It opens tonight. Twilight. The movie every teen girl is supposed to be looking forward to. The vampire love story that has captured the hearts and minds of teen and young adult girls. And quite a few women bloggers, if my reading is correct. I know people who saw it last night when it was released in the west. They waited on line to see it. Some for hours and hours. For a vampire movie!
Needless to say, my daughter has no interest whatsoever in this movie. Or the books. Or vampires. It's totally not her thing. Of all the teenagers we know, not one of them has any interest in the books or movie. It's like this whole popular culture phenomenon just passed over our town. Oh, I'm sure some of the middle school kids are going to the film tonight. But the high school girls? Nope, not really interested.
It makes me wonder what makes a pop culture phenom in one place and elicits total disinterest in another place. For example, in my blog reading I've seen many many young moms going nuts over the Twilight series of books. They speak rapturously about how the love story moved them. They couldn't wait to get through one novel in order to start the next. It was like the Harry Potter books, except that most adults talking about the books admitted they weren't that well written. It was just the story that kept them interested.
I am not a fan of the vampire genre. I don't like horror movies either. Even ones with a love story. So I didn't bother to read the books and I suppose that my disinterest caused a bit of my daughter's lack of interest. But the truth is, she's not a reader, she wouldn't ever pick up a book like Twilight, and this is so not a movie she would be willing to spend her hard earned money upon.
Which got me to wondering. Is this movie going to be as big as all the hype? Are your teenage kids panting to see it? Have they read the books? Did they like the books as much as the Harry Potter series?
Enquiring minds want to know!
the roo-girl has been drooling for months over this. she read the first three books in the series rabidly and hooked many of her friends on it.
interestingly, however, the fourth book infuriated her (and me). although i slogged through to the end, just to satisfy my curiosity, she has been unable to finish it.
even though she waited in line last august to buy it.
the movie? she and i will see it, but i won't buck the crowds quite yet.
Posted by: the planet of janet | November 22, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Anna is begging to see it, too. Me? Absolutely no vampire fantasies whatsoever - I just don't get it.
Posted by: suburbancorrespondent | November 22, 2008 at 05:37 PM
I'm teaching younger kids now (9-10 year olds), so I haven't heard a lot of buzz. When I taught 6th, this kind of thing was a hot topic. For me? No thanks. I'll probably read them, though, because I'm part of the library challenged books committee. I need to be well informed. (Well, that's my rationale and I'm sticking to it!)
Posted by: Daisy | November 22, 2008 at 09:27 PM
My daughter Ally is 15 and a reader. She has read all the Twilight books several times. She also loved the Harry Potter books.
I was as surprised as she was that she liked a "vampire" book. (I have read no HP or Teilight books. I have enough books stacked up to read every month.)
She was excited for the movie, and did enjoy it, they stuck to the story pretty well and now
she is reading the 4th book - again.
Posted by: Susan | November 23, 2008 at 11:23 PM