My guilty pleasure

Or maybe it's guiltless, I don't know.

DH and I went to see New Moon at 7 a.m. this morning. We avoided the midnight showings so as to avoid the hoardes of teenagers--and because we're too old to be up that late. :hysterical:

I figured most of them would be in bed or leaving for school by 7 a.m. I was right. The theater was not crowded at all.

The movie was fantastic. We had a very good time. The special effects were good. The wolves looked real. The fight scenes were done well. The movie theater scene with Mike, Bella and Jake was amusing.

New Moon ends rather abruptly but I thought it was the perfect lead-in to Eclipse. Some of the younger crowd were upset--"it isn't supposed to end like that!" but, truly, nothing more needed to be added. I thought it was a clever and appropriate way to finish off this part of the Twilight story. I found myself laughing and left the theater in good spirits.

If you haven't read the books, you may not like the movie as much as I did (and you won't understand why the ending is so funny) but I do think it was better than the Twilight movie. I hope Eclipse is as good.

My daughter, granddaughter and I will be seeing it this weekend - definitely a matinee - but not at 7am!! LOL!

I have to admit that we giggled all the way through Twilight so will probably find this one a bit silly. Still, it will be fun.

New Moon is my least favorite of the books. Poor Bella just can't exist without a man in her life. Let's hope the movie gives her some personality!

Deb

(deleted the post myself). Wikipedia answered my question.

DebBrown said:

... Poor Bella just can't exist without a man in her life. Let's hope the movie gives her some personality!

Deb

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I would have to disagree. Bella did not go out looking for all the male attention she received after moving to Forks. The premise of the series is that Bella's and Edward's love is beyond anything we mere humans can attain. That is part of the fantasy and that's what makes it so entertaining for me.

UWSurfer said:

(deleted the post myself). Wikipedia answered my question.

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Wikipedia gives the plot outlines but I don't believe the plot can account for the popularity of this series. I'd never read it based on that.

A little over a year ago my DD (adult, college graduate) came rushing in to tell me that Twilight was being made into a movie and I had to read the book so we could see the movie together. To humor her I took the book on vacation. As I started reading the first few pages I thought to myself, "why am I reading a stupid teenage vampire romance?" But it didn't take long for me to get sucked in (pun intended) to this love story and to gobble up the sequels as well. Even my DH and my two DILs love the books.

For me, the attraction is in the love story. I've spent most of my adult life reading very little fiction--mostly professional literature. So the romance caught me by surprise. The sexual tension is kept high throughout these books not by the usual trash talk in romance novels but by lovely words, intense looks, tender touching and a love that is willing to sacrifice itself for the other.

It's the romance that most women want. Bella is an average, albeit clumsy, girl (at least she sees herself as nothing special) who is romanced by the most handsome boy in town. He is beautiful, intelligent, graceful, strong, incredibly self-controlled and he even smells good. He uses graceful speech and manners. He sees in her an inner and outer beauty that she does not see in herself. What woman doesn't want her man to be all those things and to think that she is the only woman he could ever want? Like I said, this is total fantasy. And it is very delicious to women of all ages.

Bella is Edward's heroine. She saves him from his depression and gives him a reason to exist. In the final book, she literally saves the entire family from destruction. She emerges as a strong woman who gets everything she wants and more.

I'm taking my girls and some of their friends Saturday night, in a lame attempt to avoid the opening-night (and opening morning?) crowds. It'll probably still be crowded.

I've been reading the books and enjoyed the writing of the first two; I found the third somewhat tedious, as it seemed rather repetitive with a lot of padding. Nonetheless, I like them.

I also like that subjects such as vampires and werewolves, as well as romance, are somehow handled without being scary, creepy, sexually graphic, or vulgar.

pjrose said:

I also like that subjects such as vampires and werewolves, as well as romance, are somehow handled without being scary, creepy, sexually graphic, or vulgar.

