Adult women and the allure of 'Twilight'
By Cat
It's no surprise, after the huge success of the first movie, that "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" grossed an astounding $140.7 million at the box office this weekend.
That may amount to the biggest fall opening weekend in history and third largest three-day debut ever.
And it wasn't just tweens standing in line to watch the midnight showing.
Women of all ages — and many in their 30s and 40s — are diehard fans of the series, written by Stephanie Meyer. (Read more in this weekend's Washington Post.)
A sold out sign hangs on the Edwards Cinema Theater doors as ticket holders wait in line to be seated for the Midnight showing of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" in Nampa, Idaho. Many of these fans are adult women. (AP Photo).
Kristen Stewart, left, and Robert Pattinson are shown in a scene from "The Twilight Saga: New Moon." (AP Photo)
In fact, I have friends — all in their 30s — who would gladly trade in their current boyfriends and husbands for vampire hottie Edward Cullen. (Of course, actor Rob Pattinson doesn't do him justice, they say. The book version is waaaay better.)
These aren't TWITs, either. (Teenage Women In their Thirties.) These are professional women, independent and practical, articulate and educated, even feminist — reading about this star-crossed human/vampire teen couple.
And not just reading — raving.
I'll admit: I avoided the craze for as long as I could. When my girlfriends had finished the entire series, I decided to give the first book, "Twilight," a whirl. I had already seen the movie — Netflix, not in a theater — and wondered if the book would be better. (It almost always is.)
It wasn't.
I know I'm going to open myself up to a lot of criticism right now — particularly from my girlfriends who loves this series as much as I do "Harry Potter" — but I just didn't get swept up in the book the way I thought I would. Or hoped I would.
I can see the charm and allure of Cullen, who reminds me of that dark-haired, mysterious skater boy in high school who would sit and stare at you in the cafeteria (until you found out he was just stoned and zoning). And I can see how women can relate to Bella Swan, the EMO transplant who's desperately in love with a guy she can't be with (being as Cullen wants to both love and kill her).
And while the writing was easy enough to read, the story line, the plot, even the characters themselves didn't blow me away. It was almost a typical romance story, set in a stark climate, in a high school that I wouldn't want to attend, with a bunch of weirdos flying through forests and glittering in the sunshine.
I just didn't get it.
So I'm throwing it out there: Please tell me what I'm missing. I can't imagine that I'm the only one who feels this way about the series. But I can't understand the millions of fans who actually do "get it." Or at least get something I'm not.
Help.
***
Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish or send her an e-mail at cat@thecatdish.com.
The Daily Dish
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:38 am
I'm a TMIS (Teenage man in his sixties) and I don't get it all and don't care. Last good vampire movie was "Dracula" when Bella Lugosi played the part of the bloodsucking Romanian, Vladie the Impaler. Watched part of something on 'E' or one its clones and it said the people playing the parts had 'chemistry,' but don't remember if it was guy on guy, girl on guy, girl on girl or mixing ingredients and then heating them with a Bunsen burner.
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:39 am
crazy girls again...
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:41 am
Don't feel bad about not falling in love or sympathizing with a man who is basically a serial killing cannibal. But hey, to each their own.
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:44 am
I'm with you Cat, but from a male perspective. I've never been one to 'fantasize' about an actress and definitely don't condone those of the male species that do, but I just don't agree with middle-aged, married women going 'head-over-heels' crazy about this movie!!! Are their marriages that bad! I feel really sorry for the husbands that have to endure the constant comparison to these 'fake' creatures. Come on women, grow up & act like adults and leave the fantasies for these 'boys' for the tweeners!
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:53 am
I'm not a huge Twilight fan, but I did enjoy these books more than I did the Harry Potter ones. While Harry Potter is fun, clever, and imaginative, it's complete fantasy -- I couldn't identify with any of the characters or pretend that I was transported to the world of Hogwarts. Twilight, on the other hand, paints a picture of a mysterious world, with complicated good/bad characters, that *could* possibly be real. Plus, there's subtly hot romance, passion, and conflict that, at times, reminds many women of our own teenaged love tortures. And I love the chilling portrayal of the environment -- the rain, the clouds, the forests -- which complements all the conflicting emotions and twists and turns of the vampire love story. It's all pretty eerie!
For me, Twilight is an easy, entertaining reading, with just enough plot and character development to make it work. And it's a good time for people wanting to get lost in a complicated, yet clean, love affair!
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:09 am
Saw Twilight (Crepusculo) while on vacation in Mexico dubbed into Spanish when the film first came out. It wasn't entertaining enough for me to want to see it in English when I got home, to see any more films that might be made from the book series, or to read any of the books.
My then-12-year old daughter (now almost 14) got a kick out of the fact that I saw Twilight, and she seems interested in most popular young vampire happenings. She reports liking the books, although I know that there is a vampire series she likes much better (the name didn't stick in my head). I can't say I have heard or overheard anyone over about 25 talking about this stuff (and definitely not the books), although the media coverage of RP and his hair, attire, and social life must have the wide range of appeal that Cat indicates.
