The action-packed, modern day vampire film TWILIGHT was
released in theatres on November 21st, 2008 which unleashed a
worldwide movie phenomenon that readers of the books already
understood. The gothic romance became a hit of epic proportions
around the planet, bigger than even most of its readers could
have predicted.
The second installment of the film franchise, THE TWILIGHT SAGA:
NEW MOON directed by Chris Weitz, was released November 20, 2009,
cementing its further success. Groups popped up in every
civilized country discussing the film, and obsessing over its
stars and the next movie.
The third film in the studio’s Twilight film franchise
based on Stephanie Meyer’s blockbuster book series, THE
TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, was released theatrically in North
America on Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 to yet again, massive
audiences which, like the second film, broke box office records
around the word.
Like other epic films; Harry Potter, Star Wars, Star Trek, The
Lord of the Rings, and others, Twilight has created its own
subculture of fans; twi-hards, the most devoted, all night camp
out first-dayers to the films, dressing the parts they feel most
identity with, much like an outing at a modern day Rocky Horror
Picture Show for the young and dramatic.
The Twilight films have sparked renewed interest in vampires,
werewolves, and horror, with many subcultures of teenagers around
the U.S. sprouting wolf tails – with animal tails clipped
on to their rear, and visualizing shape shifting (wolfies) while
other kids wear fangs and pale face make up (vampire clans). To
any old school Bauhaus or Siouxsie fans out there, this is of
course, nothing unfamiliar.
The TWILIGHT film series stars the now real life couple, the sexy
Kristen Stewart, and handsome Robert Pattinson, who most fans
have strong feelings about, which ranges for many girls- from
sheer hatred of Kristen- out of jealously, or a preference of the
characters of the clean cut, chiseled and handsome Taylor
Lautner, over the more darker, mysterious Robert Pattinson, or
vice versa.
To understand the enormous success of the Twilight
films, The Hollywood Sentinel conducted some research, and
concluded that the massive winning streak of the films are fueled
by 4 main factors which are; 1, the huge success of the book and
its built in fan base with its readership, 2, the sex appeal of
its hot, young new talent, 3, the successful ingredient of the
vampire genre, which includes the elements fans are hungry for
which entail (a), the topic of life after death and immortality
which appeals to guys and girls, (b), the wild card of dangerous,
unpredictable, and adventurous eroticism and sexuality which
appeals to many young females, and (c), the intrigue of a
timeless and romantic love in the modern day, which largely
attracts women, and 4, the unique yin and yang of the vampire
clan vs. the werewolves, of the subculture within the subculture,
with dual battling forces that are both on the edge, yet are
opposite, which appeals to guys combative and competitive nature
who normally side with one team or the other. These elements,
along with the solid script, good directing, and beautiful stars,
have made the Twilight films some of the most successful motion
pictures of our time.
The Twilight films tell the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan who
moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her
father, and becomes drawn to Edward Cullen, a pale, mysterious
classmate who seems determined to push her away. But neither can
deny the attraction that pulls them together…even when
Edward confides that he and his family are vampires.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE directed by David Slade (30 Days of
Night, Hardy Candy), is currently the most popular film in the
world. In this screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, Kristen Stewart,
Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner reprise their roles as Bella
Swan, Edward Cullen and Jacob Black. The film brings back members
of the Quileute Indian Nation, the classmates of Bella and
Edward, and the legendary Volturi, a venerable coven of vampires
who weigh and impose the laws of the vampire world.
In THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, Bella once again finds herself
surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of
mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest
for revenge. In the midst of it all, Bella is forced to choose
between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob,
knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless
struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation
quickly approaching, Bella is confronted with the most important
decision of her life.
Twilight creator Stephenie Meyer tells us how the characters of
the film initially came to her in an actual dream, which obsessed
her. She would then write frantically for the next several months,
day and night, in secret, which became the first Twilight book.
Unique of the writer of a vampire franchise blockbuster, is that
Stephenie Meyer is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, otherwise known as "Mormons." Unusual also to the Twilight Saga as
a massively successful film franchise, is the fact that its main
character, ?ella (short for Isabella), is a virgin, and the other
main character, Edward, refuses to attempt to have sex with her
prior to marriage, which is a vitally important thing to the
L.D.S. faith. With the entertainment industry infamous for its
immoral promiscuity, the infusion of more conservative values
aligned with Mormonism, actually conforms well to the romantic,
gentlemanly, and courtly renaissance romance that Stephenie
Meyer successfully builds and weaves in to the Twilight
saga.
Continued
on Next Page