TWILIGHT: A MOVIE REVIEW WITH COMMENTARY.

Vampires in the Global Village

Bloodlust? Or stone-cold love?

"Hobo" vampires enter the Cullen clan's space.

In a small town in the State of  Washington a surprisingly disparate collection of inhabitants struggle to get along with each other. There are forks in the road that challenge more than a few of them. Choices! They sometimes can’t be finessed. In this film some made very bad choices. Folks, there are animals running loose in the woods. The Green Revolution has returned The Children of the Night to cool, cloudy Washington, as well as other parts of the great Northwest. If they kill, it’s because they were born that way. Nature! Love it or leave it! Don’t be cold to a heart that’s cruel. It’s just doing it’s thang.

Well, I’m going over the top a bit here. The moviegoer, in fact, sees in this film valuable lessons in “getting along” with others. They honestly try, even when part of the community appears to be unusually white, cold-to-the-touch, creepy-looking and clannish. So, who’s perfect?

Speaking of which, this film has a counterpoint to The Cold Ones in the form of a clan of Quileute Indians. From a member of this Quileute clan, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner),  the heroine, Isabella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and the moviegoers learn important facts about the first group, the Cullen clan. Even the name of this Indian suggests incompatability with the pale Cullens, as the color black is the absolute opposite of the color white. Yet, the moviegoer learns of an ancient modus vivendi which was established between these two groups.  It is a positive touch, which the writer(s) added. Yet, as it is clear that they detest each other, one may be granted leave to wonder how much longer can this tense entente continue.

Now, the heroine, Bella, once she reaches the critical mass of curiosity, behaves in a very standard (and handy) horror flick mode: she researches vampires. One might also observe that her childhood friend, Jacob Black, as well as his father, Billy (Gil Birmingham), serve as a collective  Professor Abraham Van Helsing, who are not easily fooled in matters vampire. Incidentally, notice that both the professor and the Indian lad have first names that conger up ancient Hebrew patriarchs. They are righteous blocks of granite before the Unnatural Ones.

Speaking of which, the Cullen family, arriving at highschool, or the like, have a truly weird “air” about them, suggesting a group of “stoned” homosexuals ready to check in at Club 54. This may have been directorial humor – or malice of a cineme verite kind..

Another curious and, perhaps controversial, matter issuing from this film is that the name “Cullen” is spoken in such a way that it suggests the word “Cohen.” Being unfamiliar with the author or nearly anything else about this film, I was not familiar with any names which would be encountered. Hence, it took several pronunciations for me to establish firmly in my mind that the word was, indeed, “Cullen.” This may have been intended, as it has been the hard lot of Jews to be compared to vampires in folk tales, drama, books, films, et al. It is founded largely on the twin issues of “draining a host nation of its blood” (money), which has led to numerous expulsions from various European nations–often more than once, and allegations of ritual murders. Probably, rumors about golems didn’t help to still troubled waters.

The vulgar minds of most nonJews would not perceive the connection. One of the reasons that the first film Blade was a guaranteed classic, as well as cult film, was that it introduced this issue again, not just once, but in two antagonistic sets of vampires that might be likened to Capitalists and Revolutionaries, which were metaphorical proxies for Jews and their primary known role(s) in the world.

Be that as it may, the Cullen family seemed to suggest an “our crowd” sort of social attitude.

A weak point in the legend of the Quileute clan’s discovery of and relationship with the Cullen clan involves the initial chance encounter in Quileute hunting grounds of the two groups. Why did they not “get it on” right then and there? Were the Quileutes a basically peaceful tribe of hunter-gatherers? As we learn from Edward Cullen, he (and presumably all vampires)  were made to be the greatest predators, blessed as they were with strength and speed. The awkward confrontation with the Quileutes might have easily been settled by attacking them, ripping off their heads (literally), and possibly getting drunk on their human blood. Possibly? Well, the reader should be apprised of the fact that these are “modernists” vampires who have voluntarily committed themselves to animal blood only. For them to drink human blood would violate their pledge of abstinence. Edward quips to Bella that they were the “vegetarians” of the vampire people.

People, the Cold Ones really just wanted to be part of the community. No more moving from one place to another, as villagers hunted them with pitchforks and torchfire. Being ”consciousness-raised” vampires, the Cullen’s only sought their own home in the Global Village. “Dr. Carlisle Cullen” (Peter Fascinelli) even provided needed medical skills, which the folks appreciated. He could also identify a vampire kill as a ”death by animal” case. In such cases it usually a meant “hobo” vampire had traveled through the Forks vicinity. No sense in Dr. Cullen being too explicit or detailed in regard to the “animal.”

