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If you’re a vampire, it’s all about you. Why is Edward Cullen obsessed to the point of erotomania by Bella Swan? Because she smells so yummy, but he doesn’t want to kill her. Here’s what he tells her: He must not be around her. He might sink his fangs in just a little, and not be able to stop. She finds this overwhelmingly attractive. She tells him he is the most beautiful thing she has ever seen. I don’t remember Edward ever saying that to her. Maybe once. He keeps on saying they should stay far, far apart, because he craves her so much.

Should a woman fall in love with a man because he desires her so much? Men seem to think so. It's not about the woman, it's about the man's desire. We all know there is no such thing as a vampire. Come on now, what is "Twilight" really about? It's about a teenage boy trying to practice abstinence, and how, in the heat of the moment, it's really, really hard. And about a girl who wants to go all the way with him, and doesn't care what might happen. He's so beautiful she would do anything for him. She is the embodiment of the sentiment, "I'd die for you." She is, like many adolescents, a thanatophile.

If there were no vampires in "Twilight," it would be a thin-blooded teenage romance, about two good-looking kids who want each other so much because they want each other so much. Sometimes that's all it's about, isn't it? They're in love with being in love. In "Twilight," however, they have a seductive disagreement about whether he should kill her. She's like, I don't especially want to die, but if that's what it takes, count me in. She is touched by his devotion. Think what a sacrifice he is making on her behalf. On Prom Night, on the stage of the not especially private gazebo in the public gardens, he teeters right on the brink of a fang job, and then brings all of her trembling to a dead stand-still.

The movie is lush and beautiful, and the actors are well-chosen. You may recall Robert Pattinson (Edward) as Cedric Diggory, who on Voldemort's orders was murdered in a graveyard in " Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ." Maybe he was already a vampire. Pattinson is not unaware of how handsome he is. When Bella and Edward, still strangers, exchange stern and burning looks in the school cafeteria, he transfixes her with a dark and glowering - nay, penetrating - stare. I checked Pattinson out on Google Images and found he almost always glowers at the camera 'neath shadowed brow. Kristen Stewart's Bella, on the other hand, is a fresh-faced innocent who is totally undefended against his voltage.

Bella has left her mom and stepdad in hot Arizona, clutching a potted cactus, to come live in the clammy, rainy Pacific Northwest, home of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Her dad ( Billy Burke ) is the chief of police of the very small town of Forks, Washington (pop. 3,120). His greatest asset: "He doesn't hover." At high school, she quickly notices the preternaturally pale Cullen clan, who in some shots seem to be wearing as much Max Factor Pancake White as Harry Langdon. Edward is 114 years old. He must be really tired of taking biology class. Darwin came in during his watch, and proved vampires can't exist.

There are other strange youths around, including American Indians who appear not too distantly descended from their tribe's ancestors, wolves. Great tension between the wolves and vampires. Also some rival vampires around. How small is this town? The Forks high school is so big, it must serve a consolidated district serving the whole table setting. The main local Normal Kid is a nice sandy-haired boy who asks Bella to the prom. He's out of his depth here, unless he can transmogrify into a grizzly. Also there are four grey-bearded coots at the next table in the local diner, who eavesdrop and exchange significant glances and get big, significant close-ups but are still just sitting significantly nodding, for all I know.

Edward has the ability to move as swiftly as Superman. Like him he can stop a runaway pickup with one arm. He rescues Bella twice that I remember, maybe because he truly loves her, maybe because he's saving her for later. She has questions. "How did you appear out of nowhere and stop that truck?" Well might she ask. When he finally explains that he is a vampire, he goes up from 8 to 10 on her Erotometer. Why do girls always prefer the distant, aloof, handsome, dangerous dudes instead of cheerful chaps like me?

"Twilight" will mesmerize its target audience, 16-year-old girls and their grandmothers. Their mothers know all too much about boys like this. I saw it at a sneak preview. Last time I saw a movie in that same theater, the audience welcomed it as an opportunity to catch up on gossip, texting, and laughing at private jokes. This time the audience was rapt with attention. Sometimes a soft chuckle, as when the principal Indian boy has well-developed incisors. Sometimes a soft sigh. Afterwards, I eavesdropped on some conversations. A few were saying, "He's so hot!" More floated in a sweet dreaminess. Edward seemed to stir their surrender instincts.

The movie, based on the Stephenie Meyer novel, was directed by Catherine Hardwicke . She uses her great discovery, Nikki Reed , in the role of the beautiful Rosalie Hale. Reed wrote Hardwick's " Thirteen " (2003) when she was only 14. That was a movie that knew a lot more about teenage girls. The girl played by Reed in that movie would make mincemeat of Edward. But I understand who "Twilight" appeals to, and it sure will.

Note: Now playing around the country is the much better and more realistic teenage vampire movie " Let the Right One In ," a Swedish import scheduled to be Twilighted by Hollywood. In this one, the vampire girl protects the boy and would never dream of killing him. That's your difference right there between girls and boys. Warning: This is very R-rated.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film credits.

Twilight (2008)

Rated PG-13

122 minutes

Nikki Reed as Rosalie Hale

Kellan Lutz as Emmet Cullen

Billy Burke as Charlie Swan

Ashley Greene as Alice Cullen

Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen

Jackson Rathbone as Jasper Hale

Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan

Directed by

Catherine Hardwicke

Based on the novel by

Stephenie Meyer

Screenplay by

Melissa Rosenberg

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L et's be honest. Which of us, in our impressionable teenage years, has not displaced an irrational horror of sex into a freaky emo crush on a moody vampire with sky-high cheekbones and a taste for human blood? I mean, haven't we all - in a very real sense?

Since her celebrated 2003 film Thirteen, director Catherine Hardwicke has accumulated some expertise in the dark side of adolescence and puts it to good use in this wildly enjoyable new film, an adaptation of the bestselling young-adult novel by Stephenie Meyer. Twilight is mad, bad and deeply unwholesome to know, and perhaps, in its serious way, the most entertaining teen film since 10 Things I Hate About You. It is certainly a new twist on the time-honoured nice-girl-bad-boy storyline. Virginal lovelies from the right side of the tracks have been conceiving the hots for unsuitable guys since Olivia Newton-John in Grease, Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing and Claire Danes in TV's My So-Called Life. But this is something else: an outrageous story of young love played absolutely straight, and actually better and more convincingly acted than many of the ponderous grown-up "relationship" movies we have to sit through. It sports with the high school genre and America's pro-abstinence True Love Waits movement. But it's got something other than satire on its mind.

Kirsten Stewart plays Bella, a winningly pale girl who is the child of a broken home: she has been living with her divorced mom in Phoenix, Arizona, but now proposes to live with dad, a police chief in a small northwestern town near a snowy landscape which vampire connoisseurs will instantly notice is a little reminiscent of the Carpathian mountains of Transylvania. (I am incidentally waiting for a post-modern vampire story to pay homage to Dracula's relationship with Yorkshire.)

Bella shows up for her first day at her new school and instantly establishes herself as a bit of a klutz, but not outrageously so, and she is certainly enough of a babe to get plenty of acceptable-looking guys to want to make friends. But it is Bella's destiny not to be attracted to these nice, normal people and, near the movie's climax, we see her looking poignantly from the window of a speeding car at these very same nice, normal people emerging from a diner, a veritable tableau of the nice, safe normality that could have been hers.

For Bella is instantly attracted to a gaunt and charismatic hottie called Edward Cullen, played by the young British star Robert Pattinson . Edward is one of a super-cool bunch of standoffish kids who seem to have dark hair, pale skin and a very great aversion to sunshine. Edward spends a good deal of his time looking at Bella intensely, up through his eyelashes, as if in homage to Princess Diana. Pretty soon Edward is using what appear to be superpowers to save Bella from various scrapes - and then he confesses his feelings for her and the truth about himself. Edward is undead, from a family of semi-nice vampires who live in the forest, and who have vowed to be "vegetarians" - that is, live only on animal flesh.

Edward and Bella are in agonies. However much he wants to give in to his feelings for Bella in the bedroom department - and however much Bella wants him to - he cannot, because he will become, ahem, carried away. The quaint niceties of conventional penetrative sex will not be sufficient. In the heat of the moment, Edward will need some old-school neck munching and blood slurping and he will therefore condemn Bella to an eternity in the vampire's twilight - and he, of course, loves her too much for that. Edward shows up in Bella's bedroom and they try a little innocent making out before Edward has to wrench himself away, mastering himself with as much virile self-control as a 19th-century curate. Edward is enough of a gentleman to take Bella to the prom, traditionally the venue at which America's young women decide to surrender their virginity to some profoundly unworthy suitor. They smooch a little on the dancefloor, but then he inclines his teeth towards her ivory throat, before whispering a question with infinite gentleness: is she ready?

Of course, all this parodies conservative America's preoccupation with Just Saying No - but it also, in a strange and unexpected way, responds to the Just Say Yes movement. When anything and everything is sexualised in the media, when women and women's bodies are obsessively presented in sexual terms, then what happens if you don't fit in? To many intelligent young people, the world of the sexually active may indeed seem like an unlovely vampiric cult. Is there any romance, any fervency, any rapture at all that has nothing to do with any of this commercially determined sexiness?

Twilight offers its own uproariously weird and engaging answer. It is, in its unworldly way, sweetly idealistic with a charm all of its own: a teen romance to get your teeth into.

