I am no movie reviewer like my awesome sister Shannon the Movie Moxie but I have to rant. For a real movie review, go here to read Shannon review and go here to listen to her vlog. Shannon's reviews rock, especially because there are no spoilers and she helped me mentally and emotionally prepare for New Moon.
Yesterday I went to see New Moon by myself. I have not gone to a movie by myself in a long, long time. As you know, I fell in love with Twilight last year. What you don't know is I fell out of love with it when I read the last book. I know a lot of people will not understand this but that last booked killed the series for me. I hated it with my whole heart. And I was mad that it ruined Bella's story for me, it hurt to even think about it. I will not go into details as to why, that would reveal too much of the story.
Recently I re-watched Twilight and forgave it a little. I do love the magic and how they did not rush the story, they let it be. Even if it meant guys like my husband fell asleep during the movie. After listening and reading what Shannon had to say, I knew that New Moon was not going to be like Twilight. It would not take me to the same place. I decided, I was OK with that.
Me, mentally preparing to go in to see New Moon
There are so many emotions wrapped up for me in this story but I was brave and went and kept my hopes very low. As a result, I was pleased that they were true to the second novel (as far as I can remember, LOL) and yes, it is not a great movie and there are problems with it but I felt I was still with Bella on her journey and adored spending time with Jacob, one of my favourite characters of all time. I did not miss Edward, I see him very differently than how he is portrayed but that is my own issue.
What bothered me most of all was the man sitting near me who fell asleep during the previews. He yawned in an exaggerated fashion for most of the movie and could not wait to leave when it was over. I did not go when there was a packed audience of screaming teenagers, not my thing, thank you. I went to the first showing and just wanted to quietly be a part of the experience.
That rude man is a symbol of something that really irks me when it comes to the popularity of these stories. He encompassed everything about the male reaction to Twilight and the female mania that disturbs and angers me to the core. Breathe Suzie, breathe. My fingers are shaking. It upsets me that for once the movie industry is acknowledging stories girls and women really resonate with and care about and there is a massive male backlash against it. They don't get it. They don't care. Fine. But guys? Shut the fuck up.
How many male-oriented movies have I sat through politely? How many breasts have I had to look at? How many fart and sex jokes did I roll my eyes at? How often have I had to listen as you have sniggered, snorted and laughed at naked women? I have lost count, it has been my entire life since I was a little girl. I don't get it. You can have it. I don't care.
Why are characters like Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf so important to guys that they talked about the opening of Lord of the Rings FOR YEARS (I know, I'm married to one of those guys) and did all this research, bought the soundtracks... because hobbits and wizards are cool. Then how on earth can vampires and wizards be lame? Is it that Bella is a real girl and not some sexpot that bores you? A real life girl caught up in a metaphysical love story is fabulous to me.
Because it is one of the first time men have had to endure the IDEA of sitting through a movie and viewing it through the female gaze. Feel uncomfortable guys? Well I have had to sit through your gaze my entire life. The mania is a little much for me too, a little silly, but then I was a Duranie growing up, I understand the importance of popular distraction when you are a teenage girl.
So we have something we care about and you do not connect to. Why is this such an issue for you? Why does this bother you so much? Why do you have to be mean about it? I hope New Moon is a big hit so they keep making movies women and girls like and I hope you have to sit there suffering through it like I have had to for so many years.
Women want something different. We want connection to characters. We want magick. We want love. And there is nothing wrong with that boys. Nothing, at all.
10 comments:
You've given me a new perspective on all of this, Suzie. Thanks!
Yay Suzie! Thanks for standing up for this amazing series. I love the books. The Twilight movie was okay, definitely could have been better. I haven't seen New Moon yet. I think I am going to re-read the series. My mom just did. I know what you mean about the last book killing it. There was just something about it that bothered me. Kind of like she stopped writing it for herself and made it end the way it did just to please her fans.
There is definitely something magical about these books. The way girls of all ages can connect with the story. More people need to write stories and make movies from the female perspective. I think they don't because women honestly do show more of there emotions than men do most of the time and it's harder to show them all.
I'm not a Twilight fan. You know that. Having said that, I'm not here to bash people who are. What disturbs me most about our society is that people can't seem to disagree or debate anymore without mean-spiritedness quickly entering the equation.
(Understand I'm not referring to you here. I don't think you do that in this post or other places where I've seen you mention this topic.)
My main reason for disliking Twilight has to do with Ms. Meyer's writing. I don't care for her writing style. Obviously, she's managing just fine without me.
My big problem with what little I read (didn't make it through Book One) is Edward. He's waaaay to controlling for me. I base part of that opinion not only on what I read, but on what I've read about him from fans and non-fans alike.
