Vampire Baseball Wins In Your Pants

[dandysora]

So, almost a month later than the rest of the world, I went today with Sunshine and Mage to see Twilight in the city and it was a bit like being in high school again for all it drove us to to keep ourselves interested.

Comments

[dolorosa_12]

Yes, yes and yes to everything you say. I've just come here from grumpily correcting a friend elsewhere online when he described the concept of Twilight as "original". (I pointed him to Buffy, of course.) When you think that Bella Swan is the latest incarnation of Buffy 'likes a bit of monster in her men' Summers, it's really depressing. As you say, Stephanie Meyer insults her readers' intelligence. Joss Whedon, who is not, and never has been, a teenage girl, speaks to and for and as teenage girls everywhere. Stephanie Meyer, who was once a teenage girl, misses the point entirely.

Part of it is to do with her social conservatism (she's a Mormon), part of it is to do with her inability to write and create believable characters (Twilight is like a self-insert Mary Sue fanfic) and part of it is to do with the depressing expectations of her target audience. This article sums up those expectations very well, although it's pretty miserable reading

[dandysora]

That article has summed it up so well. My friend and I could have had an even better time if we hadn't been so conscious of having SOME consideration of other cinema goers. Really, we seemed to be the only ones who cracked up at every other moment and I made every effort to keep my pain to myself. Even if I died a little on the inside each time. o0;

[link621]

To answer your question, it was actually quite fun being in the opening night crowd - we were surrounded by a bevvy of over-stimulated teenie-boppers that would scream in excitement at Edward's every appearance. I think even the most die-hard fans of the novels really only thought the movie was unintentionally hilarious. In my case, I think it was just downright awkward - every interaction was awkward, every relationship was awkward... the only characters with any chemistry at all are Alice and Jasper (of which there needs to be much more).

[dandysora]

It sounds as though the atmosphere on opening night would have been excellent. Certainly less quiet, unlike my session (ahem).

That is a good observation that struck me, but I forgot in retrospect: Bella and Edward had an awkward dynamic to almost every interaction. It wasn't the cute and shy awkward, either, such as when Bella stood in his room and it seemed like the case when you're an unexpected visitor and you don't know how to work with your host to break the ice. I guess they never really fell in love for me.

Oh, Alice and Jasper were DARLING! I loved the way she pitches, the way Jasper swings and how Alice would pet him kindly assuring that he *could* restrain from eating Edward's new girlfriend. ♥ ♥ ♥ These two are my unintentional OTP.

[_liatris]

I have a belated crush on Jasper. You lead and I will follow it seems. But there was no talking to my coworkers today who have all-ALL!!-been falsely lulled into loving this piece of 'hack' material (is 'hack' too strong a word?). I ended up bemoaning what I estimated to be their loss of infinite brain cells and waving my hands wildly to gesticulate my points.

You know what hurt me most about this movie: The lack of wit. What, you put that many teenage characters together but not one of them can crack a decent joke? Oh the sarcasm that I used so often in my youth-where art thou? The sheer pain of the exchanges...

(the baseball scene is on youtube...)

[_liatris]

However, props must be given to the actor who played Charlie Swan and who actually acted well. Shotgun scene rules.

[dandysora]

Ho ho ho, I have watched the baseball scene repeatedly thanks to the 'tube. I can't get enough of Alice and Jasper, but everyone in that scene just shines! :D I WAS BEDAZZLED! Now at least you won't have any problems with Jasper and age.

And Charlie Swan, ho! He is the unsung hero in the Swan family unit.

So, what is it that your coworkers really love about the material? Is it the movie they love or the book series (or both)?