Robert Pattinson
Drama films
Romance films
Science fiction and fantasy films

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Twilight Reviews

Twilight is a designed film, with rigorous casting and a somewhat predictable script. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Mar 5, 2024

Though director Catherine Hardwicke’s movie shouldn’t be labeled unsuccessful, it’s certainly uneven.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 5, 2023

The sequels became increasingly silly and overwrought but the original Twilight (2008) is actually kind of interesting even if you are not a devotee of the fan fic-turned-bestseller series.

Full Review | Aug 19, 2023

As someone who has loved the horror genre my whole life, Twilight pains me.

Full Review | Nov 5, 2021

The first film grounds everything, and does a fine job of world-building; even the climactic fight scene is fully integrated into the emotional core[.]

Full Review | Sep 10, 2021

The fact that it's not completely appalling is perhaps its greatest achievement.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Nov 28, 2020

It's critic proof.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4.0 | Sep 26, 2020

For hopeful adolescents and hopeless romantics alike, this bizarrely quaint love story (adapted from the first of a best-selling series of books by Stephenie Meyer) will play the heartstrings like a harp.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jun 17, 2020

It's a recognizable coming of age story with a fiendish twist.

Full Review | Mar 5, 2020

Anyone who has not read the book may find themselves bewildered, or at least a little confused, without some of the nuances of the book to fill it out.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 6, 2019

Like most great psychological lessons in the hands of novices, this is a story far more interested in dancing to rhythms than understanding melody.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Feb 20, 2019

Ten years after its release, Twilight stands as a powerful, darkly stylish depiction of teen female desire.

Full Review | Nov 15, 2018

Twilight is an earnest fantasy set on the cusp of adulthood, just as the way the light falls on everything in your life is changing. I don't blame anyone who wants to linger there for a moment. Even with sparkle vampires.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 31, 2018

The orthodox blood-drinking vampires...are about as frightening as snitty runway models, and are only there to threaten Bella's maidenly Type O so Edward can rescue her for the seven-hundredth time.

Full Review | Oct 31, 2018

Die-hard fans of the vampire romance novel Twilight will be happy to know that the film follows the book nearly to the letter. For everyone else, however, this isn't good news.

Full Review | Oct 10, 2018

In accordance with the adage about the rubbishy book making for the better movie, Twilight the film is great.

Full Review | Aug 21, 2018

Without descending into camp, Pattinson undercuts earnest intensity with a deft, self-conscious wit.

Full Review | Dec 30, 2017

Stewart and Pattinson have convincing chemistry as the star-crossed lovers.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 12, 2016

You've been warned.

Full Review | Original Score: 0.5/5 | Oct 21, 2014

Unless you're a 14-year-old girl who gets all giddy at the thought of cute boys and first love, steer clear of Thirteen director Catherine Hardwicke's anemic adaptation.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Feb 15, 2013

The Movie Review: 'Twilight'

Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is the new kid in town. (To anyone out there mentally cuing up the Eagles: Please stop.) When her mom (Sarah Clarke) decided to uproot from Phoenix and hit the road with her dorky, minor-league ballplayer new husband, Bella did the only sensible thing and opted to move to the tiny hamlet of Forks, Washington, to live with her dad (Billy Burke), the local police chief. It's an okay town--pleasant diner, friendly neighbors--but the weather's a drag (so wet the sod of dad's lawn creeps right out into the street), and mysterious, fatal "animal attacks" are an occasional inconvenience.

Bella's more immediate horror, though, is Forks High School, where the overeager editor of the school paper (Justin Chon) wants to do a front-page feature on her, and her awkward efforts at volleyball nearly cripple a genial jock (Michael Welch). Both boys gradually become interested in the beautiful Bella, as do the girls (Anna Kendrick, Christian Serratos) interested in them . They needn't worry though, as Bella only has eyes for smoldering loner Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). , Catherine Hardwicke's adaptation of the first of Stephanie Meyer's derangingly successful tween novels, takes this most-familiar of adolescent sagas and adds an only-slightly-less-familiar twist. Perfect boy that he is, Edward nonetheless has some odd habits. He's never around on those (infrequent) days when it's sunny. He has an inhuman aptitude for brooding. He never eats. He wears odd, colored contact lenses and enough hair product to buttress a cathedral. His skin is a pale, post-mortem blue, and he is deathly cold to the touch. Taken together, these clues are clear: Edward is either a vampire or the member of an '80s Europop band--and what would the latter be doing in tiny Forks? Although there is nothing in her back story to suggest that she was raised Mennonite or home-schooled by anthropologist parents in the jungles of Borneo, Bella evidently has been so insulated from all forms of pop culture that she does not recognize this Most Conspicuous Vampire Ever (nor his equally conspicuous adoptive vampire parents and siblings) until, following the hints of a Native American friend (Taylor Lautner), she consults a book of indigenous legends. (The friend's tribe are "wolf people"--hint, hint--who've never gotten along with Edward's kind. But that's fodder for the sequel.)

When Edward confesses that, yes, he is a vampire and that's why he's alternated between eying her like petit filet and pushing her away, Bella is not the least bit put off. She may have declared earlier that she doesn't like "cold, wet things"--pretty much the definition of a vampire in the Pacific Northwest--but for Edward she'll make an exception. She's not even bothered by his idiosyncratic endearments: "I've never wanted a human's blood so much in my life"; "You're like my own personal brand of heroin."

And, truth be told, there are advantages to having an undead boyfriend. When in a passionate moment, Edward confesses, "I still don't know if I can control myself," he is speaking for every 17-year-old boy ever born; the difference is that Edward, who has been 17 years old for the better part of a century, really wants to control himself, having given up human blood along with the rest of his "family." Not all vampires are so discerning, of course, and it's not long before Bella is targeted by a paleface whose tastes run to more than light foreplay.

Twilight is a film that really demands to be judged on its own terms. Which is to say, if you are a girl between the ages of, say, 12 and 16, you will see the movie, will complain about the small ways in which it differs from the book, will see it again anyway and perhaps a third time, and may well wind up with a Robert Pattinson poster on your bedroom wall.

For the rest of you, I can report that Twilight is an underwhelming experience--this is no "Buffy," alas--but not a terrible one as these things go. The plot tends toward the obvious and such surprises as there are tend to be of the head-scratching variety. (It's nice to know, however, that when fleeing a deadly foe, Hollywood vampires are just as idiotically inclined as their human counterparts to split up into small, vulnerable groups.)

Stewart is likable as Bella, who is not always a likable character, and while Pattinson's role is inevitably more ridiculous, he does as reliable a job with it as might be hoped. The rest of the cast is fine as well, with Burke standing out as Bella's taciturn, drily humorous dad. The direction by Hardwicke ( Thirteen , Lords of Dogtown ) is capable, though the film's special effects--mostly very fast running, jumping, and tree-climbing--might've done with a little more work.

Ultimately, Twilight is silly and melodramatic and hard to dislike in much the same way as its target audience, with a distinctly teenage sense of tragedy. Before you know it, Bella is begging Edward to make her a vampire too, so they can be together forever. Evidently she has already forgotten the multitude of graduation caps lining Edward's wall, the fruits of the eternal 17-year-old's need to matriculate and re-matriculate every few years. Repeating high school on and on into infinity--now that is truly the fate of the damned.

This post originally appeared at TNR.com.

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Common sense media reviewers.

Faithful but uneven adaptation has violence, iffy romance.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Love can inspire courage, perseverance, and loyalt

Bella is mature and smart, but she can also be dep

Written and directed by female filmmakers, Twiligh

A lot of the violence is implied, but there's some

As in the book, Bella and Edward have an intensely

"Hell" and "oh my God" (as an exclamation).

Brands featured include Volvo, Hummer, Mercedes, M

No drinking or smoking by underage characters. Bel

Positive Messages

Love can inspire courage , perseverance , and loyalty. But obsession and jealousy are portrayed as romantic rather than toxic.

Positive Role Models

Bella is mature and smart, but she can also be dependent and fragile. Edward is respectful and gallant, though often somewhat angsty. Jacob is empathetic and protective of his family and friends, but he has very few scenes.

Diverse Representations

Written and directed by female filmmakers, Twilight also has a female lead: Bella demonstrates courage and perseverance. But she prioritizes romance over anything else in her life and needs to be saved by Edward in dangerous situations. Cast is mostly White, with Native American characters in positive supporting roles. Multiracial actor Taylor Lautner (English, German, Dutch, Scottish, and Anishinaabe heritage) plays Bella's compassionate and loyal friend Jacob. Jacob belongs to the Quileute tribe, where his father, Billy -- played by Native American actor Gil Birmingham, of Comanche ancestry -- is a respected figure, though in a minor role. Billy is also paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair (though played by nondisabled actor Birmingham).

