My favorit thing about Twilight was the fact that Bella, despite being the "not like other girls" girl, never looked down at her peers. She was friends with the popular and nerdy girl and she always supported them (best shown in movie one). And despite her literal dependency towards Edward (and their not so heathy relationship), she's actually pretty capable herself, she punches Jacob when he kisses her, she sets boundaries and she does what she feels is right, despite what her dad, Edward and Jacob deems the best for her. Also can we talk about Charlie? Best dad ever. Would love a movie just about him tbh.
@@DrGregoryHouseIT and Charlie wasn't as good of the dad, he didn't take seriously that Bella didn't like Jacob and he kissed her against her will. He laughed and continued pushing for Bella to be with him.
Yeah, the movies did a lot to polish up Bella's character and Charlie's character in that way - the books definitely did have Bella looking down on everyone and Charlie brushing off things that as a dad (and a police officer, at that) he should have paid attention to. But the movies smoothed that over quite a bit in a way that I view as an improvement.
@@alexmooney7474 honestly, books made me feel for Bella, cause there she came to Forks, because she felt that her mom didn't need her. And she constantly kept cooking and cleaning after Charlie. Gave a vibe of someone who had to grow up faster, because she had to
@@DrGregoryHouseIT She might have looked down on her peers, but is that any different than real teenage girl friendships? Real life is complex. And high schoolers have no life experience so they HAVE TO compare others. I’m sick of people throwing out the entire book/series because the main character is realistic. While also claiming she is a shell that the reader inserts themselves into. How many seventeen year olds are the exclusive cook and cleaner of the family? Yeah… thought so. People are just upset to discover a lot of teenage feelings overlap and THAT’S why Bella is relatable. Being 17 isn’t that unique. lol
I am 56. Twilight is my once a year read. It is typical teenage angst. Feeling the desperate need for love and to be special. I can remember feeling this way.
Nice job! As a former teenage girl myself (I was maybe thirteen or fourteen when I read the books) I think your take is spot on. I enjoyed the books so much at that time, it felt like a "grown up" version (yes I see the irony) of other fantasy novels like Harry Potter. This duality of desire and repression, a mysterious """"boy"""" hardly being able to constrain himself and a clumsy, shy girl - that resonated very well with angsty, awkward, horny teenage me at that time
That part about it being a more "grown up" version of other YA fantasy stuff like Harry Potter is definitely fair. Harry Potter had a lot of action and plot, but the characters themselves were rather flat and didn't have much in the way of emotional depth. Their romances seemed like plot points that had be hit just for the sake of having them. At least in Twilight, the characters did seem to actually have feelings about each other, even if the dialogue and plots were a bit overdramatic or bizarre.
@@FurTheWorkers yea I used to think Rowling is a great writer, but when you return to her books now... It's not as amazing writing as I remember it was. The characters are flat and lack depth...
@@FurTheWorkers I agree. I remember picking up Twilight not long after finishing the Harry Potter series at the same age and although there were some moments in which Harry portrayed the angsty loneliness of being a teen - in particular the time when everyone turned their back on him - I never recognized myself and the feelings I was struggling with in the HP series as I did with Twilight
@@FurTheWorkers You not kidding 😦. The characters in HP is flat compare to twiglight??? Idk what to say, kinda trigger but it's too bizarre that i'm turn speechless.
It genuinely pains me to see a content creator clealy put so much time and effort and not have the views reflect that. Here's a like and comment for the algorithm.
I definitely appreciate meeptop's thoughtful analysis and intelligent discourse in the videos. I love video essays and I think his are some of the best I've seen.
