Move over Scarlett and Rhett

November 21, 2008 was a date long waited for in our household. Well, Alice waited for it. For Patrick and I it was just another Friday. The date was important because the film “Twilight” was released. Alice devoured the books in the series over the summer, fell immediately in lust with Robert Pattinson (who plays one of the main characters), and waited for this film to open like I plan an Oscar party. She saw it; she loved it (though wasn’t all jabbery about it around the house) and then…. asked if I wanted to see it. With her. Alice hasn’t asked for me to go with her to a movie in years (it’s usually the other way around). Sure, I know it was to see it again. And to swing my paying for her (I volunteered). But what the heck; your 15 year old wants to do something with you, you do it.

Quick synopsis (easy to do; the plot is minimal): Teenage girl meets boy. Boy is vampire. The good news is that his family resists killing humans. The bad news (well, good for parents of a gazillion teenage girls who love the book) is that the boy can’t succumb to his desires for the girl or he’d lose control and then he would kill her. So, lots of tension; no consummation.

For a PG-13 movie (that really is a PG-13, not an R in disguise) there is no sex, little skin (though a few exposed necks), no foul language, and only a little bit of violence (not graphic). What else? There’s a strong female character in Bella. She is independent, a bit of a loner, smart and knows what she wants. The other teens in the film (the human kind anyway) are pretty good kids and for those shown with parents are – gasp – respectful. Bella is the product of a divorce, and is shuttled between mother and father, but both relationships are shown to be positive. And even the ex-es communicate on Bella’s behalf in a sane way. And what does the film say about families, as in the blood sucking, never sleep, pale of skin kind? Committed, loyal, and protective. So all in all, the teens are shown to be complex, talented individuals; the adults are not shown as idiots and relationships, for the most part, are positive and respectful.

What I admired about the film making – not that this is great movie – is the representation of the relationship between the two main characters. If you don’t believe in the power of their attraction and their continued love for each others – there simply is no film. Even in big films that featured great romances like Titanic or Gone with the Wind, aside from the spectacle, story and special effects, there was the central pair of lovers. In this case you pretty much only have the lovers. But you do have them, and the result is engaging. I watched them and could feel the tension of possible destruction and obvious desire (and how many of us haven’t experienced that kind of relationship?). There’s one scene where they may or may not kiss for the first time and Bella’s mixture of great fear and great desire is very palpable.

Just like when I go to a horror movie, I want to be scared or I don’t feel entertained, when I go to a love story I want to empathize with the emotion. I definitely got my money worth.

And evidently so did a lot of people. The film took in over $70 million this weekend alone. And here’s the real bonus. The film was directed by a woman (Catherine Hardwicke), and written by a woman (Stephanie Meyer wrote the Twilight series). The success of the franchise (the other 3 books are planned for filmdom) may encourage more girls to go into writing or directing, both male-dominated fields. Or at least be strong and independent like Bella. (Admittedly there was a touch of hero saving the damsel in distress that I hope is worked on in later books).

And on a much smaller scale, I really enjoyed going to the movie with my daughter and asking her questions that readers of the series know. For the first time in a long time we talked about something other than school, her room, what she spends, who she knows, what she wants to do or doesn’t. Even if it was about hunky vampires.

* hey guys this is Alice! Today i really enjoyed my mom and mines date to the movie. Sometimes when im not so head over heels in love with robert pattinson or not reading the books i ask myself why they’re so popular. I think girls can relate enough to bella, the clumsy feminine basically average girl, to make the book not so out of reach. I mean if a girl like me-(Bella) can get with a hot, romantic, mysterious, vampire than why cant I?. Personally, i was surprised to see this movie didnt make it on EW’s top 50 sexiest movies (even though its only been out for a week) I’m also sad to say, from my moms perspective- Bella does not get “stronger”. Though through out the books she is constantly saving Edward from completley hating him self,by proving he can be loved. But in the physical aspect- he’ll always be the super gorgeous 1000x stronger protector. But honestly that is the reason we read these books. But for you feminists out there watch for “Midnight Sun” the book from Edwards perspective- it will give you some satisfaction by truly showing you what a tormented, self downer he really is.

~ by modelmom on November 23, 2008.