My Take on Twilight

A good friend who’s a Twihard swears that Twilight the book is better than Twilight the movie. Well, what happened to me is that I saw the movie first, then went on to read Books 2-4, and I think the intensity of the story as it built up to the climax ruined Book 1 for me (not to mention that I was already under the Rob Pattinson-as-Edward Cullen spell.) I mean, the thrills of young, first love is intoxicating and I couldn’t help but get goose bumps when I read Book 1, but because I had already seen the movie, the scenes in the book translated in my mind to exact scenes from the movie. Not to say that it wasn’t goose bump-inducing. Kilig is a Filipino word that does not have a direct English translation but it’s that heady feeling of breathless excitement, tingly shivers and warm fuzzies all at the same time, and overly-accelerated heartbeat. Goose bumps grow on goose bumps.

So what is it exactly about this story (book or movie—for me, it’s an even footing) that is so kilig? I decided... that we all want our knight in shining armor. We all want to be the damsel in distress, even if deep inside we know we can totally kick butt on our own, but knight in shining armor doesn’t have to know that, does he? I think the author did a great job in putting that desire in words, in saying it out loud when most of us women would rather delude ourselves into thinking that we are just fine without our own, personal hero. Once in a while it’s nice to lay back and be fragile, and have someone else be strong and take care of me. Personally, at least, this book dug deep into my dreams and fantasies of being so deeply loved and being the life of someone. “You are my life now.” Shivers.

I am also almost angry at and jealous of the author because she had the guts to create this perfect man that women just dream about, and she will always have first dibs on him. I was never brave enough to imagine Edward to life (on page at least). It’s almost blasphemous to have a character like him. Not because he is good-looking (I don’t know if I like pale men hahaha!), but because he is the epitome of my hero: selfless, generous, tolerant, intense and passionate, and very, very committed (well, at least in the end Edward was).

And then there’s the whole different side to the story of vampires. I’ve never been that interested in their story, and have never found them seductive and irresistible, real or not. To me, their story seemed at first to be secondary to Bella and Edward’s story, but towards the end it defined the whole Cullen clan and resulted in all of the characters’ struggles. For me, it was never about Bella’s humanity, it was always about the vampire nature of the Cullens and how they rise above that very nature. It’s interesting how the author injected a sense of normalcy and reality, and almost humanity, to these supposedly mythical creatures. I like too that she gave credit to vampire stories from all over the world, especially the Filipino danag. (I’ve heard the danag story in my childhood but it comes back to me very fuzzy now.)

So... until the next post, I'm looking forward to writing my thoughts on New Moon.

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