Book vs Movie: 4 Reasons Why Twilight Movie is A Great Adaptation

“About three things I was absolutely positive.

First, Edward was a vampire.

Second, there was a part of him — and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be — that thirsted for my blood.

And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.”

— Bella Swan, Twilight

Finally I finished my 10-year unfinished book. Actually, it wasn’t that hard to like this book. Though I know some people are saying this story is cringe because it is ‘so high school’ and so ‘seventeen’. I’m Not gonna lie, indeed some conversations got me like “fr?” or “duh“, but some parts of the story also pull me into the book and I really wish to be in Forks, being a vampire, and be in high school again. Perhaps I’m insane, but I really wish I had finished this book so much earlier.

Though the book gets so much hatred, we all can agree that Twilight has its own ‘thing’ which makes fans still love it, especially the movie. I can say it because I’m not really a fan, and I’m not gonna put Twilight on my favorite-bookshelf, but somehow I like to rewatch Twilight rather than other movies. And after finishing the book and rewatching the movie (again), I can tell now, why the movie could be a heroine.

(1) The Cinematography

I think this is the most upfront reason why Twilight could be so ‘comfortable’ to watch: the bluish (or greenish) filter domination which makes the movie pale. This creates a special vibe for Twilight itself, and this is so brilliant. Even the casting director (if I’m not mistaken) mix-matched the actors’ outfit so it won’t outstand the filter. I can’t even see the unfiltered version of the scene because it is not Twilight’s aesthetic core for me.

The way this filter allows the audience to feel the rain and forest atmosphere, makes the gloomy description of Forks in the book can be depicted so accurately. As a tropical citizen, I totally can’t relate with Bella’s complaint about Forks’ wet weather. Like, duh… I’ll do anything to swap places with you right now. I’m pretty sure you will like the heatwave here, Miss Phoenix.

(2) The Cast

Because I watched the film first, I have had no problem depicting the features of the characters. It’s just, I had no idea they could cast pretty Kristen Stewart to portray weak and clumsy Bella Swan, nor ‘pretty’ Robert Pattinson as the perfect vampire boyfriend who had been single for a decade. And I had no idea either that both of them could deliver Bella-Edward’s conversations which were so cringe at some points. I mean, let’s be honest, their relationship was nothing special but a common teenage romance by the book. But the movie was acceptable because the actors who delivered those cringe sentences were deadly gorgeous (so were the supporting actors). Not to mention, as a 2008 movie, their style and beauty are timeless and still watchable in 2024.

Something interesting has happened in TikTok lately. Bella’s awkwardness scenes have been remade by so many TikTokers. And we all really don’t see this coming. I mean, the movie was released more than a decade ago, and people are still entertained by Bella’s awkwardness. If this is not because of the perfect casting, you tell me.

Well, sometimes I wonder, if only Edward is not that perfectly fine visually and unreasonably handsome, will Bella still be unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him? Will Bella ran away when Edward asked her “Are you afraid?”.

(3) The Soundtrack

Well, both the combination of cinematography and cast will not be enough without the soundtrack, which somehow really matches the vibes. Since music has the ability to connect with the brain on a deep level (Stranger Things S4, this is crazy the way I cite a series), hence when we listen to the soundtrack, our mind will automatically shift into Twilight mode, enter Forks, feel the hoa hoa hoa hoa backsound, and somehow we have a pale filter on ourselves. Does it make any sense for you? Because it does make sense to me.

Though I know the music is a masterpiece since the beginning, I was still surprised when I found out Twilight’s was nominated for best compilation soundtrack and best song written for motion picture at Grammy Awards 2010. And ofcourse it won AMA 2009 for favorite soundtrack. That’s wild. We owe many great songs to Twilight. I’m telling you.

(4) The Enemy & The Legend

Well, I don’t mean to be judgmental, but this fantasy-romance-fictional book feels like romance-fictional only. I don’t find the fantasy thing interesting in this story unless the fact that The Cullens are vampires and The Blacks could’ve been werewolves. But perhaps Stephenie Meyer didn’t want to spill it out in this book because there are 4 incoming books of this series. The thing is, there is so much potential in this story if only it digs another point of view. The legend for instance.

At the certain moment, when Edward told his origin’s story, he told Bella that back in the past, the legend used to be a reality. And centuries later, the legend finally became a legend. This is a really good way to start a phenomenal story, yet Stephenie executed it partly only in the Bella and Edward story without any ‘seasoning’. This is very unfortunate. Actually it doesn’t matter since the movie has a different point of view by showing James, Victoria, and Laurent’s journey before they met The Cullens. So at least we have more than one story. And in the end, Twilight is still a phenomenon.

As Edward said about twilight, “no matter how great the day was, it would end anyway” and so does this article. As I can conclude, though I like the story, and since both the book and the movie have no significant differences (except for Alice’s origin which was told in the book but not in the movie), I still have some grudge in my mind towards the story. I mean, this is a good story, but I’m not sure to call it perfect. It’s just ok.