Don't let the bashers get you down. I'll end on a semi-amusing note to cheer you: I have a friend who thinks Tolkien is a crap writer. I disagree, but it's rather amusing to watch men in the general vicinity have a collective meltdown when she offers her opinion.
Just to give you a small, different perspective, I read these books because my teenage son brought them home and fell in love with them. He read them, passed them on to his 3 best (male) friends. They all loved them, and were some of the first people in line for the movie version of Twilight. Yep, just him and 3 other male friends.
They hated the movie. They hated it for how it portrayed all the characters, for how bad they thought the acting was, and how they reduced the books to something obviously pointed at girls.
So, I personally think that if there is some male backlash about the movies, part of that, the movie did to itself.
While my son and his friends still love the books, they keep that info to themselves, because after the movie came out, obviously being sold to teenage girls, with the male actors shoved in everyone's faces, shirtless, on every magazine, it's now considered way less than cool for a guy to like the books, much less the movies.
The studio and PR people ruined a whole series of books that I know teenage boys could love, but now won't go near.
Personally, I'm with Linnea. I think the writing is not great, Edward is a controlling stalker, and Belle is a weak character that can't be happy without a man. Not the greatest example for couples of any age. But that's just me.
Awesome post Suzie! It's so true that us girls and women have had to sit through a lot gender crap for years and years - and guys complain like nuts over this. If they aren't interested, stay home!
Wow - this is a powerful post. I;ve yet to see the movie or read any of the books. But I agree with your sentiments about seeing the world from a female perspective or eyes, as for far too long females have had to endure the male 'gaze' as the norm.
I would have to be better informed, obviously, to comment on the writing or the film, however, I enjoy things that disrupt the norm, get people out of their comfort zones, and get them questioning (intelligently) maybe what they would like to see going on out there in the world. My art attempts to explore the world from a different female perspective, as I got thoroughly fed up seeing images of reclining, passive, female nudes as depicted by masters (?) and oh, there is so much more to women.
Incidentally when my teenage daughter came back from the film one of the first things she said was "lots of tastey guys with the shirts off" - a change from women I guess, with several things off!!
Amelia.x
I'm going to see New Moon this week, I wanted to wait till the crowds thin out.
When something gets amazingly popular, there are some people who get off bashing it just for the heck of it. I've learned over the years to tune out the haters.
I loved the series until the last book. To be honest, Edward isn't my fave. Yes, I'm all for Jacob.
With the success of Twilight, you will see more films mixing fantasy with female leads front and center.
Hi Suzie! I haven't commented in ages, but I always keep up with your blog. Thank you so much for writing that. I completely agree. What makes me really angry is that instead of continuing to make these movies true to the book like New Moon, they up the action and darkness of Eclipse to draw a 'broader' audience. Truthfully, with the opinions males have already attached to the Twilight franchise, I doubt they would be excited or even admit to being excited about seeing eclipse. It's so unfair that they do not give us what we want, which is staying true to the core of the books, but swaying to the mass media.
I totally agree, I hated the last book. It was definitely cringe worthy for me. When I thought the spontaneous development of out of character personalities wasn't enough, the baby is named Reneesme and falls in love with Jacob!! If I wasn't so obsessed with the Twilight saga, there was no way I could have pushed through the last book.
I thought New Moon was really good in that it felt like a real movie and there was a lot more attention paid to little details that enhanced the overall feel of the movie. I only wished that they developed more of Bella/Edward relationship in the beginning and after the reunion. I felt cheated..haha. Again, I think it has to do with the studio trying to sway more people towards Jacob to make the competition a little more interesting. I don't mind a little competition, but give me more Edward!
Nail - head....and all that stuff.
Excellent post Suzie, and I agree with you 100%
Thanks for putting it into words.
p.s. I did see it when there was a packed audience of screaming teenagers...crazy!
I love what you've written here and how you've defended the series and the new film.. I saw it and thought it was awesome! I, like Linnea, did not like S. Meyers' writing, and the VERY controlling nature of Edward. I've seen that in my mothers' and my own relationships, and is is toxic, total poison..
While I see what you are saying about bringing in a female audience and catering to its needs, I see this series (which I AM enjoying) as anti-female. It's exploiting my inner-fifteen year old romantic in a way that cannot be healthy. While I do not believe romantic love to be "bad" (as adults we are capable of mature romantic love that is not based on delusions) I believe this kind of slavery to it is a terrible message for young girls. This of course has not stopped me from reading all the books and seeing the movies, but it does make me want to seek therapy...! And I'm waaaay over 15. ;)
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