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‘Twilight’ Countdown: L.A. Times gives ‘Twilight’ movie a big thumbs up

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It’s here! Today is the big day.

Yes, midnight is technically Friday. But the point is most of you are mere hours away from seeing ‘Twilight.’

I’ve seen the goods, and I can assure you, the movie delivers whether or not you’ve read Stephenie Meyer’s vampire book.

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But don’t take my word for it. Here’s what our pro, L.A. Times film critic Kenneth Turan, had to say:

As romance fans know, love needs obstacles to hold our interest, and in this egalitarian age, obstacles are hard to come by. The Oscar-winning ‘Ghost’ of several years back had one lover living, the other deceased, and ‘Twilight’s’ notion that he’s undead and she’s not is just as good, maybe better. Connecting this to the extreme emotions of the young teenage world, where every moment is a crisis and the chaste romance of passionate soulmates is more attractive than dubious sexual shenanigans, was the masterstroke that created a phenomenon.

It’s very much to the credit of director Catherine Hardwicke and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg that ‘Twilight’ the movie really gets this. This film succeeds, likely unreservedly for teens and in a classic guilty pleasure kind of way for adults, because it treats high school emotions with unwavering, uncompromising seriousness. Much as you may not want to, you have to acknowledge what’s been accomplished here.

He even gives extra props to the actors playing Bella and Edward:

Hardwicke also was intrumental in casting Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattison as the star-crossed Bella and Edward, and those choices were excellent, not only because they’re skilled performers but because they, too, threw themselves into their parts as if they were Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor doing ‘Camille’ for George Cukor.

Read the entire review here.

And our Countdown isn’t over just yet! Tomorrow I’ll have outtakes and exclusive art from Gina McIntyre’s interviews with Catherine Hardwicke and Kristen Stewart. Her big ‘Twilight’ feature ran in today’s paper. Check it out!

I’ll also be posting the best of the fan reviews here. So come back, and don’t forget to send in your thoughts. I can’t wait to read them.

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Seeing ‘Twilight’ on Thursday at midnight? E-mail me your review at denise.martin@latimes.com and I’ll post a roundup first thing Friday morning. I want to hear all your thoughts!

And catch up on past Countdown interviews: Robert Pattinson (Parts 1, 2 and 3), Kristen Stewart, author Stephenie Meyer, director Catherine Hardwicke (Parts 1 and 2), screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, Peter Facinelli, Edi Gathegi and Taylor Lautner.

-- Denise Martin

Related:
Complete ‘Twilight’ Countdown coverage
Complete ‘Twilight’ coverage on Hero Complex

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