Previously, I did not understand why few of my friends and colleagues have become so obsessed and fixated with Twilight movie and its books series. Not to mention million of swooning devotees and fans out there. I had been avoiding the stacks of books with those distinctive covers with black and red graphic designs every time me and my husband go for our usual run for adrenaline boosting beverage – our favorite espresso rich café latte with a shot of Hazelnut @ Starbucks, and then do our usual fun thing to do, browse and gape at the latest release of bestsellers at Chapters. For some of you who don’t know, Chapters bookstore (Canada) is the counterpart of Barnes and Nobles of States.
It’s actually my son Andrew who noticed the book first, that was last year and told me that it’s going to be a huge movie soon and it’s about vampires and such. I had a quick peek at the book and I thought, nahhh, not really my cup-of-tea and besides, I am not a teenager and it’s way out-of my league and I am not going to read a book that is aimed to adolescent mind-set and accommodates age-bracket half my age, let alone about wolves and vampires!
Despite its world-wide popularity, and the fact that the Stephanie Meyer’s debut novel has sold $42 million copies, I just can’t help but well, smirk a bit. For me, literature is about Shakespeare, Dickens, Tolstoy and among other classic writers. I would think to myself too that I am such a snob, that my bookshelves at home hold the complete works of these mentioned authors. But then I also knew that new and promising novelists get reviews in literary newspapers, such as New York Times, etc.
Last weekend, I finally watched the Twilight DVD movie at the comfort of my home with Noel (my husband). And guess what? Let me wear my heart on my sleeve - I loved it! Far from my impressions, expectations and predictions - I instantly liked it! The minute I heard the intriguing narration and saw the first few act scenes and later on met the leading characters Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen……I got instantly carried away and now, I am now completely so into it! Vampires and the swooning drama of high school love affairs might not be my thing, but after watching the movie and read the first few chapters of book, I just couldn’t help it. I guess I have to literally eat and swallow my words then.
Technically, my only intention is to watch the movie out of curiosity and there goes the saying - “curiosity kills a cat!”. It’s true, inquisitiveness can lead one into dangerous situations. I think, I am afflicted with some kind of Cullen syndrome. Me for one, is probably one of the girls out there who are swooning a lot of times for every single thought and sight of ‘Edward’. I don't know about you but I could easily self-diagnose the symptoms of my recently acquired “Cullen syndrome”.
It’s actually my son Andrew who noticed the book first, that was last year and told me that it’s going to be a huge movie soon and it’s about vampires and such. I had a quick peek at the book and I thought, nahhh, not really my cup-of-tea and besides, I am not a teenager and it’s way out-of my league and I am not going to read a book that is aimed to adolescent mind-set and accommodates age-bracket half my age, let alone about wolves and vampires!
Despite its world-wide popularity, and the fact that the Stephanie Meyer’s debut novel has sold $42 million copies, I just can’t help but well, smirk a bit. For me, literature is about Shakespeare, Dickens, Tolstoy and among other classic writers. I would think to myself too that I am such a snob, that my bookshelves at home hold the complete works of these mentioned authors. But then I also knew that new and promising novelists get reviews in literary newspapers, such as New York Times, etc.
Last weekend, I finally watched the Twilight DVD movie at the comfort of my home with Noel (my husband). And guess what? Let me wear my heart on my sleeve - I loved it! Far from my impressions, expectations and predictions - I instantly liked it! The minute I heard the intriguing narration and saw the first few act scenes and later on met the leading characters Isabella Swan and Edward Cullen……I got instantly carried away and now, I am now completely so into it! Vampires and the swooning drama of high school love affairs might not be my thing, but after watching the movie and read the first few chapters of book, I just couldn’t help it. I guess I have to literally eat and swallow my words then.
Technically, my only intention is to watch the movie out of curiosity and there goes the saying - “curiosity kills a cat!”. It’s true, inquisitiveness can lead one into dangerous situations. I think, I am afflicted with some kind of Cullen syndrome. Me for one, is probably one of the girls out there who are swooning a lot of times for every single thought and sight of ‘Edward’. I don't know about you but I could easily self-diagnose the symptoms of my recently acquired “Cullen syndrome”.