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

A lot of the violence is implied, but there's some gore and blood, plus potentially scary, supernatural elements. Fast shots of vampires right before they kill their prey (both human and animal) and a bloody, vicious fight between vampires. A vampire tries to kill Bella by biting her wrist; other vampires decapitate and burn a villain. Bella breaks her leg and ends up in the hospital. A group of men follow Bella down a dark alley and harasses her; Edward threatens them and saves her. Charlie, a sheriff, has weapons, including a shotgun.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

As in the book, Bella and Edward have an intensely romantic (though fairly chaste) relationship. They stare and gaze at each other lovingly and share passionate embraces and a couple of kisses, including one make-out session that takes place on a bed while Bella's in her underwear. But it's important to note that Edward's possessive and controlling behavior is portrayed as romantic rather than problematic. Other couples flirt, hold hands, and swoon at each other. There's a scene of sexual harassment -- see Violence & Scariness.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Brands featured include Volvo, Hummer, Mercedes, Mac, BMW, Lay's potato chips, Body Glove, and Southwest. Most appearances are subtle, though Edward's Volvo has some big moments.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

No drinking or smoking by underage characters. Bella's dad and his friend stock up with cans of beer for an afternoon together but aren't actually shown drinking them. Bella gives her dad an unopened can of beer in one scene.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Twilight is the first installment in the fantasy action series based on author Stephenie Meyer 's hugely popular book series . Like the novel, the movie has an intensely romantic -- and sometimes problematic -- relationship between a vampire and a human. Expect a few kisses and several stares, hand touches, and embraces. One make-out session takes place on a bed with a girl in her underwear, but it's abruptly stopped. The movie's violence is mostly implied, but one scene involves vampires, blood, a bitten human with a broken limb, and decapitation/burning of a body. There's also sexual harassment when a group of men follows a girl into an alley -- she's saved by a man before anything further happens. Directed by a female filmmaker, Twilight does have a female lead, but one who falls into stereotypes and revolves her life around a man. Native American actors play Quileute tribe members in positive supporting roles. Language includes "hell" and "oh my God" (as an exclamation). Characters occasionally handle unopened cans of beer (no one drinks). Despite the violence and scares, main characters demonstrate courage and perseverance. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

Parents say (158)
Kids say (722)

Based on 158 parent reviews

It's entertaining.

Horrible role models in dull vampire romance., what's the story.

TWILIGHT is based on Stephenie Meyer's bestselling young adult novel . Bella Swan ( Kristen Stewart ) is a smart, mature teenager who moves from sunny Phoenix to live with her father, Charlie ( Billy Burke ), in the rainiest city in the country -- tiny Forks, Washington. At school, Bella encounters five gorgeous, aloof, alabaster-skinned siblings. One of them, auburn-haired Edward Cullen ( Robert Pattinson ), is assigned as her science partner, and soon Bella starts crushing on the mysterious, charming, super-strong guy. He likes her, too -- in fact, he'd love nothing more than to suck her blood, because he's a vampire. But unlike most evil undead, Edward and his family are "vegetarians" who stick to animal blood in order to live among humans. Can a human girl and a vampire boy overcome his kind's thirst for blood and find true love?

Is It Any Good?

Director Catherine Hardwicke nails the teen emotions and relationships, and she stays surprisingly faithful to the novel. Though possessive at times, Twilight 's Bella-Edward romance is appropriately swoon-worthy. Other parts of the film are quite schlocky and even unintentionally funny (like Edward's facial expressions at his first whiff of Bella's intoxicating scent). Some of the supporting cast is spot-on: Ashley Greene is pixie-ish and graceful as prescient vampire Alice, Burke's Charlie is exactly the kind of loving-but-hands-off father Meyer describes, and Native American actors Taylor Lautner and Gil Birmingham bring positivity and strength to the Quileute tribe's friendly father-and-son duo, Jacob and Billy. But other characters -- like Jasper ( Jackson Rathbone ) and Rosalie ( Nikki Reed ) -- are reduced to one note. In Rathbone's case, he's a statue with overly gelled locks and a permanent, unintentionally amusing look of irritation. But, cosmetic issues aside, most of the characters, right down to the villainous vampires led by James (Cam Gigandet), act like their counterparts in the novel.

From Edward's shiny silver Volvo and Bella's beat-up red truck to the glittery meadow scene, the lullaby and the longing looks, Hardwicke and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg have included most of the book's essential details. Yes, some viewers might find aspects of Twilight silly and superficial. But Stewart does Bella justice with her constant clumsiness and her serious gazes. And Pattinson is dreamy and intense, though it would've been better had the British actor perfected his American accent. In the end, those who don't mind teen love served with a side of cheese (and bloodlust) will enjoy this 2000s-era phenomenon.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the various themes that have made Twilight and its sequels such a huge success: first (and forbidden) love, restraint in getting intimate, everlasting and unconditional romance, and heart-thumping adventure. Which aspect is your favorite?

Do you think Bella is a good role model for teens? How does she demonstrate character strengths such as courage and perseverance ? And what might be some of her weaknesses? Do you think she and Edward have a healthy relationship?

If you've read the book, did the film meet your expectations? What changes were good for the film? What scenes did you miss from the novel?

Why do you think the Twilight books and movies have inspired such devotion? What blockbuster books, movies, and/or TV shows do tweens and teens enjoy today? Does it feel the same or different from the way fans rallied around movie series in the 2000s?

Movie Details

In theaters : November 21, 2008
On DVD or streaming : March 21, 2009
Cast : Billy Burke , Kristen Stewart , Robert Pattinson
Director : Catherine Hardwicke
Inclusion Information : Female directors, Female actors, Gay actors, Female writers
Studio : Summit Entertainment
Genre : Thriller
Topics : Magic and Fantasy
Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance
Run time : 120 minutes
MPAA rating : PG-13
MPAA explanation : some violence and a scene of sensuality
Last updated : April 9, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

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Den of Geek

Twilight film review

The US box office sensation finally hits the UK. And Christian was quite impressed...

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After a huge amount of hype, the long awaited Twilight is finally here. Twilight , for many teenage girls, has been the most anticipated movie of 2008, with its takings at the US box office smashing most other films released this year. Although Twilight is mostly a film for those who have read the book and have knowledge of the story, I still found it quite an enjoyable film to watch.

Twilight begins with the introduction of Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) while she narrates the story. Bella is living in Arizona with her mother and her stepfather until they decide to spend life on the road for a while, which doesn’t really appeal to Bella’s interests. In light of this, she decides to move to a small rainy town in Washington called Forks so she can live with her estranged father, Charlie (Billy Burke) – the town’s Sheriff – for a while.

Although she arrives at an awkward time of year, she manages to be wanted by all, and ends up bonding with a group of kids who are far friendlier than she seems ready for. They soon get onto the subject of the Cullens, a strange “family” of very pale-skinned, awkward, yet intriguing boys and girls, most interesting of who, to Bella, is Edward Cullen. One of the seemingly strangest things about the Cullens, to those who don’t know their real secret, is that they are all foster siblings and are “couples” who have been adopted by Dr. Cullen and his wife.

Bella is immediately fixated on Edward as she finds out that the reason he is without a partner is that “no girl is good enough for him”. It even seems as though he is repulsed by Bella at the start when they are assigned as lab partners and he storms out of the classroom and doesn’t come back for days on end. When he does finally return, his manner toward Bella is completely different and he is now being friendly. This once again triggers Bella’s curiosity, and she starts trying to get close to him.

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The real catalyst for their relationship comes in the form of Edward saving Bella from a car crash and thus revealing that he has some strange abilities that are uncommon, to say the least. One thing leads to another, and as Edward reveals who and what he is (a “vegetarian” as the Cullen family only eats animals), we see a blossoming romance of a different kind. Because of Edwards’ lust for blood, he cannot allow himself too close to Bella still. So instead of doing what any other people in love would do, the couple can only spend time and talk with each other.

I thought the cast did a good job here in their portrayals of the characters. There were quite a few moments of unexpected humour in the film that I also enjoyed. It was mostly the subtlety of it that was most enjoyable – not hilarious but enough to evoke a chuckle.

For someone like me, who had no prior knowledge of the film or the story, it wasn’t quite as enjoyable as it seemed to be for the longtime fans, but it still delivered an interesting story. It did seem very slow-moving at times, seemingly drawn out to properly paint the picture for those first timers.

There was nothing particularly special about the cinematography or special effects here either, the worst of which was probably the effect used to portray the vampires’ speed. Here we see a strange blurred effect trailing behind the character as they shoot around at hyper speed, which I think would have been far better left out.

Though the film did tend to get slightly too lovey dovey toward the end, the movie still delivered on the whole. From the reactions in the cinema, the audience of Twilight fans seemed to thoroughly enjoy it, even cheering and giving it a round of applause at the end. It is definitely a film made for fans, but I believe it can also be enjoyed by all us non-fans too.

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19 December 2008

Christian Forbes

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DVD & Streaming
Drama , Romance , Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Content Caution

In Theaters

Kristen Stewart as Bella; Robert Pattinson as Edward; Billy Burke as Charlie; Peter Facinelli as Carlisle; Ashley Greene as Alice; Nikki Reed as Rosalie; Jackson Rathbone as Jasper; Kellan Lutz as Emmet; Elizabeth Reaser as Esme; Taylor Lautner as Jacob; Cam Gigandet as James; Rachelle Lefevre as Victoria; Anna Kendrick as Jessica; Michael Welch as Mike; Gil Birmingham as Billy; Sarah Clarke as Renee

Home Release Date

Catherine Hardwicke

Distributor

Summit Entertainment

Movie Review

“I’d never given much thought to how I would die.”

So begins one of the most resonant love stories to touch teen culture in quite some time. Love, found in a world filled with terrifying monsters in the moonlight. Love, found at a strange high school in a tiny, rainy town that Bella Swan did not want to live in. Love, found by a cold-blooded vampire who didn’t think he would ever feel warmth again. Love, found by both of them to be intoxicating to the point of creating near giddy insanity.

Bella moves to Forks, Wash., to live with her dad after her divorced mother remarries. She thinks of it as an exile. Certainly she doesn’t think anything good will come of it. She’s from Phoenix, and she hates the cold and rain. She’s a high school junior, so she doesn’t relish the idea of starting over at a new school. She’s uncertain about her relationship with her dad.

