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Latest update: March 6, 2011

KenNetin viihdetietokanta • the KenNetti entertainment database
TWILIGHT - The Feel Good Vampire Movie

It is one of the most hated movies of all time. It is also one of the most misunderstood movies of all time. Twilight (2008), directed by Catherine Hardwicke, is not a vampire movie nor a Gothic horror yarn. Those who are able to look deeper into this movie's passionate teenaged heart, know better: Twilight is a most emotional, happiest feel-good experiences among all "vampire movies".

Over twenty years ago, approximately in the age of 14, I found myself within the pages of Bram Stoker's magnificent novel Dracula. Some years before this, Christopher Lee had already captivated my imagination with his powerful presence as the bloodthirsty vampire count in Hammer's original 1958 Dracula (aka The Horror of Dracula) and in the extremely atmospheric sequel Dracula Has Risen From The Grave. This was the very beginning of my love towards vampires - running around in a long black cape, getting all the pretty girls with just one commanding glance, and being awake while the rest of the world sleeps. The blood-letting was always a side issue.

Then, an obscure little movie called Twilight (2008) arrived in theatres. I had read only one article about the movie, and since it had mentioned "Harry Potter", I decided not to go see the movie. (Yes, unfortunately I am one of the muggles who don't find the Harry Potter movies particularly magical or enchanting). But eventually, for reasons whatever, I went to see Twilight - and I found it every bit as stupid and inane as it had been called in several reviews. This was not a vampire movie. This was a badly made movie. The script was awful, lacking in drama and leaving an endless amount of important and intriguing things untouched. The pace was incredibly slow. The vampire makeup was heavily exaggerated. And the main character, a sparkling vampire, was one of the most uncharismatic bloodsuckers I'd ever seen in movies.

However, during the following week something happened. I had to see the movie again to be absolutely sure that it was crap. Knowing what to expect, I saw it from a totally different perspective - and I understood it all! This was a perfect movie about teen "angst", about a teenager's very first crush, about innocence and lust, and everything else that belongs to normal human being's teen years. But I also noticed that director Catherine Hardwicke didn't want to oppress viewers as much as with her magnificent movie Thirteen (2003). With Twilight, she obviously wanted to tell a teen story with hope and warmth. The movie looks cold only from the surface - but deeper within it is warm and compassionate. Not to mention the passion of love.

I was initially very disappointed with Joel Schumacher's movie version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera (2004) because it forgot the horror and concentrated only to look and sound beautiful. Eventually I had to admit that even the pretty Phantom had a point. Hardwicke's Twilight goes actually further with the same basic idea: even though there are shades of reality (and some modest horror) on the surface, Hardwicke's movie offers wealth of beauty and extremely calm, dreamlike narrative and loads of hope. In other words, "feel good". As Robert Wise's gorgeous The Sound of Music (1965) is one of the absolute feel-good movie musicals of all time, Hardwicke's Twilight can easily be labeled as the feel-good vampire movie of all time.

So, watch it with an open mind - and enjoy the trip!

And if you want to laugh out loud, listen to the original DVD (2009) audio commentary by Hardwicke, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. While Hardwicke continues endlessly praising her stars, Stewart and Pattinson never end disparaging themselves, while enjoying each other's acting antics. It is one of the most hilarious DVD commentaries I've ever heard!

TWILIGHT
The Movie & Novel Rated

The KenNetti Rating System

The movie as a "feel-good" movie

The movie as a first experience

The movie compared to the original novel

Meyer's original novel

Twilight's original DVD release
The 2 Disc Special Edition
(E1 Entertainment, 2009)

NEW MOON
A- B e t t e r- M o v i e
But Unfortunately Less Feel-Good

After I fell in love with Catherine Hardwicke's Twilight, I read Stephenie Meyer's original novel. First of all, reading it revealed that my hunch had been right all along - that some important things were omitted from Twilight's movie script (for example, the background of an important character, Carlisle, and the several essential discussions between the young lovers, Bella and Edward). The book made me also to realize that while Meyer is far from a great writer, she definitely has talent writing in a teenager mode. It is not a great novel, but a beautifully written diary of a totally believable teenage girl. I actually hungered for more.

