Twilight Really Isn't That Bad | Geeks - Vocal Media

In 2008 something very normal and expected happened, a hoard of young girls quickly became obsessed with a small independent film based on a book series called Twilight. Then Something slightly weirder and unexpected happened, anybody who didn't love the movie absolutely hated it. Every movie critic every adult male, even every cynical young girl hated Twilight almost as much as the fans loved it. Slowly as the years went by and the young girls who once adored and idolized everything surrounding the movie started growing up and The Twilight Saga while still popular was understood to be an absolutely terrible series of films. Both the films and everyone involved in them were constantly joked about and made fun of, nobody took Kristen Stewart or Robert Pattinson seriously until both their respective endeavors in more serious independent films and any mention of Twilight, in general, was practically disgusting in serious circles. To this day none of the movies have a rotten tomato score over 50%. It’s clear that amongst clever or level headed people The Twilight Saga is just a product of its time, it started the young adult adaptation craze and it really paved the way for sexy vampires in the 21st century, but as far as artistic merit goes it's considered garbage. Clearly no one is willing to admit that The Twilight Saga is anything but an unwatchable mess, and it may be unpopular to say this but I will take the bullet and say Twilight is not as bad as everyone says it is.

The Twilight franchise is actually an underrated masterpiece. Everyone is just too stuck in their ways to admit it. The only reason that everybody hated it so much when it first came out has a lot to do with the fact that it was mostly teenage girls who were so obsessed with the movies, and historically nothing teenage girls like has ever been taken seriously because young women have never been taken seriously. The way these girls had absolutely no shame about their adoration to something so seemingly trivial seemed almost crude to anybody who believed their own tastes were far too superior to ever enjoy something so popular, even though if any other less popular movie than Twilight had had the exact same spectacles and unbelievable plotlines it would have been chalked up to kitschiness and charming satire in an independent film.

The truth is as a die-hard Twilight fan it's hard to defend some of the things that happen throughout the 5 respective films. But that’s the thing, those irredeemable things occupy so many famous movie franchises. It's arguable that Daniel Radcliffe doesn’t give an exceptional performance in Harry Potter, The Avengers franchise has Age of Ultron which is almost difficult to sit through considering how boring it is, and The Fast and Furious movies haven't made any sense for the past 3 movies. Yet all of these franchises are still beloved and highly regarded in serious film circles, maybe not as life-changing Oscar-caliber movies but definitely respectable and entertaining blockbuster films. But Twilight never got that same respect, its blemishes became the punchline of every joke because people couldn't look past the CGI baby or the fact that its name was Renesme, they couldn't look past its few faults because they didn't want to. It was easier to hate something popular and girly than actually watch and enjoy the movies for what they are, romantic, thrilling, funny, and totally re-watchable and entertaining.

How can I think such an unpopular though you may ask? It's easy, I actually watched the movies with an open mind.

If you rewatch the movies, which I highly suggest you do, you will see everything is a lot smarter and cooler than the cynics would have you believe. First off the performances by the leads Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are the easiest things to make fun of. But in retrospect, it's clear that Rob's angsty persona and Kristen's awkward demeanor are both just specific character decisions that led to great performances. Robert Pattinson is not really like that in real life, if you see any interview of his he’s the complete opposite of the emo vampire Edward he plays, he’s lively and animated while Edward is incredibly reserved and mysterious. How could you consider what Robert is doing anything but masterful? He completely loses himself in Edward. You never once believe that he isn't totally cool and full of mystique, a total stretch for the actor, in any other movie this performance would be called range. And Kristen Stewart, on the other hand, gives Bella a very interesting physical personality, she’s always running her hand through her hair looking down biting her lip and shaking her head, this became the absolute go-to for anyone who wanted to make fun of Kristen Stewart, but why didn't they understand that this was a very clear character choice, Kristen Stewart does not act like Bella in real life, but she convinces you that she really is shy and meek, and somehow Kristen Stewart was so good at creating this character that people actually believed she wasn't acting and that was how she really behaved. Not to mention both of them have great chemistry with each other. As far as the other actors in the series are concerned, it's clear that natural acting is the name of the game. Bella's dad Charlie, the other werewolves in Jacob's tribe and all of Bella's school friends all bring not only great comedic timing in certain scenes (i.e. the wedding) but a lot of emotional depth to the characters. You can't look me in the eye and tell me that Billy Burke who plays Charlie does not give a completely convincing performance as Bellas stoic yet caring and supportive dad. Also, it’s fair to point out that there aren’t a lot of great father figures in movies going around, that's something else that Twilight did so well, a healthy loving father-daughter relationship.