Who was the weirdest member of the Cullen clan, according to appearance? For my money it was Jackson Rathbone, playing “Jasper Hale.”  He almost catches the weirdo look of bleached-out zombies blended with Dustin Hoffman’s character in Rainman. Were these “people” similar to what the moviegoer sees, before they were “turned” by diluted venom-vaccine from the “choppers” of another vampire? Or is the vampirization process something of a complete body make-over? I can’t say.

This is not to denigrate Robert Pattinson’s “Edward Cullen,” who could certainly strike up an outre appearance. He can hit the moviegoer with the creepy-eyes, too. It is a “look” that engenders a startled & stunned state of mind in others initially. But – Hey! – the kids got use to it. However, I never saw any of the school clowns mimicking one of the Cullens before their peers. I would certainly have done that. There is a sense that maybe you keep such things to yourself. Sort of like what you might do in the presence of 1970s Dallas Cowboys running back, Duane Thomas, when he leveled his “stare” (he was pretty cold, too).

Yet, Pattinson has a classic, good-looking appearance which is unusual in leading roles in films today, especially in  Hollywood movies, where men such as Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Kam Penn abound. He is something of a throw-back to the James Dean type. In fact this film has some resonance with the film Rebel Without A Cause. One can see in Kristen Stewart’s role some of the same qualities and motivations as did Natalie Wood’s character in the teen classic just referenced. “Fitting in” can be a bitch.

I believe that there is an almost zany Romeo and Juliette aspect too. Yet, for all the elements in this film that might have been turned into “howlers” in another film which put a different spin on the story, Director Hardwicke was able to develop a credibly romantic tale. I thought that she was skillful in weaving in stock characters in such a way that the film might be comsidered a perfect homage to filmland’s trite strategems for explaining motivation or bridging plot gaps.Imagine what a Mel Brooke might have done with it! The performances by Stewart and Pattinson in their roles were sufficiently good to smooth the irritations caused by the prickly points along the film path.

Essential to this accomplishment was the fact that “Bella Swan” did not fit too well into her social environment. Although she lived until the age of four with her father and mother in Forks, Washington, she now lived in Phoenix, Arizona, with her divorced and recently remarried mom. She likes Phoenix, as it’s warm. Mom’s husband, the coach, is taking a job in Jacksonville, Florida, and they will soon move there. Uncomfortable  with the newlyweds and not desiring to go to Jacksonville, she makes the decision to return to Forks and make a new home with her dad, Charlie Swan (Billy Burke), who is the sheriff there. Dad has given his approval.

Part of our understanding of this attractive teen is provided by her by means of narration. She  shares some of her feelings, most telling of which was that if she had to die, doing so in behalf of the person she loved wasn’t such a bad route. This concept gets to play out at least twice, 1) to save her mother and 2) to be with her lover.