The second book, New Moon, turned out to be superior. I know I'm in the minority with my opinion, but the second book is the very best in Meyer's Twilight saga. It is a magnificent psychological journey through a human mind, and also a tale of true friendship overpowering silly infatuation. However, as much as I would like to cling to realism, the soap-opera climax of the book made me root for Edward; this sparkling vampire guy continued the list of my favourite male characters ready to sacrifice themselves for someone else's happiness. (Prior favourites of mine include Dimitri from Anastasia, 1998, ja Jack from Titanic, 1997). In addition of having a really good point - that people should understand the difference between infatuation and real love - the New Moon book offers an ending with lots of hope in the grand tradition of best soap opera movies (like Gone With the Wind, 1939). The ending is justified, being natural continuity to the perfectly exaggerated romantic spirit of the first book.

Writer Melissa Rosenberg had been responsible for Twilight's economical but butchered screenplay adaptation. The second script didn't need to be economical; everyone knew that a huge fanbase was already waiting for the movie. With Rosenberg's very faithful script and director Chris Weitz's vision, the second book was transformed splendidly on the silver screen. Almost opposite of Hardwicke's Twilight, the New Moon movie had everything that was important in the book. But is Weitz's New Moon really a better motion picture than Hardwicke's Twilight?

As much as the undersigned likes the book and its great cinematic adaptation, the New Moon movie is definitely not the "feel-good" experience that Hardwicke provided with her Twilight. There's real irony that New Moon's storyline is definitely better, more adventurous, more dramatic, more everything - but due to the pessimistic essence the movie does not have the attraction, simple warmth and ethereal dreamlike mood that Hardwicke was able to pour on Twilight.

NEW MOON
The Movie & Novel Rated

The KenNetti Rating System

The movie as a "feel-good" movie

The movie as a first experience

The movie compared to the original novel

Meyer's original novel

New Moon's original DVD release
The 2 Disc Special Edition
(E1 Entertainment, 2010)

ECLIPSE
A Pointless Book
A Pointless Motion Picture

Yes, I did read Stephenie Meyer's all four novels of the Twilight saga. The third book is called Eclipse - a perfect name for a story that has as much point as black void. The further I read, the more certain I became that with Eclipse Meyer started systematically pleasing her readers. The same kind of "literature" you can buy with one dollar from your nearest grocery store.

Yes, the soap opera grows into epic proportions. Yes, we learn more about the Cullen family history. Yes, the storyline has its few moments (such as Bella freezing in an icecold tent with her two lovers, the cold-skinned vampire and the warm-skinned werewolf). And yes, the climax is a good old epic confrontation. However, as much as it does try to be a good book, Eclipse is only a transitional chapter in the saga. There really isn't any other point; in the end of the story Bella is as dumb as in the first book, Edward is as numb as always - and too many innocent people have died in between.

Eclipse was transformed almost as splendidly on the silver screen as New Moon. Well, almost - because all of the book's shortcomings were also included. When a pointless book is made a pointless movie, should it be said that it's a good movie?

ECLIPSE
The Movie & Novel Rated

The KenNetti Rating System

The movie as a "feel-good" movie

The movie as a first experience

The movie compared to the original novel

Meyer's original novel

BREAKING DAWN
The Educational Final Chapter
of Vampire Sex & Childbirth

The last chapter of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight is pure torture for anyone who is waiting for a twist ending. There isn't any twist here. The reader with brains, however, will writhe and wriggle throughout the book because of embarrassment. Meyer continues in the mode of systematically pleasing her readers. She doesn't offer any character development or surprising aspects to the storyline. Well, almost any: In Meyer's sparkling vampire world bloodsuckers want to have sex, make kids and own a country house.

During the nearly 700 pages of Breaking Dawn Bella's only character development is to become even more stupid and pig-headed. Well, she is now a vampire's wife. After several nights of sexual passion (the only fun portion of the book) and a definite intercourse, the husband Edward changes into an emasculated wimp. The point in this book could be that all men should beware sex and women. Unfortunately, that's not Stephenie Meyer's point. Her point is simply in the bliss of marriage that makes "ever afters" possible - and maybe also that it reeeeally hurts to give birth to a baby.

