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<p>Strange thing to say about a movie with vampires and werewolves…</p>
<p>Well, I don’t fall into any of those categories (I don’t believe that I am a cougar since I have been happily married for 24 years) and I am a really big fan. I was introduced to the books by my 21 year old daughter (whose friends were all into it)and have always been a fan of the preternatural/sci fi genre. I loved all of Anne Rice’s novels but also loved Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury and the like. Stephanie Meyer is a mediocre writer at best and I find her puritanical morality a bit…boring BUT, I love a good love story. That said, New Moon was my LEAST favorite of all the series books. In fact, the plotline really dragged so I am hoping that they were able to do more with the movie. I am not quite happy with Pattinson as Edward (I know my girls love him) but I find his acting wooden and his looks not “godlike” enough for the character. I really don’t know who I would subsitute though. I saw Taylor Lautner twice this week on late night talk shows and I swear, he sounds incredibly metrosexual in person. This dosen’t jive with my vision of his macho character either.</p>
<p>From Urban Dictionary:</p>
<p>couger: </p>
<p>“An older woman around age 50-80 who looks to pick up younger boys, they prefer teenagers over all (around 14-17). But if they can, they will look for boys with the name Tim.”</p>
<p>I agree with seclan. A friend and I will be going to see New Moon… but we have to go to an early afternoon mid-week showing, to avoid the fangirls. Not sure how to go see this without looking and feeling like a creepy Twi-Mom. It’s not great literature, but I enjoyed the books. </p>
<p>I have kind of a weird connection with these books. I read the first one last fall out of curiosity. Two months later I was flying to be with my mom who was in the hospital with end-stage cancer. I bought New Moon to read on the plane because I figured it would distract me without requiring too much brainpower, since I already knew all the characters. While I was at the hospital with Mom for about 10 days, I bought Eclipse, for the same reason. I was reading the books at night at the hospital, while everyone else was asleep. It rained the whole time I was there, so between being up all night and the weather I could relate to atmosphere of the books. The day Mom died, we were all gathered around her bed. Mom was finally sleeping peacefully (gotta love morphine), and the minister told us to keep talking to her, that hearing was the last sense to go. I suddenly found myself desperately wishing I knew an Edward - someone who could read Mom’s mind, and tell me what she was thinking, was she still hearing us, was she in pain, etc. It was bizarre. I bought Breaking Dawn to read on the plane home, and finished it after I got home. So for me, the Twilight books were my escape from an awful reality, and for that reason I think of them fondly, even though I know they are not really well-written.</p>
<p>Of all the books, I like Eclipse the best. Breaking Dawn is just a bit too much, even for this melodramatic series. </p>
<p>I was frustrated with the first movie - the makeup was AWFUL, the special effects were cheesey, and I wasn’t bowled over by Kristen Stewart. When I read the books I pictured Alexis Bleidel (is that her last name? from Gilmore Girls) as Bella, much sweeter than Kristen, who has a bit of a hard edge to her, but I guess Alexis is too old now. Pattinson isn’t physically hunky enough to be the “god-like” Edward, but he is kinda weird, and Meyer describes Edward as being obviously “other” so I guess Pattinson’s strangeness works for this character. I think Taylor Lautner is the most natural of the leads and I hope an acting career works out well for him, I think he’s got acting potential to go with his movie-star pecs (gosh, I hope they didn’t pump that poor kid full of steroids to get that body that fast). </p>
<p>Gotta admit, I loved Alice in the book and I love Ashley Greene playing her. If I have to join a team, I’m joining Team Alice.</p>
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<p>I think that definition is a bit narrow.</p>
<p>HS soph D went at midnight with friends. They have read all the books.
