WHAT WOULD TOTO WATCH? » Twilight

Why I love ‘Twilight’ – the phenomenon, not the movie franchise

cftoto — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:26:50 +0000

Given the choice between watching any of the three “Twilight” films again or suffering through a reality dating show, I’d probably pick the latter.

Even if it meant spending even more time with Bret Michaels or Vienna.

That doesn’t mean I’m not grateful for the vampire franchise.

It’s easy to love everything that “Twilight” stands for without actually embracing any of the movies themselves.

Let me explain.

I recently caught a screening of “The Last Airbender” and had to step around a gaggle of teens camped outside the theater waiting for the midnight screening of “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” to begin.

The sight made me giddy. Here was a group of people, some flipping through teen ‘zines, others discussing the film with their pals, making a personal sacrifice for the sake of a simple film.

What movie lover isn’t touched by that?

The franchise is helping indoctrinate a new generation of film goers. Years from now, they’ll talk about the experience with their own children, and their wee ones will someday wait in line for the blockbuster du jour.

And the “Twilight” films offer an alternative to the hookup culture. Teens today can watch a love story that doesn’t involve hormonally obsessed teens or copious nudity.

Not that there’s anything wrong with those two cinematic qualities, but “Twilight’s” restraint is noble all the same.

Bella and Edward love each other deeply, and they’re willing to make sacrifices in order to make their relationship work.

My critical side can’t help but notice the indifferent acting and soapy dramatics which are the franchise’s unenviable calling card.

But the movie fan inside me couldn’t be happier that another “Twilight” installment is ready for mass consumption.

(Photo: Taylor Lautner squares off with Robert Pattinson in “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” opening in theaters everywhere June 30./Summit Entertainment – Photo credit Kimberly French)

‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ – Tween franchise still lacks bite

cftoto — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:39:06 +0000

Consider the latest “Twilight” sequel another wasted chance to draw non-Twihards into the fold.

“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” suffers from the same problems plaguing the past two films.

Stiff acting. Hokey special effects. Theatrics ripped from an Afterschool Special.

Did I mention the lousy acting?

There’s still that palpable bond between Bella and Edward, and the story’s willingness to treat sex with dignity makes the franchise worth respect.

But the story’s love triangle grows stale long before Mr. Team Jacob himself goes in for a kiss mid-film.

“Eclipse” finds Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) swooning over each other – again. But a rogue vampire named Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard stepping in for Rachelle Lefevre) wants to take Bella out.

The threat forces Edward and the shape-shifting Jacob (Taylor Lautner) into an uneasy alliance to protect the girl they both love.

The looming menace still leaves plenty of time for Bella and Edward to hash out the pros and cons of being a vampire, their future as a couple and what to do with Bella’s lingering curiosity with the werewolf next door.

“Eclipse” rehashes many of the themes already plumbed in the first two films, and the poorly orchestrated action pieces offer precious little distraction. One pines for the comic relief provided by Bella’s high school buds who are all but MIA in the latest chapter.

“Eclipse” rarely cracks a smile. We get a joking reference to Jacob’s constant lack of a shirt, but the story is so darn serious and mopey you’ll be begging for comic relief.

“Twilight” stands as one of the most profitable franchises around, but the films’ FX budgets remain niggardly. The wolves look more realistic than in “New Moon,” but the vampire battles appear clunky and frightless.

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Lautner continues to act by clenching and unclenching his jaw, while Stewart gives us a screen heroine who’s hardly worth fighting over.

Pattinson remains the series’s ace in the hole, a young actor whose work matures with every new “Twilight” feature. How odd that an undead character pulses with the most life?

Melissa Rosenberg’s screenplay, dutifully following the blueprint crafted by author Stephenie Meyer, serves up romantic platitudes better left to Hallmark. The few moments of human interaction pop off the screen like a 3-D effect, like when Nikki Reed shares a bit of her character’s back story.

None of this will matter to franchise devotees who simply want another heaping helping of tortured romance with a side of bloodletting.

But “Eclipse” offers the latest proof that the franchise remains strictly for its fan base.

(Photo: Feelings still fester between Jacob the werewolf (Taylor Lautner) and angst-filled teen Bella (Kristen Stewart). Summit Entertainment/Photo credit Kimberly French)

‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ – Checking out the DVD extras

cftoto — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 03:15:43 +0000

The second chapter in the “Twilight” franchise – “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” – represented a modest bump up in quality.

But “Twilight” devotees would have bought “New Moon” on DVD even if every critic on the planet had trashed it.

