Twilight

Having never read the books , whatever I know of these characters and plotlines come from the film "Twilight" and small tidbits from articles. I found the film to drag in many spots, with very dull character development, and even sparser character details on a cast that is simply too large for the screenwriter to incorporate into a film that should move with some energy and grace. Somehow the film made 2 hours feel like 3 hours.

The direction was also pretty unimaginative, and then I find out Catherine Hardwicke directed the film, and then I understood why I didn't think much of the direction because she's suited for perhaps half the material in the film (the interpersonal stuff), but not the action or vampire abilities on display.

I did like Kristen Stewart's screen presence as Bella, but she wasn't as compelling as I had hoped her character to be (perhaps the source material is at fault, I don't know), and Robert Pattinson appears to have been cast for his hair and penchant for brooding. To me, their on-screen chemistry wasn't too impressive (perhaps just my personal expectation given bits and pieces I'd gleaned of the general gist of the novels, or it could just be that Bella is 17 years old in this tale).

Obviously fans of the books will see the film, but for me, it was mostly tedious to sit through as the plot points felt too forced, and didn't develop as organically as they could have been because you just know the sequels are forthcoming.

I give it 2 stars, or a grade of C.