Monday, July 12, 2010

Twilight

I finally did it. I’d been avoiding it for a year (or more? I’ve lost track). I watched Twilight.

 

Lets’ just say that while I enjoy sci fi/urban fantasy/paranormal romance and also YA (hello, Harry Potter), that I have never gotten into vampires.  Sure, I saw Interview with a Vampire years ago, and it wasn’t bad.  But it never inspired any Bite-Me type fantasies (no matter how sexy the leading actors were…too bad they were bloodsucking dead people). A recent Harlequin Blaze (whose title escapes me) about cowboy vampires didn’t really help matters.  At some point all that scary-evil-biting-erotic(?) stuff just looks silly to me. Still, when so many people are so awe-struck by a book series or film, I figure I should at least see it once.  Know what the hype is about.

 

And maybe, had I read the book first, I might have enjoyed it more. Maybe. I usually get a better feeling for characters when I read them then when I watch them. I may have skimmed the first page or two in a bookstore. But it didn’t draw me in. 

 

After two and a half hours of ten angst and blue-washed shady scenery, I still don’t get it.  The end wasn’t bad.  From about the point that James(?), the evil hunter vampire, showed up on the scene the pace really picked up.  But that was what, 45 minutes, tops?  And I’m still shocked that Bella’s parents didn’t suspect Edward of physically abusing her and try to separate the two (or at least send her to counseling).  Come on, falling down stairs? How does that account for teethmarks on her wrist? I’m still shaking my head over that.

 

So, I saw the movie.  And am still not tempted to pick up the books. Never say never, of course. But I won’t be eating my words any time soon.

 

 

1 comment:

HiddenChicken said...

Trust me, the books are even worse! I trudged through every miserable one because my sister was so excited about them and came out on the other side wanting to murder both Bella and Edward.

I found Bella a completely unsympathetic character. Not only did she go through the books as a condescending jerk to her mom (she practically treats her like a toddler), she also had this "gosh-it's-hard-to-be-so-beautiful" air that was just nauseating. And she failed all her family and friends for some dead guy! Then there was Edward - I had no idea what his motivations were for falling for Bella. With the exception of the sparkly vampire bit and occasional violence, he was a prop to hold Bella up, and she really wasn't interesting enough to bother.

Ah, well - there are a few hours of my life I'll never get back.