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I also liked that this is not the typical vampire lore. No coffins, no stakes through the heart, etc. Meyers treats them more in the sci-fi realm than the fantasy realm. Her creatures have somewhat scientific explanations. (far fetched science but still an attempt to make some sense) I really liked that the love story could be so sensual without ever being vulgar or crude. I've read two other romance novels since and while they could have been good, I found both rather disgusting.

Just returned from seeing the movie with seven girls. We had a great time. The girls were practically drooling. DD was literally sitting on the edge of her seat leaning as far forward as she could without bumping the people in front of her. When Jacob took off his shirt, she immediately let out a loud "Oooooooo", and half the theatre cracked up. I've got to keep her on a short leash

I found most of the movie funny. I think Jacob and Edward smiled too much for it to be as serious as it could have been.

I took my 15 year old daughter to see New Moon yesterday. It was my day off so I bought the tickets early in the day and pulled her out of school a half hour early so that we could catch an early showing to avoid the crowds.

Our plan worked but the theatre was still packed out and most shows sold out for the entire day. When I first went to the theatre to buy the tickets, most of the people were in line to buy tickets for later that day.

I thought the movie was awesome!!! WAAAAAY better than Twilight!!!

It was funnier; more actions; more intense; and overall just BETTER! I would go see it again.

I plan on taking my other kids to see it as well when the hype dies down a little because they are younger and get a little restless in theatre's sometimes.

The director did a wonderful job with this one and I wish he directed the upcoming sequels but we all know that he's not; unfortunately.

My only pet peeve about the movie was the eyes....TOO RED or TOO TOPAZ. The vampires definetly look more like vamps in this movie and not so human. The wolves were too skinny for the book description.

I LOVED THE WOLVES LOOK AND TRANSFORMATION!! I'M NOW A JACOB FAN!

I'm still team Edward but I like Jacob even more now than before. I love the book version of Jacob, especially in Breaking Dawn!

New Moon was alot of people (I know personally) least favorite of the book but they managed to make the movie great. I can't wait for Eclipse but it sucks that they are replacing Victoria.

I'm glad they didn't make Bella quite so needy and dependant; actually she was very co-dependant on Edward and Jacob but she was way worse in the book and I'm glad the movie Bella was stronger and more defiant.

Eclipse ought to be interesting and exciting and Breaking Dawn is just going to be phenomenal; it's my favorite of all books.

I just don't see how they are going to make Breaking Dawn in one movie without it being over 3 hours long. I've heard they are thinking of making it into 2 movies but I'd like to see it as one really long movie. It's filled with enough to keep people interested through the hours.

Okay, enough of my rambling. GO SEE NEW MOON!!

Piscesqueen said:

I'm glad they didn't make Bella quite so needy and dependant; actually she was very co-dependant on Edward and Jacob but she was way worse in the book and I'm glad the movie Bella was stronger and more defiant.

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I went a second time to the movie. My daughter wanted to see it. She is a voracious reader and has a BA in English, emphasis on creative writing. It is interesting to me to hear her opinions.

We both thought Bella comes across more independent and strong in the books than in the movies although I did love it when she tells Edward to "shut up" in the movie. He really gets on my nerves sometimes with all of his brooding negativity. I liked Jacob alot more in New Moon because he is positive and doesn't try to coddle Bella--and she definitely does not want coddling. (Edward makes that observation in "Midnight Sun.") Jacob gets annoying in Eclipse. I think Lautner will help to take the edge off that impression for me, though, as he adds some beauty to the role.

In our media culture, heroines are often depicted as super athletes in form-fitting leather jumpsuits--or skimpy attire. They are expert martial artists and have a lots of weapons at their disposal. And super powers. Got to have super powers.