A Big Capsule:  A teenage woman, Isabella, makes the decision to return to Forks, Washington, when her divorcee mom decides to remarry and head east to Florida with her new hubby. She will join her father, who is a strong, silent type. He’s not pefectly at ease with the situation and shows a bit of awkwardness. She’s “kool” with her father because he doesn’t “hover.” Her father is joined by “Billy Black”  for a football game on TV. His son, Jacob, is with him, and the lad greets his playmate, Bella. It isn’t long before Billy sells his old red truck to the sheriff, as a getabout gift to Bella. She goes to the local school in her truck. She doesn’t know anyone really. Jacob Black goes to school at the reservation, so he won’t be there. Nevertheless, as the daughter of the sheriff and living in a small town, she must be known to the others, however thinly. At school, she is promptly greeted by “Eric Yorkie” (Justin Chon), who functions as a film type that apprises Bella of the new school environment, its personalties of note, and the general “lay of the land.” She is both alert to him and aloof from the school’s major personalties and interests. Yet, from the moment that Eric points out the mysterious Cullen clan’s student body contributions, especially Edward, she is attracted to him and finds herself stealing glances at him. At such times he often seems to be glancing at her. Chance places them together at a lab table as “partners in science.” He is acting a bit uncomfortable with her. What gives! Then he just vanishes  for a couple of days. The damp, cloudy climate might be depressing to a sun-loving Arizona expatriot, such as Bella, but she takes to it. As a cute gal, she has most of the boys well in hand. Her mood is presently reflective, and the lush, moist, somber environment fits it well enough. There is a camera cut, as she first returns to Forks, that depicts a solitary deer picking its way through verdant terrain. It startles at something and begins to run. After bounding through the woods, spurred by fear, it is captured by what appears to be a bipedal creature–possibly even a human, who takes it down to the ground for the predator’s kill. Although her name suggests “beautiful swan,” her story in this film is more like that of this pretty deer. Of interests to the moviegoer is who that “predator” was and is. Is there a “Beauty and the Beast” aspect to this film? Her relationship with Edward really “warms up,” after he returns from his two day absence. He has changed somewhat and becomes more “forward” in his approach to Bella. Her curiosity makes her open to his placating advances. It’s not long before he confesses that he “can’t resist her” any more. At an earlier point he had warned her about involving herself with him. Now, he won’t take no for an answer. So, the moviegoer witnesses the attraction bonding them. In her narrator role she confesses to being in love with him (even though his hands are mighty cold). Edward has proven to her that he can be more protective than “a caveman” cause he knows she “wants a brave man.”   He literally stops an out-of-control van from crushing her by extending a hand in a “stop” gesture. He also saves her “honor” from a potentially dangerous situation involving some “high” Frat Boys. Edward can read the minds of others (except Bella’s) and was incensed by the Frat Boys’ “impure thoughts.” After they escape in his “hot wheels,” he tells her he feels like going back and ripping off their heads (which the moviegoer comes to realise he can literally do). Now, sometime in this period, Jacob Black counsels Bella, and she comes to learn of the Quileute Legend. She goes to a handy Quileute-run library where she purchases a book on the legends, myths & facts about what the Indians call “Big Tooth.” With this and Google she gathers enough circumstantial evidence to convince herself that she was hopelessly in love with a vampire. Bummer?  Not really. Bella is a little different herself. Well, then, are the moviegoers going to be forced to witness “star-crossed” lovers? An unexpected event occurs at an almost all-Cullen baseball game. Bella is there, too, and has been reasonably well accepted by Dr. Cullen’s unnatural brood as part – sort of – of their crowd. A lightning-graced storm has given the Cullen’s clan the sports field all to themselves. They are a trip to watch, due to their techniques, speed and power. Suddenly, they see three strangers ambling out of the woods, as if summa cum laude graduates from the Mark Wahlberg School of  Tough-Guy Walking. Two men and one woman confront and are confronted by the Cullen clan. The young black vampire, “Laurent” (Edi Gathegi) , who is 3oo years old and seems to have a Caribbean lilt, acts as the trio’s spokesperson. He is respectful and conciliatory toward the Cullen clan, noting that they were just pacing through and wouldn’t disturb the Cullen’s “kool” with the Forksian folks. However, the moviegoer has already witnessed them drain a local restaurant owner and town favorite. Bella is half hiding behind Edward, as the Cullen’s hoped she wouldn’t be discovered by “peopleotarians.” The other male, “James” (Cam Gigandet), who is a young white vampire, wearing his hair in a modified, Thomas Jefferson-style, begins to inhale deeply. The more perceptive moviegoers realised that he was on the scent of Edward’s “chick.” “Fie! Fi! Fo! Fum! I smell the blood of a hu-man!” Where once there was discussion of the trio joining the baseball game, suddenly they all are at war (excepting Bella). Vampires know how to kill vampires. No peasant superstitions here; instead, they rip off heads and tear bodies apart. Bella is with Edward, but James is tracking the scent. If she goes home, he’ll kill dear old dad. Bella is caught in a tough situation. Edward is planning to drive her to a safe spot. However, James has tracked her to mom’s, who is now being held as prisoner. Either Bella comes to Phoenix (mom has returned, alarmed about news from dad), or mom gets drained. “Alice Cullen” (Ashley Greene) has “seen” the future and predicts that Bella will die. She has drawn a likeness of the spot. It looks like a room in her old high school!  That must be where James is holding mom. The potential moviegoers well may imagine how the two sides gather there for a “show-down.” Let me tell you that things get bloody. There’s a lot of venom between the two groups. How will our dear Bella fare? It can be a cold world. Love helps.

All rights reserved. Gobigfoot, 2008.