(no subject)
Despite of my disdain towards the Twilight series, I went to go watch New Moon with a friend today because I told her we'd hang out and she had been waiting all weekend to see this movie. It's kind of hard to bail especially since the third friend who was supposed to come with us had to leave early because she forgot there was a take home midterm exam due tomorrow. So there I was. Stuck in the theater with girls/women of all ages with their spouses, partners, and families squealing whenever that overly-buff, ken-lookalike came on screen along with Mr. Pale.
Anyway. I'd just like to rant on some notes of why I think THE TWILIGHT SERIES IS SUCH A BAD INFLUENCE ON A GIRL'S MENTALITY TOWARDS GUYS, RELATIONSHIPS, AND LIFE IN GENERAL.
1. It teaches girls that in the face of sorrow and despair, the correct thing to do is go make reckless, stupid decisions for the "sake of love." Wow, I'm so touched. It's not about being strong, learning to see things in different perspectives, appreciating other forms of beauty, or practicing forgiveness...It's about jumping off cliffs and being suicidal.
Ok, to be fair, I can understand the other way to look at this...there has been plenty of literature written about eternal, unabating love. If you want a love story that explores this depth, I suggest Love in the Time of Cholera. It's a hefty read, but it's about an undying fire between two people and the tempestuous currents of life. New Moon on the other hand, plays it like a joke. Sorry, this story might be convincing for teenagers trapped in girl's bathrooms giggling about their crush, but seriously, I see a damp, weak heroine in comparison to some women in the real world who constantly sacrifice in times of hardship.
2. It teaches girls that it's a nice thing to have two men fighting for you. Not that the situation is necessarily wrong. Anyone can find themselves in the position where two people both want the same thing, BUT the way this movie portrayed the three-way triangle was just bad. BAD. Cheesy. Melodramatic. Bad. It failed at even being fun to watch.
It fully supports my theory of why Twilight series is such a success despite being so poorly written. Because the main character embodies awkwardness and quirks that most of us cannot accept in ourselves. It's those little uncomfortable details of our personality that is hard to put out there. Thus, when Bella comes along and goes on these thrilling adventures with "hot" companions, it gives us a cheap thrill that our alternative selves can be loved! The awkwardness brings passion! There's an awkward girl as the protagonist and she has TWO hot men/creatures fighting over her! Wow, I feel my heart beating faster already.
3. It teaches girls that our "ideal guy" is "Edward." Wrong, wrong, and wrong. First, guys like Edward don't exist...and if he did, I'm not too sure I'd even be taken with him. Guys like Edward don't exist because, secondly, human nature is much more complicated than that. Relationships are more complicated than that, and life is more complicated than that. A character like Edward is incomplete, half-baked, scanty, and pathetic. Ok, maybe pathetic is being a little bit harsh...but you have to admit that the first three are true to the point. Anyone who has a boyfriend, guy friends, or interacts with men in general will know that Edward is just a fragment of wishful thinking.
I felt so bad for all the guys (and me) sitting in that theater. I'm not sure how many people were rolling their eyes at the screen and all the girls squealing. But I'm sure I'm not the only one.
It's SO FUN being a hater! =D
Oh, and if you really want a vampire movie that is beautifully haunting and perplexing, go watch Let the Right One In.