So while WWTW scored the film during its theatrical release, here’s a peek at the extras you’ll get with the two-disc set available now.

The first disk features running commentary from “New Moon” director Chris Weitz, but the best reason to scoop up the DVD set is for the intriguing six-part documentary.

First, you’ll have to suffer through some bland reflections from the cast about reuniting for a second “Twilight” feature. They’re like a family now, and shooting a new installment was a blast!

It’s probably the truth, but the lack of interesting sound bites make this portion for diehards alone.

Next, we get a glimpse at the man who took over the franchise – director Chris Weitz. His resume includes the flat-out great “About a Boy,” so it’s no surprise he was able to convey the sensitive nature of Bella’s bruised heart strings. Weitz confesses the pressure that came with the gig – screw it up, and you’ll forever be hounded by traumatized teen girls.

The documentary really starts to simmer when the focus turns to production design. Here, we learn about all the thought that went into the costumes, the sets and even the Latin writing on the wall of the Volturi chamber.

We also learn seemingly insignificant parts of the film’s creation, like why Jacob’s home is red, and not a garish green, and how Edward’s sartorial choices came to be. Yet it’s these small flourishes that add texture to a film, even if you never directly notice them.

And, frankly, it’s just the kind of intimate, knowing detail that makes DVD extras worth their while.

The documentary take a comic turn when we see Phil Tippett, the FX guru who helped bring the “Star Wars” saga to life, running around the set holding a cardboard sillouette of a wolk in his hands.

It’s a visual marker for the actors to react to during the shoot – just in case they can’t conjure up a pack of wolves in their minds at a moment’s notice.

Now, that’s acting. It’s also an example of how technology only goes so far when creating modern cinema.

Other goodies in the two-fer pack include music videos connected to the film featuring Death Cab for Cutie, Anya Marina and Mutemath.

(Photo: The Wolf Pack makes its entrance in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” now available on DVD/Summit Home Entertainment)

‘Twilight’ today, gone tomorrow

cftoto — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:51:09 +0000

Back in 1978 my buddies and I raced to the nearest movie theater to see “Corvette Summer.”

Never heard of it? Join the club. But it was the first post-”Star Wars” movie for Mark “Luke Skywalker” Hamill.

And, at that point, a Star Wars” fanatic like myself would pay to see the actor read my math textbook. Backward.

The film didn’t leave much of an impression, other than my first glimpse at a boob on screen – in silhouette.

Thank you, Annie Potts (or her body double).

But the memory came rushing back to me while I read the box office tally for the new Robert Pattinson drama “Remember Me.”

I actually had to squint the numbers were so minuscule.

Pattinson’s rise to fame courtesy of the “Twilight” franchise is well documented, but it appears his rabid fan base only wants to see him in a whiter shade of pale.

The “Remember Me” trailer seemed like catnip for tween audiences, and this film critic from a demographic far, far away from the teen set, was impressed by the actor’s performance.

Yet in its second week in theaters it tumbled 60 percent – a huge number for a non-blockbuster film – for a grand total of $13.9 million.

It’s hard to imagine a film better tailored for Pattinson’s fan base. Yet Twilight Nation didn’t come out to support him.

My friends’ support for Hamill years ago wasn’t enough to let him become a movie star beyond the “Star Wars” saga. That may prove to the case for the erstwhile Edward Cullen.

(Photo: “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson, left, tries to leverage his newfound fame with the film “Remember Me,” co-starring Pierce Brosnan, right.)

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WWTW Interview: ‘New Moon’ co-star Charlie Bewley – Part I

cftoto — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:24:02 +0000

Charlie Bewley didn’t take any formal acting classes, but he got the next best thing on the set of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”

The British-born Bewley stood in the Volturi vault set along with actor Michael Sheen (“Frost/Nixon”) and took a beat to appreciate his good fortune.

“You realize you’re on the set of ‘Twilight’ watching one of the best theatrically trained actors in film today,” Bewley says of Sheen. “It’s a free acting lesson.”

“Actually, it’s a pretty expensive one,“ he adds, smiling. “You have to soak it up.”

Bewley, who plays the cool Volturi vampire Demetri in the film, has been doing plenty of soaking since being cast in the popular franchise.

He went from a virtual unknown to someone with a sizeable Facebook fan base – 3,500 and counting. And when he dropped by the Blockbuster video store in Parker, Colo. March 19 to christen the release of “New Moon” on DVD and Blu-ray roughly 400 fans braved a snow storm to greet him.