Don't forget being a teen means feeling lost in the world- you're no longer helped like a kid but at the same time still aren't an adult and there are more expectations. I think it's the time people are the most lonely. Edward really played into the role of protecting and being there for Bella. And Bella was really allowed to feel sad and angsty around him- she didn't have to play a role with him and pretend to be happy or fun etc. In this way Edward was unconditional and reliable like no other teen romance male lead was- at least in my view.
twilight was sooooo formative bc i was around 10 during the movie premiers and me and my mom and all my aunts and female cousins would go and wait in line in the freezing cold bc it was something that was clearly made for women and it became sort of communal. and the tradition of going to the premiers felt like an opportunity to bond with a bunch of girls and women. the fandom was incredibly messy and toxic, the writing is terrible, the direction was awful, but it was ourssss!
So ur saying most females( i said female bcuz its not only girls or women but both) desire abusive / toxic relationships? Idk. Kinda f up. I just don’t understand. Im a girl but im not obsessed with edward or jacob cuz they both annoying to me. The relationship between bella and edward is not healthy AT ALL. So idk why is this a fantasy for females.
@@scarlett9750 i did not say women desire abuse nor did i say twilight is a common female fantasy. lol. i said it was clearly made for women, which it was, and bc of the lack of things made for women in the media, we gravitated toward it. that’s just my personal lives experience, u are free to feel differently, but i never made a generalization like that.
@@scarlett9750 It was a different time back in those days! In early 2000’s, the internet was sort of the Wild West, and the media (including film and tv) Twilight was a new beginning for us. Especially us girls, man… there was nothing like it, and like the previous person said, it was marketed towards WOMEN. Not only was it a romance, but it was a paranormal romance and that was incredibly uncommon for women. It was just… something DIFFERENT ya know? Yes, the age gap between the two characters was something that definitely went over our heads (along with Edward watching Bella sleep) but like I said, it was a different time, and the things that were considered taboo or unheard of, Stephanie Meyer was the one to kinda shine a light on it; including the film (mostly the film lol) but, again, this film was a different kinda romance. It’s a FANTASY romance brought to life. Just like how Fifty Shades of Grey was a fantasy romance brought to life (meaning that these authors wrote about their sexual fantasies) was it terrible? Yes, it most definitely was, but it was a groundbreaking thing that broke the ice for us women. We were tired of being repressed, and we finally had something to grasp on to and talk about, just like it is still talked about today!
"A lightly horror influence romance book or movie with thematic and metaphorical representations of tension and repression written by a woman targetted to teens" In a sense you could say Twilight eclipsed Wuthering Heights, which is pretty much what you've just described
There's definitely something to twilight. I couldn't stand it, personally, but i respect it. what it does nail perfectly is tween/teen girl burgeoning sexuality. It is a combination of desire and fear but wrapped up in something safe that won't actually hurt you, like the bad boy whos dangerous buy who exists only to save you. He wants you but he'll never force you...or maybe he's older and more experienced but he'll be patient and gentle with you and wait until you're ready, etc..... the horror element adds the edge of fear needed to really sell it. But if you create something that speaks to that specific kind of sexuality then it doesn't matter what the genre, it will be a hit amongst teens and horned up lonely housewives.
I saw another analysis that referred to Edward as a “safe” person to be attracted to and I think that is where a lot of the draw came from. Set aside the more toxic elements of their relationship- 😬 - Edward was protective, didn’t pressure her into anything, tried to dissuade her from things she wasn’t ready for (… which I guess does play into puritan culture at times). But I think at 13, those qualities can make understanding attraction a bit less scary and a bit more comprehensible. I can definitely see how this film could be an outlet for those very new and complex feelings. So yeah, I think you got it exactly right :)
If I had to take a guess: It has its own identity. People can spoof it without naming it and people will immediately know it’s Twilight. And of course, it has a cult following. Making it a cult movie. Those movies aren’t forgotten. Plus unique visual appeal. (That gets more muddled as the series goes on, but is there regardless.) Sort of like how Tom Burton has his own aesthetic. Twilight also has its own aesthetic. Gloomy, pale, nostalgic.
