Twilight movie a fad, nothing more

By Britania Tremblay

Nowadays, a person can’t go three feet without being asked what team they’re on.
So, which is it: Team Edward or Team Jacob? And God forbid you haven’t decided or don’t know what the question means.
Edward and Jacob are characters from the four-book series, Twilight. The books focus on Isabella Swan, a 17-year-old girl who moves to Forks, Washington, to live with her father. But her life there isn’t quite average; she’s dating a vampire, Edward, and she’s best friends with a werewolf, Jacob.
The phenomenon known as Twilight swept the nation last year when the first movie of the series was released; and so began the brainwashing of the majority of young teenage girls.
Brainwashing may sound a trifle dramatic, but the time it took for Twilight mania to hit was remarkably short. On its opening weekend, the newest instalment, New Moon, managed to suck in $140.7 million in Canada and the U.S. alone.
So, what exactly is so appealing about this series? It comes down to three basic factors: the characters, the acting and the overall message of the movie.
The three main characters are in a twisted love triangle. Even though Bella is in love with Edward, he leaves her and she turns to Jacob, who has been in love with her since the beginning. Bella is portrayed as needy, showing young girls they always need a man, or they will suffer emotionally, as Bella does in the film.
This isn’t a movie review, but the acting is a factor as well. In of the films, and even in real life, Robert Pattinson (who plays Edward) spends most of his time looking smoldering and mussing his hair for the perfect ‘bed head’ look. If this is what brings in the big bucks, then hats off to you. And, what about the character of Jacob? He spends all his time either with his shirt off, pining for Bella, or pining for Bella with his shirt off.
Overall, the messages the movies and books are sending to youngsters are all the wrong ones. Nowhere is there a protagonist who ends up saving the day, or a witty character people can relate to. There is no educational message that will have teenagers making better choices in life. The whole Twilight fad is just that, a fad. Hopefully, it will eventually pass and when someone asks about a team, everyone will know it’s about sports.