I saw TWILIGHT last night and...- Page 2

[tazber]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 1:17pm

Saturday update; 75-80 million possible weekend take

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 1:25pm

BECK: I have to tell you, my daughters have been talking -- I mean, yapping about "Twilight" forever. Both my daughters, Mary and Hannah, are fans of it.

I started reading this one just a few days -- I`m only a few pages in. I don`t mean this -- I hope you don`t take this as a slam. Are you familiar with Cormac McCarthy?

MEYER: No, I`m not.

BECK: OK. He`s a brilliant writer. Very, very different. He wrote the book "The Road."

Your book is art. It really is. And it is fascinating to read.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0805/08/gb.01.html

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:21pm

What I don't understand are these people who say "I read all the books and they are terrible". So why didn't you just stop at the first one?

Or they'll say "The books are awful but the movie is even worse!" Why go see it if you know the book is awful?

Have we become such consumer whores that crap like this gets our money even though people know good and well that its going to be terrible? Just because its a "phenomenon" or a brand name? Ridiculous! I. Do. Not. Understand. This. Generation.

Please watch SALO and pay special attention to the infamous sh*t-eating scene. That's YOU!

[geekgirl06]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:22pm

I actually thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Yeah, okay, we laughed a little more than we should of, but I thought it was a perfect adaptation of the book! I think this is more representative of how subpar the books are than how poor the movie is. Honestly, the book is really, really slow until the end, the the movie being really slow didn't seem too out of place.

[Shannon Bo Dannon]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 2:25pm

Borstalboy, they're terrible but so addicting. I can't help but read them. it's like a cheesy soap opera or a car wreck that I can't help but to watch.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 3:28pm

[Robert Taylor]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 3:58pm

I read the first book to see what all the fuss was about and hated it. The funny thing is that I completely understand why the books are so popular with teenage girls: it's like PG-porn! Almost every single page is "He's so hot! He has a six pack! His lips are perfect! Blah Blah Blah!" There isn't even any advancing plot in "Twilight" until around page 350, and even then it feels tacked on.

So when my oldest goddaughter begged to see it, I relented, if only to see what they could have possibly done with so little plot and so much convoluting of the vampire legend.

Imagine my surprise when they managed to ditch the few really engaging passages of the book while keeping the most laughable portions completely intact. Yup, they kept in the random rapists and vampire baseball game (complete with special effects that are Sci-Fi Channel telemovie quality).

Robert Pattinson does nothing more than glare out under his eyebrows and mutter lines with no nuance. He's supposed to be this huge find? I just don't get it. Kristen Stewart was fine with what she was given, which wasn't much. And Cam Gigandet was fairly good as the villain vampire, despite being given absolutely nothing to bite into (oooh, pardon the pun).

I would say that I was let down, but I went in with very low expectations and they were all met. The only reason to see this is to watch Stewart develop into a leading lady in her own right. Otherwise...don't. Just don't.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 8:14pm

I think teenage girls are a little starved for romance in this cynical age. Hence the spooning up of this series and movie.

I saw a teenaged couple walking down the street the other day. He was being rather abusive to her, and she was telling him to stop, but he kept being a pain. Boys are just kind of distracted, childish and entitled these days, and they often take their crap out on the girls. Where are the gentlemen? The sincere, kind guys who actually like and respect girls? Don't see a lot of those around.

If a mediocre book like Twilight can sell tons of copies and make a successful film, it speaks to something that is filling a specific void. Teen girls may not love the books, but they love Edward. Can't blame them. Twilight wasn't my cup of tea, but Edward is a rather melodramatic ideal.

[BDrischBDemented]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:35pm

Then shouldn't there really be some more empowering work of fiction for teenage girls? What's the point of having some fictionalized ideal of a guy if the girl is just going to bide her time in a relationship with some jerk who keeps putting her down? That seems like a more worthwhile message...

Also, I mean, he's a vampire, gentleman or not. I don't care how charming and perfect and devoted a guy is, I don't want him creeping into my room to watch me sleep. That's not romantic so much as dangerously obsessed.

**EDIT** And I just read the Glenn Beck interview. Sheesh. JK Rowling can advance plot and didn't dote on Harry's abs. Let's not be hasty with our "American JK Rowling" title. Huge sales does not a good author make. Maybe Stephanie Meyer can be "The Mormon Christopher Paolini".

Updated On: 11/22/08 at 09:35 PM

[Atrias]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 9:37pm

While I don't think this movie is a masterpiece, I think it's a vast improvement on the novel. So far, I chalk it up to the fact that 85% of the time, we don't have to put up with Bella's whiny narration--or her obsessing about Edward's perfection. Also, I think that Pattinson has owned the fact that Edward is a creeper.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 11/22/08 at 10:04pm

I liked it! No - the Twilight books are by no means great literature, but the film was well done and loyal to the story and the characters. I thought Kristin Stewart did a great job with Bella. I think that Robert Pattinson could have done a better job with Edward. He was a little ...more stoic than I expected. Edward has a bit more of a (wise, of course) teenager personality in the books. However, I loved the direction and the music etc.