But she fits in better than she anticipates. Or at least she thinks she does until she meets Edward Cullen. Butterflies start circling in her stomach the moment she sees him, but all he does is glare at her. It might take a while to smooth out the bumps, but Bella’s determined to make it work with her white-faced dreamboat.

So determined, it turns out, that even when she learns that he’s a bloodsucking vampire, she’s unwavering in her newfound infatuation. “You don’t scare me,” she tells him repeatedly, almost as if she’s trying to convince herself along with him.

Her resolve is continually tested as she learns that it’s all he can do to resist the desire to kill her, as she meets his intimidating family of vampires, and as she becomes the target of a nomadic “tracker” vamp, who’s decided she’s the endgame of an eternal lifetime. But love is love, she figures, no matter the risk. And therein lies the heart and soul of Twilight —exhibited in both grand and shocking ways.

Positive Elements

Family is a big part of what nurtures Twilight ‘s love. Edward’s coven—family—of vampires is a loving one. Each member is committed to protecting the others, even Bella when she becomes part of them through her relationship with Edward.

The Swans, while more fragmented, still show a great deal of cohesion demonstrated through selflessness. Dad opens his arms and home to Bella after years of separation. Uncomfortable at first, Bella tries to give him a fair shake when she arrives. And she does everything in her power to make sure that when her life is threatened, Dad doesn’t become collateral damage.

Superlatively, Bella willingly offers herself as a sacrifice meant to save her mom’s life. She narrates, “Dying in the place of someone I loved seemed like a good way to go.”

Spiritual Elements

Accepting, for a moment, the idea that vampires can exist in a fantasy world and that they are capable of making “moral” choices within the framework of their predetermined natures, it would be fair to say that the Cullen clan’s choice to avoid killing humans is … positive. Edward explains to Bella that they are “vegetarians,” meaning that they have learned to survive on the blood of animals. Beyond being grateful that she’s not going to be devoured mere moments after falling in love for the first time in her life, Bella interprets this as them being “good” vampires who have struggled, some for centuries, to renounce their evil inclinations.

So within the context of a monster mash such as this, we can see a reflection of the Christian calling to put away the old man of sin and embrace the new one—a path that while straight and narrow, is certainly more difficult to walk.

Edward and Bella don’t talk about it much, but it is intimated that despite their ability to choose good over evil, Edward considers himself and all other vampires to be eternally damned, and he resists mightily the idea of allowing Bella to descend into the abyss that he finds himself submerged in. She doesn’t care a whit about that. She’s eager to become a “cold one” if only it means she will be with her beau forever.

Edward can read minds. His sister, Alice, sees visions of the future.

Sexual Content

Clearly tempted to go farther, Edward wrenches himself away from Bella after they begin kissing. (Before he does so, they embrace, eagerly lock lips and slowly lower themselves onto her bed.) There’s a pro-abstinence message in his decision to disengage, but it’s muddied by a couple of facts: 1) He’s avoiding sexual contact because he knows it will cause him to want to kill her, not because he believes the contact itself would be immoral in any way. 2) He says he’s been in the habit of sneaking into her window at night and watching her sleep. And once he admits that to her—and she doesn’t run screaming, calling him a creepy stalker—he proceeds to spend the night with her in her bed (clothed, but cuddling).

Dialogue dips into the sexual arena when Edward tells Bella what people at a restaurant are thinking about. He grins, looking around the room and saying, “Money, sex, money, sex, cat.” Mom asks Bella if she’s “being safe.” There’s a quick joke about a swim team’s padded Speedos.

Girls at school wear tops that expose a bit of cleavage. And prom dresses—Bella’s included—reveal even more.

Violent Content

The first question a colleague asked me when I returned to the office after seeing Twilight was, “Were there any gory vampire bites shown in the movie?” It’s a fair question, and it probably mirrors what a whole host of parents began wondering the moment after a whole host of Kaitlins and Ashleys started begging to go see it.

The answer is yes.

In flashback, we watch Carlisle “create” Edward by biting down into his neck. There’s no blood visible in this “transformation,” but there is in other vampire attacks. Bella’s hand is slashed in a fight with the tracker vamp, and he ultimately bites her, too. This takes place in the midst of a frenetic battle that starts with just Bella and the tracker, and ends up a full-scale melee involving Edward, Jasper and Alice. The tracker’s head is twisted nearly off (onscreen) before he’s disassembled and burned in a fire (mostly offscreen or out of focus).

Bella is hurled across a room; she slams into a mirrored wall. The tracker breaks her leg by stomping on it. When Edward tears into the rival vampire, they all but destroy the building they’re in, blasting through floors, walls, windows, etc.

When Bella does a bit of Web research on the “cold ones,” we watch over her shoulder as she sees drawings and cinematic images of bloody killings. We see flashes from contemporary vampire assaults, too; these hint at the violence that transpires rather than fully expose it.

To save Bella’s life, Edward sucks her blood from the puncture wound the tracker inflicted, drawing the venom back out of her. And it’s not the only time she’s in danger: When the Cullens first meet the tracker, they square off in threatening, animalistic crouches to defend her. When a careening van veers toward Bella, Edward stops it with his hand. And when a small group of ne’er-do-wells accosts Bella in an alleyway, she’s crowded and threatened before Edward swoops to the rescue. (To his credit, he resists the urge to kill the men.)

In a sequence used to illustrate a lie told about how Bella got hurt, we see her tumble down stairs and smash through a large window.

Crude or Profane Language

One exclamatory use of “h—.” “Oh my god” is interjected a handful of times. There’s a line about a “butt-crack Santa.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

Bella’s dad downs beer on several occasions. In one scene we see him pile two six-packs onto a friend’s lap. Edward refers to Bella as his “own personal brand of heroin.”

Other Negative Elements

To protect his vampiric identity, Edward has cultivated the fine art of lying. Bored with safe driving rules, he speeds and executes fancy—difficult and dangerous for us mere mortals—quick-turn tricks.

In a ploy to try to protect him from the vampires, Bella reluctantly, yet intentionally, wounds her father with words her mother used when they divorced.

There are two kinds of people who will watch Twilight : Those who have read the books … and those who haven’t. The two groups will see a very different movie. The latter will casually make its way through a romance-obsessed vampire yarn involving a human high school girl and a 17-year-old vampire who’s actually over 100. The former will observe the very same romance, but layer onto it the entire story arc that unfolds through the four Stephenie Meyer novels that have birthed this movie franchise.

That makes it difficult to write just a movie review about a movie that isn’t just a movie, but rather part of tall tale that doesn’t end at twilight, or even the dark of night. It goes beyond into the realm of the eternal—something not really hinted at onscreen … yet.

I’ll give you an example of how Twilight neophytes and Twi -hards, as they’re starting to be called online, will react differently as the film unspools: When Jacob shows up for the first time, he’s ostensibly a minor character who, along with his wheelchair-bound dad, is delivering an old truck that Bella’s father bought for her. OK, fine, right? No big deal. But when he first peeks his head onto the screen, a portion of the audience—primarily female, for the record—is likely to erupt with squeals of delight. They certainly did at the advance screening I attended. Why? Because Jacob eventually becomes A) Bella’s best non-Edward friend, B) a shapeshifting wolf and C) a hunk.

Fans of the books clearly weren’t there to just see a movie. They were there to experience the thrill of “meeting” their favorite characters in all their huge, big-screen glory. This says a lot about how much impact Meyer’s story is having. Readers—and now moviegoers—are soaking in everything she’s written, taking it to heart and wearing it, quite literally, on their sleeves.

One Twilight T-shirt being sold (and which I saw at the movie) proclaims, “Forbidden Fruit Tastes the Best.” And that’s certainly one of the film’s underlying themes. This isn’t about me beating up Twilight for being about vampires, though. There are positives in it that bear repeating: The Cullens refuse to be party to murder even when it’s their “nature” to kill and feed off humans. Edward consistently controls his own blood lust around his classmates and especially around Bella. He cares for her. He protects her. Bella offers up her life for her mom.

But there’s enough negative undercurrent even in this first outing (the books get darker as they progress, so presumably the movies will follow) to justify some pretty serious conversations afterwards for those families that decide to defer their better judgment—which would normally push vampire flicks out of bounds—and go ahead and go with the flow and see the show. The positivity of Edward and Bella’s abstinence needs to be tempered with a discussion about what’s so very wrong with them “sleeping” together and him sneaking into her room. His resistance to turning her into a vamp must be contrasted with her desperate desire to become one. Her obvious love for her father needs to be stacked up next to her willingness to deceive him both when his life depends on it and when it just suits her romantic desires.

Bella finds herself inexorably drawn to the “bad boy,” and she does little to resist. She calls herself a “stupid lamb” (and there’s already a T-shirt out there that splashes the phrase across its front), refusing to wise up for fear that clarity might mean her heart will be broken. Indeed, she waves away Edward’s objections as if they were just annoying mosquitoes buzzing around her head.

We know that he doesn’t want to hurt her. But she doesn’t.

There’s an important life lesson lurking in Bella’s obstinance. But don’t look for Twilight to unpack it for you. It’s too dizzy from breathing in the heady fragrance of heedless and headstrong young love.

