Twilight Saga: The First Three Movies

You may wonder why I have, up to this point, avoided writing any type of review on these films. I've seen each one as they have been released and even went to the midnight premier of the most recent one; Eclipse. For a long time, the story of the "forbidden" love between the young girl and the 109 year-old vampire seemed unappealing to me (even a little disturbing). I'd heard about the books from my friends, co-workers, even Pastors but all the talk had little effect on my preconceived notions that vampires, and stories about them, were lame. Vampires don't exist. Why would I read a story about something that isn't even plausible? It would be a waste of my time.

Then my daughter, at the age of 12, expressed intense interest in the story. She had checked out a couple of the books from her school library and began reading them. It was then that I realized that I wasn't comfortable with the idea of her immersing herself in this world of dark edged imagination when I didn't know what she would find. So, we went to the first movie. Having not read the books at all, I though the movie was ridiculous.

1. There was no build-up leading to the connection of the main characters; Bella (17 year-old girl) and Edward (109 year-old vampire). I could pick up no hint of their chemistry as the movie unfolded. She seemed mildly curious and he seemed strangely intense (and looked like he had indigestion)...the next thing you know Bella is saying that she is "irrevocably in love with him"! And we wonder why teenagers are so irresponsible about love!?!
2. What was the meadow scene about? Where was the significance? When making the movie, they must have assumed that only fans of the books would be watching it! If you hadn't read the books this would be a dumb scene...but here's the kicker, if you had read the books this scene would tick you OFF! The meadow scene is VERY significant in the first book...and if you've read Midnight Sun, you see even MORE significance that was overlooked in the making of the movie!

I decided to address with my daughter the irresponsible love depicted in the first movie. As I was explaining how that "head over heels", "caution to the wind", "ignore the warning signs", type of love can get you hooked up to a tweeker and knocked up by the time you're 15, she explained how Edward was such a gentleman and actually tried to save Bella "from" him...Where was this side of the story? So she filled in a few of the gaps for me and, for the time being, I was satisfied with her explanation.

On a "date night" in November (2009) my hubs and I randomly decided to see a movie. As it turned out, New Moon was just released and nothing better was playing so, why not...we saw the movie. I'd heard that the second movie had more funding than the first so it was going to be "much better". I still hadn't read any of the books that these movies are based on... Although the second movie was of higher quality, it still only told HALF of a story! It was irritating how choppy the plot was...

1. It seemed very sudden and cruel how Edward extricated himself from Bella's life. Even so, her obsession with him was beyond reason...seriously? screaming every night? walking around like a zombie for MONTHS? Who died?
2. Jacob's hissy fit at the theater was out of NO WHERE! It didn't even make sense...even after reading the book I still believe they could have done a WAY better job on that one! Michael Jackson's transformation into a warewolf in the Thriller video was more believeable than that scene! HA!
3. If they'd done better with the meadow scene in the first movie then Bella's solitary visit to the meadow in New Moon would have been a reminiscing scene as it was meant...rather than appearing as an accidental, careless meander through the woods to this grassy opening...
4. Everything about the Volturi...they just seem lame. If they're such tough guys, why would Edward try to be such a bad-ass while attempting to negotiate for his life as well as his sister's and Bella's? Lame.

Well, I was done trying to understand these movies! At this point there is nothing left for me to do but to read the darn books. This way, when I complained of the retardation I could include the books in my argument instead of getting the blow off everytime we reached the point of "you haven't even read the books"! I bought the set for my daughter at Christmas. She had read the first book already and offered to let me borrow it. I set my sarcasm aside...but not too far, in case I needed it...and I started the journey.

The first thing I noticed is that the author was actually intelligent! This was not your average hormone driven teenage drama garbage! There was substance, actual substance! I devoured the pages of the first book...then the second, on to Eclipse (which is my favorite by far) and finished up with Breaking Dawn...all four books in 9 days! My days were a blur! Every free second I had I was reading...fully enveloped in this compelling story, I couldn't wait to have more! OMGosh! I had become a fan of "Twilight"...how was I ever going to live this down? I'm a grown woman for crying out loud!

