Twilight - A Pleasant Surprise

I just watched Twilight today (first screening at Alabang Town Center) and 3 hours after leaving the cinema, I'm still in that Twilight high. To think I did not that have high expectations on the movie. I did not believe that Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart were fit as Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan respectively. So I was not really overly going gaga whenever Robert would appear in the TV shows or wherever promoting the movie. I also can't understand why they're making that much a fuss with his hair. It's so...unruly! Though I do like the books, I was not that much of a fan to buy the merchandise or watch the special preview last night. I just watched the first screening to make my officemates envious. Hehe.

But after watching the movie, I totally changed my mind. They're really perfect for the movie and what makes it better was that everything was exactly how I imagined it to be when I read the book. From the cinematography (I haven't been to Oregon or Washington but I imagined it to be that way--beautiful) to the way the actors portray the characters. Alice looks like Alice. Dr. Cullen looks like Dr. Cullen and everyone else (although I imagined Jacob to be taller).

Leo was laughing throughout the movie because of the audience reactions throughout the different scenes. I can't really blame him. Looking back, it was indeed hilarious if I wasn't caught up in the moment. When Edward first came out, half of the moviehouse softly screamed. When Dr. Cullen first appeared, he solicited the same reactions. The lady seated behind us kept on saying "sh*t" whenever a "kilig" moment would play in the screen. I don't think she was being sarcastic. It's her way of expressing her "kilig"-ness

The story is really quite simple. It's basically a love story between a human girl and a vampire boy. I still can't figure out what made these book series a hit as I've read a bit of paranormal romances and there's nothing different about the story. I guess Stephenie Meyer got her language and target audience right. The teenager age group is one of the most powerful market (next to children) available to be exploited. It's odd though that what was meant for the teenager audience spilled over to the adult age group (read: my age group. You should see the Twilight hysteria happening in the office right now. I gave my previous boss a Twilight shirt and mousepad which I saw in the bazaar for her birthday and she was SO ecstatic), same as the Harry Potter series. It was only natural that they make the series into a movie. By putting an actual physical face to the images floating in the imaginations of the teenage readers' brains can make any hooked reader into a rabid fan. And everyone knows how rabid teenage fans can be. Hey, I was a teenager once so I can relate. Think notebook covers, accessories, shirts, the whole shebang!

Nevertheless, I'd watch it again just to see Edward's brooding and piercing glare. And I totally forgive Robert Pattinson for his hair.

Now, let me surf for some Twilight clips and articles to assuage my Twilight thirst and keep my Twilight high maybe until New Moon the movie comes out.


(Images taken from filmonic.com and reviewabook.blogspot.com)

Twilight

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy
Author:	Stephenie Meyer

Leo persuaded me to buy this book a few months ago. Since I buy almost a new book or magazine each week, it sort of became part of my book backlog and was delegated to the bottom of the stack on my bedside table. Leo found the book for me while we browsing at Powerbooks. He pointed it out to me as it was at the Young Adult section. He told me that it's really good and that I should buy it.

However, I was beginning to catch up and started reading it early this week and after the first few pages, I was hooked. I was so mad at myself why I managed to put off reading it for so long.

Anyway, where should I start with the review?

When I knew that I would like the book, I immediately notified my rpg group and told them about it. Being the sci fi/fantasy lovers they are, I'm sure they would like this as well. One of them asked me to post a review and now that I'm done, I really don't know how to start it.

Well, first of all, the main character of the book is a 17-year old teenager named Bella Swan. She moved to a small town from Phoenix. She met a pale, "beautiful" boy named Edward Cullen in school and who she learned later on is a vampire; and they fell in love. I'll stop at that as I might give out spoilers.

Quite simple isn't it? Maybe that's why I liked it. The story is so clean and not like other typical vampire stories where they focus on the sensuality of the vampires and how they "turn" other people. This one focused on their relationship and with their respective families. Yes, Edward belongs to a family of vampires too and get this, the patriarch is a doctor. He works in the hospital and he's quite an old vampire to control his urge to drink blood when he attends to his patients.

After finishing the book, I immediately rushed to Powerbooks to buy the next two books, "New Moon" and "Eclipse". Much to my disappointment, I was told that all books are out of stock. I asked if there are any available copies in other branches and they're ALL OUT OF STOCK! That's how popular the books are!

I quickly emailed my in-laws who are currently in the US to look for the books and bring them home for me as pasalubong. I still haven't heard from my father-in-law and I do hope that he finds them.

I hope there is more I can say about it. I definitely recommend it to my friends and I hope they can still find copies where I have failed.

Check out the author's website: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

According to the site, the series will be made into a movie! I can't wait how that will turn out.