Twilight, or something

Peer pressure brings me to a Twilight (or something along these lines) movie today ... I think it is a premire ... I think it is part of a trilogy or something ... how much can you people tell me so I can be somewhat prepped about wihat the ---- is going on?

Be prepared for what appears to be "Hanna Montana meets the Wolfman"... Various unknown (to me) Movie "stars" have been making the rounds of the talk shows with filmclips of twerps camping out in front of movie houses to be in the first group to watch this stuff. The one trailer I have seen on tv shows skinny guys jumping into the air and transforming into German Shepherds (The barking kind, not the Lederhosen-wearing kind). It didn't inspire me to grab a sleeping bag and join the other 6th graders waiting at the local theater.

it there any redeeming value ... or should i have a few beers first?

Gregg - DRINK HEAVILY.  I read the books, and enjoyed the fantasy aspect of the story, and dragged my unfortunate husband to the first movie that came out last year. The theater was filled with screaming, sighing teenage girls - I would expect this will actually be worse since the new werewolves (cute, assumed teenage boys) are in this one - twice the scream probability. Good luck. (I will be skipping this 2nd movie because frankly the first one was terrible).

If you're going to see New Moon, be aware that you are coming in on the second installment of a four-novel series.  It's not going to make any sense whatsoever.

I have no desire whatsoever to see the movies because of the above teenage girl comments, but the books were actually pretty good.  They are very much a vampire/werewolf teenage love story, though, with everything you instinctively shudder to think about as a grownup.

Greg - Have a few beers first.  The 24oz 2 for 1 happy hour special ones.

I hope you're going because of a woman.  I can understand and respect that.

Gregg, when all is said and done you will have a major favor to call in someday.

Brad

I dunno, Felix.  Somebody explained the Renesme business to me and I'm pretty sure I heard something in my brain snap.  :)

To Add to my previous comment...skip the beer and any mixers...after watching the performers appear on everything from Ellen to Leno to Local news, this movie rates Straight from the bottle KNOB CREEK...as much for sitting in the group of screamers as for enduring the idiocy of the film.    The books allow one to keep the level of "participation" within the reader's control. The film places you at the mercy of the mob.

I didn't hear any screaming when I went on the 20th, but there was a lot of irritating giggling. Presumably by the 4th or 5th time they've seen it, they've gotten over the giggles. Perhaps I'll go see it again this week in that hope.

If you're expecting a typical vampire-genre movie, you're going to be disappointed. It's a love story, in which several of the characters happen to have a handicap. In that they're not human. Otherwise, it follows many traditional literary lines. The sort of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back, girl now has "close friend" because of the time apart," boy and boy 2 are at odds until girl finally selects Mr. Right. Again, that several of the players aren't human is simply part of the plot.

Okay, that said, there are several reasons why this particular "saga" (4 books, 4 movies) is compelling, and why many of us who would ordinarily consider ourselves far too mature for that sort of thing find ourselves reading and rereading all 1200-odd pages over and over and over. (8 times and counting, in my case.) 

This is a world in which there is such a thing as true love. Princess Bride kind of True Love.  Meant To Be kind of True Love.  That's incredibly romantic, and compelling in a world of divorce, cheating, and other heartache. When Meyer's vampires fall in love, it's a permanent thing. They don't ever fall out of love. That sort of deep devotion is compelling.

Also, the story brings you back to the way you felt in high school when the object of your affection "happened" to unexpectedly pass your locker on the way to his next class when OMG!! There's NO WAY that was an accident because his class was ALL THE WAY on the other side of the building, so he MUST have just wanted to smile at me and say Hi!  ::heart pounds as you swoon against locker::  Remember that?  These books bring you right back into that depth of feeling. Many of us find a return to those emotions to be thrilling.

And yes, the first movie wasn't terribly good. It departed from the books in what many fans consider unforgivable ways. New Moon is much closer to the text, and therefore much better, imho.

Good to know about the latest movie - maybe will add to netflix when it comes out. I loved the books, too, but it was the movie theater experience that really ruined the first one for me. We hit the theater to see a different move the weekend New Moon opened, and even the giggling and high-pitched squeaks in the lobby were too much ;-)

I hear the Twilight movies make Spaceballs look like Citizen Kane.

We go with a friend of ours to these movies to snark on them, so we try to sit well away from people and don't spoil it for people who are there to legitimately watch the movie.  But we do giggle a lot.  It helps.

Needles, they are HORRIBLE.  But it's not so much the moviemaking--it's pretty well done--it's the story itself.

Yeah, I used to think vampires were cool.  30 days of night, now that was a vampire flick!

At least they havent ruined zombies.....yet.

I expect my 'ain't watching 'em' opinion of the 'Twilight' movies is similar to others' opinion of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', which was a favorite show of mine. Still, I ain't watching 'em.
Now 'True Blood' - there's a vampire show!

Jennie


I didn't hear any screaming when I went on the 20th, but there was a lot of irritating giggling. Presumably by the 4th or 5th time they've seen it, they've gotten over the giggles. Perhaps I'll go see it again this week in that hope.

If you're expecting a typical vampire-genre movie, you're going to be disappointed. It's a love story, in which several of the characters happen to have a handicap. In that they're not human. Otherwise, it follows many traditional literary lines. The sort of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back, girl now has "close friend" because of the time apart," boy and boy 2 are at odds until girl finally selects Mr. Right. Again, that several of the players aren't human is simply part of the plot.

Okay, that said, there are several reasons why this particular "saga" (4 books, 4 movies) is compelling, and why many of us who would ordinarily consider ourselves far too mature for that sort of thing find ourselves reading and rereading all 1200-odd pages over and over and over. (8 times and counting, in my case.) 

This is a world in which there is such a thing as true love. Princess Bride kind of True Love.  Meant To Be kind of True Love.  That's incredibly romantic, and compelling in a world of divorce, cheating, and other heartache. When Meyer's vampires fall in love, it's a permanent thing. They don't ever fall out of love. That sort of deep devotion is compelling.

Also, the story brings you back to the way you felt in high school when the object of your affection "happened" to unexpectedly pass your locker on the way to his next class when OMG!! There's NO WAY that was an accident because his class was ALL THE WAY on the other side of the building, so he MUST have just wanted to smile at me and say Hi!  ::heart pounds as you swoon against locker::  Remember that?  These books bring you right back into that depth of feeling. Many of us find a return to those emotions to be thrilling.

And yes, the first movie wasn't terribly good. It departed from the books in what many fans consider unforgivable ways. New Moon is much closer to the text, and therefore much better, imho.

Jennie,
 
I agree completely with you.  My daughter got me into reading the Twilight series & I read all the books at least twice.  I have enjoyed the movies & look forward to the next 2.
I am 62 years old, happily married for 43 years,but the books also take me back to those teenage years & that first love feeling.  I hope we all have those kind of memories. 
 
I also think you have to have 2 "X" chromosomes to appreciate Bella & Edward's love.