There are actual good aspects to the story for anyone including females- loyalty, acceptance, trust, and doing the right thing are just a few of many aspects to the story.

As for a more empowered female--- Bella makes the choice to stay with a person who is different from others. This is a dangerous/daring choice, but also very brave. She doesn't sleep around with alot of guys and in fact turns down many guys before she becomes involved with Edward. She's mature, well-read, and knows what she wants. She isn't concerned with her image at school or other people's opinion. Yes, she is perhaps in an intense relationship, but it is mutual. And later on, she is not afraid to argue with Edward when she disagrees with him.

I personally think that this story is pure fluff and that people shouldn't read so far into it. It is by far more clean than most entertainment for young adults. But if you are looking for meaning or examples of a powerful woman, I don't think it is as negative as many people make it out to be.

Overall, I was pleased with the film.

Updated On: 11/22/08 at 10:04 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:50am

STOP GIVING MONEY TO MORMONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then please explain to me this sentence of Robert Taylor's: "I would say that I was let down, but I went in with very low expectations and they were all met."

How can a person be let down if their expectations were all met?

Updated On: 11/23/08 at 12:50 AM

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:00am

I hadn't even heard about these books until about 4 months ago, and I've had no urge to pick one up.

[tazber]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:08am

I never bothered with these children's books, but I did pick up her one adult novel (The Host) out of curiosity and it was poorly written and glacial.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:09am

Ahem, stop giving money to Mormons.

[tazber]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:11am

LOL, at the time I bought the book I didn't realize she was a mormon.
I certainly won't be supporting her anymore (even if she knew how to write).

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:15am

Are the vampires Mormons?

[tazber]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:17am

Don't know, but they suck blood so metaphorically speaking, yes.

[insertclevernamehere]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:24am

They're already working on the sequel.

[1937]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:54am

By: nygrl232

"I think teenage girls are a little starved for romance in this cynical age. Hence the spooning up of this series and movie.

I saw a teenaged couple walking down the street the other day. He was being rather abusive to her, and she was telling him to stop, but he kept being a pain. Boys are just kind of distracted, childish and entitled these days, and they often take their crap out on the girls. Where are the gentlemen? The sincere, kind guys who actually like and respect girls? Don't see a lot of those around.

If a mediocre book like Twilight can sell tons of copies and make a successful film, it speaks to something that is filling a specific void. Teen girls may not love the books, but they love Edward. Can't blame them. Twilight wasn't my cup of tea, but Edward is a rather melodramatic ideal."




I think that described it perfectly.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 5:41am

Stephenie Meyer said in an interview that "there will never be another HP" in response to the question of "what do you think of the comparisons people are making between your books and JKR's?" SM may be a little deluded, but she does at least know that her stuff isn't as good as JKR's, although HP has its flaws.

Sure, there should be a more empowering message for girls. I think this book taps into an escapist fantasy of being loved and protected by a guy who likes a girl for herself. It's not exactly empowering to show a girl continually in need of rescue, but it is a bit of a relief in a world that doesn't really give pause to the fact that we all have a need to feel less alone.

This culture ridicules those who wear their hearts on their sleeves. It's "cool" to be detached and appear to not give a damn. Being gracious or gentlemanly is laughed at, and boys are still taught to marginalize and dehumanize girls. The Taliban takes this stuff to the extreme, but seeds of it are found everywhere. It's all meant to oppress and stress, however unconscious or conscious it all may be.

I didn't like Twilight all that much, but I can see why so many people, mostly girls it seems, connected to Edward. The book seems like the author's private fantasy spelled out for all to see. Edward isn't weak for loving someone so much--he's more kickass because his love strengthens his resolve to have someone in his un-life that he truly loves, for whatever reason (I don't get their relationship at all). This story could have been told better, but even with its problems, the book seemed to bring out a response that is kind of--disturbing.

This is all just my take on it. For all I know, girls just like Eddie 'cause he's cute.

[Q]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 12:23pm

Weekend boxoffice estimate is a little over 70.5 mil.

[violet72]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 2:52pm

I actually liked the movie and yes I read the books. Was it a perfect movie, no. But I have this is a 500 page book that has teenage girls devouring in days, that is amazing. Anything that gets kids reading is good(even if it is fluff). Many of my guard students have read the series and now they are reading the books Bella read in the books (Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, Jane Austen books).

I believe we live in a cynical world and it is nice for these girls to see what romance is(even if it is unattainable). Many of these girls live in a world where to them oral sex is like a goodnight kiss and think if they want a boy they must "give it up" to them. I think this shows girls that a relationship is more then just sex.

[CMoore]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 7:25pm

I read the books I loved the movie. I surely wasn't expecting an Oscar-worthy film, as the books are just easy, fun reads. It was entertaining, and I thought Robert and Kristen were great together.

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 7:28pm

AM i the only one that doesn't understand the appeal of robert pattison. Perezhilton has some post about how hot he is like every other day but i just don't find him attractive at all, he's so pale, and british looking, like a sickly peasant farmer trying to avoid the plague in some medieval serfdom.