With Eclipse a pointless book was made into a pointless movie. With Breaking Dawn - the 700 pages that could easily be compressed into a 10-page pamphlet - the producers decided to make two movies. Apparently they took Meyer's other point literally: the reading of Breaking Dawn is torture, so watching it should be an even more torturous experience. Can't wait for that one.

In my honest opinion books 3 and 4 could have been easily been put together in one movie. Now that would be economical movie making.

BREAKING DAWN
The Novel Rated

The KenNetti Rating System

Meyer's original novel

The KenNetti Main Page

the KenNetti entertainment database
KenNetin viihdetietokanta

Twilightened texts
and image processing by
Kenneth Sundberg

Original drawings
© Kenneth Sundberg

THE SOUND OF MUSIC
original artwork
© 20th Century Fox

Original Twilight
photos & artwork
© Summit Entertainment, LLC.
____________________________________

KenNetti is a totally non-commercial website by Kenneth Sundberg to pay tribute and to honour the work of the talented people behind some of the most wonderful things found on this planet. All the material is gathered here only to inform, to promote things that need to be noticed, and to entertain people all over the world. KenNetti and Kenneth Sundberg are not affiliated to any of the companies, theme parks, movies, people, ghosts or other things appearing on this site. No rights of reproduction have been granted to KenNetti or Kenneth Sundberg, except where indicated. If You feel that some image or material whatsoever should not appear on this site, please CONTACT Kenneth Sundberg so that we can quickly resolve the problem.

KenNetti on Kenneth Sundbergin täysin epäkaupallinen nettisaitti joka kunnioittaa ja ylistää lahjakkaita ihmisiä ja heidän töitään. Kaiken tälle saitille kerätyn materiaalin tarkoituksena on jakaa informaatiota, edistää tietämystä vähemmälle huomiolle jääneistä asioista, sekä viihdyttää ihmisiä kaikkialla maailmassa. KenNetti ja Kenneth Sundberg eivät ole missään tekemisissä tällä saitilla mainittujen yhtiöiden, teemapuistojen, elokuvien, ihmisten, kummitusten tai muiden asioiden kanssa. Oikeuksia materiaalien jäljentämiseen ei ole myönnetty KenNetille eikä Kenneth Sundbergille, lukuunottamatta osioita missä asiasta on erikseen mainittu. Jos Sinun mielestäsi jokin kuva tai muu materiaali ei saisi olla tällä saitilla, ole ystävällinen ja OTA YHTEYTTÄ Kenneth Sundbergiin, niin voimme nopeasti ratkaista ongelman.

It is one of the most hated movies of all time. It is also one of the most misunderstood movies of all time. Twilight (2008), directed by Catherine Hardwicke, is not a vampire movie nor a Gothic horror yarn. Those who are able to look deeper into this movie's passionate teenaged heart, know better: Twilight is a most emotional, happiest feel-good experiences among all "vampire movies".

Over twenty years ago, approximately in the age of 14, I found myself within the pages of Bram Stoker's magnificent novel Dracula. Some years before this, Christopher Lee had already captivated my imagination with his powerful presence as the bloodthirsty vampire count in Hammer's original 1958 Dracula (aka The Horror of Dracula) and in the extremely atmospheric sequel Dracula Has Risen From The Grave. This was the very beginning of my love towards vampires - running around in a long black cape, getting all the pretty girls with just one commanding glance, and being awake while the rest of the world sleeps. The blood-letting was always a side issue.

Then, an obscure little movie called Twilight (2008) arrived in theatres. I had read only one article about the movie, and since it had mentioned "Harry Potter", I decided not to go see the movie. (Yes, unfortunately I am one of the muggles who don't find the Harry Potter movies particularly magical or enchanting). But eventually, for reasons whatever, I went to see Twilight - and I found it every bit as stupid and inane as it had been called in several reviews. This was not a vampire movie. This was a badly made movie. The script was awful, lacking in drama and leaving an endless amount of important and intriguing things untouched. The pace was incredibly slow. The vampire makeup was heavily exaggerated. And the main character, a sparkling vampire, was one of the most uncharismatic bloodsuckers I'd ever seen in movies.