Along comes Bella Swan who not only is not athletic or skilled in any type of combat--she's just plain clumsy. She does not fit our current media mold. I did not see her as weak. She is a nurturer. She looked after her mother and then her father. She nurtures Edward and Jacob--both of whom see themselves as monsters unworthy of love. She loves them and convinces them that they are worthy of love. Her super power is love. She manages to calm the waters between the vampires and the wolves. She is the binding force that forges the truce between the groups. Not as flashy as fighting to the death with acrobatic martial arts moves, but more effective in the long run. And in BD, it is her ability to shield her loved ones that saves the day, not any ability to bash and kill the enemy. I think our culture does not give enough respect and homage to the role of nurturing. Somehow, that is seen as weak. I wholeheartedly disagree.

Being human, she cannot keep up with the super strength of the vamps and wolves. She is at a disadvantage in the physical department but physical prowess is what media sells as being strong. Maybe that's why people see her as weak.

I think that, given all the intense emotion and life-threatening danger that she is in, she handles the stress of abandonment and non-stop fear (for herself and those she loves) in a heroic way. She really does try to get over Edward. The movie makes it look like she sits in a chair for four months. The book is clear that after the first week she went back to her normal routine of school. She did what she could do outwardly. She didn't rant and rave and complain to everyone. She held up her part of the school work and work at home. She had a paying job. She avoided things that would cause more pain such as music, romantic movies, etc. She did not wallow in self-pity. She tried--valiently imo--to make a new life for herself. It wasn't her fault that Jacob wanted more than she could give him at that time. Sure she became emotionally tied to Jacob but I don't see human interaction as a weakness. I think people who keep themselves aloof from others are afraid, not independent. The fact that she reached out to him makes her strong to me, not weak. She was not willing to give up on him, even when he gave up on himself. She thought he had been sucked into a gang or a cult and she was willing to fight for him, to rescue him. Does that make her co-dependant or weak? Not in my book!

I don't see Bella as needing a man--just as needing Edward as much as he needs her. She turned down at least three guys in the first book. She wasn't looking for love or a relationship but when it came, she didn't hold back. She was fearless in her love for Edward. Is love such a bad thing?

We saw it yesterday and really enjoyed it. It was much better than the first. I was impressed that they managed to cram so much of the story - with small alterations - into a short time. I too thought Jake was great. I was afraid that he wouldn't be believable as the book describes him as growing to 6 and a half feet but he really did a great job. Although some of the dialogue was lifted from the book, much of it was funnier and wittier.

Deb

My dd, an avid fan, saw it last night and told me she has a new crush on one of the leading characters (not Edward but I don't remember the name, never having read the books). She said it made her feel just a little bit "dirty" though, as she is 22 and he is 16. I told her it would be okay to like younger men in a few more years ... at which point she informed me that 16 is legal in Louisiana where she lives.

Rose Pink said:

Does that make her co-dependant or weak? Not in my book! I don't see Bella as needing a man--just as needing Edward as much as he needs her. She turned down at least three guys in the first book. She wasn't looking for love or a relationship but when it came, she didn't hold back. She was fearless in her love for Edward. Is love such a bad thing?

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I don't believe Bella is "weak" but I do think she is dependant on Edward and Jacob. Never in my statement did I say she was weak because it takes a strong a** woman to be in love with a Vampire and best friends with a Wolf Shape Shifter.

I think you took my statement as I don't like Bella, when that is totally not the case and I didn't mean to get into a Twilight debate. I apologize if I offended you but in my personal opinion Bella was dependant. She even admits it herself in the movie that she does NEED Jacob. When she didn't have her boys in her life she was comotose and a zombie; it's even referred to as her Zombie phase (I believe). That was just her way of coping with loss.

The book made Bella's "Zombie" phase seem way worse than the movie did (IMO) and I'm glad that they kept it to a minumum in New Moon the movie. I just liked Bella all around in New Moon the movie!!

I adore Bella's strength and loyalty to both of her boys. She is truly dedicated to those she loves and fights for them. Bravery is her strongest characteristic and I was glad that New Moon displayed that bravery.