One of the things that my sister and I find so deeply fulfilling about Twilight, even now, is that Bella is a person. She doesn't pose prettily when she's alone in her room. She wears baggy, comfy clothes. She wants people to like her and she's nervous they won't, but she also doesn't like attention. She likes her girl friends and spending time with them. She says silly things and sometimes she trips or accidentally closes the car door on somebody. You got it, dude; this is the only movie I've ever seen where a girl gets to be a person in imperfect and uncomfortable reality. And that's not even getting into the later movies where she has to convince Edward that she enjoys rough sex, and later she has an uncomfortable and raw pregnancy. Bella Swan is a realistic woman, and it's such a relief.
@@mittag983 lol what book did you read? There are at least 3 men vying for her at one point. That's not what happens to 'normal 'realistic" women. Bella barely has 1 whole dimension to her 'personality '.
@@rebeccalaff853 Not to mention in the books Bella's inner monologues can be incredibly rude and judgemental, especially when it comes to the humans around her
I've always held twillight in a weird place in my heart, as a child I loved it then as a teen hated it with passion but now as a teen-adult I see it as a nostalgic, funny and bizarre piece of media we keep coming back to
Really really great video with takes I haven't seen yet! The more I think about it, I think that part of why it's still loved and talked about today is *because* it's so deeply flawed in its premise and execution. Bella and Edward like each other against their better judgement, and we like the story against our better judgement, especially in 2022. That dynamic makes it really engaging as time goes and our values evolve more. Plus it satisfies the fantasy that maybe the unhealthy thing we're after will actually work out lol. It's peak guilty pleasure.
This is such a good analysis. I never made the connection that the overall story can symbolize repression and giving into feelings after being taught that they are inherently wrong. That's genius, and the book cover strongly supports the theme
I watched the entire Twilight saga in one day in 2013 when I was kicking heroin at a friend’s house, just sick on a couch and he would be at work all day. I really enjoyed it, despite the gross abstinence and pro-life stuff. One thing I think is really special about it is the setting and atmosphere. I mean I’m a little biased as a PNW native who lives just a couple hours’ drive from Twilight shooting locations, but they shot our landscape so lovingly, so beautifully, and I even love that distinctive color grading, it makes the trees and cliffs and river so hauntingly beautiful. I haven’t watched it since then but I wouldn’t be opposed to it, just to spend time in their version of Forks
Oh my God abstinence and not having abortions is like…so gross! 🤢🤮 But casual sex and baby killing is so totally not gross at all!! Am I right girls?! 🎉😃🥳
Twilight will always be nostalgic for me. I was obsessed in high school and loved the films. They’re not perfect and the books are cringey but this was my childhood. The cold emo feel these films have is something I look forward to watching as soon as the cold weathers hit. These films introduced me to good music and I constantly listen to the soundtrack as as comfort playlist. Good job on this video essay 👍🏼
"Self-destructively ironic" could be used to describe most of the characters in the franchise, not just the franchise as a whole. I think you really hit the core of why it was such a phenomenon: it's essentially just a wish-fulfillment fantasy with a main character that just about anyone can project some facet of their personality onto, such as feeling isolated or even something as simple as liking books. Twilight also exonerates toxic behaviors in such a way that it becomes an escapist fantasy where harmful behaviors can be seen as harmless because it's the love interest performing them. Hell, it even glorified toxic and codependent relationships as 'romantic', 'misunderstood', and 'beautiful'. That's not to say I don't think there are any good things about the story. But it was clear from the first time I read it that Twilight is the product of a very specific sort of trauma. A trauma I was very familiar with, but trauma nonetheless, and it wasn't processed in a healthy way....
I loved this so much! I'm one of those grown women in my mid 40's that STILL watches the "trilogy" every Thanksgiving/ Christmas season! I just love it so much....no matter how "bad" it is!
Yep teenage girls and their mums definitely... I teach adults English and I can't tell you how many of my female students were addicted to these books!! Never been interested in either the books nor the movies myself but I DID really enjoy your video very much... well done!!!
