This has been my hardest film review so far. I think it had something to do with my newfound addiction to the very unhealthy, yet very sexy, Twilight book series.
What started as research became something so much more….
Ide Cyan’s post is available here.
Nabil’s post is available here.
* I apologize in advance for any incorrect name pronunciations or sex/gender assignments
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15 comments
Hahahaha. Oh Jenna, I so look forward to your reviews every week. I've been especially excited for review of Twilight.
You've made some excellent points. I would add, in addition to the power imbalance between humans and vampires, there's the creepy difference between a teenage girl and a vampire who is several centuries old. Ewww. Yes, I suppose this was done on Buffy, too, and I loved that show, but I think Buffy was far from Bella in in terms of being equally powerful and having been forced to grow up into a more mature role, and also I think that show spent way more effort commenting on the possible ramifications of a relationship between a vampire and a teenage girl.
Also, the book's weird abstinence only thing when it comes to vampires is just bizarre.
Posted by Michelle
December 5, 2008, 6:39 PM
Michelle, you rock!!
The age difference is a bit creepy but I must correct that Edward was born in 1901, making him only over one century old ;)
I agree, Buffy spent more time exploring the confines of such an unreal and dynamic relationship. The main difference I see between Buffy and Bella is (besides Buffy actually kissing butt) that she is unapologetic and full of fire. Angel did stalk Buffy, save her life a few times and even tell her what to do -- but she wasn't so complacent with him. On the other hand, I think that Bella may have been more communicative with her feelings -- pretty much owning up honestly to every sentiment she had for Edward, to Edward. That is pretty gusty and powerful in my opinion.
As for the abstinence thing, I think its more about building tension and suspense ---I'm not sure about the author's intentions but it comes off super hot that it's so forbidden and that consummation is equated with predation. Bella and Edward do end up having sex in the 3rd or 4th book, I'm not there yet, and who knows if they are married at this time...... apparently he rips pillows it's soo passionate...
Posted by Jenna
December 6, 2008, 12:08 AM
I hope that wasn't too intense and that I didn't put off my one commenter...
I love yah, Michelle!
Posted by Jenna
December 6, 2008, 2:15 PM
Aw, you're sweet. I wasn't put off at all! I was just busy snickering immaturely over your "kissing butt" typo.
Also, I don't feel incredibly qualified to comment further, as I admit to having neither read the books nor scene the movie, and all the info I have gathered has been from squealing fangirls. Once I heard that the vampires didn't have sex before marriage, I wrote the series off entirely. I am not a vampire purist by any means, but that is just going too far! Vampires are in their very essence sexual monsters, personifications of the darker sides of sexuality, so I really cannot conceive of how vampires could wait several centuries until marriage! I want my vampires lusty and perverted or I don't want vampires at all!
As for Buffy, I have my own feminist qualms with that show. It would take me fifteen posts to get it all out.
Posted by Michelle
December 6, 2008, 2:25 PM
Dammit, now I made the scene/seen mistake. That's what I get for teasing you about your typo, Jenna. I was punished by the universe. Sigh...
Posted by Michelle
December 6, 2008, 2:31 PM
SPOILERS - if you haven't read the book series yet and you don't want a few larger plot points given away don't read the following.
Michelle: not sure that it makes a difference, but there is certainly no "ALL vampires wait for sex until after marriage" rule in this particular vampire-inhabited universe.
The vampire character Edward, however is very married to the prevalent values of his human life, and so he, specifically, wants to wait until after marriage. Actually there seems to be a part of him that would prefer never to have sex with Bella because he's afraid he'll hurt Bella what with the weird "marble-hard" skin/flesh all the vampires are supposed to have + the super strength/speed. He thinks these in combination with being 'out of control' because he's having sex would equal injuries for Bella.
[spoilers ahead] So they wait until the 4th book (which, as a fan of the first three books, I have to say sucked and not in a good way): Bella has graduated, she and Edward get married, they have sex (which does hurt Bella but she doesn't care), she gets preggers (which isn't supposed to be possible), the pregnancy almost kills her, so when she almost dies giving birth Edward finally gives in and makes her a vampire. Further wackiness ensues.
The whole fourth book is fundamentally messed up from a storytelling/fiction writing point of view - even if you can ignore the feminist issues brought up by the author's conception of this world inhabited by werewolves and vampires.
And yet I love the first three books.
Posted by reticent
December 6, 2008, 3:18 PM
I have to admit I was a bit scared to watch this. I know there's been quite a bit of feminist criticism of the series, and I was holding my breath (literally) until you mentioned getting into the series.