However, during the following week something happened. I had to see the movie again to be absolutely sure that it was crap. Knowing what to expect, I saw it from a totally different perspective - and I understood it all! This was a perfect movie about teen "angst", about a teenager's very first crush, about innocence and lust, and everything else that belongs to normal human being's teen years. But I also noticed that director Catherine Hardwicke didn't want to oppress viewers as much as with her magnificent movie Thirteen (2003). With Twilight, she obviously wanted to tell a teen story with hope and warmth. The movie looks cold only from the surface - but deeper within it is warm and compassionate. Not to mention the passion of love.

I was initially very disappointed with Joel Schumacher's movie version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera (2004) because it forgot the horror and concentrated only to look and sound beautiful. Eventually I had to admit that even the pretty Phantom had a point. Hardwicke's Twilight goes actually further with the same basic idea: even though there are shades of reality (and some modest horror) on the surface, Hardwicke's movie offers wealth of beauty and extremely calm, dreamlike narrative and loads of hope. In other words, "feel good". As Robert Wise's gorgeous The Sound of Music (1965) is one of the absolute feel-good movie musicals of all time, Hardwicke's Twilight can easily be labeled as the feel-good vampire movie of all time.

And if you want to laugh out loud, listen to the original DVD (2009) audio commentary by Hardwicke, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. While Hardwicke continues endlessly praising her stars, Stewart and Pattinson never end disparaging themselves, while enjoying each other's acting antics. It is one of the most hilarious DVD commentaries I've ever heard!

Twilight's original DVD release
The 2 Disc Special Edition
(E1 Entertainment, 2009)

After I fell in love with Catherine Hardwicke's Twilight, I read Stephenie Meyer's original novel. First of all, reading it revealed that my hunch had been right all along - that some important things were omitted from Twilight's movie script (for example, the background of an important character, Carlisle, and the several essential discussions between the young lovers, Bella and Edward). The book made me also to realize that while Meyer is far from a great writer, she definitely has talent writing in a teenager mode. It is not a great novel, but a beautifully written diary of a totally believable teenage girl. I actually hungered for more.

The second book, New Moon, turned out to be superior. I know I'm in the minority with my opinion, but the second book is the very best in Meyer's Twilight saga. It is a magnificent psychological journey through a human mind, and also a tale of true friendship overpowering silly infatuation. However, as much as I would like to cling to realism, the soap-opera climax of the book made me root for Edward; this sparkling vampire guy continued the list of my favourite male characters ready to sacrifice themselves for someone else's happiness. (Prior favourites of mine include Dimitri from Anastasia, 1998, ja Jack from Titanic, 1997). In addition of having a really good point - that people should understand the difference between infatuation and real love - the New Moon book offers an ending with lots of hope in the grand tradition of best soap opera movies (like Gone With the Wind, 1939). The ending is justified, being natural continuity to the perfectly exaggerated romantic spirit of the first book.

Writer Melissa Rosenberg had been responsible for Twilight's economical but butchered screenplay adaptation. The second script didn't need to be economical; everyone knew that a huge fanbase was already waiting for the movie. With Rosenberg's very faithful script and director Chris Weitz's vision, the second book was transformed splendidly on the silver screen. Almost opposite of Hardwicke's Twilight, the New Moon movie had everything that was important in the book. But is Weitz's New Moon really a better motion picture than Hardwicke's Twilight?

As much as the undersigned likes the book and its great cinematic adaptation, the New Moon movie is definitely not the "feel-good" experience that Hardwicke provided with her Twilight. There's real irony that New Moon's storyline is definitely better, more adventurous, more dramatic, more everything - but due to the pessimistic essence the movie does not have the attraction, simple warmth and ethereal dreamlike mood that Hardwicke was able to pour on Twilight.