Funnily enough, when I read these books in high school I was uninterested in the romance and was more interested in the vampire stuff. I wasn't uninterested in romance, I was... active... in that regard (and maybe that's why it didn't appeal to me in that way, I didn't have those questions). But I did have intense existential dread and body dysmorphia so the idea of living forever with a perfect body and lots of money was very escapism. And, I think, being unapologetically emotional. I went through bouts of depression (sometimes over unrequited love, sometimes just old-fashioned depression) and the melodramatic nature of the second book was really cathartic. I think people forget that teenagers truly experience emotions more intensely, a combination of hormones and the emotions being fresh. Even if they are "over the top", they feel that intense and should be respected. Some fan fictions do a better job than the source material tbh. The canon kind, not the dirty 50 Shades of Grey kind. I think there's an interesting story and characters in there, just weirdly held back by teenage marriage and baby-needing.
twilight unironically made me appreciate living in washington LOL. it had that power on me for real. the story has a sense of mystery all throughout, and combining it with the angst and longing for romance that you mentioned just makes it all the more appealing i think
it's the FIRST movie that had some odd magic to it. lower budget and we didn't know where the franchise would go yet... new moon had a big budget. the color was warmer. it was a totally different story and it is my favorite one in the franchise. and then...... eclipse happened. and it started to go wrong..... and by the time breaking dawn came around, we just wanted to see what happened next i guess. but i was personally not invested anymore. but TWILIGHT... still today.. it has magic. it's the colors, the odd acting choices lol... the score. kristen and roberts chemistry. it's good. it's a vibe. i like it. but only the twilight and new moon.
this! It's why it's so difficult for me to get through the last two films especially. the first two had so much going for it that made it easy to ignore the story's flaws, whereas with breaking dawn all it had going for it was the story... and that's the problem, the story was fucking awful. they got rid of all the unique artistic aspects of the first film that made it so good just to churn out typical big budget mindless entertainment hollywood garbage
@@ghostbreath yea. It’s like the director was like: “ alright let’s just get this over with as quickly as possible”. The sets are so obviously sets. And green screen and. Just awful 😄
I also only love the first 2 movies. Especially the first one, the awkwardness of the teen characters and how the friend groups interact was realistic to my own high school experience. The colors and the music are nostalgic too and give a comforting fall vibe
Thank you for this. I would add something else--while this all about repressed feelings and stuff, it is also in a very serious way about female empowerment. Not in terms of vast powers for the most part. Bella spends most the books as a mere human whose decisions and choices impact everything, simply by being the person she is--a good, smart, humble, kind, generous human being. That is something we can aspire to, rather than being a wildly powerful immortal and divinely beautiful being with glowing skin and eyes and kryptonian levels of strength, endurance, and speed. It is IMHO important to realize even when Bella does become a startlingly powerful vampire, her power is as a Shield. She protects others. That's not a bad lesson, nor a bad example of woman as a source of power without what we regard as "power." Still, it is not as if it is enough in the big picture. Those vampires who refuse to change, to learn, to be anything but killing machines, are clearly presented as the enemy. The series ends on the note that the Cullens and their allies have become a center of a new movement, one which can in time change the world in a really positive way. That kind of subtle but real power is a lot more attainable.
I can barely sit through the entire movie yet it’s my favourite movie. That is the Enigma of Twilight. It helps that the sound track is fire, the fan content is amazing and overall everything about it is camp and fun including how much the cast hated it at the time. And of course the nostalgia factor plays into the resurgence.