Steven Isaac

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Movie Review: Twilight

I always admire any movie that can effectively convey the trials and tribulations of high school without resorting to parody or mockery. High school is typically (and rightfully) portrayed as a time of great emotional upheaval, where friendships are formed and broken, alliances are tested, and worldviews are carved into one's character. Given the setting's potential for some great (melo)drama, it seems as though director Catherine Hardwicke, whose critically acclaimed Thirteen also dealt with the hardships of teenage life, would be a perfect choice to direct Twilight . Indeed, Twilight is at its strongest when it's offering its spin on high school romance. Virtually every element of angst-filled adolescence is on display here – the awkward first meeting with your girlfriend's parents, the pressures of finding a date for prom, school lunch tables as a gauge of popularity – and all of them are rendered faithfully. But setting these aside, does the rest of Twilight offer the casual viewer a compelling experience?

Based on the first of Stephanie Meyer's wildly successful series of novels, Twilight tells the story of Bella (Kristen Stewart), a plain girl from Arizona who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to stay with her father. While learning the ropes of the social scene at her local high school, Bella falls in love with Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), one of the school's hottest boys who just happens to be a vampire. In fact, the entire Cullen family, led by the enigmatic Dr. Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli), is made up of vampires who have learned to co-exist peacefully with humans by subsisting off the blood of animals. But when a competing group of vampires (led by Edi Gathegi) begins encroaching on the Cullens' territory, they threaten to destroy the life that Bella and Edward have struggled to create.

Despite the film's rabid fan base (and the profound chilling effect it had on my enthusiasm), I honestly went into the film with an open mind. I had never read the books, so my goal was to see how Twilight operated as a film alone, unencumbered by the expectations that accompany a book adaptation. In my mind, there are two huge problems with Twilight that make this film forgettable for anyone that's not a fan of the series. First of all, it's clear that the screenwriters tried to squeeze in as many elements from the book as possible. This is understandable, as fans have spent years poring over the words and details from Meyer's entire trilogy. The problem is that in an attempt at pleasing the fans, they have sacrificed a logical flow to the film's overall narrative. While most of the film focuses on the relationship between the two leads and the complications it causes (Edward finds Bella's scent irresistible and must constantly restrain himself from consuming her blood), the last third introduces a major conflict and its resolution seems hurried compared with the languid pace of the rest of the film.

All of this would be forgiven if the romance was captivating, but the real weak link that almost kills the film entirely is Pattinson, who seems to be outmatched by virtually every other actor on display here (including /Filmcast favorite Cam Gigandet, who plays one of the evil vampires). Pattinson spends most of the movie with a look on his face that's a cross between Zoolander's "Blue Steel" and a person trying to stave off a diarrheal attack. Pattinson and Stewart struggle valiantly to find chemistry, but it never quite gets there, due almost entirely to Pattinson's leaden performance. It should be said that Stewart, whose work I've admired in the past, acquits herself decently here, but she's held back by a script that relentlessly hammers home the restlessness and wistfulness of her emotional state. In summary, the romance between the two, which the film hinges upon completely in order to work on any meaningful level, is implausible at best.

There are certain elements of Twilight that are supremely clever, and even some moments that approach brilliance. Vampire baseball. A brief shot of a wall full of graduation caps. The look of primal hunger on Ashley Greene's face when she sniffs Bella's blood. The problem is that for every one of these moments, there's also one that's utterly baffling. The movie's flashbacks are rendered in a ridiculous and cartoonish fashion. Dr. Cullen's make up is an over-the-top white. The vampires don't suffer any adverse effects at all from daylight, except that it makes their skin all shiny. The wire-work and running effects are cheap-looking and obvious. All of these scenes drew unintentional laughter from my theater's crowd (which was packed with die-hard Twilight -ers), and made the film's task of being taken seriously that much more difficult.

For fans of any property, there's almost always visceral thrill from seeing characters that once existed only in your mind be brought to life on the big screen. I realize that nothing I say or write can possibly take away from this joy in the hearts of all the Twilight readers out there; in fact, a small part of me is extremely happy for them. It's clear that that the phenomenon of this film has brought people a level of excitement that I'm loath to counteract (who among us hasn't felt enthusiastically wrapped up in a popular franchise before?). For everyone else: In a year that has brought us unforgettable renditions of vampire through films and shows like True Blood and Let the Right One In , Twilight falls far short of giving us an engaging take on the vampire mythos or the teen romance. The movie isn't terrible, but viewers who aren't fans of the book series won't find much to like here.

/Film Rating: 5 out of 10 Discuss: Twilight – A faithful adaptation of Meyer's novel? A solid teen romance flick overall? Or trash? You can reach David Chen at davechensemail(AT)gmail.com

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Movie Review: Twilight (2008)

General Disdain
Movie Reviews
37 responses
--> November 23, 2008

Writing a book or screenplay with vampires in it has got to be one of the easiest gigs around. These mysterious and charming undead basically lend themselves to just about any scenario possible — generally making said scenario that much more intriguing (its got a vampire in it, duh!). Proof in point: Twilight . Catherine Hardwicke’s adaption of Stephenie Meyer’s novel of the same name is the basic forbidden love story that you’ve seen so many times before, it just so happens to have a vampire character.

The tough part to swallow, mind you, is that Twilight is a campy, pre-pubescent forbidden love story involving a vampire character that never quite finds its mark.

It involves 16-year-old Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), a girl looking to make a fresh start with her father in Forks, Washington (she’s originally from Phoenix, Arizona). It doesn’t take her long to make some friends (it’s never hard for cute girls, is it?), but she soon finds herself smitten with her biology lab partner, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). You guessed it, Edward is a really a 108-year old vampire with the looks of a 17-year old Abercrombie & Fitch model. They eventually fall for each other — he entrusting her with his secret; she telling him she’ll give up everything to be with him. While that lovey-dovey stuff may work for them, it doesn’t for James (Cam Gigandet) and his clan of “tracker” vampires. He wants to feast on Bella and he has no problem going through Edward to do it.

While the premise itself isn’t at fault, the way in which it unfolds is suspect. Director Catherine Hardwicke starts off with good character development and build-up but trails off into an indistinguishable mess. Bella is a mature for her age, likable girl, making it easy to identify with her and her uncomfortable situation (how many of us have found ourselves trying to fit in and trying to make friends?). Edward, well let’s just say he doesn’t warrant as much buy-in, which for the part is okay. He’s a good looking vampire — it’s more about his keeping up with the dark, brooding stares than anything else. Even the bit roles like friends Jessica (Anna Kendrick), Mike (Michael Welch), Angela (Christian Serratos) and Bella’s dad Charlie (Billy Burke) are all relatively well fleshed out too.

Edward’s and Bella’s hook-up and ensuing courtship, however, wasn’t exactly on the top of any lists of things I cared to see. At fault for this the most is probably is the cheesiest, “made for Lifetime” type lines written for the lovesick teenagers. Examples of Bella’s cooing to Edward are “I’d rather die than to stay away from you” and “I dream about being with you forever.” No one talks like that anymore, mesmerized by a vampire or not. To offset this, I was hoping for a big payoff in the action department, as fights between characters with superhuman abilities are always a blast to watch. Alas, that wasn’t to be either. Most of the action/fight shots by cinematographer Elliot Davis are herky-jerky and sloppy, not mention everything appeared to be washed-out, leading to some very uninspiring crescendos.

Last time I looked though, I’m not a 15-year old girl, so it is safe to say I’m not a member of the target demographic for Twilight ; therefore, it is fairly obvious my expectations of the film are completely different from theirs. And seeing as these youngsters bought 25 million copies of the book series worldwide (other books in the series are New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn), I have no doubt this film will be a rousing success. It doesn’t, however, mean the film is any good. Harry Potter doesn’t have anything to worry about.

I'm an old, miserable fart set in his ways. Some of the things that bring a smile to my face are (in no particular order): Teenage back acne, the rain on my face, long walks on the beach and redneck women named Francis. Oh yeah, I like to watch and criticize movies.

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'Movie Review: Twilight (2008)' have 37 comments

November 23, 2008 @ 9:41 pm Katey

Are you sure your not a 15 year old girl??? :D

November 25, 2008 @ 4:43 am weisner

its a lame love story for little girls and homos.

November 25, 2008 @ 9:32 am Mia

it’s a good story i can’t wait to see it

November 25, 2008 @ 12:33 pm Tracy

This movie is huge with the younger girls. I want to see it but I will wait a little until the fan girls get tired of it since the theatres here are packed.

November 28, 2008 @ 11:45 pm Jarrod Whaley

I haven’t seen this, nor will I. If it looks like a turd and it smells like a turd, there’s a likelihood that the fecal content is at least relatively high.

I’m glad someone is watching this stuff and being quasi-fair about it, though. It prevents us all from sniffing turds.

December 13, 2008 @ 11:32 pm Paige

I’m a 14 year old female and therefore part of the target demographic and I have to agree, Twilight is woeful (both the book series and the movie). Please people, not all of us are buying into this shit so don’t make out like every one of us are airheads.

December 14, 2008 @ 7:59 am General Disdain

Are you sure your not a 15 year old girl??

Last time I checked, I wasn’t.

That’s what I’m paid to do. Oh wait, I don’t get paid for this . . . :(

Please people, not all of us are buying into this shit so don’t make out like every one of us are airheads.

I don’t recall saying nor do I think all teenage females are airheads. I will note however, that although you said you are not “buying into this shit”, you have spent money on the film and the books . . .

January 14, 2009 @ 12:23 pm fangproxy

Well…..its a movie for nutty teens….. idk y she was weird….does dat means she was cool or sumthin….n all she need was a vampire to suck her blood coz she dnt hav anythin goin on…. another vampire came….n he only wants to suck HER blood……?

