In 1998 the first book of the Harry Potter series hit shelves in the U.S. Five months later the awards began pouring in, and Pottermania was born. In 2005 the first novel of the Twilight series was published. Twilight came at a time when the children who had come of age reading Harry Potter were now tweens, searching for a more mature incarnation of fantasy, and Twilight seemed the natural progression.
The characters of Twilight are of similar age to Harry and his pals near the end of their journey. No longer are they the children who crept around the halls of Hogwarts academy, just as the readers are no longer the youngsters who had the stories read to them at bedtime. Twilight chooses to spotlight the romance, rather than use it as the undercurrent. Romance is a cornerstone of the young adult fiction world, as are sexuality, drug abuse, eating disorders, and other teen pressures. Far from the realm of Harry Potter, Twilight seems to be moving towards the teen cult of Gossip Girl and The OC.
Twilight follows Isabella Swan as she transitions into her new life in Forks, Washington with her father, after leaving her mother and stepfather in Arizona. Bella proves to be quite popular at her new school, with most every boy vying for her attention. After a near fatal accident in the school parking lot, Bella becomes enamored with Edward, her mysterious lab partner. After chatting with a Native American friend about tribal legend, Bella begins to suspect that Edward and his family are vampires. A whirlwind love affair begins between the two, but when a rival vampire coven invades Forks, their relationship puts Bella in danger.
Those who have read the book will have a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the characters. Twilight is a streamlining of the book. Subplots and character development have been dropped to make for a smoother two-hour experience. The film manages to be accessible to those who have not read the books, yet it makes movie sequels that much more important to flesh everything out.
Director Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen, Lords Of Dogtown) does a fine job of presenting a film that is very much in line with her previous work. The film feels as though it understands its characters problems, rather than just presenting them as plot. Aesthetically, the lighting is one of the most stylistically pleasing aspects of the film, creating a tensile mood throughout. The large cast of young actors works well together and creates a mood of camaraderie similar to that of a television series. The film creates plenty of room for its characters to grow, fostering a long-term relationship with the viewer. With director Chris Weitz (American Pie, The Golden Compass) attached for the next film, as well as two more installments on the way, there seems to be plenty of room for expansion in the Twilight universe.
If you like teen drama, those overly dramatic, lustful films that pair absurd dialogue with moody teenagers in outlandish circumstances, which I love, Twilight will fit nicely into your collection. The film manages to suppress just enough of the implicit sexuality of vampire lore to secure a PG-13 rating. If you are looking for more adult fare, the HBO series True Blood (on DVD May 19th) might be right up your alley. Virtually the same story, the only thing that separates the two is True Blood‘s R rating as opposed to Twilight‘s PG-13. – [DVD]
Drama/Fantasy/Romance/Thriller
Rated PG-13
DVD Release Date: 3/21/09