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:36 am
how would this playout if much older men were flocking to theaters to see a much younger female teen idol? i know many TWIT's who would mention Cullen in not such platonic ways. just a thought. if grown men stood in line to see Miley Cirus's new movie wouldnt that be looked at in a different light?
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:39 am
i'll admit it...i loved the series! the writing itself was not the greatest but the story totally brought up all those feelings i had as a love-struck teenager.
i think the appeal for older women (myself being closer to that age then i'd like to be) is the ideal of a "perfect" man. if "real" men were actually pulling their weight in relationships, women wouldnt need to fantasize or obsess over fictional characters
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:22 am
Good morning Cat!
I don't think I will be seeing this movie only because I haven't seen the others.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:53 am
Well, I can't comment on the books because I haven't read them... and have no plans too. As for the movie, when I was on the mainland visiting family last spring, it was playing on the TV 24/7 as all the visiting tweens and teens were glued to it. I caught enough of it to shake my head. Just didn't seem to have any substance to it... basically it was just a vehicle to market some sexy, young actors. And it looks like it worked.
I haven't read HP either, although my GF has raved about the books and insists that I would like them if I read them. But I have seen the movies and must say they were well done.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:08 am
maybe its the 21st centurys version of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".Sure could use a new Meatloaf type for these tough times.A guy that would do anything for love,but he wont do that.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
This is what happens when the tried and true hunks like Pitt and Clooney reach middle age. You crazy chicks (broads, dames and skirts as well) replace them with pale vampire boys?
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Scott,
Were Pitt and Clooney the guys who did the show with the white Tigers in Las Vegas and didn't one of them get hurt?
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
@maxcat --> It was Pitt who was hurt, hence the horrible goatee now to hide the scar from the tiger's teeth! LOL!
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:23 pm
@Max
hehe ... Well, maybe he can find a good plastic surgeon ... think his gal pal knows several. Maybe botox would help.
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I saw the first movie and I will see or rent the second one but to me it's nowhere near as good as the Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. My niece on the other hand would disagree.
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I pass.....I watch Xena instead...! after I reach age forty what kind of movies is there for me...OH YES SHREK! I am married so any mushy mushy movie is out...so what is left back to cartoons watching with my youngrest son....watching teenage boy with fangs teeth I PASS...... I will show him my rotten tooth !
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Hmm. Brad Pitt and George Clooney in the next "Twilight" installment? That might get me to watch it.
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:53 pm
yes put older guys with fangs! MAKE THE FANGS YELLOW HALF ROTTEN!
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:55 pm
BRAD PIT match him back with Jennifer then Angelina turns into the lady in BLACK with fangs her new love is XENA...... ....yes
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
XENA SMACKS BRAD!
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
BRAD with his kids full of fangs......wow now I watch that movie!
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I'm a big fan of the Twilight franchise myself, and I'm one of those who is in my thirties. I think the obsession with Edward comes from the fact that aside from the creeper tendencies, he touches on what women want from their men...to feel loved above all others, to feel protected, to feel beautiful, etc. Plus, he's the typical bad boy that will change innately who he is because he loves Bella so much! How many times have women tried to do that in real life and failed?!?
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
You're not the only one. I can't get into the books either and I haven't seen any of the movies. I guess I'm not into the vampire genre! As for Rob Patterson, I don't get the swooning by women of all ages. While he's not bad looking, I don't think he's drop dead gorgeous either. I was telling a friend the other day that the dude needs to learn how to brush his hair and trim those sideburns and eyebrows!
November 23rd, 2009 at 6:55 pm
So what do you do when a vampire asks you out to dinner?
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:20 pm
.......even McLovin has groupies.......
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:34 pm
I read the series after my bff was a raving lunatic. Sadly...I don't quite get it either. The writing was interesting, but she totally drops the ball in the last book. I was pretty disappointed!!! Plus.. it wasn't steamy enough for me. I couldn't even pretend to be excited when my bff asked me how I liked the book. Also.. the whole vampire/warewolves thing in the book is way off if you area a REAL (non sparkly) vampire lover.
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Missing = nothing
November 24th, 2009 at 9:07 am
trying to fill the void that is missing in their current lives. not satisfied, or possibly just dreaming of the "what if".
not sure if you watch big bang theory on cbs, but last night's show kinda touched on this. if you don't watch, its based on 4 of the dorkiest/geekiest guys out there. they have a hot girl neighbor and the show is about the interactions between both them and their lifestyles. one of the guys is extremely picky and has unrealistic goals for his future mrs. meanwhile, the hot neighbor had set him up with her co-worker. a nice girl who actually likes him. he on the other hand does not know what to do. he's hoping for the supermodel/actress megan fox type but doesn't realize what he has in front of him. reality sets in and he realizes his mistake and almost misses out on the opportunity with the nice girl.
anyways, i probably missed the point, but i think people always want more. there's probably nothing wrong with their current partner (or maybe there is). communication would be good to work things out in the relationship. but one (guys and girls) will always have that teen bop/tiger beat crush for the moviestars, super stars, supermodels, etc.