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Well, I finally got around to this movie. I had loved the book(s) - well, the first two and a half anyway. Then I got distracted with a lot of work and I left the story to its enormous teenage audience but it certainly had its impact at the time. In fact, if I'm not mistaken I read it several years back and mentioned it at the board as a ripper read. I actually liked it enough not to feel obliged to see the movie because I just knew the movie couldn't match up ... and it didn't, but it's still a pretty good movie. I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it and I was totally absorbed by the story I knew well. Edward - so, so beautiful in the story didn't match up in the movie for me and frankly how could he? In the story this young man is perfect. And no real man is! Whatever-his-name is did his best and he grew on me as the story went on but too much make up, too much lipstick especially...and totally mad hair. But then that's probably my age talking now and what's more, I'm well aware, even from my own writing that everyone's got their own interpretation of characters. This was the casting director's take on who was going to commercially appeal as Edward - to screaming 14 year olds probably but Edward in my mind is so much more knowledgeable, less angst, secure, a much stronger presence than the strawberry lipped Ed in the film version and 'older'...even though he doesn't look it. I needed to sense a lot more depth and this actor looked 20 and acted 17 but that's not actually meant as a criticism, more a personal observation of his appeal to me as Edward. I can understand him setting many a teenage heart a-flutter....just not this old duck's. Bella was well cast, I'd hoped Carlisle would have a stronger physical, more charismatic presence and I really think Rafael Nadal would be perfect as Edward's nemesis, Jacob. He's got the right brooding look for a werewolf! I'm glad I watched it and I would definitely see the next one. My sons watched it with me and today I had to go out and re-buy ALL the books, even though I've assembled the set once before. I think I lent them out. So now the boys are reading the book one, impressed by the movie and keen now to know what I had told them years ago about giving Twilight a go. I'm always happy to buy books for them so now the fight is on as to who reads Twilight first. So I should be very grateful to the movie for re-kindling a desire to read in my two who have been right off it after Year 12. In fact one of them is so keen to get reading after watching the movie that he's turned down the opportunity to go and see Angels and Demons with me this evening. Lucky I have twins. Oh, and I felt obliged to buy the song that plays at the end of Twilight. Very pretty and now playing happily on my iPod.