Anna Kendrick as Bella Swan...

[Trekker4747]

In the Twilight movies Kristen Stewart takes a LOT of flack and hassle from reviewers and people in general over her lack of screen presence and chemistry with the other characters (notably the other two parts of her love triangle.) So we can chalk this up to problems in directing or Stewart's skills as an actress (though I don't think she's too terrible an actress.)

So what if Anna Kendrick (who plays one of Bella's friends in the movie, and also has numerous other noteworthy roles in other movies) had been Bella instead? How much different would the movies had played out? Would their actually be an ounce or two of chemistry between Bella and Edward or Jacob? Or is the lack of any sort of emotion or personality supposed to be the "charm" of Bella's character?

Because, really, it's quite stupid. In the latest movie (Breaking Dawn Pt. 1) during her own damn wedding and honeymoon Bella seems about as excited for it all as she would be if she were going to a AARP convention. There's moments of her personality (pretty much anytime she interacts with Jacob) that just doesn't at all add up.

 

[scnj]

While I think this would have made the Twilight films better, I'd prefer for Anna Kendrick to not be typecast and go on to bigger and better things. She's one of the only good things about those movies.

 

[Trekker4747]

I dunno, I doubt these movies are going to "typecast" the actors in it. Kristen Stewart has the Snow White movie coming out this summer, Tyler Lautner could probably go on to bigger things fairly easily as could Robert Pattinson. But the person who we really need to see in more things is Mustache Dad.

 

[scnj]

I really liked him as the villain cult leader in Drive Angry.

 

[Mike Farley]

I've only seen the most recent movie, but Anna Kendrick was literally the only good thing about it. But even she couldn't save these crappy movies.

 

[Dream]

Anna Kendrick is too hot and has too much personality to play Bella.

What people don't seem to realize is that Bella is suppose to be a stand in for girls everywhere so she needs to be as bland and personality free as possible. If we look at it that way, Kristen Stewart is the best actor in the entire franchise.

 

[scnj]

I always thought she was an author insert. When someone asked Meyer to describe Bella, she basically described herself.

 

[23skidoo]

What people don't seem to realize is that Bella is suppose to be a stand in for girls everywhere so she needs to be as bland and personality free as possible. If we look at it that way, Kristen Stewart is the best actor in the entire franchise.

I've heard this too. But the problem is it simply doesn't fit in what is supposed to be a romantic fantasy. Having someone who is "bland and personality-free" may be real-life accurate (there goes my chances for a date anytime soon; oh well!) but it makes for very boring cinema.

Not being a member of the target demographic I wasn't too surprised that I never got into the Twilight films (though I still gave it a try because I'm not a member of Potter's target demographic either and I ate those films up like Nutella on a Ritz). But part of it was the fact I simply never warmed to the cast. I liked Rachelle Lefavre but then I like her I just about everything, and when they kicked her out for whatever reason that pretty much removed any reason I had to watch the films.

Would recasting Bella have made a difference? Maybe. I don't know who Anna Kendrick is, but one can imagine how things might have played out differently if, I don't know, Amanda Seyfried had been cast. Or Chloe Moretz (yes I know she's too young, but this is hypothetical and she'll probably have an Oscar by the time she's Stewart's age).

Alex

 

[Mike Farley]

Recasting won't change the source material or scripts which are the real source of the shittiness of the movies.