DVD Review – “Twilight”

Summit Entertainment’s hit vampire flick “Twilight” is now on DVD. The film, based on the best selling series by Stephenie Meyer, in the theaters grossed over $376 million Worldwide (and had the 4th largest opening weekend gross for 2008) according to Box Office Mojo. But how does the DVD compare to the excitement theater goers felt? My only request for the next film (New Moon in theaters November 20, 2009) when it's available on DVD is bloopers!

Let’s uncover its secrets of “Twilight” on DVD…

If you buy the DVD from Target you get the 3 disk special edition (yippy!). The movie (of course) in addition to a “Special Features” and a “Bonus Features” DVD. Here are some of the highlights from the extra two disks:

- The Adventure Begins: The Journey from Page to Screen: This is one of my favorite features mostly because of the interviews with some of the key characters. The interviews are interspersed with footage from when the movie was being filmed and features commentary from a lot of the crew - everyone from the director to the special effects person to the casting director to screen writers to the author herself. As a movie geek I love learning how a film was made, so this Bonus Feature is particularly interesting to me, but even for non-geeks it gives outsiders a very in-depth but not too technical look into a hit film (and if you are a fan of the books you’ll love this section because throughout are the actors discussing how they develop and interpret their characters and situations – very interesting!).

- If you’re a fan of the books then you’ll love what’s on the third DVD from Target. An interview with the humble author Stephenie Meyer. She discusses everything from how she came up with the idea for Twilight to the mythology within the series to her first fan letter to becoming a New York Times best selling author. It’s sweet to hear how she perceives the world she’s created within this series.

- Becoming Edward – Want to know what actor Robert Pattinson thinks about his character – the perfect and pained Edward Cullen? Find out this and a lot more about the very talented British actor in a feature titled “Becoming Edward.”

- Becoming Bella – If you’ve ever wanted the description of an award winning actor listen to the movie director, screen writer and author talk about Bella’s Kristen Stewart. Stewart talks to the cameras about who Bella is and how complicated she is. She repeats “I didn’t know what I was getting into until after I had signed up to do the film.”

- Piano Concert – A tasty treat also on the third disk is Pattinson playing “Bella’s Lullaby” on the piano. Creative camera angles make the concert a delight to watch as the soothing melody is played out by the actor/musician. It gives new meaning to “tickling the ivories” to watch Pattinson play.

What are your favorite bonus features from the Twilight DVD?

“Basically, I'm for anything that gets you through the night - be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniels.” – Frank Sinatra

So may the prayers, tranquilizers and JD be with you and see you next time.

http://moviesworketc.blogspot.com/

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DVD Review – Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Is there a musician or band out there that’s really weird but that you and a few select friends really love? Have an ex that keeps playing games with you? Did you meet someone unexpectedly while out enjoying that weird musician/band at the same venue as the ex? If you answered “Yes” then you will definitely be able to relate to “Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.” If you liked Juno you’d probably like N & N – done in the same style and with some of the same cast. The perfect way to summarize this movie comes from critic Roger Ebert, “It sort of ambles along, with two nice people at the center of a human scavenger hunt.”

Pros:

- Unique – N & N borrows some from other teen flicks, but it isn’t really cliché until the end. I admire movies I feel like I haven’t seen (even though I probably wouldn’t see it again).

- The Cast – the young actors that dash back and forth across the streets of NY are a talented young and promising group. Michael Cera – from Juno is loveable and funny without being outlandishly funny. Kat Dennings – who is fairly unknown is wonderful! She’s naturally quirky and nice. Ari Graynor – is HILARIOUS as the drunk friend, we will definitely being seeing more from her.

- The Cast As a Whole – The movie is full of well acted, semi non archetype characters that seem to be an accurate representative of the current youth.- The setting – Running around New York City at night looks like a lot of fun (and totally safe!). It’s a beautiful location and easy to see why so many films are shot there.

Cons:

- It Drags – It’s slow. I did a couple of other things while watching the movie and didn’t miss anything.

- Michael Cera – He’s good, but I want to see him do something else before I deem him a reason to see a movie.

- Mom & Dad – Non-existent in the movie. No one gets a call from their folks wondering where there are all night. My parents would have at least wanted a check in if I was going to be out late.

- No Mystery – From the second we see Nick and Norah meet we don’t doubt these two will end up together. No mystery = a little predictable.

Summary:

I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it. I’m picky about my teen movies because I feel like it’s difficult to make a good movie that really represents who teenagers are without perpetuating the usual characters, situations, etc. Plus it does have a fun sound track and you can’t beat NYC at night. N & N is fun, but a little slow, but creative too. Interesting mix just like the music.

Did you go out and buy the soundtrack after seeing this film? What did you think of the movie? Creative, cliché, boring?

“Basically, I'm for anything that gets you through the night - be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniels.” – Frank Sinatra

So may the prayers, tranquilizers and JD be with you and see you next time.

http://moviesworketc.blogspot.com/

Read more!