I'm a fan of the books, and yes I know it was originally Twilight fanfic. If you know that going in it shouldn't be an issue, or hold it against the film. Despite that, I was disappointed in these movies (at the time of this review I've seen part 1 and 2). I had heard that the script was very true to the book - I agree that it is and that's mostly a good thing. But there are too many things wrong to give it a fully positive review. So. If you start with 10 stars and subtract 1 for each issue:
-1 for acting. The actors playing Gabriel and Julia have very little chemistry, and neither one of them are particularly fantastic on their own. Not the worst, but I wasn't wowed. Almost everyone else just seems to be flat. Ironically I most enjoyed the portrayal of Christa, who is supposed to be one the worst characters in the books. -1 for directing. How many times can you adoringly (yet somehow blankly) stare into someone eyes and then shyly look down and back up again? So much angst, and the tone and delivery of certain lines went a very different way than in the book. -1 for lighting and set design. The color palette of this movie is just blah. It's all dark and muted colors, except for a couple of outdoor sweeping landscape scenes of the university in the fall. The interior scenes have no dimension, everything looks like it was shot in florescent lighting.
Will I watch the third installment if it gets made? Maybe, if I can find it somewhere for free. But I'm glad I got a free trial of Passionflix with my Prime Video membership, because these movies aren't worth the 6 buck monthly fee. I feel bad for the author, the books deserved better.
-1 for acting. The actors playing Gabriel and Julia have very little chemistry, and neither one of them are particularly fantastic on their own. Not the worst, but I wasn't wowed. Almost everyone else just seems to be flat. Ironically I most enjoyed the portrayal of Christa, who is supposed to be one the worst characters in the books. -1 for directing. How many times can you adoringly (yet somehow blankly) stare into someone eyes and then shyly look down and back up again? So much angst, and the tone and delivery of certain lines went a very different way than in the book. -1 for lighting and set design. The color palette of this movie is just blah. It's all dark and muted colors, except for a couple of outdoor sweeping landscape scenes of the university in the fall. The interior scenes have no dimension, everything looks like it was shot in florescent lighting.
- 1 for casting. Two words: Gabriel's accent. He's supposed to be American! At no point in the book does it say or even infer that he has an Italian accent. It would have maybe been okay if they added something to the movie to explain why he has a very distinct accent, but that never happens. People who haven't read the books probably won't even realize it, but as someone who's read them multiple times I was distracted by it in every scene.
Will I watch the third installment if it gets made? Maybe, if I can find it somewhere for free. But I'm glad I got a free trial of Passionflix with my Prime Video membership, because these movies aren't worth the 6 buck monthly fee. I feel bad for the author, the books deserved better.