In the FAQ section for Breaking Dawn (packed with serious, huge spoilers) on her site, Stephanie Meyer directly addresses claims that Bella is an anti-feminist heroine. She basically says that, in her opinion, feminism is about choice. Bella's choices do not make her an anti-feminist character and I get the impression that Meyer herself is a feminist.
I really love the saga, in part for the way Bella grows as a character. So what if romantic love made her happy? It did precisely the same thing for Edward, potentially to an ever greater extent.
I encourage anybody vaguely interested to read them. They're not literature, they weren't intended for 12 year olds, Stephanie needs a new editor, and they are beyond addicting.
Oh, and I'm completely and irrevocably in love with the movie. Thanks for the open-minded review :)
Posted by quamquam
December 7, 2008, 12:19 AM
i hope the vampires eat the vegiez and not my neck!!!
Posted by © Dr Doc (dlcs)
December 8, 2008, 9:15 AM
Hi nice people,
Am I the only one desperate to read some good and sexy details about making out with Edward?
I am considering to start writing these scenes myself!
Of course it has been a while since I was 12 (even though I didn't mind sexy details back than either).
What do you reckon?
Posted by Micky Rose
December 19, 2008, 8:26 AM
quite frankyly Micky Rose, you are not the only one! I am really into Edward and Bella's relationship. I find it super romantic and sexy and I'm not ashamed of that.
(possible spoiler)
in the 4th book when Edward and Bella eventually do it, I don't know if it makes it better or worse that we don't get any of the details, but just the immediate before and after parts.
It's meant for young adults, sure, but does this make it more taboo and leave us wanting more? Is playing hard to get really the key to Edward Cullen?
MK - I would love to read your sexy scenes if you could fill in the blanks.
Posted by Jenna
December 19, 2008, 1:12 PM
Hello! So interesting to read all of your comments!
I've found myself sucked into the Twilight series, and have also felt conflicted about it - causing me to google words like 'Twilight feminist criticism', which is how I found this blog.:)
Ok, so, on the one hand I'm totally sucked in and just enjoying Bella and Edward's story, and on the other I'm not sure what to do with the fact that, yet again, Edward and Bella, in fact just about all the central characters, fit into conventional physical body types (my particular hangup). There's a big part of me that's like 'arg! how can i support yet another story of 'only if you are beautiful, thin and rich, can you find eternal unconditional love', how can it be right to dish this out to young girls, to anyone?'.
Posted by keesha
December 21, 2008, 7:57 PM
Keesha - I have to respond as I find this subject a little masturbatory, myself. Two years ago I might have said, "hey this book is crap" and been really depressed by its popularity, however, right now for me it's a little bit, or a lot, about escapism.
The characters definitely do resemble such as ideal as you've said - and i'm not upset about them being made as much as I think it's really about how the story has tapped into the minds of so many.
It's this romanticization of suffering for the ideal love and image. It offers this feeling of salvation that doesn't make sense and is utterly seductive.
It reminds me of George Peppard's final monologue in Breakfast at Tiffany's:
"You know what's wrong with you, Miss whoever you are, you're chicken, you've got no guts, you're afraid to stick out your chin and say okay life's a fact. People do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness. You call yourself a free spirit, a wild thing, and you're terrified someone's going to stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage, you've built it yourself. And it's not founded in the west by Tulip Texas or in the east by Somali land, it's wherever you go, because no matter where you are you just end up running into yourself."
i'm sorry i'm such a victim.
Posted by Jenna
December 21, 2008, 10:34 PM
someone should offer some counter points soon because I've become completely lost in the series...
Posted by Jenna
December 22, 2008, 2:25 AM
I'm with Keesha-found this site the same way, totally hooked and questioning my feminism at the same time.
On the one hand I'm tapping my romantic inner 17 year old self, but on the other I'm feeling like a ridiculous hypocritical 28 year old.
My biggest issue is regarding the borderline abusive relationship. While they may be in undying love with each other (btw, how often does that happen and last in the teenage years?), it's definitely not the healthiest portrayal of a relationship for the strong young ladies of today.
Then there are my practical, ignoring magic questions...how does Bella have a period if blood freaks her out so much? How does Edward get an erection if he doesn't have blood running through his veins? You know, the little things.
I know-where's my sense of make believe?
Posted by Jen
December 30, 2008, 1:29 PM
QUICK FACT: Edward Cullen is based on both Rochester from Jane Eyre (a byronic hero, nonetheless!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byronic_...) and Mr. Ferrars from Sense and Sensibility.
http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twiligh...
Posted by Jenna
January 3, 2009, 10:24 PM
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