January 17, 2009 @ 12:54 pm coffee

i wonder what will be more successful/popular in the long run, Twilight or Harry Potter

February 4, 2009 @ 11:31 am emily

bella’s seventeen.. duh.

February 4, 2009 @ 11:38 am emily

This is a very good review by the way, and, though I’m a big fan of twilight the book, I wasn’t too keen on the movie. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good.

“Please people, not all of us are buying into this shit so don’t make out like every one of us are airheads.” Just because somebody likes Twilight doesn’t make them an airhead. Haha. To be fair, it’s difficult for a teenager like me (yes, I am 15 and a female.. so I must be obsessed with Twilight! Of course! Don’t you just love stereotypes?) to read Twilight and not become infatuated with it, for a least a small amount of time. There’s nothing wrong with having hormones…

March 3, 2009 @ 11:06 pm DaraGeibel B.L.R.E.

I find the movie quite captivating, and i know that most people who like romantic genres really enjoyed the twist and the tension between the two characters, Bella and Edward. Most say that it could be a greater hit than the Harry Potter drama, but i think otherwise. I think that the Harry Potter series still got the moving power to keep more interested audience than the Twilight movie can and has. And i think Harry Potter is still rank one. Let’s see how the next twilights go. . . . . .

March 13, 2009 @ 3:42 pm jasmin

This movie was terrible…. maaaan. Sorry for all the twlight fans out there. it epically sucked.

March 28, 2009 @ 11:59 pm Kendra

“Edward is a really a 108-year old vampire with the looks of a 17-year old Abercrombie & Fitch model.”

I disagree. He’s not tan enough for Abercrombie. It’d help if he lost the glitter lotion/ full-body shimmer-stick look.

In addition to Edward, chick (Bella) also came off very 2D. I wouldn’t exactly call her a looker either (sorry, Kristen Stewart). Everyone was so into her WHY? I guess it really was just her pheromones :) Even Edward came off as having SOMETHING there, though he was creepy in a stalker-ish way at best.

I haven’t read the books and have no intention to. I’m pretty glad I didn’t pay money to see this tripe.

April 2, 2009 @ 6:33 am james

it good compare to others. the star cast is good i love small artists.

April 23, 2009 @ 2:34 am Sarah

Being a 15 year old girl (the target demographic) and watching the movie, i found myself entirely let down! Catherine Hardwicke has made a terrible adaption of the book to film. Yes, indeed i have read the books and found them Reasonably good. However in the movie, it has been merely cut down and edited into around 2 hours! And not to mention that most of the defining parts have been left out! I think Stephenie Meyer didn’t have the balls to say no and object to the obscene ideas of Catherine. What the heck was up with the whole scene of finding out hes a vampire? what was all that nonsense of walking of into the forest for an interrogation? and the meadow scene was a huge disappointment. How could Stephenie let this happen?! Also, i found Edward to come across exceedingly werid, in all his cryptic talk, it did NOT sound romantic and ‘velvet’ like, just quite creepy. GOSH! and Bella…. don’t let me get started on her…

If movies can do no justice to the books, why bother?

August 10, 2009 @ 4:05 pm Richmond Hill

This movie is targeted towards female teens. The populariy will likely result in many more movies in the series.

September 8, 2009 @ 2:47 pm Jason777

The story is really good but i could not say same for the movie.

September 21, 2009 @ 10:03 am Twilight New Moon

so i watched the movie, and didnt like it. I first read the book and was really dissapointed in the movie.

September 21, 2009 @ 2:45 pm 1000 games

This is a good movie, I have watched it two times, it’s great :)

October 3, 2009 @ 6:04 pm skill games

I saw the movie and thought it wasn’t campy or lame or “girly” at all. I read a lot and I’ve read romantic era novels from the early 1800s and the movie captures that sensibility–the twilight zone between improbability, absurdity, romanticism, and sentimentality. The movie works without being formulaic. It is actually refreshing to realize that being romantic and whimsical doesn’t necessarily have to be cheesy or passe. A+

October 21, 2009 @ 4:22 pm Free mobile games

This video is really very good.Thanks.

October 22, 2009 @ 1:22 pm mobile games FAN

This is really good moovie.I would like to see more such videos.

November 1, 2009 @ 10:53 am Brad

The movie is shot using some great new cameras only available in the film industry (for now). We like unique movie concepts and I think that since blair witch and paranormal activity have done so well, someone should consider shooting a crime movie as if the whole movie was filmed by security cameras.

November 4, 2009 @ 8:26 am General Disdain

…someone should consider shooting a crime movie as if the whole movie was filmed by security cameras

Even though you were blatantly advertising with that statement, it is, nonetheless, an interesting idea . . .

November 23, 2009 @ 5:21 am sean

the movie was rubbish. ms.stewart was uninspired. hated her acting.

November 24, 2009 @ 6:32 pm HSA

This film made a lot of money in its first week of showing. I personally probably will not go see it though.

December 11, 2009 @ 4:27 pm Cooking games

I think Stephenie Meyer didn’t have the balls to say no and object to the obscene ideas of Catherine.

December 13, 2009 @ 12:36 pm Brainload

Hope this sequel better the first movie

December 21, 2009 @ 3:14 am Avalon

I think Both Twilight and New Moon were equally good. I have to keep up to date with these movies thanks to my teenagers. Nevertheless they are pretty interesting and fun to watch.

January 5, 2010 @ 11:47 am nathanial

I found the movie very exciting and I know that most people who like fiction genres really enjoyed the twist and tension between the two characters, Bella and Edward. Most say it could be more successful than the tragedy of Harry Potter, but I think otherwise. I think that Harry Potter was still the driving force to keep the audience more interested in the Twilight movie could and should. And I think Harry Potter is still a hierarchy. Let us see how the sunsets go next. . .

February 3, 2010 @ 12:21 am angel

The very romantic movie. If my boyfriend likes Edward Cullen maybe I will try to more love him.

February 5, 2010 @ 12:15 pm Mario

I don’t really like twilight, I can’t undestand the great hype about it. For me it is just another movie. I am still looking for reasons why people love it so much?

February 14, 2010 @ 8:00 am gamer

Yap The story is really good but i could not say same for the movie.

February 18, 2010 @ 3:40 am Kate The Portrait Artist

Embarrassed to say I watched this – it definitely has its niche at the moment which it just about gets away with riding off of the back of. I don’t think we should judge it too harshly now!

March 9, 2010 @ 5:26 am kevin good

Thanks for the review. I think that the Harry Potter series still got the moving power to keep more interested audience than the Twilight movie can and has.

March 13, 2010 @ 7:49 am chriss

I cannot seem to like this movie even if I’ve seen it twice. Vampires and people, why would you get into a relationship only to see your girl die after some years. Immortality is not a good thing after all.

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Twilight Review

19 Dec 2008

122 minutes

About three things the Twilight producers were absolutely positive. First, Twilight was a vampire tale. Second, there was a part of it that thirsted for teenage blood. And third, adolescent girls were unconditionally and irrevocably in love with it. Indeed, American booksellers have hailed the author of the saga, which runs through four novels, as the new J. K. Rowling — Stephenie Meyer’s first instalment selling more than five million copies in the US alone, and thereby helping to fill the void left by the departed Boy Who Lived. The fact that the film version arrives Stateside in what has become the pre-Christmas ‘Potter slot’ will only boost the comparisons.

In contrast to the wizardry franchise, however, the director here manages to improve on the film’s papery progenitor. While a succession of helmers have struggled to condense Rowling’s ever-expanding tomes into a digestible screen serving, Catherine Hardwicke hits top gear from the outset, rattling through the early exposition and never once allowing the painful teen brooding that floods Meyer’s book to overflow into insipidness. Meyer is a devout Mormon, her tale a metaphor for carnal abstinence, allowing young girls to splash around in a pool of obsessive love without having to swim in the turbulent waters of scary teenage sex.

The author, who had final cut, thought Hardwicke’s first cut a little too steamy, hence the interaction between Bella and Edward becomes even more intimate, Hardwicke employing close-ups and avoiding the exposed flesh captured by the wider lenses. The director, of course, understands the teen audience — consider Thirteen or Lords Of Dogtown — and she conjures one of the most beautiful films of the year. Former Potterer Robert Pattinson (Cedric in Goblet Of Fire and Order Of The Phoenix) is staggeringly handsome, as are the rest of his vampire brethren. The backdrop, meanwhile, the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest, is truly breathtaking, Hardwicke sending her stars hurtling up towering trees and sinking into deep moss.

The lead performance too is strong, Panic Room and Into The Wild star Kristen Stewart consistently excellent. She is the vehicle through which audiences are carried on their journey, and her keen intelligence prompts a mature performance. Bella is both vulnerable and strong, a three-time damsel in distress, requiring Edward’s white-faced knight to save her, and yet courageous enough to surrender to danger and send an immortal bloodsucker into a frenzy of desire. Said bloodsucker Pattinson struggles at times — it’s a demanding first lead role, requiring him to project a perennial restrained desire. He settles down eventually, but not before he’s treated us to a series of hard-faced pouts.

Despite the presence of vampires, Twilight is a romance, not a horror, and anyone hoping to sink their teeth into a juicy gore-fest will be disappointed. There is action, of course, ignited by the arrival of a trio of wandering neck-biters (who, needless to say, are impossibly good-looking) that feed on the locals and lust after Bella’s blood, leading to a showdown in a be-mirrored ballet studio. Hardwicke sensibly introduces these rogues early. And yet, while she does have action credentials (working on Three Kings before shooting Dogtown), the sequences are occasionally predictable, the wire-work sometimes obvious.

