Directors for the Harry Potter films, take note: Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books have thus far made it into movie form with few significant changes–and they work.
New Moon, directed by Chris Weitz of American Pie fame and scripted by Melissa Rosenberg, follows the plot of Meyer’s best-selling novel with few divergences. The action is, of course, ramped up a little bit, with Felix and Demetri getting to do a bit more than the knuckle-cracking the novel restricts them to. Bella’s “hallucinations” are visual instead of primarily auditory. Small changes were made to the order and reason for certain events, such as Bella’s discovery of Jacob’s secret identity and Harry Clearwater’s heart attack, and the zombie theme was largely passed over. The most frustrating change for me to watch came when Carlisle merely thanked Bella for her affirmation, instead of explaining what he really believes about the eternal damnation of vampires.
Overall, however, we track the same story in the film that we got in the novel. The events mostly happen in the right sequence and as originally portrayed, except when pumped with a little more action and quite possibly more cheesiness in some cases. There were little slips in character motivation, but nothing like the major overhauls contained in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings adaptations. Team Jacob fans can see their favorite werewolf beautifully acted by Taylor Lautner; Team Edward, I am sorry to say that Robert Pattinson is not allowed to do much more than walk around looking like a tormented Ziggy Stardust (for which fabulous comparison I cannot take credit; Arabella Figg used it first). No complaints on his recitation of Shakespeare, though.
The movie has some virtues of its own. I make no claims to any knowledge of special effects, and too much CGI–however good–will make me roll my eyes, but I thought the wolf and vampire action just beautiful. Plus, that one little flash-forward scene … well, let’s just say that Robert Pattinson may look a bit overdone, but someone else makes a very lovely vampire.
The movie also has some weaknesses all its own, notably weak acting. There are exceptions: Lautner as Jacob, Billy Burke as Charlie, Dakota Fanning as Jane, Peter Facinelli as Carlisle, and a few others perform excellently in their roles, sometimes with only a scene and a couple of lines.
It is possible that if I saw it again, more book-to-movie issues would stand out to me; still, New Moon is in my opinion the most powerful novel in the series, and I have read it several times. If I came away from an adaptation without a lot to beat down, then despite a few details, this reader can deem the movie a success.
For more information on the Twilight Saga and its meanings, please check out John Granger’s work at www.fhsprofessor.com.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I just love how New Moon follows the book mostly (though the moterbike ride with the weird guy was a little too OOC). When New Moon started exactly like the book with the dream and everything, I was just smiling and thinking ‘yes, this is almost the book!’.
Maybe it was just that the changes they made weren’t so big and important, and the plot doesn’t have that many subplots etc. like in for example Harry Potter, but I really felt like the message of the book (though I’m not so sure what exactly that is
) came through very nice. I wish the Eragon movie was more like the book..
this movie and bok that i read was s cool i with i was in the book but that was so cool tell the cast that very good movie
Visit Zossima’s website to get info on John’s new book on Twilight, and to read the introduction!
Apart for the scene where Edward recited Shakespeare, I didn’t care for the movie at all. That beautiful chemistry I fell in love with in twilight is destroyed by Chris Weitz. Maybe it was intentional to make people fall in love with Jacobs’s six packs, but everything about Edward was weird. The make-up was awful & the hair was awful. They dressed him like he’s 30. What’s with those long long walks. The most layered scenes in the book are the break-up & reunion. Chris Weitz rushed through them just so he can get to his chippendales show. I was so disappointed I’m not even looking forword to Eclipse. I think it’s going to be worse. They should have kept Hardwick for the romantic scenes. We all know men suck on that front.
In an interview with EW (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20319460,00.html), director Chris Weitz discusses his desire to remain faithful to the book. Although I don’t intend to see the film, I applaud his intent. If only we could count on the DH films to be as true to the book.
I too feel that New Moon is the most powerful book in the Saga, and it’s my favorite.
Thanks, Jenna, for a great report.
I haven’t read the books or watched the movies. My daughter has and has enjoyed them.
I had to laugh though when I read that one of the actors was Billy Burke. My first reaction was – what, the Wicked Witch from “The Wizard of Oz”? I thought she died. (Yes, she did, in 1970.) Anyway, when I looked it up I found out that they are two different people, obviously.