The young actor spoke to WWTW about his switch to acting, his appreciation for the “Twilight” franchise and how business and acting need to go hand in hand.

Bewley, his hair artfully mussed, marvels that he could draw such a crowd even though his face doesn’t appear on the film’s poster.

“The role, in terms of the film, is not as big as the big guys,” he says of Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart. “But I get to travel everywhere around the world to meet fans. They hang on every word. It’s wonderful to be involved in.”

When he shot his “New Moon” scenes in Italy, “thousands of chicks” lined the streets of a tiny village to greet him and the cast.

Bewley isn’t quite as dedicated to Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” books – “it’s too overwhelming for my stone-cold heart,” he says with a grin – but he understands the all-consuming appeal.

“The storyline makes vampires accessible to a demographic that was previously taboo,” he says. But the novels also allow readers to indulge in a love story with which they can empathize.

“It’s like a 14-year-old girl who’s in love with an 18-year-old boy. That same kind of feeling that it’s not allowed, but you want it,” he says. “That’s what Bella goes through. That’s an addictive thing.”

Tomorrow: Bewley talks about how acting snuck up on him and how he intends to use “Twilight” to springboard to action hero status.

(Photo: “New Moon” actor Charlie Bewley greets fans in Parker, Colo. during a DVD release party tied to his new film.)

‘Remember Me’ – There’s life after ‘Twilight’ for Team Edward

cftoto — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:50:33 +0000

Robert Pattinson will always have a gig with “Twilight.”

Sure, the film franchise can’t last forever, but just consider the endless tie-ins, promotions and, one day, comic-cons where he can sign autographs ’til his finger go numb.

That still doesn’t leave him with a movie career.

“Remember Me” could change that.

The drama pushes Pattinson beyond “Twilight’s” limited emotional canvas, allowing him to show something much closer to movie star chops than his detractors would expect.

The new romantic drama casts Pattinson as Tyler, a professional cynic who spends his days smoking cigarettes down to the filter.

He’s angry at his father (Pierce Brosnan) and distraught over the suicide death of his older brother. So when he sees a street fight break out he’s more than eager to step in and throw some punches – if only to let off some steam.

A surly cop (Chris Cooper) arrests Tyler even though he fought on behalf of the victim. Later, as movie luck would have it, Tyler decides to flirt with the cop’s daughter, Ally (“Lost’s” Emilie de Ravin), to gain a little revenge. It’s the first of two weak plot twists, although this one is far easier to swallow.

Soon Tyler and Ally are bonding like the two damaged souls that they are. But can Tyler beat back his personal demons long enough to truly fall in love?

Pattinson’s star-making turn as Edward the vampire actually inhibits his natural charisma. Here, he gives depth and feeling to a stale character type, the brooding loner desperate for a personal connection.

He may find himself in yet another complicated relationship, but the film’s ability to dig deeper into his character’s malaise suits his flawed, fractured profile.

The couple’s relationship ebbs and flows, and mostly in realistic rhythms. The duo have strong screen chemistry, powerful enough to shoulder past the inevitable final reel fracture.

Brosnan, so good you want to see him in every other scene, oozes wealth and entitlement, and his faceoffs with Tyler blister with unchecked rage. You’ll want to root against Brosnan, but it’s too slippery a performance to apply such facile labels.

Cooper’s character is similary tough to dismiss even though he fits a very specific template. He’s the kind of cop you’d want to answer your 911 call, but you’d be a bit nervous once he’s on the scene.

Yes, the film piles the emotional weight on Tyler until his wirey frame seems ready to buckle. But the love story is always there to keep him, and the movie, steady.

“Remember Me” ends on a powerful note, one audiences may find either sensational or insulting. It’s handled as gracefully as possible, and in its own way ties up the movie’s emotional themes in a way other resolutions couldn’t.

No matter how one measures the film’s final moments, it’s clear Pattinson’s star status appears to be more than just the wishful thinking of the tween “Twilight” set.

OMG! Your first peek at ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’

cftoto — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:25:49 +0000

A horde of angry teens and tweens, not to mention my niece, will shut WWTW down if I don’t post this. Related posts:Sneak peek at ‘Knowing’ Sneak a peek at ‘Transformers’ sequel The making of ‘Twilight’ – chapters 1-7 Related posts:

‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ – Romeo, Juliet and a Werewolf

cftoto — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:38:55 +0000

The sequel to the franchise starter “Twilight” doubles down on everything that made teen audiences squeal with the delight the first time.

More angst filled romance. More love deferred. And more shirtless men than a Matthew McConaughey triple feature.

