I have never been to a screening quite like Twilight’s. The young adult novel turned film has attracted a rabid female fan, ranging from screaming teenyboppers to their obsessed grandmothers and everyone in between, all of whom are crazy about the original book, this adaptation and/or Robert Pattinson.
Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) creates herself a death wish as she falls for Edward Cullen (Pattinson), a “vegetarian” vampire who refuses to feed on humans. Not knowing if he can control his predatory instincts in Bella’s presence, Edward initially dispels her advances for her own safety, but is later driven to protect her. The lion-in-love-with-the-lamb relationship that works so well in the novel comes across as plain silly in the film. But with a suspension of disbelief, the film is strangely engaging and, aside from an awkward bit in the middle, irresistibly charming. The plot picks up steam near the end and finishes on a strong note, lending itself to the prospect of many a sequel.
Fans of the novel won't be disappointed; Twilight stays faithful to its source material and the film is buoyed by the strength of its romantic leads, whose sexual tension compensates for the campier aspects of the film. To really understand Twilight, imagine the moment right before a really good kiss. Now imagine that moment lasts two hours. With all that latent eroticism, it’s no wonder that Twilight brings out the teenage fan-girl in all of us.
