Twilight moments: Can’t decide to love it or loathe it

Edward was awkward. He was not meant to be. Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight series, had described him as nothing short of a deity through the eyes of her narrator, main character (and object of Edward’s affections) Bella Swan. Perhaps this was because Bella was, as she termed it, undeniably and irrevocably in love with him, but I doubt it. There was a lot more to Edward than the awkward teenager so portrayed, but the first half of the movie failed to capture his unusually perfect demeanour in that respect. And in doing so, it might have failed the fluttering hearts of the millions of females around the globe still swooning under the Cullen charm.

That was the first fault I found with Twilight, and it is an objective one. Or is it? It’s been about 25 minutes since I walked out of the movie theatre and I am still disappointed, yet I oddly want to watch it again. And swoon more. Despite the fact that the object of my affection was not the strong deity, the cool high-school student, the passionate first love, but rather, the weakling who fell for the plain girl’s charms. Though as a self-proclaimed Plain Jane, I shouldn’t find anything wrong with the latter, and yet I do, because it didn’t capture the essence I’d grown so accustomed to.

The problem for me is that I read. Read and pondered, read and dreamt, read and kept falling. In love. With Edward Cullen. Fictional character, vampire and fiercely over-protective, jealous and dominating boyfriend. I was lucky, I got to see him in my subjective mind, as only I wanted to see him. Capture an essence of him that catered to my appeal, my tastes and my values.

But Twilight was not about me. Or me and Edward. Or Edward and any other female for that matter. And this is why I cannot blame the film’s director Catherine Hardwicke. She had to make it about he and Bella, and on that front, she did a good job.

I’m going to say it straight out in the open that you’re not going to like Twilight if you have not read the novels. Or if you are actually a Bram Stoker fan who believes that Vampires should spend more time killing and drinking blood than living life as vegetarians cohabiting with humans and falling in love with them. But if you have, I doubt you’ll be disappointed seeing your hero and heroine in all their on-screen chemistry.

And boy is that chemistry there. The stars, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, have just as much chemistry as an apple pie and ice-cream. And it is very hot and cold. One minute it’s all about how I-just-cant-seem-to-get-enough-of-you and the next it’s all this-is-so-wrong-and-forbidden-it-will-just-be-easier-for-everyone-if-we-just-break-up. A big headache but a headache that works. They’ve done a marvellous job of depicting the issues at play, and covered the teen angst and sexual tension as if it were actually there. Big ticks for the cast, Hardwicke – apart from the awkward Ed first half hour, your stars have really hit the nail on the head. Just looking at Stewart with her doe-eyed simple facial expressions is enough to convince me that Bella is alive in all her insecure glories. And Pattinson? Well, as a Team Edward player myself, I am not disappointed. There is certainly a whole lotta appeal there (even though he’s playing a character, he does have the physical characteristics that fit the bill – unfortunately for the girls out there he seems like a love-me-do twit in real life).

Apart from that, the film does not fall short of convincing. The setting, the cold, wet and dreary forest town of Forks, Washington, is just as Meyer described it; the school kids, just as American-small town as I imagined, and the Cullens- even more perfect than I could have possibly dreamed.

For those who have no idea what I am talking about, I will give you the low-down. Klutzy Bella Swan has just moved to Forks from her home in sunny Arizona, soon encountering the mysterious Edward Cullen who can’t decide whether he loves or loathes her. Just as she discovers his secret and their love finally blossoms, despite the fact that he is pulled to her blood and scent like a fish to water, Bella is endangered by one of his own. But to save this human true love for him, her must save her from himself.

For a low-budget flick, Twilight is good. For a movie, it’s better kept to the fans. Sure the cast, the cinematography, the setting and script all fit the bill (Hardwicke’s done a great job considering the limitations of money), but the bill is not realistic. What movie has to be? In Hollywood, who knows? But on the cusp of twilight, you know, those moments of insecurities, in-betweens and what-ifs, it’s easy to make a choice. You either believe or you don’t. And if you do, you’re a little bit closer to finding true love, but also just as close to biting the apple. Don’t say you have not been warned.

My verdict overall? Three stars when I got out of the movie. Four stars now – because I already miss it like crazy and am totally bummed that the anticipation is gone and my thirst for vampire blood has gotten a tad bit crazier.