Twilight Thoughts and Tidbits

I'm at the top of the stairs, and I'm yelling:

COME ON GUYS. I want to leave now. DID YOU HEAR ME? (I look at my husband "Did they hear me"? He's blogging and trying to ignore me.). OKAY, I'm heading out to the car NOW. We pick up my fellow Twilight obsessed gal, Crystal, and let me say that SHE was waiting for us as we pulled into her driveway. She gets in and we say together "I'm SOOOO excited" . The boys roll their eyes. We get to the theatre. I hand them their tickets because this is Mom's treat. Of course since they are teens they have to compare notes on who's at the theatre and who knows more people. I saw the elementary school librarian and a fellow track mom. I knew somebody, so I was cool too. We go into the theatre and the higher up rows are taken so we sit in the middle. Who cares if my vertigo kicks into high gear during the running scenes? It's Twilight for Pete's sake.

I loved it, but there was NO way I wasn't going to love it. I read about the changed parts, and the low budget. I knew there was a purple bedspread on Bella's bed thanks to my friend Julie, who is a lover of all things purple. I'd seen the trailers, ahem...a few times and the interviews. I read blogs and articles from those who were disappointed. Yea, I'm on top of this.

Let's get to the opinions of the teens first. Crystal said it was "a beautiful film" with a big sigh. 'Nuff said. My 15 year old, who has read all the books, and thought they were good but had a little too much "chick" stuff in them, liked it a lot. He wanted more details on how they got rid of James. In other words he wanted more blood and gore. Who's child is this? Both boys LOVED Charlie's character and thought Carlisle was the best vamp. My oldest informed me that Rosalie was really "hot".

I also loved Charlie and thought they really nailed his personality with some of the "extra" tidbits they had in scenes for him. Jacob, not so much. But, this might be because I've read all the books and think of him as he is later in the series. I loved all the vampires and thought they were great. Bella is my favorite character. She's much like I was in high school(think gym class walking disaster). I thought the actress was perfect. Edward was well, Edward. It's hard not to picture him as he is in the movie, since I saw clips as I was reading the books. I loved the actress who played Alice!

How did I like the movie? I look at it as an "extra" to the books. No director is going to convey the books perfectly. How can they? My mind is like a little movie theatre when it comes to books. I've always had a vivid imagination and when I love a book it comes alive in my head. The movie is like Twilight CliffsNotes. It gives you ideas, a visual companion of sorts, but it can't take the place of reading the book. I know a lot of fans are annoyed at the things left out and the things added, but I was okay with that. It made the movie fun to watch; wondering what would be next. After reading the book twice, and some parts three times, I KNEW the plot. No suspense there.

My final thoughts on the movie: Read the books! They read fast, they have suspense, romance, life lessons and humor. Don't stop with the first one either. Don't get discouraged because you thought Edward was hot and you realize he's not on every page. The other characters are worth it and so is the story. If you don't keep reading you won't get to meet Seth or another special character that is VERY cool:)

Mom Notes: My sons are 14 and 15, so I'm always looking for ways to discuss important topics with them without making it seem like a lecture. As my oldest read the books we laughed at the parts we both liked but we had some cool discussions too. I can't tell you how much I appreciate Stephenie Meyer writing books that appeal to teens and adults while mixing in some life lessons. Shhhh...cover teen eyes for this part. She works in manners, respect for parents, virtue, grief, safety, and choices. Sure, she wrapped it up in dazzling vampire lore and romance that makes our hearts beat a little faster, but the lessons are there, and I appeciate it.

~Brenda