22 yr old D tried the first book but did not enjoy it. She will not be seeing the movie.</p>
<p>Laflum, I love your post.</p>
<p>Just got back from the movie. I loved it but thought the make-up and contact lenses were way worse this time but the special effects, way better. They did a good job and more of the book is detailed in the movie than Twilight. Loved it but, Edward just doesn’t look right to me.</p>
<p>Just got back.</p>
<p>I commend the screenwriter. </p>
<p>The books was horribly boring, but the movie had some decent comedy. The right stuff was taken out, the right stuff was added.</p>
<p>Good effects, but the red contacts of some of the characters just looked too fake.</p>
<p>Also…the “hallucination” thing went way too far. At one point it was just annoying.</p>
<p>On another note…Robert Pattinson needs to do some work on his appearance…</p>
<p>…All the twitards squealed when Taylor Lautner took his shirt off…(he’d definitely prepped for the role very well)</p>
<p>…No one said a word when Pattinson revealed his muscle-less, rather hairy chest…</p>
<p>Oh…except one little girl who said “Ewww…”</p>
<p>I LOL’ed. </p>
<p>Anyway, it wasn’t quite that bad. Decent comedy lines, good action, more substance than the book. Still needed some work though.</p>
<p>(And the abrupt ending made some people upset.)</p>
<p>I’ll go next week, without the crowds. I gave my set of books and film one to a g/f who is recovering from surgery. We’ll have a “girls’ day” when she’s ready. I hope it helps her, as it did the poster who used books thru her mother’s illness.</p>
<p>I included Twilight in my bookclub. Some people hated it, but it did bring some young people to the group for first time (club is at library). I felt the book appealed to young girls who wonder what love is all about, who come from divorced parents, who feel like they don’t fit in, who are psuedo-mature and have cared for immature parents or sibs, etc. I think most teens wish to be special</p>
<p>Lafalum,
I am sorry for the painful memories you will forever associate with these books. But reading your post makes me want to read these books before seeing the next movie…</p>
<p>Oddly, I don’t associate the books with the awful hospital experience - I used them as a way to escape. So I think of them as sort of “my happy place.” Books have always been an escape for me, and I didn’t have the mental or emotional energy to invest in learning new characters. Also, Stephanie Meyer’s writing style doesn’t require a lot of brainpower to process - no SAT vocab words. Twilight became my alternate reality - a way to mentally “check out” of the situation for a little while. I knew it was weird, but I also knew it was a lot less dangerous than relying on alcohol, or carbs.</p>
<p>(During mom’s first hospitalization I was re-reading Bill Bryson’s “A Walk in the Woods.” FUNNY FUNNY book. The second time at the hospital, after I finished New Moon but before I bought Eclipse, I went back to reading “A Walk in the Woods.” Again, I think it was just a mindless way to dis-engage from the reality around me.)</p>
<p>Back to the movies-
When reading the books, I was pulling for Bella to end up with Edward. He was clearly the more mature of the two.
But from what I’ve seen of the movies (have only seen the preview for New Moon), as a mom I’d rather my daughter end up with Jacob. Taylor Lautner is just so much more normal and relatable than Pattinson.<br>
And I still want to have Alice as a friend.</p>
<p>I saw it last night and was mostly entertained while waiting in line to be let into the theater by all the young girls and older woman (yep, our age) squealing and sporting their t-shirts etc. </p>
<p>The movie was entertaining. Still think the whole concept is kind of creepy. I still would pick to be on Team Edward over Team Jacob. </p>
<p>I actually thought that yes, Edward wasn’t buff like Jacob, but it almost seemed part of the part to me - he isn’t buff and macho, but more everyday and sensitive.</p>
<p>I heard New Moon beats Dark Knight record.</p>
<p>Bad dog. Bad dog.</p>
<p>Maybe some of the women on this thread can explain it to me, but I just don’t get all the romantic/sexual attraction of vampires. Why is there anything attractive, exciting, or thrilling about the concept of someone who drinks blood? It sounds very freaky and dangerous to me - almost monsterous. Can anyone explain it?</p>
<p>^^^ Exactly what I have said to my daughters. I can watch the movies and get past that, but it’s the concept that has me puzzled and why that would be attractive. </p>
<p>But at the movie, it was obvious that young woman and older woman alike were smitten.</p>
<p>I think the attraction is to overwhelming and transforming passion – being wanted, being consumed (e.g., “drinking blood”), forever changed.</p>
<p>At least for me, being intensely desired by my beloved is the most potent aphrodisiac. Being wanted so urgently I am a little hurt in the process, anticipating the rapture that is to follow? Yep. It is a real turn-on.</p>
<p>Well, you asked!!</p>
<p>Of course vampires and such is all pretend and quite safe to fantasize about. I doubt many women actually want the full-blown, monstrous, blood-sucking experience. Although a naughty nibble can be quite exciting :)</p>
<p>I’ve never been a fan of the vampire-werewolf-Frankenstein genre. I just like sappy love stories 
But seriously, for me I can relate it to: Why are guys so taken with super-hero stories? X-men, etc. If there’s anything attractive to me about the vampire world, it’s the idea of super-powers. Super-strength, flying, mind-reading, immortality, etc. The idea of having a friend or protector who could save you from anything - it would free you to do daring things and know you had a safety-net (savior) if you failed. Or the idea of having those powers yourself…</p>
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<p>You answered your own question in the description of the joys of super-powers. What I was asking is why there is a sexual/romantic attraction to vampires. I don’t know of any guys who consider super-hero stories to be a thrill in that way.</p>