Maaate this is the content I'm here for. This video is really great, I'd like to talk a little about these movies sometime but it's so off topic from my usual stuff lol - It's insane how much unjust hatred they all good. In my opinion they're perfectly fine. But most of all even if they're not "fine" and they're objectively bad... It doesn't fucking matter. Just let girls enjoy things... In 2007 anyway lol
For me it was the feeling it gave you. You stepped into her shoes and became her, and then here enters a hot mysterious guy that most of the school admires or is jealous of and he is "fascinated by you". Also, you feel a draw to him as well. It's the feeling of first love, if your first love liked you back (and it wasn't one sided) and if it was forbidden love. Stephanie got that feeling down pat.
I recently red all of the books one after another and then proceeded to watch the films, when they were new i was too little to be interested in a romantic story, now at 19yo i really really enjoyed it, it has its flaws everyone knows, it's not great, but it's has this "spice" I will say, the tension, the mistery, the angst, the drama, I guess they are things women just love by default. Also i always feel like I need to put more input on the imprinting thing, since that is something the book mentions very early but it's not very well explained in the films, but basically it means that they're "connected" it's not something that they choose, it's destiny, but it also means that for example in the case of Rename and Jacob, Jacob will be whatever Renesme need, in the moment she is a baby and under the circumstances Jacob will be the best protector she can have, if Bella and Edward where to die Jacob will be her father, if she needs a friend he will be the best friend she can have, so, it's not that Jacob falls in love with a baby, it's that they're destined to be together no matter in what way, Jacob also explain that they don't really need to be a couple, like, Renesme could still fall in love with someone else, but like if you're presented with a persona that will always understands you and matches you in every way it would be pretty hard to not be with that person, idk, when I read the book it didn't felt as weird as watching the movie cus they make it more about being in love and it's not necessarily that.
Looking back now, it was pretty cheesy, but it kickstart the shows like True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, and many more teen fantasy movies. I love the ost though. =D
In my opinion twilight has a complete different meaning. Vampires and werewolves don't exits. it's a fantasy movie. In all fairy tales or dreams where animals appear that means the characters are a part of yourself. The vampires are spiritual beings, they have the power to read the mind, one can see the future, one has compassion, Bella can shield, Jasper knows how to fight, etc. The werewolves have self love, self confidence, they are their own sun. Those two traits, self love and spirituality makes you strong to fight the biggest fear a human being has - death and to lose a loved one, It's about life and death, faith and to empower yourself with love. The relationship between Bella and Edward was not abusive, it was tender. Werewolves can not decide when they imprint on someone, that's an example, how we fell in love with someone, but not to another person, or why we love our child more, than a any other baby, the same way we love our baby. We want to protect and love the person we are attached to. Only with self love and spirituality we can overcome our fear of death and the death of a loved one. Jasper is showing us how to fight fear, "don't show your back to the enemy" (means don't let fear unconsciously go in to your being, "don't let the newborn lay the hands around you, it will crush you", don't let fear attack you, "be focused", be conscious when fears enters your brain........ All the poems, Shakespeare, the songs, have a meaning to the topic death. Bella says always in the beginning of the movie what the topic is of the meaning in the movie. Separation, death and death of a loved one - one of our biggest fear in life. In that way, the movies are teaching us great lessons. Only when the werewolves and the vampires work together, that is the way to empower ourselves.
@@sreyanayantara4322 Oh, thank you so much! There is something else what twilight is trying to show: The development of a girl into a strong woman. All her obstacles, her fear, her love, her anxiety to lose someone, her insecurities until she has developed her strong female part in herself. Giving birth is a symbol of the transformation into a strong woman. The titles, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn is a reflection of all the different emotional parts Bella has to go through.
@@sreyanayantara4322 Yes, so many people feel entitled to do a video about the movies without saying anything about the meaning of twilight. They make as if they watched the movie the first time and they are just not getting the real message of the Twilight. I feel bad for the artists, the producers and the writers. They laugh about it, criticizing the movie and they don't even check the meaning of the poems, or Shakespeare. Everything is online, even the meanings of the songs. They don't do a real research. They are making fun of it and it's so embarrassing and childish!