New Moon's original DVD release
The 2 Disc Special Edition
(E1 Entertainment, 2010)

Yes, I did read Stephenie Meyer's all four novels of the Twilight saga. The third book is called Eclipse - a perfect name for a story that has as much point as black void. The further I read, the more certain I became that with Eclipse Meyer started systematically pleasing her readers. The same kind of "literature" you can buy with one dollar from your nearest grocery store.

Yes, the soap opera grows into epic proportions. Yes, we learn more about the Cullen family history. Yes, the storyline has its few moments (such as Bella freezing in an icecold tent with her two lovers, the cold-skinned vampire and the warm-skinned werewolf). And yes, the climax is a good old epic confrontation. However, as much as it does try to be a good book, Eclipse is only a transitional chapter in the saga. There really isn't any other point; in the end of the story Bella is as dumb as in the first book, Edward is as numb as always - and too many innocent people have died in between.

Eclipse was transformed almost as splendidly on the silver screen as New Moon. Well, almost - because all of the book's shortcomings were also included. When a pointless book is made a pointless movie, should it be said that it's a good movie?

The last chapter of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight is pure torture for anyone who is waiting for a twist ending. There isn't any twist here. The reader with brains, however, will writhe and wriggle throughout the book because of embarrassment. Meyer continues in the mode of systematically pleasing her readers. She doesn't offer any character development or surprising aspects to the storyline. Well, almost any: In Meyer's sparkling vampire world bloodsuckers want to have sex, make kids and own a country house.

During the nearly 700 pages of Breaking Dawn Bella's only character development is to become even more stupid and pig-headed. Well, she is now a vampire's wife. After several nights of sexual passion (the only fun portion of the book) and a definite intercourse, the husband Edward changes into an emasculated wimp. The point in this book could be that all men should beware sex and women. Unfortunately, that's not Stephenie Meyer's point. Her point is simply in the bliss of marriage that makes "ever afters" possible - and maybe also that it reeeeally hurts to give birth to a baby.

With Eclipse a pointless book was made into a pointless movie. With Breaking Dawn - the 700 pages that could easily be compressed into a 10-page pamphlet - the producers decided to make two movies. Apparently they took Meyer's other point literally: the reading of Breaking Dawn is torture, so watching it should be an even more torturous experience. Can't wait for that one.

In my honest opinion books 3 and 4 could have been easily been put together in one movie. Now that would be economical movie making.

the KenNetti entertainment database
KenNetin viihdetietokanta

Twilightened texts
and image processing by
Kenneth Sundberg

KenNetti is a totally non-commercial website by Kenneth Sundberg to pay tribute and to honour the work of the talented people behind some of the most wonderful things found on this planet. All the material is gathered here only to inform, to promote things that need to be noticed, and to entertain people all over the world. KenNetti and Kenneth Sundberg are not affiliated to any of the companies, theme parks, movies, people, ghosts or other things appearing on this site. No rights of reproduction have been granted to KenNetti or Kenneth Sundberg, except where indicated. If You feel that some image or material whatsoever should not appear on this site, please CONTACT Kenneth Sundberg so that we can quickly resolve the problem.

KenNetti on Kenneth Sundbergin täysin epäkaupallinen nettisaitti joka kunnioittaa ja ylistää lahjakkaita ihmisiä ja heidän töitään. Kaiken tälle saitille kerätyn materiaalin tarkoituksena on jakaa informaatiota, edistää tietämystä vähemmälle huomiolle jääneistä asioista, sekä viihdyttää ihmisiä kaikkialla maailmassa. KenNetti ja Kenneth Sundberg eivät ole missään tekemisissä tällä saitilla mainittujen yhtiöiden, teemapuistojen, elokuvien, ihmisten, kummitusten tai muiden asioiden kanssa. Oikeuksia materiaalien jäljentämiseen ei ole myönnetty KenNetille eikä Kenneth Sundbergille, lukuunottamatta osioita missä asiasta on erikseen mainittu. Jos Sinun mielestäsi jokin kuva tai muu materiaali ei saisi olla tällä saitilla, ole ystävällinen ja OTA YHTEYTTÄ Kenneth Sundbergiin, niin voimme nopeasti ratkaista ongelman.