So yeah, I’ve read the four Twilight books. I’m not ashamed.
I’m secure in my masculinity…

The first movie based on the extremely popular books sets up what I assume will be a total of four movies. It’s a pretty faithful adaptation, with a few minor changes to make the movie flow a little better.

Kristen Stewart plays Bella Swan, who leaves sunny Arizona and moves in with her dad in gray and rainy Forks, Washington. She instantly meets some new high school friends, and sees the odd Cullen family. The Cullens are a quiet family of outsiders that basically keep to themselves. And they’re really pale.
Bella is immediately drawn to Edward Cullen, a sulking young man who seems to hate her at first. But eventually they make nice.

OK, reviewing this movie is kinda pointless. Most people know the book. Personally, it’s probably my least favorite of the four books, but I look forward to seeing the next movie. Just know that the movie as directed by Catherine Hardwicke and adapted by Melissa Rosenberg is pretty faithful to Stephanie Meyers’ bestseller. There are some aspects of the book that I knew while reading it that they would be hard to translate to film. Sure enough, they look kinda silly on screen. Oh well. I’m sure it’s all just fine with the millions of swooning female teens that cheered and giggled like the school girls they are when Robert Pattinson first appeared on screen as Edward Cullen.
He does a decent job as the brooding gentlemanly teen. As does Stewart as Bella. The whole cast is fine, just not mind blowing. Alice is my favorite character from the books, and she is played by Ashley Greene here. She was OK, but she’ll have to do better in the coming movies to totally win me over. Taylor Lautner has the important role of Jacob Black. He too has his work cut out for him.

So we’ll see what happens with the series. New Moon is next up. Here’s to hoping…