New Moon, Magic and Characterisation.
Have any of you seen it? I know I am very, very late in blogging about it, but only know during my 4 day weekend have I realised that I have time to indulge in all my little hobby horses.
I haven't actually seen this movie yet, and I don't really want to pay to go see it in the cinema. My sister did, and she didn't really like it and since she is far less harsh than I am it is obvious that I will find it a disgrace to all human kind. I have, however heard and seen many good things about Jacob's nakedness. Lovely as that is, me lusting after him is verging on paedophilia. I wonder how all the TwiMoms (TwiMums) justify their lust. Or do they not?
Is that the new thing that attracts fans to the movies? The literal image on screen of the characters they have dreamed about for so many years. Or do all of woman kind want to have Bella's life still? I spent all of last night discussing the brilliance of 80s television with my work friends most of whom are very hot, and very, very male. Could Bella have done that with Edward? Would Edward have even remembered 80s TV? Or was he too busy suffering at another High School or as he himself calls it, 'purgatory'? Do Sparkly Vampires watch TV?
Bella's life was never my thing - you all know that by now. I want to do so much more before I decide to find my own Sparkly One and have little sparklies with him. (And don't get me started on the whole Attempt Suicide To Bring Ex-Lover Back in New Moon). But one thing I would give a whole load for to have in common with Bella is the magic world that she gets to live in.
All the Vampires have talents and gifts and she too has her own little magical niche. It's a slightly dusty, unused niche but it does exist. And since I don't have a clean niche, a dusty one will do just fine. But the magic that Bella encounters doesn't actually do anything more. Her magical blood only attracts Edward to her and once that plot device has been used and it has worked (despite her really unfriendly personality) it doesn't do much more. It doesn't open anything up for her. And this is really different from other recent fiction with female protagonists in a world full of magic.
Take Sophie Hatter in Diana Wynne Jones' Howl's Moving Castle. She has been brought up in a world full of magic. And as the eldest of three sisteres she is perfectly content in having the most boring destiny out of the three fo them. But, without knowing she has her own brand of really practicle magic which attracts the attention of the Witch of the Waste. The more she gets involved with the curse put on her, the further she moves away from her pre-designed destiny at the eldest daughter of three. With a walking stick that she talks to and a determination not to fail, she becomes a cleaner for the most feared wizard in the land, only to realise that he is a coward of the first order. She changes the lives of every character in the book. And by the second and third books in the series she has become a highly capable and respected sorceress.
She does fall in love, but her falling in love doesn't happen because she is fatally attracted to him because of his magical cowardice but because while trying to save everyone the two of them worked together. He is not the purpose of her life and in the future books, being a mother isn't the only purpose either.
I loved that book, but don't get me wrong, Edward is far more appealing that Howl is. Well, on the surface anyway. I have always seen Edward's Suicide By Public Spakling as an act of cowardice but he sees is completely differently. He sees it as being noble. Howl wouldn't even contemplate suicide - he would run and hide. But he wouldn't pretend otherwise.
For Edward ad the rest of his crew, part of their magical make up is a huge hinderance: the sparkling in sunshine. Because of that Bella doesn't get out much in the four books, which is a huge shame. Maybe somewhere with some sunshine and laughter she would have been able to come into her own. Then again, since Edward wouldn't be able to go with her, it's doubtful.
And what about Ursela in N. M. Browne's Warriors of Alavna? She is most definitely one of those no nonsence people. When she and another classmate end up in another time by gowing through a yellow mist, she is the one who finds herself to be in contorl of magic. And once having pledged alliegence to a King, she has to convince them she is worthy. In the first book she disguises herself as a boy, in the second she doesn't need to. I cannot see Bella using her power of blocking other Vampire's powers to save anyone except for her limited circle.
And there is nothing wrong with that. Why should you save complete strangers? But when I imagine myself as a Magical Being, I save a whole bunch of people. win the gratitude of them all and end the whole quest with a feast. Bella doesn't do or even want to do any of that. She doesn't even want to drink human blood and because she is such a perfect Vampire, she doesn't have to even wretle morally with her character because settling on animal blood (you know, because that's so vegetarian).
Then there's Dunleavy in Moira J Moore's Resenting the Hero. She is pairded with the perfect partner; handsome, sexy and magically talented - she should be thrilled. She should at once make him seduce her and marry him. But that is not what she thinks about. With her own magical powers, she sees her partner as more of a hindrence than a help. And that is quite refreshing after having read the Twilight saga. There is an actual magical adventure. When I could have the choice of pretending to be Denleavy or Bella the choice for me is perfectly clear.
But is could be that Bella just has different priorities. She doesn't care about saving the world - she just wants her perfect partner and her perfect children. And that sentiment has appealled to a huge number of people. But isn't the point of having magic that you can have all of that and so much more? Why doesn't she want more? Maybe it's just me, but I really do want it all. And if I can't have it all, I rather have the adventure and the intrigue and the fun. And yes, I get it, I am just harking about my opinion. The whole point of Bella and Edward is that you can enjoy their relationship without expecting to have the same in real life (I hope not anyway...), but by the forth book even the die-hardest romantice must be feeling slightly put out. When Bella turns into a Vampire she sees how Wow/Brilliant/Sparkly/Wow (choose whichever one you like) Edward's face is. In other words, all you readers out there who have dreamed about him for four books, don't bother any more since you will never be able to see through Bella's newly Vampiric eyes.
And that's a bummer. Which is why I rather have the magical adventures.
Ok enough of the Twilight splurging. I don't know why I keep going on and on about it. It's kinda like a cut in your mouth - your tongue just can't stay away!
But today I managed to complete almost all of my Christmas shopping and that deserves a wooohoo. I feel considerable poorer but full of Christmas joy. Being seen as a Scrooge is not cool. (I'm actually looking forward to when it does become cool - since then I can be said to be following trends, not being stingy).
I also spent a really nice night out with my work mates:
And that was a hoot and a half, let me tell you. I loev the fact that I have made such good friends there. Even if K does keep telling my crush that I like him, and then adding that I need to FART. She told them all that!! I cringe to think how it will all look when I go back to work next week.
Hopefully they won't remember.
And I saw this movie trailer, for Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Click to view
Is it just me or does this trailer tell you everything that's going to happen in the movie? Not that I'm not looking forward to it.
Live Long and Prosper!!
xoxo