Please note: have run out of Twilight headlines

I can’t believe it. After months of writing about it, now I’ve finally seen Twilight . . . and I was not disappointed! Since falling in love with the book series earlier this year, I’ve been obsessed with every scrap of news surrounding the movie, exhibit A is the sheer volume of Twilight posts on this blog. However, when the film was released in America on November 21 there was a pretty even split of negative and positive reviews. To be honest though, it wouldn’t have mattered if the reviews were similar to Gigli, I would still have gone and seen Twilight anyway and I think this is the general consensus among fans of the novel. On Tuesday, Australian Empire Magazine gave Twilight 4 out of 5 stars (which is up there with the best reviews of Catherine Hardwicke’s filmography) and that small portion of my excitement which had been taken away was again restored. It was every bit as good as I had dared hope despite a few minor flaws. One of those flaws was the fact I could barely concentrate on the movie due to a full theatre of screaming idiots who squealed when:
-a trailer started which they thought was the beginning of the movie (idiots)
-the Summit Entertainment logo appeared on screen
-the Twilight logo appeared on screen
-Bella’s narration started
-Robert Pattison/Edward Cullen appeared on screen (EVERY TIME!)
-Taylor Lautner/Jacob Black appeared on screen
-the Cullens appeared on screen
-Bella and Edward kiss
-the movie ended
-the credits started
You get the general idea. But it wasn’t the movie’s fault I just happened to catch a screening with 400 of the most annoying people on the Gold Coast. If you were one of those people at the 6.30pm screening at Pacific Fair, I hate you. I had to use ALL of my Edward Cullen-like restraint to prevent going all James your arse. The fact I had to pre-book my tickets and still line up for half an hour just to get a seat didn’t help my mood. So it’s even more impressive how impressed I was with the film given the above scenario. Most of the credit should go to Hardwicke who has shortened scenes from the book where they needed to be and added ones in for those who are unfamiliar with the subject material.

Keeping in true Hardwicke fashion she has assembled a multicultural cast incorporating every racial minority. Robert Pattison is superb as Edward and you truly believe every line, facial expression and gesture he performs. He steals the film. Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black is also great as is Billy Burke as Charlie Swan and all of the Cullen family are exceptional. The weakness here is Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan. There were moments when I though “wow, she’s a good actress, I really believed that”. Majority of the time though I was frustrated by her constant blinking which was almost as annoying as the people sitting behind me. Throw in a few over-acted scenes on her behalf and I was cringing. Who knows, Stewart might be like Daniel Radcliffe and it may take her a few films to get in to her character a bit more. She definitely had the Bella mannerisms and clumsiness down pat. The camera work is slick and it truly feels as if Hardwicke has pooled all her creativeness in to making this film. Personally, I think it has paid off. Kudos must go to Melissa Rosenberg for making the script funnier and as powerful as the original book. I loved the Victoria tie in at the end too. I’m glad I waited to see the film in a cinema, the way it was intended, and not hurriedly watched a pirated version of the film on the internet a few weeks earlier courtesy of US pirates. However, unlike the Somali kind these dudes don’t demand ransoms. The integral kissing scene is pretty steamy so I’d like to imagine what it was like before Stephanie Meyer cut it down. Pattison and most of the cast from the film have signed on for another three movies although whether a third installment, Eclipse, will be made depends on the success of New Moon. According to Entertainment Weekly New Moon shouldn’t be too far away thanks to Summit Entertainment already announcing a 2009 release date. It’s good to see they’re not making Twilight fans wait as long as Harry Potter-heads between each movie. For the best and wittiest review I’ve read so far check out: http://www.empireonline.com/

Note: I’m especially fond of the tight Grey shirts Edward frequently wears.

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You're the Twilight of my life . . .

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while then you may recall a post I did on how The Lovely Bones is the movie I’m most excited about for 2009. That comment stands but purely because the release of Twilight has been bumped up to November 21 to fill the void where Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was. HOORAY! REJOICE! INSERT ALL OTHER WORDS OF HAPPINESS HERE! In case you haven’t noticed Twilight is my current obsession. What is Twilight you ask??? Just the best noir romance novel ever I reply! While on holiday in North Queensland last week I purchased a copy of the book, which has been on my to-read list for a while. I loved it so much I read it in a day and a half. A week later I’ve now finished all four books in the series (New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn), which is the fastest I’ve ever read anything in my life. My final week of holiday has practically been devoted to finishing the series and nothing else. Okay, occasionally eating and sleeping but that’s it. I’ll stop blabbering about Twilight’s greatness now and explain a bit more.