So, there we were...Elaine, Liz and me...sitting on the floor in the lobby of the movie theater at 11:00 pm in line to see the midnight showing of Eclipse. WHAT?!? I'd never seen the midnight show for ANY movie! I'm a 30+ woman, waiting to be of the first to see a movie for which the demographic is 13 year old girls!!!

The movie was great! It was easier to enjoy the movie when the missing parts of the story were inserted instantly by memory. There were, however, a couple of let-downs...

1. Jacob's character is not played right on screen. Taylor Lautner is the perfect person to play Jacob Black, but I think the directors missed the essence of Jake. Who he is and why he is such a part of Bella is so important...but they lose it in trying to make him seem to desperate, and intense. Intensity is Edward's thing, Jake is the opposite...almost carefree!
2. The kiss between Jake and Bella on the mountain top. What the bleep was that?!?! If ever a scene was botched in the history of incredible books-turned-movies, this was IT! So much happened in that kiss and the aftermath that just goes completely overlooked by the director of this movie...Stephanie Meyer, HOW COULD YOU STAND BY AND LET THEM DO THAT TO YOUR CREATION!?!?! Needless to say, I was dissapointed with the direction they took on that one.
3. Edward was never in any danger during his battle with Victoria...the movie depicted him incorrectly. One of the things that women admire about thier men is that they are champion protectors. When you take that away from the man we are all suppposed to swoon after (not me of course, I'm 30+...sicko!) then you destroy the image. Edward was the ultimate protector and gentleman...if you lose that, he loses significance...he's just another guy (who drinks blood and will never die).

Now I am one of MILLIONS who will be held in suspense for over a year (until November 2011, to be exact) for the next big screen release of the saga. Yeah, we know what happens...we just want to see how it is brought to life on screen. Breaking Dawn will be shown in two parts. The second is scheduled to be released in November of 2012! They've got us right where they want us...they know we will maintain our interest until then...bastages!

I've said all I can say (for now) about this saga, these books, this epic story. If you haven't already, I suggest that you start the journey yourself now. Begin with the books...it will be much less frustrating!

~Cinema Sampler

The A-Team

The A-Team was a good movie. I was a huge fan of the series when I was growing up. The A-Team and MacGyver provided me and my two brothers with plenty of adventurous, imaginative plots to play out in our back yard during the long summer breaks from school. The cast that was chosen to replay my favorite covert team was neat-o. I'm not a Bradley Cooper fan per se (I don't contribute to the drool collection on the floor of the theater when his movies are showing), but I think his personality was a fit for this gig.

My favorite character is always MURDOCK! He's crazy, unpredictable, fearless, and hilarious! I think we have a couple traits in common...HA! They cast the perfect Murdock for the movie!

The plot was just right for a series-turned-movie. Not too hard to follow - not boring or dull. I will probably even watch this one again when it is released on DVD. Once again, sorry for the delayed post...oops!
There is one hiccup in the movie...it's a very unrealistic scene with a cargo ship and a bunch of containers. When you watch the movie, you will probably have the same reaction that I did (head tilt, roll eyes and say, "come on"). Still, the majority of the movie plays well.

My advice; SEE IT!
~Cinema Sampler

Dinner for Schmucks

This post is a little late considering I saw the movie the night that it was released in theaters! Sorry, I'm a slacker!

If you are entertained by the repetative kick-in the pants humor of movies like "Meet the Parents" where the main character experiences a never-ending assault of mix-ups and screw ups...then you should find this movie very enjoyable.

If you are like me, this type of movie is more irritating than entertaining. I wanted to defend the poor guy (Tim), but my husband doesn't like it when I yell at the screen!!

As you can guess, Tim is not given the opportunity to explain anything that is going on until it looks as though he has lost it ALL. Don't worry, this is not the "typical" ending where everything comes back together in a nice little package...but I won't spoil it for ya.

Dinner for Schmucks is not a bad movie...I laughed out loud at times...but, I don't know if I would call it a good movie. So, I'll call it a mediocre movie. I'd suggest waiting for the rental.

~Cinema Sampler