Reasons To Like Twilight

NODON’TSTOPREADING! Give me a chance to persuade.

The Twilight ‘Saga’ became popular in 2008. By popular, I mean girls all over the world, from ages five to eighteen (and in many cases older) became psychotically obsessed with becoming Bella Swan and marrying Robert Pattinson’s Edward Cullen, in a pandemic frenzy that was so widespread there was no way to prevent or incarcerate the – cringe – Twi-Hard’s, as they came to be known.  This behaviour was only worsened by the franchise’s second instalment, New Moon, which added the curveball of Jacob Black. The crazy fans lost all remaining dignity in the derivation of ‘Team Edward’ and ‘Team Jacob’. Who would Bella choose? Became the question to end all questions.

Yeah.

The understandable response to this Twilight induced mainstream frenzy was of course pathological and murderous hatred to everything and everyone associated with the film series. It became indie to hope that Edward would be decapitated by the Volturi (don’t pretend you don’t know who they are), or that Bella would clumsily stumble into a fire or something.

Over time, and with more additions to the saga with Eclipse and last years’ Breaking Dawn: Part One, this hatred became mainstream. Film critics condemned. Facebook groups ridiculed. The franchise’s average percentage on Rotten Tomatoes must be about 1%.

So I’ve decided to be indie and defend Twilight. Here are my reasons to like it:

1.       Hotties. Nobody can deny the fact that the films have assembled one of the hottest male casts of any franchise. Of course there’s Robert Pattinson, but if he’s too effeminate with his big hair and preened eyebrows, the alternative of Taylor Lautner has a – let’s just say - pleasing aesthetic. Personally I think Jackson Rathbone (who plays Jasper) is the dark Texan horse, but there’s also the wolf pack which are, at the least, pleasing to the eye.  But for the guys there’s always Bells, Alice, and Rosemary or whatever her name is.

Jasper Sexy Cullen

2.       Action. Despite what you’ve heard, the entirety of each film does not consist of Bella gazing into Edward’s eyes, then looking at Jacob, then looking sombrely into the distance. There’s some supernatural action going on too. Among the many vampire skirmishes, the battle in Eclipse is cinematically impressive with its involvement of the werewolves kicking some newborn ass.

3.       Despite being emo, the first film in the series, Twilight, is well made. Directed by Catherine Harwicke, who also made the disturbing Thirteen, the film is stylistically gorgeous and very indie-esque. With a limited budget – unlike the proceeding films – the narrative focused on relationships and the mystery and melodrama of the vampire revelation. One addition which I thought was particularly thoughtful was the fact that, when Bella was waking up from being beaten up in hospital, on the TV in the background is footage of her being beaten up by the evil vampire guy from the scene previously. This is meant to represent her thoughts and I think it was an intriguing addition by Hardwicke which really embodies the subjective style of filmmaking in the first film.

I like the blue tint.

4.       The soundtracks. I’m grateful to Twilight for introducing me to Iron and Wine, Lykke Li, The Black Keys among many others. I have to admit though, I do remove the album name from view on my iTunes.

So there you are. And if you still don’t like Twilight...

...YOU MUST BE VICTORIA