“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” also amps up the emotional fireworks from the original, adding a love triangle that makes it more palatable for audiences who don’t have photos of star Robert Pattinson plastered on their bedroom walls.

But “New Moon” must stay faithful to the text, so the film’s final half hour becomes a narrative sink hole sure to alienate those beginning to buy into the hype.

“New Moon” finds our lovebirds Bella and Edward (Kristen Stewart and Pattinson) going through a rough patch.

Yes, they’re still in shmoopy mode, but Edward is realizing how dangerous it is for Bella to hang around his vampire pals. An accident involving a droplet of blood convinces him they cannot stay together.

It could end up getting Bella killed.

So he decides to end their affair, a decision which sends Bella into the arms of another suitor, Jacob (Taylor Lautner).

But Bella has lousy taste in men. Jacob turns out to be a member of the Wolf Pack, a clan of half men, half wolves who live in their neck of the gloomy Pacific Northwest.

Director Chris Weitz (“The Golden Compass”) offers slightly better special effects this time around, and the two leads appear more comfortable shouldering the weight of a massive franchise.

But young Lautner, ripped and ready to emote, simply lacks the screen presence to carry his side of the triangle.

The dialog throughout “New Moon” will make audiences wince, to be kind.

Still, there’s something about this franchise that defies conventional criticism. It’s got a loose, amateurish feel, the sense that the filmmakers understand the films aren’t about sturdy storytelling but getting author Stephenie Meyer’s imagination on the screen as briskly as possible.

Craft be darned.

“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” bungles the chance to expand its fan base, but to “Twilight” devotees that won’t matter a whit.

(Photo: Jackson Rathbone, Ashley Greene, Kella Lutz, Robert Pattinson and Nikki Reed star in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” Photo Credit: Kimberley French/Summit Entertainment)

WWTW Interview: ‘New Moon’ stars Kiowa Gordon and Alex Meraz – Part 1

cftoto — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:29:36 +0000

Don’t mess with the Wolf Pack.

The young actors who find themselves howling at the moon in the second installment of the “Twilight” franchise formed a bond during the shooting of the new film, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”

They also clicked immediately with the “Twilight” faithful during a recent string of public appearances to promote the movie, opening Nov. 20.

Alex Meraz, who plays Paul in the film, recalls staring out at roughly 800 screaming fans at a public appearance a few weeks ago in Denver. He Tweeted of the event – “that was the warmest reception I’ve ever experienced.”

“I could barely speak,” Meraz says.

“New Moon” cast mate Kiowa Gordon got the role of Embry Call, in part, because he attends the same church as “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer.

“She took a look at me and thought I could play one of her wolves,” Gordon tells WWTW.

He ended up auditioning for the film – his first audition, ever – and landed the part.

Gordon says his eclectic background, which includes training in dance and mixed martial arts, didn’t help him secure his part.

“I wasn’t fighting or dancing when I did the audition,“ Meraz says. But those disciplines help him “being aware and in tune” with his body, a physicality which helped bring an edginess to his role.

“As an actor, you just can’t fake that,” Meraz says.

Meraz liked the fact that “New Moon” director Chris Weitz is no stranger to working with young actors.

“He has an immense background in doing it that,” Meraz says of Weitz, who previously helmed “About a Boy” and “The Golden Compass.”

Twilight fans were a bit cautious of the choice all the same, Meraz adds. They figured a male director – the original film was directed by Catherine Hardwicke – would take the film in a more action-oriented direction “and forget about the love story.”

“He came into it just the opposite,” Meraz reassures fans. “He was worried about honoring the book.”

Tomorrow: Gordon and Meraz describe a harrowing cliff diving sequence and share how their careers have changed by getting cast in the “Twilight” franchise.

(Photo: The Wolf Pack from “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” – (Left to right) Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon, Chaske Spencer, Taylor Lautner and Bronson Pelletier. Photo Credit: James White. All Images © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved.)

‘New Moon,’ new photo of the lovebirds

cftoto — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:28:46 +0000

It’s the near-kiss that sells countless tabloid magazines, and it’s a safe bet we’ll see more of the same during the upcoming sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”

The film, out Nov. 20, continues the romance between a sensitive high school teen and the vampire who stole her heart.

Here’s a sneak peek at the new film, a sure bet to draw blood at the box office later this month.

Sorry. Couldn’t resist.

(Photo: Kristen Stewart stars as Bella Swan and Robert Pattinson plays her beau, Edward Cullen, in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” Photo Credit: Kimberley French. All Images © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved)