This week’s discussion was again amazing and I loved every single comment from you guys. I am truly happy to finally hear what other people are thinking about how our beloved book is portrayed in the movie. Again, I tried to do every one of your comment justice that’s why this is again an epic Recap, but who cares?
However I have to make one important announcement: Next weeks discussion will be postponed to the week after. Unfortunately, I am on a workshop in Belgium the whole next week and I am not sure about how much time I’ll have and if I have Internet. Fanny and me will be back on October 28 for Part III of the discussion! So please come back to us !!!
But let’s start with our Recap with thanking all of you amazing and wonderful people. I saw also some new faces and I’m truly happy you found your way to my blog and this discussion.*waves* I know this is a mega long recap, but please find the time to read what all those lovely people had to say:
rpfangirldc, Honolulu Girl, bierbeck, Stoney, i wear alice cullen pjs (I love this name!!), itsjustme, SBGDGT, randomreetie, awcrap, uhyesplease, First Blush, Countess Twicula, One Pushy Fox, Amy, Alice, Mrs.Robward, Call of a Duty Widow, Amber
Pussy-purring Vampire and a sexy fishtail turn.
When I sat in the theatre, I heard Edwards attempt to growl, although when watching the DVD it’s barely audible. However, I was surprised that some of you didn’t heart it at all, which just shows how truly bad this was.
stoney; Edward Growl: Erm...major dissapointment for me. I wanted some farking protective demon rawr. Not the pussy, barely audible "purrrar"! The Volvo: This was probablymy hubby's fav part of the movie. "No honey, I will not be impressed if you try to do this with my Nissan - thanks for the effort though."
SBGDGT; Trip to Port Angeles. Walking. Walking. Creeps. Volvo! I LOVED when it whipped around the corner!Mmm! Robward growled? Purred? what!? Did I miss that? :-/ I heard Catherine say that Robs understudy did that scene and they were all really scared he did so good there compared to what Rob did.
uhyesplease: Here comes the Volvo - The movie commentary was pure WIN. I’ve never actually watched one before with that feature on – so when he makes the ‘gay’ voice during the scene I was in STICHES. “Sssssseriously guys……Let’s keep it sssssimple” Dying…. And when Catherine and Kristen totally burn him by saying the stunt guy did it way better. ROTFL!
And yes, the car doing that fishtail thing sorta made my panties burst into flames. BFF turned to me at that point in the movie and we both said, “oooooh, I wish our husbands could do that!”
I really have to watch the movie once with the audio commentary, I never did that because I thought it would be some kind of boring but giggles apparently it’s super funny.
First Blush: Bad Growl vs. Good Car. The growl was definitely not menacing. The stare would have been enough. However the escape in the car makes me nearly forget the bad growl. (**spoiler question** why are they changing the Volvo in NM?!)
Oh, I have no clue, because I try to stay spoiler free. But Why the heck would they change the Volvo???
Honolulu Girl: Edward saving Bella. Was there a growl? I didn't hear it. All I saw was Edward giving them a hard glare and I had to ask my hubby did he get into their minds, what? Why did the guys run off? Needless to say, them spinning off in the Volvo. Cool.
Call of a Duty Widow: I never noticed that Edward growled at the drunk dudes, I just thought he looked constipated. The stunt driver was awesome!
Amber: I liked the way the "rescue" scene was handled, but I would have liked a more pronounced growl as well. Apparently there were issues with the growls, the commentary mentions that in the baseball scene.
Apparently the hubs that watched the movie with their wife’s very much liked the scene. And hell yes, I would love if hubs could do that. But honestly it would rather be me than MrV I am the car crack, remember ?
Sigh The Sigh Restaurant Sigh Scene
Most of you agreed with us about the beauty of this scene!
bierbeck; While the restaurant scene in the movie is very sweet and one of my favorite scenes in the movie, it was still nothing compared to the book. There was so much more in the book. I had butterflies in my stomach the whole time I was reading that part in the book and it just did not come across in the movie. And the car ride home in the book was so important and they pretty much just skipped over it in the movie.
itsjustme; The make-up I thought was intentional. I always felt that he looked more "human" as the movie progresses b/c Bella is awakening human emotions within him. The dinner scene is my favorite of the movie. He is beyond beautiful. This scene started my Robsession b/c of the holy voice of seduction playing in the background.*looks around* Who the hell is this Kristen everyone keeps talking about?
Totally true, he looked really human here – because of the lack of make-up. But still, he is a Vampire who is supposed to be super pale.
SBGDGT: The dinner was nice. OH! He can read minds. A-ha! (do we find that out any time before this in the movie? been a while) The lighting helped here too.
You have a point here and I would say: No. When you watch the movie w/o the books I guess you could have no idea about the mind reading thing. One get’s the idea that he has super hearing but mind reading? Nope.
awcrap: The restaurant scene, WAS pretty but where was the
Edward: "I Dazzle you?"
Bella: "Frequently."
part? THAT'S MY FAV. LINE! Did I miss it somewhere???
Hell yes, this would have been so sweet…
First Blush: The bizarre hair on the restaurant waitress (what was that!) She sort of looked like a scary Minnie Mouse.
Countess Twicula: Ever since I saw the movie I got disappointed from the little time the filmakers dedicated to the precious ''chit-chat''moments of Edward & Bella.Instead they added inutile details like the ''purring''and the ''sex-money-CAT detail.Also there's one thing I don't get at all; enlighten me should you know:What is he talking about at the beggining of this scene?
Amy: The restaurant scene is my second favorite scene (after the Biology class). I would say that scene has *sigh* written all over it, but you already took care of that lol! Whenever I think of it, I go back to the Midnight Sun version where we learn more about the waitress and how she slipped her number to Edward and such. I still found the "CAT!" amusing, but the book, I think, captured a deeper connection. In the movie it went from "Here, eat your mushroom ravioli" to "Hey, I'm going to bring you to my house" super quick for me. Oh, and I didn't realize the whole cold vs. warm thing! Thanks for pointing that out.
Alice: “I don't have the strength to stay away from you anymore.” *sigh*. I loved how he acted all tortured when pronouncing "strength".
God yes, he really put everything he had into this scene, that is why I think we all love it so much!
Honolulu Girl: Now the restaurant scene. In the book this played out much differently in my head. Maybe more intimate in my head but regardless. This is where they're relationship changes in the movie so I won't be it up. Plus Rob's song playing in the background. Mmm.
MrsRobward: The restaurant scene, O.M.G. my favorite of the whole movie (I think) Eddie boy is some hot stuff! Love him singing in the back ground & then the smooth sexy word that float from his mouth...I jizzed in mah pants!
I know we didn’t talk about him singing, but it just perfectly fit’s to the scene here and really helps with the romantic mood … sigh
Call of a Duty Widow: I liked the restaurant scene, mostly because of the guy who was thinking about cats. Mrs V knows I'm a crazy cat lady :) This is the part where Edward seems most vulnerable and human. It's definitely a big part of where I fell in love with Edward and Rob.
Yep, he really looks so vulnerable, also when Bella attempts to go because he won’t give her answers..sigh Sorry when talking about this scene I just have to sigh…
Amber: The restaurant scene is absolutely wonderful. It's one of the closest things we get to the getting to know each other scenes in the book. Although, it seems strange for her to know that he can read minds before she knows he's a vampire. The dialogue is wonderful here.I love that Rob read Midnight Sun before he did the movie and we get the more tortured Edward. In the book it's all through Bella's eyes...I think Rob's Edward is more authentic. (Well, for a fictional character)
Missed the car ride home the way it was in the book
I think w/o Rob having read Midnight Sun (at least the parts) he wouldn't have been able to play Edward like he did. Like Fanny already said, the mood in the book is much lighter while you get much deeper into Edward struggling when reading Midnight Sun.
The dissapointment that is the Meadow
We very much agreed here about The Meadow. As I said this is really the most important scene in the book and I feel some kind of betrayed that they left the most important things out.
bierbeck; The meadow scene was by far the most disappointing scene in the whole movie. It is the most important part of the book and it is so forced and awkward in the movie. When Edward says "Do you think you can outrun me?" in the movie I cringe with embarrassment for Rob and that is really hard for me to say since I LOVE Rob, but really it was awful. When they are laying together in the sun later Rob is laying in the weirdest position and it again seems very awkward, and not in the good way.
LooL, yes this is unfortunately the most awkward scene for Rob. I thought the same when he was lying in the sun, WTF? Can’t be comfortable.
stoney; Sir Sparkles-a-lot: I always watch this scene with the commentary on and I laugh my fucking ass off. Rob is to die for..."I don't see nothin' wrong..."
itsjustme; Yes, def the meadow scen is too short.Also, I think I would have liked the sparkle effect better had Robward taken his shirt completely off.
OME; pretty much please naked Sparkle Rob boy..
SBGDGT: Bella tells Edward she knows, he's running w/ some bad CG (Yes, it was a small budget, but still), and the Lion and the Lamb. Ok. I'll take you're word on it because oh, how that line melts my heart every time. Movie or book. The meadow scene SHOULD have been extended! But like I've said before, I didn't know it was missing when I watched the movie 1st. And I watched the movie like 5 times and still had no clue what Bella saw when she looked at Ed in the sun! Yes, budget, but being a complete twi-virgin, I was at a total loss for ideas.
I get that many people have been totally surprised by the sparkling, I mean it is definitely not a typical Vampire thing.
awcrap: I completely agree with your assessment on the meadow scene; WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT, I was prepared for some seat wiggling enjoyment here and instead...
uhyesplease: Ok, the Meadow. I was sad. I really liked it in the book - E was so angsty and tortured. I got the feeling that for a moment he really thought about killing her. But in the movie? Nope. Instead kinda whiny, over explaining and perched in a tree. The best part of the movie was when Kstew tripped (a la bella, but I think it was probably accidental!) and the commentary when Rob goes, “I’m a schweady guy!” Also – one big prop to Catherine was all the dialogue w/o sound. So in the meadow, in that big tree (a la spidermonkey) and in Bella’s bed there was just music and them moving their lips. In my head it was genius because we could put in whatever dialogue was our favorite that they could ‘talk’ about. So that saved the meadow scene for me…. And as hot as the bed kiss scene - I miss the kiss at the end of the meadow....so cute and way more 'appropriate' in a high school way than their first kiss on her bed. Ya know?
I never thought about this dialogue w/o sound so much, but you are totally right it is super clever, and also like this kind of scenes, a lot.
Bella’s tripping was perfect!!!
First Blush: In the meadow. I love both book E and movie E. but when R. P. traps B. and asks her to tell him what she’s thinking because he can’t read her mind… Poor Rob it looks like he’s thinking ‘Ew, I actually have to touch this mossy stuff. Yuck.’ He seems kind of girly there.
I read this somewhere else so it’s not an original thought but book E. would have never yanked book B through the forest like movie E. did. He probably would have broken her arm in two if not severed it. He would never be that rough with her.
Remembering that I saw the movie first, I have to admit that I was ready to freak out when Edward walked into the sunlight. I had no idea what to expect (melting skin, scary frightening monster) the twinkles were actually a relief. Also I think they needed to introduce the bad vampires so you knew why the Cullens reacted the way they did at the ball field.
This is a great point and I really agree with you here, although it came never to my mind. Edward would have never been so rough. He always says in the book how fragile she is and that he has to control himself so that he won’t hurt her. When reminding me of this, it is stupid that he grabs her arm so roughly.
Amy:. I didn't read the book when I saw the movie so I guess I have a bit of a different perspective. I was freaked out by the whole, "Come with me!" and grabbing Bella's arm and crap. Then he starts talking about how he's killed people and she keeps telling him, "I trust you." But then, there's the whole putting his arm against the rock and trapping Bella part when she says, "Now I'm scared." Then Edward says, "Good" or "You should be" I don't remember exactly, and then 2 seconds later she's all, "I'm not afraid of you." I was all kinds of confused! She seemed pretty freaked out to me, as was I, but then she's not? Ugh. Book version definitely tops this ridiculousness.
Honolulu Girl: Meadow Scene. There's no doubt that the Movie did not do this scene in the book justice. They seemed to be having more of an Q & A then an actual romantic rendezvous and the Movie does show Edward in some awkward positions while lying on the ground. With out the book in front of me, don't they kiss a lot, even though Edward is strained and has to stop and pull Bella off of him? I can't remember. That should have been shown in the movie. As for Edward sparkling. Um, it didn't bother me. I think in general why does he sparkle? That would be more a complaint that I would have with say Stephanie Meyer, then the movie, but it's her interpretation and I respect that.
Nope they kissed first time after the Meadow and just once. Actually after the first time Bella was on his back when they got back to the car. “I was thinking there was something I want to try” and then he kisses her.
But you have a good point here, they all belong to SM and when it is her choice to let them sparkle so be it. And I get her idea of her vampires having a skin hard as a diamond, meaning also shining like one.
MrsRobward: Mrs.V you say u like how the meadow scene starts? Not me, it kinda makes me baby barf in my mouth just watching it. Sorry. She's not supposed to be scared but she looks like she just shite herself and then Ed's nostrils are all flaring.
The scene was rushed, the effects were eeww, I HATE seeing him rip that tree up! The sparkling doesn't bother me, except for him turning away when he says that he is a killer, "turn back around here, let me get a closer look....." the meadow was TOTAL let down for me, the best part was when he cornered her in between the rocks ::wiggles eyebrows::
Call of a Duty Widow: The sparkle effect would have only worked if Rob was totally naked. That's the only way I wouldn't have noticed the cheesy tinkling noise in the soundtrack. My main problem with the movie is that they don't really show any reasons for Edward or Bella to fall in love with each other. I missed all of the discussions they had getting to know each other. Cramming some of that into the movie wouldn't have been to hard, would it?
Actually MommyV said the same when watching the movie with me. They spoke a lot and we don’t get that here, although like uhyesplease pointed out, they made it by making some dialogue scenes w/o sound was a good alternative.
But please read what Amber has to say about the Meadow, she has some really good points here!!
Amber: I agree, I liked the way the "meadow" scene started. That was lovely and dramatic. I think she did look afraid before she said it. Not that she was afraid of him, but afraid of how he might react to her knowing what he was.I have 2 problems with the meadow scene. The first your pretty much covered...it just wasn't there compared to the book. We didn't get the time they spent together, learning each other. We didn't see them testing their limits...and we didn't get that beautiful first kiss. I honestly could have dealt with the sparkling just fine...if there weren't little chimes playing. And he was definitely lying strangely in that scene. At least they left in the lion and the lamb lines...those are my absolute faves and I swoon every time.
Now here is my second issue...
They moved away completely from the reason that Edward took Bella to the meadow in the books. In the movie, he took her there to try and scare her away. Thinking if she saw more physical proof of what he was, she'd come to her senses.
In the book, it was him sharing another level of himself with her. It was something intimate and special. A gift he was giving, displaying his trust in her. I missed this sentiment in the movie.
It gives people who hadn't read the books a very different view of what that whole scene was supposed to me. In the books, it was a turning point for them. I suppose it was in the movie too...but it just happened too fast and without the love behind it that you found in the meadow of the book.
Give me some bad Vampys
When we ask this question I was very curious about your response to that. Although the sentiments are quite different here, I still think they had to do it and the movie gained some tension.
stoney: Did we NEED nomad tension?:
*Sigh* I don't want to say yes...but I have to. For the hubby's out there that DIDN'T read the book and were forced against their will to watch the movie (as well as those non-readers) probably really neededman early-in-the-film intro to the 'bad' vamps. And to be totally honest...any extra Cam G. is fine by me...
SBGDGT: Nomads: I am so torn on that question! *deep breath* For the movie, they needed to set the tone for the "bad guys". By showing vampires hunting the way they normally do, and making them pretty twisted, if you ask me, then it sets them up for the showdown later. It gives Charlie something to do and adds another piece of the puzzle to finally clue Bella in. In the book, they are not initally "bad guys" they are just not vamp vegetarians. They weren't meant to be bad, just curious passers by. I think since we get a lot more of the emotional set up in the book, which could not be conveyed in a short, small-budget, adaptation, then the visual set up of their feeding was good.
Right, it is a good set up for the ballet scene. The vampires we met so far were all nice and not threatening but there are bad vamps and we need to know them. Although you are right, in SM’s universe they are not intentionally bad, just “normal” , I would say Laurent is the best example for this.
uhyesplease: I do really really really like how the movie actually built some suspense w/ the bad vamps sprinkled throughout (the book didn’t mention it at all until they showed up at the baseball field. Like SM was like, “What? A good book has some suspense in it? Hmmm? Maybe a little action? Hmmm? How about some bad nonvegetarian vamps with killer pecks that can try to kill Bella for some reason other than to piss off a vamp they don’t know. Wait. That’s the ticket – let’s let the one with the smokin’ hot abs be the one to try to kill Bella for no real reason…..yeah……that’s it…)
Honestly, I missed the same in her books, the lack of action. I mean even the Ballet scene was not described in the book at all, but I go ahead of myself – this we will discuss in Part IV.
Mrs.Robward: Could have done w/o the nomad thing. WHOCARES =]
No Edward, hu ?;)
Kristen, breathing, lip biting, and we love Fanny
Kristen really put some habits in Bella, like constantly lip biting – although I find it rather sweet and the heavy breathing. It’s a pity that Fanny can’t be here for the Recap, but she has to know that you all loved her drawing so much. So do I! That’s why I show her perfect Kristin facial expression storyboard again:
bierbeck: Fanny I was laughing so hard at the part about Kristens different faces and the drawings that go with it that I literally could not breathe. I still can't stop laughing about it. I do agree with Mrs. V on that though. I do like Kristen for the role, she really is perfect for it, although her facial expressions do drive me crazy.
I wear alice cullen pjs; ..talking about Kristen's facial expressions, anybody notice how many times Kristen bites her lip in the movie? not just twilight but a majority of her movies its highly annoying.
SBGDGT: One final note, AGH! I love her movies but Kristen annoyed me w/ her eye rolls and her little breaths... I
randomreetie: And I was laughing so hard at the KStew's expressions "storyboard" that I couldn't continue reading and had to walk away momentarily. Excellent job!
uhyesplease: I LOVE THE FACES OF KRISTEN!!!! Dying…completely had to show it to DH and he laughed too.
Side note – so I saw Adventureland the other day. Good flick. However, I’ve always been a KStew defender – thinking that she portrayed Bella as a blinky, sighing, lip biter as a personal choice. It was kinda annoying, but I just thought, “Hey, that’s what she decided to do as a actor, so whatever.” And then I saw her in the other movie and realized. “Uh, nope, that’s just her. That’s Kristen.” Shit.
Call of a Duty Widow: The Kristen Stewart facial expressions story board: priceless. I've seen several of her movies and she is the same character in every one. I'm not sure how much of her mouth breathing and lip biting I can take.
I just can say something about Twilight since I didn’t saw one of her other movies. Although she had a tiny role in “Jumper” but I definitely have to see more movies from her.
Amber: I think she did look afraid before she said it. Not that she was afraid of him, but afraid of how he might react to her knowing what he was.
Really, when thinking about this, Amber it would make pretty much sense, actually Bella was afraid when she told him that she knows what he is: "I'm more afraid that you'll be angry with me" . But people w/o having read the books couldn't know that.
Exhibit A :
randomreetie: If Edward can read everyone's minds, how come he had such a pained expression trying to figure out why Carlisle's car was at the police station? Just wondered.
Well, you’re right! First off all he knows that there are the bad vampy messing around. But maybe he was not close enough to read their minds?
I have a silly movie-related question. How did Bella's book end up in her bedroom? When she got out of Edward's car at the police station she wasn't carrying anything. When she left with Charlie she wasn't carrying anything. In the next scene she has her Queliute book, which she never reads anyway.
Hm… I never realized that! Wasn’t the book simply in her bag?
Exhibit B
First Blush; First, I saw the movie before I read the books and I can tell you that I didn’t need to read the story to see Edward and Bella fall in love. So where was it in the movie?
- E. saves B. (check) I’d fall in love after just that part
- B. asks where the Cullens are and Jessica says they go camping. Bella’s definitely interested. (check)
- E. saves B. in the Volvo from drunk monsters (double check)
- E. tells B. he feels protective of her in the restaurant (swoon/check)
- E. tells B. he doesn’t have the strength to stay away from her anymore (heart flutter…dizzy, who needs a check)
- E. & B. just before the meadow. Forget the lion x lamb just watch how he places his hand gently over her heart. (more flutters…yup they’re in love no more checks necessary)
First Blush, I love this part of your comment. Really, for me it was totally easy since I read the book before, but yeah I guess for others the falling-in-love part is definitely something to wonder about. So far everyone felt that all was too fast, but your points are awesome. Right, I would have fallen in love right away when he saved her… swwwoooon Thanks girl!
My dear girls (and boys) thank you all so much for this discussion, I am overwhelmed and I so love it! I know this is a verrrrryyyy loooonng Recap, but honestly I had no clue where to cut stuff away from your comments. You all had great points to share!
Don’t forget, next weeks discussion is cancelled and Part III will be posted on October, 28. So take the book, watch the movie – next time we discuss the kiss and the Baseball scene and we will meet the Cullens, and Spidermonkey and…… So, please come back. (Fanny is already drawing some stuff, God knows what she will be doing since she has now one week more).
And go and show Artsie some Love, she’s doing a great recap on her last challenge.
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