Yeah, you're totally right that we don't talk about this stuff. Actually, I never got the talk at all. My parents just assumed the school gave it to me, but I was actually absent each day they did. So... I literally had to piece it together myself from being on the internet. And let me tell you, it was probably a lot more traumatizing than if someone sat me down and explained it. But that's how much my parents didn't want to talk to me about this stuff-I literally had to find it all out on my own.
Because its good in a bad way? I only watch it regularly to fall asleep to or because of that baseball scene. I love Eclipse way more though. It really expanded on Rosalie and Jaspers stories. Would have love to see more of the others and how the Voluturi was founded and worked. I love the Silent Hill music. Also a man of class.
The phenomenon that was these movies felt like a cloud over my early teens. Not a bad cloud just a very obvious cloud that it seemed everyone else was staring at. I looked at it a few times and gave it some attention here and there but I wasn’t staring at it with unflinching eyes. Though when it came to an end it was honestly kind of a bummer. It was such an event across 4 years of my life that I couldn’t help but miss it. Now I can comfortably watch these films and take them for what they are which helps me enjoy them. They definitely are a time capsule but it’s from a time I don’t mind returning to every now and again.
That was great. Thank you. Really loved how and when you’d break the mood of the video, and change the background music. Especially the elevator music you used when you said, Is it good? No, 😂
I was a small kid when twilight released. But all of my older peers were so obsessed with vampire novels and I remember role playing as a vampire child for my cousins this one time it was so fun but looking back at it it was kinda weird lmao
*Spoilers for Twilight and ACOTAR. I loved to hate Twilight in my teens 😅 but I did love the movies, I still do. After ‘graduating’ up to other fantasy series, I’ve re-read and re-watched Twilight, and though it has a lot of flaws, there’s something refreshing I really like about Twilight. It’s Bella’s choice. She’s a human who makes frankly questionable choices, but she knows what it is she wants and she pursues it. I’ve read very popular fantasy books now where the female protagonists seem to have their choices ultimately stripped away. I can’t help the comparison between Bella Swan’s terrifying pregnancy and birth and ACOTAR’s Feyre’s pregnancy and birth. Both Bella and Feyre are women in a rare set of circumstances for their pregnancy that are going to cause harm and death. But Bella is shown being aware of this as Stephanie Meyers doesn’t shy away from the details, and Bella makes that choice herself to continue the pregnancy and birth. Feyre is deliberately kept in the dark by her partner and family that she and her baby will die, and we don’t get to see her perspective about it at all. In fact, the one character who does finally have the guts to tell Feyre the truth, is treated abominably by the other characters for doing so. I’m not sure WHY or WHAT the author was trying to say about this, as keeping a woman’s own medical information pertinent to her own life and her baby’s is WILD even with the best of intentions. As a side note, I read ACOTAR back in 2015 and the subsequent books as they came out. I was obsessed with them until I kept getting too much ick about the characters. Probably around ACOWAR and onwards I struggled, but kept reading because I’m a completionist. Nearly 10 years later when it seems to be huge now, I can look back on the series with a 10 year time of processing it and I’m very much critical of the series like I am with Twilight. But every now and then I enjoy certain parts of it in isolation. Somehow by reading modern fantasy books, I’ve developed a new appreciation for Twilight. It is not a GOOD piece of literature - but it is a good piece of pop culture.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh I know Ok. Hear me out. Kristen Stewart chose RPatz, right? She was like - that’s him. In the casting. He was an awkward London guy and her an accomplished awkward American actress. They were thrust into a mad situation where she had to attend class (genuinely) while filming because of her age and he suddenly became an overnight star - having been a hot hipster east london guy before. Right? And they fell in love. On set, basically. And we kind of watched that. We watched a bunch of people thrust into a mad intense world of fame together, and they were all just as awkward IRL as in the film, and it was genuinely cute. I dunno. To me it’s because they fell in love. We watched a lovely pair of people fall in love and have to be stupid for their job. And it was super cute and kind of fitted the story actually. God, I love the first film. Good damnit. Anyway great video.