I, too, recognized the name Billie Burke, Eeyore. However, that older actress played Glinda, not the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz. That role was played by Margaret Hamilton, who also went on to feature in Maxwell House Coffee Commercials. (I was never persuaded to buy any of the coffee, as the memory of her as the Wicked Witch was too strong in my mind).
And Eeyore, I also have not read the books nor gone to the Twilight films, nor do I plan to in the future. So, there’s at least two of us hold-outs!
Sorry to double post here, folks, but just had another thought. I was watching the Harry Potter weekend showing of films on the family channel last night, when there came a set of commercials for the new Percy Jackson film that’s coming out. The shot I saw, of the Hippogriff flying out of the room at young Percy, made me think of Buckbeak, and then I heard that the film is being directed by Christopher Columbus, the one who directed the first two Harry Potter films! Now that should be interesting to watch, I think. I’ve not read the series of books yet, and I may wait until I see the film to read the first one. Anyone in here a fan of the Percy Jackson books?
Thanks, everyone, for your kind comments! Arabella and Travis, thanks also for the additional links.
Evanna11, I agree with you on the motorbike ride. It didn’t seem particularly believable to me.
Alice, I liked Hardwicke’s work on the first movie, and have the impression (after seeing each movie only once) that she got a little more from Stewart and Pattinson. The changing of directors in these multi-volume adaptations bugs me a bit owing to inconsistencies, but I have thus far found different things to like about each director’s work.
Eeyore, you totally made me laugh–it’s been a long time since I saw Oz, and I hadn’t remembered the actress’s name. Some of those common names … One of the churches I’ve attended in my life had at least three non-famous people with very famous names.
Fricka, I haven’t read the Percy Jackson books, but may have to one of these days. They sound intriguing.
Interesting article, Jenna. I can’t help thinking about a quote from Robert McKee: ‘The best books make the worst movies.’
Which explains a few things about Peter Jackson’s adaptation of LOTR. And some of the head-tilting moments in the HP series. If any Hollywood directors are reading this–follow Jenna’s advice, and take note. Chances are, the author knows just as much about storytelling as you do.
Back to the New Moon/ Twilight movies.
I can’t wait to add my 2 cents.
The movies should follow the books. Especially books like the Twilight saga. Fans would not have it otherwise. But the visual aspect needs a spark of it’s own. This is mostly missing from NM, and Hardwick managed to catch it nicely in Tw. I liked the added tree climbing and the scenery added to the first movie (not in the book), if nothing else, because it gave Edward and Bella the opportunity to laugh. And look in love.
Weitz put a lot of effort into special effects, like the wolves and the Volturi fight, but missed the boat on the emotional aspect of the book. There are some nice scenes with Bella/Jake in the garage … – and this reminds me – the best scenes in both movies are when no one talks !!!
Edward has poor diction (even when he sings !), a lot of the times one can not understand what he is saying, even after listening a few times. Only word by word knowledge of the book saves the day. Notable exception, the Romeo and Juliet recitation.
Also, the make up in the New Moon is laughable. Edward does not look like he is 30, he looks like he is 45 !!! His face is caked in white chalk, he never smiles, he definitively never looks like he is in love, and for crying out loud – all the vampires wear wigs !!!!! Jacob does, too…… BAD ones! If this movie had more budget, how come it was cheaper to wear a wig than to dye some hair????
The ” good actors” mentioned on top by Jenna usually have side roles and do not wear make up. They look normal. The way they all should look like. Even the vampires….. as they live among us …
Jenna – you should really watch the movies one more time
Other than that, the movie is good. I am a twilight books hard core fan – and will live with the movie.
Eclipse makers – better read all the internet comments and make a better movie than NM, PLEASE !
Yes, I read all the Potter books and follow the movies. The first 3 books were excellent, the further ones deteriorate as the author spells it all and there is no room for imagination. The movies – the first was such a disappointment that I wanted to cry as I walked out of the theatre. They get better from there…. Or maybe it has been too long since I read the books, and I do not know what they missed…..