The book was of course much better than the movie. You did not have to read the book first, my Husband who has never read the books and did not know any of the story understood the movie in its entirety. I who had read all of the books thought the movie was a litte slow moving. The scene with James attacking Bella in the dance studio did not last long enough or do the book justice at all. I hope there is a movie for the other three books and I hope they are more lively.