Piscesqueen said:

I don't believe Bella is "weak" but I do think she is dependant on Edward and Jacob. Never in my statement did I say she was weak because it takes a strong a** woman to be in love with a Vampire and best friends with a Wolf Shape Shifter.

I think you took my statement as I don't like Bella, when that is totally not the case and I didn't mean to get into a Twilight debate. I apologize if I offended you but in my personal opinion Bella was dependant. She even admits it herself in the movie that she does NEED Jacob. When she didn't have her boys in her life she was comotose and a zombie; it's even referred to as her Zombie phase (I believe). That was just her way of coping with loss.

The book made Bella's "Zombie" phase seem way worse than the movie did (IMO) and I'm glad that they kept it to a minumum in New Moon the movie. I just liked Bella all around in New Moon the movie!!

I adore Bella's strength and loyalty to both of her boys. She is truly dedicated to those she loves and fights for them. Bravery is her strongest characteristic and I was glad that New Moon displayed that bravery.

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I am not offended. I just believe depending on one another is a not bad thing. I think it is a good thing. I see a difference between being dependant and co-dependant (the term you used in your first post). To me, co-dependant implies a relationship in which one person reinforces and supports the bad habits of another--such as an abused spouse making excuses for the abuser ("Oh, he doesn't mean to, he's just under so much pressure." That sort of thing.) OTOH, if we can't depend on one another, then what is society for? I depend on farmers to produce food and they depend on me to buy it. I depend on my loved ones to be there for me and they depend on me for the same.

The book does do a more thorough job of describing Bella's zombie state. The zombie movie was her wake-up call and the movie does not explore that. But I was thoroughly amused by Jessica's monologue.:hysterical: And I realize not everything can make it into the movie. Meyers takes great pains to describe mental and emotional states and it is difficult to make that come across on a visual movie screen. There were a number of moments in the movie that referred to Bella's pain and attempts to cope with it but, if I had not read the book, I wouldn't have recognized them as such: the zombie movie, wrapping her arms around her chest, turning off the music, Bella needing to look away when Sam and Emily kiss, her refusal to say Edward's name.

I don't begrudge Bella her zombie state--at least she was trying to cope outwardly but in order to do that she had to shut down her emotions. She couldn't function when in pain, so she shut it off as best she could. But, I agree, a movie dwelling on that would not have been fun to watch so it's good it moved quickly on to Jacob. In the book, Bella realizes her zombie state, makes a decision to come out of it, sees the bikes and then thinks of Jacob. She had already made the decision to move to the next level of healing before she became good friends with him, not because of him. Yes, she needs him, but I don't see that as co-dependant. Dependant, yes, co-dependant, no. One is good and one is not. It is good to be a friend and to need friends. Bella's problem is that hers abandon her.

I have a genetically-based depressive disorder. Born with it. Cope with it daily. Function extremely well, if I do say so myself. So, when I read Meyer's description of Bella's profound depression, it took me by surprise. She described the feeling so accurately--that feeling of not being whole, of having to physically hold yourself together and partition off certain parts of your emotions in order to perform daily routines. It was a beautifully on-target description. I've heard others talk about Bella's inability (ie weakness) to move past Edward as quickly as they think she should. I think she was doing an admirable job of trying to heal herself without imposing her pain on others. Of course, some people fault her for trying to get over him at all. I guess they want her to wallow forever in their loss.

It just seemed to me that in the move, Bella was constantly mourning her loss rather than trying to get past it. I think it was clearer in the book that she was working to get over him. She had accepted his abandonment and was trying to move on. Great pain can take a great time to heal. She was also shell-shocked from his abrupt departure and that emotion can take an extra long time to fade.

The best thing about Bella's brooding is that she has raised awareness of teenage depression. This is indeed a serious issue and this book/movie take a very hard look at it. The "dependence", however, is a real negative to me. I cringe thinking of Bella as a role model for young impressionable girls.

Deb