She also struggles with the depiction of vampires in direct sunlight. Meyer’s saga was prompted by a dream, in which she saw Bella and Edward lying in the forest, sunlight twinkling on the vampire’s exposed flesh. In truth, Hardwicke would have liked to exorcise the scene, but it’s too important to the author. She turned to ILM, although despite their best efforts, Edward’s spangled skin looks a little odd.

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'Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled City' review: A wild walled ride

Movie Review

Wednesday, 15 May 2024

Related News

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Yes, we’re young and dangerous too, so give us our own franchise already. — Photos: Lotus Five Star

Hong Kong pop culture in the late 1980s was a wild ride. Cantopop was ruling the airwaves, and movie stars like Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Stephen Chow and more were drawing crowds to the cinemas.

It was also a great period for fans of Hong Kong triad movies, with films like A Better Tomorrow, The Killer and City On Fire drawing huge crowds to the cinemas.

Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled City feels like that kind of triad movie, and it is not just because it IS set in the era. The overall aesthetic and script evokes a kind of cool sentimentality that makes you want to root for the characters, despite the fact that they are criminals.

A loose adaptation of the Hong Kong comic book City Of Darkness by Andy Seto, the movie is set in the iconic “Walled City” of Kowloon, which was an infamous crime-ridden, overpopulated enclave that was eventually demolished in 1993.

Group hugs tended to get quite violent in the Walled City.

It revolves around Chan Lok Kwan (Raymond Lam), a refugee who steals a bag of drugs from a local Hong Kong triad led by crime lord Mr Big (Sammo Hung) and his right-hand man Wong Gau (Philip Ng), and out of desperation, escapes into Kowloon Walled City, which is controlled by Tornado (Louis Koo) and his organisation.

Granted “asylum” by Tornado, who recognises his potential, Lok Kwan begins to see the Walled City as the home he never had, becoming close friends with a group of youngsters including Tornado’s second-in-command Shin (Terrance Lau), kickboxer and illegal medical practitioner AV (German Cheung), and Twelfth Master (Tony Wu), a streetwise, katana-wielding member of another gang.

However, things start unravelling for Lok Kwan when his unknown past catches up with him, forcing to choose between staying and fight, or running for his life.

The massages at this particular barber were rather punchy.

Opening in Malaysia on May 17, the movie also stars Richie Jen as one of Tornado’s superiors in the Walled City hierarchy, and also features Aaron Kwok in a cameo role.

The City Of Darkness comic book is a typical Hong Kong martial arts tale, with over-the-top characters displaying the sort of fighting moves that look cool on the page but, as Dragon Tiger Gate showed, would look silly on the big screen.

Fortunately, director Soi Cheang has chosen to tone down the more incredulous aspects of the comic book, though the action sequences still retain enough fantastical elements to remind you that this is indeed adapted from a comic.

The Walled City was a great place to play hide and seek.

While there is a significant amount of action in Walled City, Cheang still manages to make us care for its characters, with Koo the standout among the cast, playing Tornado with the sort of cool, calm yet menacing demeanour that Chow Yun-fat used to be so good at.

The camaraderie between the four central youths also reminded me of the Young And Dangerous franchise in the 1990s, which was also based on a comic book and had a group of loyal band of brothers fighting for each other in the triads.

Ultimately though, it is the visceral, detailed depiction of the Walled City itself that is Cheang’s finest achievement here.

Same old Sammo, a big guy who is always carrying a big stick.

The setting is full of character and personality – shockingly foreboding on the outside, but full of life and warmth on the inside; its small confined corridors, cramped spaces and worn-down rooftops giving Walled City a truly unique aesthetic and atmosphere.

You could say that the Walled City itself is more than just a mere location for the movie’s characters to live in – it IS a character of its own right.

The actual Walled City of Kowloon was demolished in 1993, but this movie actually inspired me to learn more about it. And the more I learned, the more I hoped that there would be more movies set in this particular version of the location.

Whether it stars the characters from this movie or not, I would love to see more of the world that it has built.

A hark back to 1980s Hong Kong triad films

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'Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled City' review: A wild walled ride

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At The Movies: More of the same in triad thriller Twilight Of The Warriors, romcom Anyone But You

Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In (NC16)

125 minutes, opens on May 17 3 stars

The story: Circa 1980s, Chinese-Vietnamese refugee Chan Lok Kwun (Raymond Lam) goes seeking a better life in Hong Kong and finds refuge in the notorious Kowloon Walled City.

Soi Cheang continues his hot streak after winning the 2024 Hong Kong Film Awards’ best director prize for Mad Fate (2023).

The HK$5 million (S$866,540) opening day for Twilight Of The Warriors: Walled In is Hong Kong cinema’s biggest of 2024 and the second-largest of all time for a local film.

The gangland martial arts extravaganza, directed by Soi from Andy Seto’s City Of Darkness manhua, marks the arrival of television actor Lam: He is a compelling marquee lead as the stoic hero.

Louis Koo shares top billing as the noble godfather of the Walled City, who takes Chan in and leads Chan and his loyal underlings against a brazen invasion by Sammo Hung’s mob boss.

Philip Ng and Richie Jen are others with a stake in the turf war, and Aaron Kwok is a riot as a campy psycho thug.

The epic brawls are explosive if often overdone. This HK$300 million blockbuster is only ever just a premium action genre picture.

More than the stunts or the cast of veterans and rising stars, it is the detailed recreation of the fortified city setting that awes.

The movie wallows in the crime and squalor of this infamous no man’s land during the chaotic end days before the enclave’s demolition in 1993. It is the film-makers’ eulogy to the territory’s anarchic spirit and vanishing sense of community.

Hot take: This triad thriller has craft and sincere nostalgia for the 1980s, but not the complexity of that era’s genre trailblazers such as Johnny Mak’s Long Arm Of The Law (1984) with its classic Walled City chase scene.

Anyone But You (M18)

103 minutes, opens on May 16 2 stars

The story: Twentysomething singles Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) detest each other after a magical first date ends on a misunderstanding. They cross paths again six months later at a destination wedding in Australia.

Sweeney is more fun as a terrorised nun in the horror flick Immaculate, now showing in cinemas.

Anyone But You is the Hollywood romcom debut of the Emmy nominee from television series Euphoria (2019 to present) and the first season of The White Lotus (2021).

The sleeper hit may have grossed more than US$200 million (S$270 million) globally, but the actress’ efforts at screwball repartee are strained and this update of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing has torturous plot contrivances only the Bard could get away with.

Director Will Gluck (Easy A, 2010) is not said playwright, despite a fortuitous first name.

Once in Sydney, the wedding couple – Bea’s sister (Hadley Robinson) and Ben’s friend (Alexandra Shipp) – conspire to get the rancorous pair together to ensure a good time for all.

The enemies play along and pretend to be in love so as to… what, spite their respective exes (Darren Barnet and Charlee Fraser)? Appease Bea’s helicopter parents, played by Dermot Mulroney and Rachel Griffiths, in a nod to My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)?

The unfunny gags on the way to their sham romance becoming real include Bea falling into shark-infested waters and a tarantula up Ben’s bum – anything to get the leads into various states of undress.

Sweeney has dramatic range, while Powell (Top Gun: Maverick, 2022) has cocky charm. The movie makes no use of their assets beyond their hot bods.

Hot take: The myriad scenic sights – from the Sydney Opera House to the actors’ abs – cannot distract from how laboured the comedy is.

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TAGGED AS: movies , romance , Teen , thriller , twilight , vampires , werewolf

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How to Watch Twilight Movies In Order

If you’re getting ready to experience the seductive, suspenseful love story of Bella and Edward for the first time, here’s how you can watch all Twilight movies in order. 2008’s original Twilight introduces us to teenager Bella (Kristen Stewart) and her attraction to Edward (Robert Pattinson), a vampire-among-us. New Moon makes it a triangle with the arrival of Jacob (Taylor Lautner), he of a rival werewolf pack. The real battle begins in Eclipse , come to a bed-smashing head in the two-part Breaking Dawn . See below for our guide on how to watch all Twilight movies in order. — Alex Vo

Twilight (2008) 49%

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) 28%

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010) 46%

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011) 25%

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012) 49%

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6 New Movies Our Critics Are Talking About This Week

Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or an avid buff, our reviewers think these films are worth knowing about.

By The New York Times

CRITIC’S PICK

Going ape for another ‘Apes’ movie.

Two apes and a woman with serious looks stand near a body of water.

‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’

The latest in this sci-fi series follows a group of rebels as they face off against an authoritarian ruler who has twisted the peaceful teachings of a previous leader.

From our review:

There’s a knowing sense that all this has happened before, and all this will happen again. That’s what makes “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” powerful, in the end. It probes how the act of co-opting idealisms and converting them to dogmas has occurred many times over. What’s more, it points directly at the immense danger of romanticizing the past, imagining that if we could only reclaim and reframe and resurrect history, our present problems would be solved.

In theaters. Read the full review .

A thermal thriller that’s hot and cold.

‘aggro dr1ft’.

This hallucinatory romp directed by Harmony Korine conveys the journey of an assassin entirely through thermal imaging with added digital effects.

Whether it’s the thermal imaging or the augmentation, the visual style renders eyes practically invisible, leaving the actors without an important means of communication. … That absence might account for why “Aggro Dr1ft” is so unengaging on a narrative level, but the monotony might also have to have something to do with the protagonist, a hit man extraordinaire who is also (gasp) a family man. The world’s greatest assassin has been saddled with the world’s most sophomoric internal monologue. “I am a solitary hero. I am alone. I am a solitary hero. Alone,” he mumbles.

