Twilight

Lord Invictus · Twilight

Never read the books, but I have to go to the movie's midnight showing for 2 reasons:

1) My cousin is obsessed with the series.
2) It comes out on my birthday!!!!!

Are they any good? I've heard they are, and I'm going to read them soon. Discuss the series here:

Ga'nen

I hear they are awful and I've read spoilers for the last book and it reminded me of cheap Anne Rice.

Rive Caedo

You'll likely not enjoy it. It's supposedly a "women only" series.

Think of James Bond. It's an action fantasy - fast cars, fast women, and lots and lots of action. For the most part, women do not like James Bond movies for those reasons.

The Twilight series is basically a romance fantasy about the perfect guy who is also mysterious and awesome (he's a Vampire). For that reason, men - for the most part - do not like the Twilight series (and, therefore, the movie).

Now take this all with a grain of spice since I have not read any of the series.

Shatterpoint

I've read the first two books and liked them pretty well... when I read them it really hooked me into the story, it was incredibly difficult to put the books down.

I'm thinking that I will probably see the movie.

That being said, I am a girl.

Lord Invictus

OH EM GEE!!! THEY LET GIRLS ON THIS SITE?! Very Happy

I've heard their more "female-aimed" books, but then again....so is the Secret Life of Bees, and I loved that book... hmm... maybe when I have more free time....

Darth Samuel

There are no girls on the internet. Evil or Very Mad

Lord Vexen

Rive Caedo

Vexen speaks truth, our male to female ratio used to be probably 60-40. It's taken a long time to shift to its current state. We really need Shatterpoint to start posting more and Padme1200 to come back to bring some balance back Razz

Anyway, now that I'm rather more awake (I logged on shortly after waking up today. I haven't done that in awhile, but the forum's been "popping" with activity this week), my perspective has shifted. I'd actually now recommend reading the series (or at least the first book).

If you like it, great! Read the next two (and skip the last one unless you're desperate to see how the author thought the series should end). If you don't like it, at least you'll have a better insight into the female perspective - which is something most guys could use.

Or, see the movie and then read the book if you like it. But, the books are in a first person perspective - so I doubt if the movie can capture the spirit of it.

Here's an excerpt I found online - looks to be the first chapter (or at least part of it). It's really quite good, but it's very clearly written in a fashion to allow yourself to step into the main character's shoes; I think most guys would have difficulty doing that. But, obviously, most/all people here ALREADY have at least some interest in roleplaying and/or writing and likely have an enhanced ability to step beyond themselves - consider yourselves special Wink

Spoiler:

Quote:

Forks High School had a frightening total of only three hundred and fifty-seven - now fifty-eight - students; there were more than seven hundred people in my junior class alone back home. All of the kids here had grown up together-their grandparents had been toddlers together. I would be the new girl from the big city, a curiosity, a freak.

Maybe, if I looked like a girl from Phoenix should, I could work this to my advantage. But physically, I'd never fit in anywhere. I should be tan, sporty, blond - a volleyball player, or a cheerleader, perhaps - all the things that go with living in the valley of the sun.

Instead, I was ivory-skinned, without even the excuse of blue eyes or red hair, despite the constant sunshine. I had always been slender, but soft somehow, obviously not an athlete; I didn't have the necessary hand-eye coordination to play sports without humiliating myself - and harming both myself and anyone else who stood too close.

When I finished putting my clothes in the old pine dresser, I took my bag of bathroom necessities and went to the communal bathroom to clean myself up after the day of travel. I looked at my face in the mirror as I brushed through my tangled, damp hair. Maybe it was the light, but already I looked sallower, unhealthy. My skin could be pretty - it was very clear, almost translucent- looking - but it all depended on color. I had no color here.

Facing my pallid reflection in the mirror, I was forced to admit that I was lying to myself. It wasn't just physically that I'd never fit in. And if I couldn't find a niche in a school with three thousand people, what were my chances here?

I didn't relate well to people my age. Maybe the truth was that I didn't relate well to people, period. Even my mother, who I was closer to than anyone else on the planet, was never in harmony with me, never on exactly the same page. Sometimes I wondered if I was seeing the same things through my eyes that the rest of the world was seeing through theirs. Maybe there was a glitch in my brain. But the cause didn't matter. All that mattered was the effect. And tomorrow would be just the beginning.

I didn't sleep well that night, even after I was done crying. The constant whooshing of the rain and wind across the roof wouldn't fade into the background. I pulled the faded old quilt over my head, and later added the pillow, too. But I couldn't fall asleep until after midnight, when the rain finally settled into a quieter drizzle.

Thick fog was all I could see out my window in the morning, and I could feel the claustrophobia creeping up on me. You could never see the sky here; it was like a cage.