The novel was written by American lass named Stephenie Meyer in 2005 and became a number one international best seller and ended up on New York Times Bestseller list. The three follow up novels have been released in the time since then with similar success. The final instalment in the Twilight saga was only released this month. I could talk for years about Twilight but the simplest run down of the story is 17-year-old Bella Swan moves to the rainy town of Forks to live with her dad Charlie and falls in love with vampire Edward Cullen who attends the same high school. What follows is an epic struggle as the two soul mates fight against the many horrific forces that threaten to drive them apart. The danger, adventures and relationships get better as the books progress so hopefully the movie is enough of a success for the other novels to be made in to films too.

Since this is one of the best books I’ve read ever I was more than a little terrified when I heard they were making Twilight in to a movie. Especially when I thought of all the ways they could stuff it up. So when I finally worked up the courage to peek at who was directing . . . . REJOICE! CATHERINE HARWICKE! If anyone dare says “who?” I will punch you in the ear. Hardwicke is the colossal talent behind Thirteen which she co-wrote with juvenile delinquent Nikki Reed who the story is based on. She then backed up to direct one of my fav films `Lords of Dogtown’ starring Heath Ledger and Emile Hirsch. She also got Reed back to play the female lead. My main reasons for being excited about Harwicke being behind the camera for Twilight is this a director who cares more about staying true to the story, the characters and the essence of the project than commercial success or big budget special affects. This chick rocks and critics have applauded her work in the past so hopefully this will be no different.

Directing a film about a supernatural love story is a massive step out of Harwicke’s comfort zone so I dare say she fell for the tale like millions of readers out there so will therefore be dedicated to getting it right. She’s also renowned for playing a major part when it comes to casting her actors. And who has she cast? Like all her films she has wanted to keep the audience focussed on the story not the star power and has gone for a bunch of relative unknowns. Kristen Stewart is in the title role of Bella and she looks just perfect for the part from the movie poster and stills I’ve seen. Stewart has a lot of experience as a young actress and has worked alongside the likes of Jodie Foster previously. English actor and musician Robert Pattison is playing Edward Cullen and again he looks like a prefect fit. Pattison played Cedric Diggory in two Harry Potter films. Thankfully Pattison has a strong background in theatre and is considered one of the most brilliant up and coming talents on the stage. He’ll be able to put those years on London stages to good use to portray Edwards vulnerability, intelligence, danger, turmoil, strength and loving nature. Pattison has been touted as the `next Jude Law’ by British Critics and hopefully they’re right. Hardwicke has got her favourite gal pal Nikki Reed back to play Rosalie, one of the members of Edwards awesome vampire family.

In the lead up to Twilights release at cinemas I will no doubt be smothering you with every bit of information I can find on how the film is coming along etc. I’ve attached every picture I could find from the movie to this post. If you’re a fan of the novel then hopefully you will be as pleased as I am with how well the actors have been cast and styled to fit Stephanie Meyers descriptions in the book. Perfecto! More importantly, look at the chemistry between Stewart and Pattison! Boo-yah! They have definitely got Bella and Edwards relationship down pat! Excitement!

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What's a brother to do yo?

By now everyone has heard Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince has been pushed back six months from its original release date of November this year, December for us Aussies. Studio execs say the delay is to make sure the film is up to the high standard Harry Potter fans expect and deserve. Judging from the newly released trailer the latest Harry Potter looks pretty freaking ready to me. If the execs are so concerned about the fans, surely releasing what the fans want as soon as possible would be their main interest. What do you think? I smell a rat. Not just any rat mind you, a money loving, devious, plotting rat named Warner Bros. My thoughts are the `brothers’ at Warner have had a look at the scheduled release dates for this year and next and decided that by pushing Harry Potter 6 back to mid 2009 there will be less competition for the film and hopefully revenue will be boosted.

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Harry Potplant

I had a plan of future posts which I was to write today but due to the release of the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince trailer they've been put on hold. I'm a massive fan of the Harry Potter books but have never really `celebrated' the films because of all the details they exclude. That said, I still fork out my $14 to see them and line up with all the other muggles wearing their Hogwarts t-shirts and Dobby ears. Fags. American movie website moviefone posted the very first trailer for the film a few hours ago and here is the link:

http://www.moviefone.com/movie/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince/27063/main

Praise the lord! It's a real trailer! Finally! Now let's hope those dickheads who have been making fake fan trailers for the movie will stop posting them on YouTube and fooling unsuspecting people looking for a peek at the Half Blood Prince. But really, you deserve to sit through a four minute montage of the last five Harry Potter films if you don't notice the first comment under the video which reads: "THIS IS FAKE....DAMN YOU". Who's stupid enough to miss this? My hand is raised. Along with 2, 795, 653 others apparently.

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