Twilight The Movie vs. Twilight The Book

Edward and Bella’s romance.

It took me a while to accept their relationship, primarily because I knew it was doomed to fail.  Edward, a vampire, will outlive Bella, who will eventually get old.  However, I could understand Bella’s attraction to Edward: he’s gorgeous, he’s interested in her (a huge introvert), and he’s different.  Bella was never one of the popular kids in school and aligning herself with the outcast crowd seems appropriate. Note: as of this writing I’ve only read Twilight, not the other books in the series.

Any film would be hard pressed to capture the burgeoning relationship between Edward and Bella.  There are scenes in the book in which they simply spend time talking.  It would be difficult to convey these scenes on the big screen without boring the audience and increasing the film’s length.  Therefore people who have read the books will more easily accept their relationship; people who haven’t read the first book might not buy Bella’s unwavering love for Edward.

The Cullens and sunlight.

In Twilight the book Edward explains that he and his family don’t go out in the sunlight because their skin sparkles.

The special effects were actually pretty well done.  I initially expected something more spectacular but what they did actually worked.

Bella is extremely clumsy.

This is illustrated several times in Twilight the book and helps explain Bella’s accident at the Cullen’s home and her reluctance to engage in physical activities like dancing.

Bella’s clumsiness is referenced only once during the film.

Bella has a strong aversion to blood.

In the book Bella passes out when she and Edward perform a blood typing experiment in class.

This scene isn’t included in the movie.

Alice and Jasper guard Bella.

In the book Bella decides to ditch Alice and Jasper at the hotel where they’re hiding out from James, the homicidal vampire with enhanced tracking skills.

In Twilight the Movie Bella abandons Alice and Jasper at an airport, and leaves a note for Edward.

Some of the vampire “kids” in the Cullen family have special powers.

As per the book:

Edward: can read minds (except Bella’s).

Alice: can see the future.

Jasper: feels the emotions of those around him and has the power to alter them.

Only Edward and Alice’s powers are explained in the movie.  Had they explained Jasper’s power (and his background) it might have helped justify his “deer in the headlight” look in the film.  I wonder what Jackson Rathbone (the actor portraying Jasper) thinks of his onscreen persona.

Jacob Black and Bella’s relationship.

Bella first meets Jacob at a beach outing with some of the kids from school.  She later flirts with him specifically to learn more about him, his people, and why they appear to dislike the Cullens.

Bella meets Jacob at the beginning of the film, when he brings his father Billy Black to visit Bella’s father.  Bella and Jacob don’t have many scenes together in the film.

Prom night.

In Twilight the book, the prom takes place in the high school gym.

In Twilight the movie the prom occurs at a REALLY NICE bed and breakfast.  The prom is quite fancy looking for such a small town.

Edward kills James.

In the book we never get the details about what transpires between Edward and James; we simply know that he killed James.

The movie shows us how Edward kills James.  As a matter of fact, this is one of the pivotal scenes in the film.  Additionally, we learn that the other Cullen kids are present at the time of the killing.

The Nomads (James, Laurent, and Victoria)

We’re first introduced to the Nomads when they approach the Cullen’s during a family baseball game.

The movie does a great job of foreshadowing by first illustrating the  viciousness of the Nomads.  When they meet the Cullens we immediately understand the importance of hiding Bella from them.