Breakfast with Charlie was a quiet event. He wished me good luck at school. I thanked him, knowing his hope was wasted. Good luck tended to avoid me. Charlie left first, off to the police station that was his wife and family. After he left, I sat at the old square oak table in one of the three unmatching chairs and examined his small kitchen, with its dark paneled walls, bright yellow cabinets, and white linoleum floor. Nothing was changed. My mother had painted the cabinets eighteen years ago in an attempt to bring some sunshine into the house. Over the small fireplace in the adjoining handkerchief-sized family room was a row of pictures. First a wedding picture of Charlie and my mom in Las Vegas, then one of the three of us in the hospital after I was born, taken by a helpful nurse, followed by the procession of my school pictures up to last year's. Those were embarrassing to look at - I would have to see what I could do to get Charlie to put them somewhere else, at least while I was living here.

It was impossible, being in this house, not to realize that Charlie had never gotten over my mom. It made me uncomfortable.

I didn't want to be too early to school, but I couldn't stay in the house anymore. I donned my jacket - which had the feel of a biohazard suit - and headed out into the rain.

It was just drizzling still, not enough to soak me through immediately as I reached for the house key that was always hidden under the eaves by the door, and locked up. The sloshing of my new waterproof boots was unnerving. I missed the normal crunch of gravel as I walked. I couldn't pause and admire my truck again as I wanted; I was in a hurry to get out of the misty wet that swirled around my head and clung to my hair under my hood.

Inside the truck, it was nice and dry. Either Billy or Charlie had obviously cleaned it up, but the tan upholstered seats still smelled faintly of tobacco, gasoline, and peppermint. The engine started quickly, to my relief, but loudly, roaring to life and then idling at top volume. Well, a truck this old was bound to have a flaw. The antique radio worked, a plus that I hadn't expected.

Finding the school wasn't difficult, though I'd never been there before. The school was, like most other things, just off the highway. It was not obvious that it was a school; only the sign, which declared it to be the Forks High School, made me stop. It looked like a collection of matching houses, built with maroon-colored bricks. There were so many trees and shrubs I couldn't see its size at first. Where was the feel of the institution? I wondered nostalgically. Where were the chain-link fences, the metal detectors?

I parked in front of the first building, which had a small sign over the door reading FRONT OFFICE. No one else was parked there, so I was sure it was off limits, but I decided I would get directions inside instead of circling around in the rain like an idiot. I stepped unwillingly out of the toasty truck cab and walked down a little stone path lined with dark hedges. I took a deep breath before opening the door.

Inside, it was brightly lit, and warmer than I'd hoped. The office was small; a little waiting area with padded folding chairs, orange-flecked commercial carpet, notices and awards cluttering the walls, a big clock ticking loudly. Plants grew everywhere in large plastic pots, as if there wasn't enough greenery outside. The room was cut in half by a long counter, cluttered with wire baskets full of papers and brightly colored flyers taped to its front. There were three desks behind the counter, one of which was manned by a large, red-haired woman wearing glasses. She was wearing a purple t-shirt, which immediately made me feel overdressed.

The red-haired woman looked up. "Can I help you?"

"I'm Isabella Swan," I informed her, and saw the immediate awareness light her eyes. I was expected, a topic of gossip no doubt. Daughter of the Chief's flighty ex-wife, come home at last.

"Of course," she said. She dug through a precariously stacked pile of documents on her desk till she found the ones she was looking for. "I have your schedule right here, and a map of the school." She brought several sheets to the counter to show me.

She went through my classes for me, highlighting the best route to each on the map, and gave me a slip to have each teacher sign, which I was to bring back at the end of the day. She smiled at me and hoped, like Charlie, that I would like it here in Forks. I smiled back as convincingly as I could.

When I went back out to my truck, other students were starting to arrive. I drove around the school, following the line of traffic. I was glad to see that most of the cars were older like mine, nothing flashy. At home I'd lived in one of the few lower-income neighborhoods that were included in the Paradise Valley District. It was a common thing to see a new Mercedes or Porsche in the student lot. The nicest car here was a shiny Volvo, and it stood out. Still, I cut the engine as soon as I was in a spot, so that the thunderous volume wouldn't draw attention to me. I looked at the map in the truck, trying to memorize it now; hopefully I wouldn't have to walk around with it stuck in front of my nose all day. I stuffed everything in my bag, slung the strap over my shoulder, and sucked in a huge breath. I can do this, I lied to myself feebly. No one was going to bite me. I finally exhaled and stepped out of the truck.

I kept my face pulled back into my hood as I walked to the sidewalk, crowded with teenagers. My plain black jacket didn't stand out, I noticed with relief.

