).
As someone in Gen Z, the whole “Twilight” mania seems to have skipped me. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good paranormal romance, but was just too young during its prime to ever really get into it. The impact of this cultural phenomenon on my generation, even when people started talking about it during the pandemic, was intriguing. So when it returned to AMC theaters for the novel's twentieth anniversary, I couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity and nostalgia, and decided to catch the first movie.
The soundtrack of “Twilight” is a standout feature, with its late 2000s indie pop songs setting the mood in a way that truly enhances the film's atmosphere. The music doesn't just play in the background; it becomes a part of the narrative, making the movie a more immersive experience.
I also enjoy the color grading throughout the movie (even if it washes out the white characters to the point where they look like ghosts). I think it’s a testament to the care put into the movie that the color grading reflects Bella's inner discomfort with Forks.
Unfortunately, the acting is incredibly stilted, and I know it’s not an acting issue because Kirsten Stewart, Anna Kendrick, and Robert Pattinson are good actors, but for some reason they were instructed to be as still and awkward as possible.
Consequently, some of the line delivery was just incredibly baffling. Kirsten Stewart delivers her line about the rain in a way reminiscent of the “I don’t like sand” monologue from “Attack of the Clones.” And I have no idea how someone could say something like “Hold on tight, Spider-Monkey” with a straight face.
The scene where Edward admits he’s a vampire is pretty goofy, but I don’t know if that’s the film’s fault or because I’ve seen this bit memed to death over the past ten years. An unfortunate side effect of experiencing a film first through cultural osmosis.
The fast-paced scenes in 'Twilight' offers a unique portrayal of vampire speed that can be both entertaining and comical. The exaggerated movements and the characters' lightning-fast pace add a unique twist to the serious tone of the movie, providing a moment of light-hearted entertainment for the audience.
Surprisingly, the baseball scene was really well done, though after that sequence, the movie devolved into an action movie, losing the elements that initially made the film unique.
This film exudes the essence of 2009 in so many ways. Yet, charmingly and endearingly, it evokes a sense of nostalgia for a teenagehood I have never, and will never experience. And it allowed me into that world for two hours, which provided a fun fall atmosphere.
Overall, it’s a pretty decent film (slight hooky acting aside), and if you are looking for a movie to turn off your brain, eat some popcorn, and maybe have a good laugh at the film's expense, then I would highly recommend checking it out.