The reason that all these performances stood out to me is also due to the fact that the characters are put in such entertaining situations and stories. While a teenage girl falling in love with a vampire isn't exactly considered realism, the franchise serves its purpose, being entertaining. All 5 movies don't waste a minute putting something exciting and completely unique on screen. Does the first movie need a little levity? Let's have all the vampires play baseball, is the mystery of who Edward is too much to bear? Let's show him standing on a rock while he sparkles in the sunlight because that's what vampires do, and let’s just say the book that the movie is based on doesn't have one final battle, well let's put one in the movie, just to make everything more dramatic and exciting, and it works! There isn’t a dull moment, something wacky is always going on so much so that if you go to the bathroom in the middle of the movies you will always miss something crazy and entertaining no matter what movie in the series you're watching.

Or you might miss a classic Twilight zinger, which would be a real shame because people tend to forget how genuinely funny the series really is, and even things that might be taken seriously are hilarious, the fact that Jacob ‘imprints’ on a baby is hilarious, the fact that Edward absolutely destroys the room when he and Bella are intimate for the first time is hilarious, and not to mention when Bella first walks into science class and Edward literally looks like he is holding down vomit from smelling her is hysterical. People always think Twilight took itself so seriously but it was the cynics that took everything that Twilight was doing too seriously. The only thing that Twilight took seriously was the love story, everything else was free reign, and also intentionally comedic.

Speaking of the love story, I dare you to find a more romantic relationship than that of Bella and Edwards, sure the public tried to convince you that the series was thoroughly unfeminist because it showed a young girl thinking that she couldn't live without a man that she couldn't breathe without a man and that a man was her whole life, but what they forgot to mention was that it went both ways. Edward also felt that way about her too. When he mistakenly hears that Bella is dead he attempts to commit suicide and is thankfully saved by Bella herself but it is clear that neither of them can live without the other, it’s not unfeminist to be absolutely head over heels in love with someone that absolutely feels the same way about you and also supports and loves you just as much.

Love stories are the oldest most unoriginal thing you could probably write about, it's been written about a million different ways a million different times, but the difference between every other love story and Twilight is that by the end of Twilight you are actually convinced that they will stay together forever, no other love story can make you feel that way. ‘Cinderella’? They barely knew each other and he couldn't even remember what she looked like, who knows if they were even compatible. ‘You’ve Got Mail’? He lied to her all that time and don't you think she would eventually grow resentful of his capitalist ways? Every single love story ends with the same happily ever after, but the natural cynicism that we have as humans clouds us from ever believing that any couple could actually live the rest of their lives truly happy because we know from personal experience that relationships and lifelong ones for that matter are so difficult and complicated and messy and who knows if Mr. Darcy would have ever cheated on Elizabeth after years and years of being stuck in a marriage where both parties are so unbelievably stubborn. Normal people in love stories are bound to make mistakes because that's a given in any relationship, it's why so many can't last, we’re such fragile complicated human beings, but that's the beauty of the romance between Bella and Edward, they are not tied down by human faults, they’re not even human, their love is what drives them its what kills them its what keeps them alive and it's the only thing that they care about. Movie after movie they constantly prove their love and devotion to each other again and again in a romantic and tender way, Edward is always kind with Bella and Bella is always warm with Edward, they even have a playful demeanor that lasts throughout the whole series. Once you get to the final scene of the final movie and Bella tells Edward that there's no one that could ever love anyone more than she loves him and he tells her that only one person could and that person is him, he loves her more than anyone every could. That's true love right there, once the credits roll you have absolutely no doubt in your mind or your heart that they were meant for each other and no matter what happens they will love each other and be with each other for both their long long lives. It's ironic that the love story between a vampire and a teenage girl turned vampire would be the most realistic and believable relationship.

All the elements of The Twilight Saga came together to make a franchise that is not only charming and entertaining but also touching, and unfortunately, everybody hates it and won't admit it's true genius as a blockbuster film franchise. Twilight made a lot of money but has little respect attached to its name. If I can give it even a little credit with my writing then I have done my job. But I will never take myself too seriously because that's really the key to Twilight, not taking everything so seriously and enjoying the ride for what it is, not the worst movie anyone has ever seen in their entire lives, but as fun movies with a great love story. It may be unpopular to love and respect The Twilight Saga, but if loving it is wrong I do not want to be right.