Think ‘On the Road,’ but for Gen-Z.

‘gasoline rainbow’.

Five teenagers embark on a road trip to a “party at the end of the world” and encounter many fellow misfits along the way in the latest from filmmakers Bill and Turner Ross.

There’s an uncommon sweetness to this film, which is less about running away from something and more about discovering the road of life is littered with goodness, if you know where to look. There’s a loose, languorous quality to “Gasoline Rainbow,” which the Rosses shot using a mostly improvised format, a collaboration between actors and filmmakers. It feels like a home movie, or a documentary — a capture of a slice of life in which there’s no plot other than whatever happens on the road ahead.

A destination wedding that goes nowhere.

‘mother of the bride’.

At a surprise last-minute wedding, the mother of the bride (Lana, played by Brooke Shields) gets another surprise when she discovers that her daughter is engaged to the son of her ex-beau, Will (Benjamin Bratt).

“Mother of the Bride” is directed by Mark Waters (“Mean Girls”) with an apparent allergy to verisimilitude. Early on, we are told that the opulent Thai ceremony will be bankrolled by Emma’s company (she’s an intern) and livestreamed to “millions of eyes.” These fantasies of pomp and circumstance often serve to make Lana and Will’s budding romance feel like a B-story to the action — although that may be a blessing when the best screwball gag this movie can muster is a pickleball shot to the groin.

Watch on Netflix . Read the full review .

Chris Pine goes off the deep end.

In Chris Pine’s directorial debut, he plays a pool cleaner who is enlisted to help uncover a mysterious water heist.

The sure-why-not plot, modeled on the California water grab in “Chinatown,” is less interesting than the charismatic cast that rambles along with Pine on his excellent adventure. Pine’s yarn was savaged when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, but the sour response is a bit like getting mad at a golden retriever for rolling around in the grass.

Small drama, big stars.

Seeking asylum, a young Nigerian woman (Letitia Wright of “Black Panther”) navigates the complications of applying for permanent residency in Ireland in this drama from writer-director Frank Berry. Josh O’Connor of “Challengers” also stars.

At the beauty salon where she works, Aisha’s rightly cagey as she listens to her customers. But at the shelter, she turns warm, when she gives makeovers to fellow immigrants. As he did for his award-winning prison film, “Michael Inside,” Berry used nonprofessional actors with intimate experience of the system — here, Ireland’s International Protection Office, which processes asylum applications — he wanted to depict. It’s a gesture that keeps the film from lapsing into melodrama.

Bonus review: A rural throuple

It’s not immediately apparent how courtly intrigue figures in “A Prince” (in theaters) , Pierre Creton’s spellbinding French pastoral drama, though sex, death and domination hang palpably in the film’s crisp, Normandy air.

Creton looks to the divine powers and chivalric codes that fuel swords-and-shields epics like “Game of Thrones,” but whittles these elements down to a mysterious essence. Eventually, the film shifts into explicitly sexual and mythological terrain with a B.D.S.M. edge.

The story is slippery by design, loosely tracking the gay coming-of-age of an apprentice gardener, Pierre-Joseph. Throughout the film, a series of wordless and seductively austere tableaux, he forms bonds with various individuals in his rural community. Multiple narrators speak in retrospect, as if looking back from the afterlife at the characters onscreen.

Pierre-Joseph eventually comes to form a throuple with Alberto and Adrien, his mentors. The naked bodies of these much older gentleman appear suggestively weathered next to their younger lover’s sprightly form. Yet there is no mention of taboo. That passion could bloom in such spontaneous and unexpected forms is part of this enigmatic film’s potency.

Screen Rant

Stunningly accurate zelda midna cosplay shows off a live-action version of the character.

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10 Characters Who Make A Better Girlfriend For Link Than Zelda

Zelda: twilight princess fan's midna cosplay is simply perfect, the legend of zelda: tears of the kingdom review - building excellence.

NayruCosplay's Midna cosplay brings the Twilight Princess character's true form to life.
The live-action Zelda film, directed by Wes Ball, remains shrouded in mystery.
Ball aspires for a serious yet whimsical movie akin to a live-action Miyazaki, promising to fulfill fans' desires and deliver a unique fantasy adventure experience.

There are few games in the Zelda franchise that are as beloved as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess . It’s one of the most-requested games in the franchise to get a remake, and its lack of current-gen access leaves it steeped in nostalgia for many. Thankfully, cosplayers know how to bring some of the best-loved characters to life — and give fans insight into how some of the game’s characters could look in live-action.

Midna has shed her curse and stepped into the light in this new cosplay from Reddit user NayruCosplay . The popular (if initially difficult) companion holds her imp form for most of the game, with her true form only revealed after Zelda sacrifices herself to restore Midna’s true powers . Though players don’t see Midna’s true form for most of the game, its brevity only makes this Reddit user’s final look all the more impressive .

Before the game’s events, Zant overthrew Midna from her throne, placing a curse on her that traps her in the imp form. Once the curse is lifted, Midna’s true form places her slightly taller than Zelda, with ginger hair and some intricate royal garb. In a true testament to the source material, NayruCosplay’s take on Midna’s true form pays delicate attention to the stitching required for her intricate body markings while also seamlessly matching the makeup to the costume.

Link is often paired with Princess Zelda throughout The Legend of Zelda games, but Hyrule has other eligible bachelorettes that could be better.

Midna Is Just One Of The Many Zelda Characters That Could Appear In The Live-Action Film

Details on what the film will entail are still sparse.

Though there aren’t any solid details as to which (if any) of the Zelda games will be incorporated into the upcoming live-action Zelda film , this is the first glance at what Midna’s true form could look like if her character makes the cut. Wes Ball has already been tapped to be the film’s director, though he’s continued to be vague about his exact plans to execute a live-action take of the Nintendo franchise.

“ I've been thinking about it for a long freakin' time, " he told IGN in March. "I want to fulfill people's greatest desires. I know it's important, this [Zelda] franchise, to people, and I want it to be a serious movie . A real movie that can give people an escape. "

A fan of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess has made a very impressive cosplay of Midna, complete with the imposing Fused Shadow helm.

Midna Is Not Featured Frequently In Zelda

Midna may be too niche.

Although details for the story in the live-action Zelda movie are sparse, there's also a decent chance that Midna may not be one of the characters tapped for the film. For one, the Zelda universe is expansive, with multiple timelines and games to choose from. Midna, while a popular character, was only featured in two Zelda games and a few crossover & spinoff titles , including Twilight Princess , Hyrule Warriors , and Super Smash Bros .

Although it's more than possible for the movie to take a more niche route and re-tell the story of an older game or even one outside of the mainline series, it's less likely that the directors and producers would focus on The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess . Though the game is arguably one of the best ever made, newer titles like Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild are more relevant, while Twilight Princess ' older release date may make it less desirable for a full-length film. That said, not much is known, so it's still a possibility.

Tears of the Kingdom takes Legend of Zelda into mostly familiar ground, but it remains an excellent, must-play title with plenty of innovation.

This Is Not The First Zelda Movie

But it might be the first "good" one.

Although Wes Ball's rendition of Zelda will be the first one backed by a Hollywood studio, it's not the first movie ever made using the IP, well, at least unofficially. A 2009 fan-made film called The Legend of Zelda: the Hero of Time tried its hardest at crafting the world of Hyrule , though to say that the end result didn't exactly match the ambition behind it would be an understatement. With a lukewarm 4.5/10 rating on IMDB , if anything, it's worth watching for the laugh it might elicit from the movie's rendition of Ganondorf.

In addition, there was a TV series from 1989 called The Legend of Zelda , which was an underrated cartoon series that only ran for 13 episodes for a single season.

Wes Ball Is A Great Choice For Director

The maze runner, kingdom of the planet of the apes.

Though just released May 8, 2024, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes , directed by Wes Ball, is already off to a positive critical response, currently maintaining an 81% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes with a 79% Audience Score. Specifically receiving high notes were the movie's vivid visuals, with Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes Screen Rant review rating the film 4/5 stars. According to some, the varied locales and distinct structures of different areas would lend themselves perfectly to a live-action rendition of Hyrule in the upcoming Zelda film.

Another possibility is that the movie may even focus on the series roots in the original The Legend of Zelda to introduce the franchise to a new generation in an origin-story-esque route that Hollywood seems to love. The working title is " The Legend of Zelda " on IMDB, so this might be the most realistic theory behind what the plot will entail.

Ball also told Entertainment Weekly in December that he wants the film to be a “ live-action Miyazaki. ” He described his vision as “ this awesome fantasy-adventure movie that isn’t like Lord of the Rings, it’s its own thing… That wonder and whimsy that [Miyazaki] brings to things, I would love to see something like that. "

How a film can be “ serious ” while also balancing “ wonder and whimsy ” has yet to be seen — but as Ball’s vision progresses and more details come out, fans are bound to get a better idea of his vision. The director will have steep expectations to face that aren’t bound to keep every fan happy . especially when deciding if the traditionally mum hero will actually have a voice in the film . Whether or not the film will include Twilight Princess at all, though, remains to be seen.

Sources: NayruCosplay/Reddit , IGN , IMDB , Rotten Tomatoes , Entertainment Weekly

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

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May 13, 2024 (United Kingdom)
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Runtime 1 hour 31 minutes