Once I got around the cafeteria, building three was easy to spot. A large black "3" was painted on a white square on the east corner. I felt my breathing gradually creeping toward hyperventilation as I approached the door. I tried holding my breath as I followed two unisex raincoats through the door.

The classroom was small. The people in front of me stopped just inside the door to hang up their coats on a long row of hooks. I copied them. They were two girls, one a porcelain-colored blonde, the other also pale, with light brown hair. At least my skin wouldn't be a standout here.

I took the slip up to the teacher, a tall, balding man whose desk had a nameplate identifying him as Mr. Mason. He gawked at me when he saw my name - not an encouraging response - and of course I flushed tomato red. But at least he sent me to an empty desk at the back without introducing me to the class. It was harder for my new classmates to stare at me in the back, but somehow, they managed. I kept my eyes down on the reading list the teacher had given me. It was fairly basic: Bront?, Shakespeare, Chaucer, Faulkner. I'd already read everything. That was comforting ... and boring. I wondered if my mom would send me my folder of old essays, or if she would think that was cheating. I went through different arguments with her in my head while the teacher droned on.

When the bell rang, a nasal buzzing sound, a gangly boy with skin problems and hair black as an oil slick leaned across the aisle to talk to me.

"You're Isabella Swan, aren't you?" He looked like the overly helpful, chess club type.

"Bella," I corrected. Everyone within a three-seat radius turned to look at me.

(Copyright by Stephenie Meyer)

Lord Invictus

Cool. I'll read it tommarrow morning.... when I am actually fully conscious... lol.

Xander Vos

My friend likes the series, though he's obsessed with Vampries and presumably likes that aspect of the series over the other. Razz

RainaRose

Twilight is awesome.

Adenn

This is good, but in my opinion, not action enough. I love Vampire/Werewolf action fantasy novels, but this doesn't capture it most of the time. Some parts are pretty epic, but it's mostly romance.

4/10 from me.

RainaRose

I'm a romance whore. I LOVE the romance. And, Edward wasn't perfect. He was emotionally messed up which girls are more attrached to than anything else. We want to be the emotional ones saviors.

Adenn

Wait, so girls like emo boys?

Ah man, where's my razor when I need it...

RainaRose

No no. Not EMO boys, but boys who have another side to them. The guys that seem ok and come to find out their lives are really tough. THAT kind of guy.

Sirak Sazen

When Edward gets in a bloody fistfight with a jacked-up Werewolf spanning over 30 minutes with random flashes to the female main character (Isabella) being chased around a scary mansion, chased by a FEMALE Werewolf, I will watch Twilight.

RainaRose

Well get ready for the next movie then.

Rive Caedo

I wonder if they'll bother to try salvaging the much maligned 4th book into a movie - or if they'll just stop at 3.

Talen D'aar

Eh, I watched it. It was alright. It was convincing until Bella started spouting her, "I completely and irrevocably love Edward Cullen!!....even though I've only really known him for a week or so..." Then it went downhill. It still kept me entertained somewhat with the action and general plot. I just couldn't get over how naive Bella was.

It got a 7/10 from me, and that's being generous. The movie's lucky it got that much considering the horrible way Stephanie Meyer treated the vampire myth. "Oh jeez...this is embarassing but...you need to see what I look like in the broad daylight..."

**steps into the sunlight**

"I'M SO...**Ghey Voice**SPARKLY!!" -.- Bella's reaction was even worse.

*gush* "OH EM GEE, you're soooo gorgeous! TAKE ME NOW!!!" *gush*

Ugh...

Sirak Sazen

RainaRose

No I hated that too. Freakin SPARKLE?!! What!!! No not ok. But the last book sucked. The other three were good because of well developed characters. Hmmm other than that I can't say much.

Sirak Sazen

I'm in the process of convincing my younger sister that 30 Days of Night is just like Twilight, only happier. Twisted Evil

RainaRose

AHHHHHH hah hahahahhahahaaa are you gonna make her watch it? She might be scared for life if you do that.

Talen D'aar

Jiub

I just watched it tonight for the first time (well, most of it). It wasn't bad, but I like it better when vampires burn when they are exposed to sunlight.

Darth Samuel

I hated this movie. Worst chemistry between the lead characters since Episode II.

Scion

Jiub

I liked the part where he said that he wants to kill her (or something like that). I want to try that as a pick-up line. Laughing

It worked for him!

RainaRose

Actually Jiub that would work. "I wanted to kill you the first time I saw you." Would have girls just FALLING all over you. lol. You is 18 almost 19. You should have a girlfriend.

Talen D'aar

I'm 19, almost 20 and I'm single. >.>

Darth Samuel

Raina, you're on a STAR WARS FORUM

Jiub

Sirak Sazen