The last movie to excite me was Harry Potter – pick a number in the series, it doesn’t matter, I enjoyed them all. My daughter was the age of the main characters when the first film came out. She has matured along with Harry, Hermione and Ron. She ‘gets’ it now. She follows the emotional reactions that are so much more complicated now than they were when the characters – and she – were so young.
I enjoy Harry Potter because of the fantasy. The way the films – and of course, the books – took my daughter’s imagination to a new level. She was fascinated by something exciting and new, and I watched her enjoyment with my own.
And so it was again today when, together, we saw a matinee of Twilight.
Twilight will captivate your teen. There’s no question in my mind about this. The girls will definitely relate to the teen heroine, Bella. They will understand her angst, her passion, her confusion and her ever-so-teen-like superiority and awkwardness.
While I watched this movie, I thought like a writer – and no, I have not yet read the books but do intend to. I watched the first hour or so with intense interest. There was little physical action, yet I was drawn in. I listened to every word spoken, because every word spoken sounded and felt like it mattered. And it did. To the seventeen year old heroine. And to me – a one-time teen. I understood her. I WAS her at one time in my life. Not that I experienced the same events she did, because, let’s face it, to my knowledge, I never fell in love with a vampire. But, I did experience the same emotions. The same doubts, needs, desires.
The beginning of the movie introduces us to high-schoolers just months before their junior prom. They are children on the cusp. Their passions run deep and pure. Their emotions, all-consuming. They react, not act – the exact opposite of what I try to teach Daughter now so when the time comes, she’s prepared.
As if.
Who is ever prepared for the tsunami of teenaged emotions?
It’s to that issue this movie speaks. Strike all logic and forethought from your mind if you see this. Consider instead the needs of teens. Consider how paramount each moment is to them – or was to you. Consider how vital it was to just be with the boy you liked – to just have him smile at you. Heck… to just have him LOOK your way. All that and more is what oozes from this film. The acting. The writing. The filming. The memories we bring to the theater. They all work together to make this romance – which is the crux of the film – palpable. Identifiable. Believable.
I’m thrilled Daughter and I were able to see this today – the first showing in my area. And I’m thrilled we were able to see it together. Most of all, I was thrilled each time I glanced over at her and saw that – no matter how complex the behaviors seemed to be – she ‘got’ it.
Last year (or was it the year before??), everyone was wondering what would be “the new Harry Potter.” Well, here it is. The Twilight books seem to have come out of nowhere to me, but that’s just because I’m not around teens much anymore.
I wonder if Bella and Edward will become mythological shorthand for their generation? Like the classic Trek characters are for Boomers — “It’s dead, Jim.” “Beam me up.”
I think Bella and Edward will. And the catch phrase will be – “You’re like a drug to me.” This movie is definitely the answer to Harry Potter. Those kids have grown up – yes there are more HP movies to come out, and we’ll see them, but this seems to be the new ‘thing’. I’m glad. As a teen I had great music and… interesting… fashion. At least teens today will have something to mark their youth. And hey, if it gets them reading, mores the better. 🙂
~Debbie
I am so impressed with Stephanie Meyers, the originator of TWILIGHT! She was once an average (but still selling) romance writer. She wrote the first book of her series, summarized her next two book ideas for a series in synopsis format and then worked diligently to find an agent. Her agent made a deal with Little Brown that brought Meyers a $750,000 contract. Each of her three books sold like wildfire before the popular movie, TWILIGHT, came out this weekend.
Shoot, that takes work. Good for her. While I’ve enjoyed the HP movies, they don’t nearly have the depth or detail of the books. Man I love those books.
I’ve got a thing against vampires, or I’d probably check this series out.
Jess
Debbie, LOL, sounds like you’ve become a Twi-Mom! But seriously, I’m glad you and your daughter were able to see and enjoy the movie together. Like Jess, I’m not big on vampires, so I don’t know if I’ll see it or not. It’s a genuine phenomenon, though.
Linda
Kathleen,
I’m so wrapped up in my own little world that sometimes I don’t see what’s going on around me – like Stephanie Meyers’ books being bought up. I did purchase Book 1 for Daughter as a Christmas gift, but that was only after she showed interest in the trailers for the movie. I’ve a feeling we’ll be reading these books together.
~Debbie
Jess,
It’s interesting that you feel the HP movies aren’t as detailed or deep as the books. I’ve yet to read them – I started book one but never finished. Daughter has read every one except seven – I’m waiting for it to come out in paperback. She’s in love with the books and constantly makes comparisons to the movie. She feels as you do. I wonder what she’ll think of the Twilight books vs. the movies.
~Debbie
Linda,
I have become a Twi-Mom! lol. I’m a romantic and the teen romance in this story brought me way back. I couldn’t resist the pull any more than the heroine could. It reminded me of a time when the only thing that mattered was being liked by the boy who I liked – whichever boy that was on a given day. lol. What an exciting – and confusing – time the teen years are/were, yes? This movie brought that back for me but gave me hope for ‘happily ever after’. And with vampires, ‘ever after’ is a mighty long time. 🙂
~Debbie
This one was off the radar for me. I’d seen some threads over on romance divas about it but didn’t even open them up because I didn’t know what “Twilight” was. Anyway, having said that, I went to lunch with my friend and his wife yesterday and the wife, her friends and a bunch of kids were all going to see it last night (my male friend had no interest). So, with your review and knowing they all went last night, I watched the trailer this morning. It looks like one of those movies that I would enjoy if I watched it but it’s not one that would really catch my attention on its own. I’m not a huge fan of paranormal stories (although some of my favorite books do have paranormal elements) but the ones I do like usually have humor to them – and lots of it. I guess this is why I’ve never read any of the Harry Potter books, never seen the movies, and have no desire to change that either. I probably would love them if I got into them but the desire to start in on any of them just isn’t there.
Glad you enjoyed Twilight though and that you got to share it with your daughter. 🙂
Laura,
I’m not normally into paranormal, and vampires are not high on my list of must-sees. However, Daughter was really excited about this and so I went. As you can see, I wasn’t disappointed. The paranormal aspect of it was on the corny side (for me, anyway), but if you suspend disbelief for a couple of hours, you can still enjoy it. There was no gratuitous bloodsucking, just the emotional tug and pull of great-for-me vs. bad-for-me young love. If you do decide to see it, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
~Debbie
I like Linda’s description: TWI-MOM, ha ha. It seems that our youth loves paranormal. Many were brought up with Harry Potter, not to mention BUFFY! I think paranormal and vampires are here to stay. I wish so much I wanted to write them, but alas I don’t enjoy reading them and therefore can’t write them. Still, I admire the success of writers like Stephanie Meyers who write them well.
Kathleen,
I feel the same way. And while Erotic Romance was the ‘it’ thing, I wanted to write those as well. It didn’t work out for me since that’s not my niche. I think if we enjoy what we write, it shows and is contagious. Like Stephanie Meyers’ Twilight. She said she started writing and couldn’t stop. Even SHE wanted to know what was going to happen next. That enthusiasm has to come from within. It can’t be forced. If it is, it shows. All that shows with this is the love and enthusiasm she poured into it. Hopefully, it’ll be – or is – the same for us and our work.
~Debbie
I’m looking forward to seeing this movie. Glad to hear you liked it.