Now here's the recap - the story revolves between a sad-shy-silent-sufferer junior high school girl named Bella Swan and a handsome and mysterious Edward Cullen. Bella is supposed to be just an average-looking girl with fragile and slender body structure and very fair-skinned. She has a long straight dark chestnut hair, brown eyes and a heart-shaped face. Bella recently moved to a cloudy, rainy town of Forks, Wa. Her dad is the sheriff and after few years of being away from him and the town, she’s understandably awkward and lonely. Even at school she makes friends but does not truly connect with. Until she met Edward Cullen.
Edward is an aloof, soulful Volvo owner. He is the object of infatuation and member of the awfully-close “vegetarian” Cullen clan, a brood of chalk-white brothers and sisters who love to play baseball. He is 107 year old vampire, transformed by his “father” Carlisle, who snacked on him in order to save the younger mans’ life. He’s got a very pale skin with an intense and smoldering stare, obviously a killer look. You would feel that you are in danger but you won’t mind risking such danger. He is dangerous and at the same time always so quick to protect you (I mean Bella) in every possible way. He has to resist and control himself of not devouring Bella romantically and physically as he refuses Bella’s desire to be a vampire too. This part is the most interesting part of all.
To me, Twilight is a captivating fantasy, an immortal love and life saga of modern day. It is a phenomenally-popular movie ever about vampire. It has the elements of fascination, temptation and plenty of imagination. It captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. The apple, which is the forbidden fruit, represents the temptation versus the choice and inner struggle of a chaste relationship.
I would also say that Twilight really bites, the vivid characters are very capable of sinking their teeth into one’s imagination and pulls us away from reality and bring us into a fantasy place. I think the sentimental plot of Twilight is the undying romanticism which makes the story so fascinating. My husband found it a little bit cheesy. Overall, I love Twilight, even though it’s not well written and there are plot holes and inconsistencies. But, isn’t that what true love is - to be able to love something so much that the flaws cease to matter? The Twilight book lacks of irony and cannot measure up with Harry Potter’s series which actually have some depths. But generally, a book doesn’t have to be an everlasting piece of literature to be worth reading. Twilight does not possess the literary depth level but it creates characters and settings that are so real - star-crossed lovers, deep woods, high school hormones.
To me, Twilight is a captivating fantasy, an immortal love and life saga of modern day. It is a phenomenally-popular movie ever about vampire. It has the elements of fascination, temptation and plenty of imagination. It captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. The apple, which is the forbidden fruit, represents the temptation versus the choice and inner struggle of a chaste relationship.
I would also say that Twilight really bites, the vivid characters are very capable of sinking their teeth into one’s imagination and pulls us away from reality and bring us into a fantasy place. I think the sentimental plot of Twilight is the undying romanticism which makes the story so fascinating. My husband found it a little bit cheesy. Overall, I love Twilight, even though it’s not well written and there are plot holes and inconsistencies. But, isn’t that what true love is - to be able to love something so much that the flaws cease to matter? The Twilight book lacks of irony and cannot measure up with Harry Potter’s series which actually have some depths. But generally, a book doesn’t have to be an everlasting piece of literature to be worth reading. Twilight does not possess the literary depth level but it creates characters and settings that are so real - star-crossed lovers, deep woods, high school hormones.
And that’s the thing: any writer who can create a world so vivid and compelling, well, then, I think that’s what makes a good book. Stephanie Meyer had achieved that. She did an amazing job in creating imaginary-almost real characters out of a dream. She combines suspense, romance and adventure rolled into one. Her description of the characters’ emotions are so existent. The publication of the Twilight novel made Stephanie Meyer as one of the most promising new authors. A prediction that proves to be true.
To all Bella-Edward followers out there: Hang-in there with patience. I bet you are all looking forward with much-anticipation to the sequel on the screen! Me too!!!
2 comments:
you've even-handedly critique the work of SM. you've intrigued me enough to 'sink my teeth' to draw enough 'juice' from the book. i'll go get myself a copy--now! write on!--kuya alex
Wow ! That was an amazing critique. Loved it. I felt the same way with Twilight ( the first novel). I actually bought it for my 14-year-old niece. I was intrigued by all the brouhaha the promo for the movie was creating late last year.
I had no plans to read it. I put it in a corner , but everytime I saw the book, my curiousity was piqued. Well, I thought to myself, I better read it to gauge if it's really ok for my niece. Boy, I got hooked! I devoured the pages and when I finished it, (I remembered we were in Baguio ), when we reached Manila,I dragged Rommel to Fully-Booked and bought the rest of the books. So that's how my love affair with Twilight started.
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