I actually recommend midnight sun because it’s insane! One thing I can say about Meyer is she goes all the way with her characters, despite the criticism she doubles down on Edward’s characterization and you get stuck in the characters dramatic, weird, edgy brain.
I personally don't think the other films come close to the "allure" that the first film had, and I believe the first film is a HUGE part of why the franchise was so successful. There's this whole aesthetic and pervasive vibe of danger and mystique coupled with intense teen angst that Catherine Hardwicke established SO well in the first film that was difficult to capture and replicate without her at the helm. Not that the subsequent films needed to be carbon copies of the first, New Moon still holds onto some of that essence and it's still very good but then it's downhill after that. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that it's a book written by a woman for women and the first film was directed by a woman - like Catherine GETS it, she captures the feeling of the book so well and she knows her audience. She was able to take a bad story with empty and insufferable characters and turned it into a cult classic. I've never rewatched a film as much as I've rewatched Twilight. The dialogue is cringe and like you said it's extremely awkward; if it was another piece of media I would totally scoff at and laugh off any relationship that plays out the way Bella and Edward's did, but my god is it one of my favourite films of all time.
Hi ! i just watched the Ari Ester video about Midsommar and hereditary. I was wondering what you think about Mike Flanagan's work. Great video by the way
I'm definitely a fan of Mike Flanagan! Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass are some of my personal favorite pieces of horror media of the last decade. I have a video up about Doctor Sleep, if you want to check that out!
@@meeptop I was on a movie review overdose but I will check it out for sure. I love Mike Flanagan but I feel like his flaws are more there in the series he has made. He is very good at endings in my opinion, although they can be heartbreaking. I love how romantic and sensitive his horror is, BUT I do think that he sometimes goes overboard with the lengthy monologues that spiral into full on philosophical talk. Not all of them are too much but I felt it particularly in Midnight Mass. I guess your critic of Ari Ester made me think of what I felt with Flanagan.
Is it a good masterpiece series? No. Do I think the people who enjoy it should be bullied and shamed into hiding their enjoyment of it? No. Do I think the harassment of Stephanie Meyer was justified or that her work being stolen by the lady who made 50 shades either? No. And most importantly, it’s really not THAT bad. It’s bad, don’t get me wrong. But I feel like we were too hard on it.
This is a wonderful video ! And I agree with all your takes! I was a former twilight fan myself, which is one of the reasons why I chose to write about this in my bachelors project ! And I actually came to a lot of your conclusions, however, since I study religions , I looked at it from that perspective. I would argue that a lot of these values and features have roots in the values of the church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (Mormonism) since Stephanie is a member as well. I won’t go into all details, but I drew a lot of parallels about the idea of being together forever to their (general Mormons’) idea of being together forever on a planet as gods. As well as abstinence until marriage, despite their pull towards each other and so on, just like you mentioned. Very lovely video ! You got yourself a new subscriber!🥰
people tend to forget that stephanie is (or was) a mormon and that bleeds into the story A LOT. like we dont see it in the twilight movies because she finally budged, but in the books people of color who became vampires would literally become white (they were described as having a slight olive tint to their skin but otherwise were identical to white vampires). this is already crazy - anyone with a brain knows dead people of color dont become totally white even when their body goes cold, just desaturated - but it aligns with the mormon faith initially believing that having darker skin was a punishment by god and any people of color who joined mromonism would be blessed with white skin when they achieve immortality (in this case, immortal life being vampirism)
@@coatimundi69 oh yes, this is definitely true! The underlying racism or just plain racism within the books is clear, for example as you mention, the way she literally brightens the pocs. Another example is also Mormonism’s connection and beliefs around Native Americans (it’s been quite awhile since I’ve read it, but it is along the lines of the natives not being the Mormons’ enemies. I apologise if this is not a proper explanation) - and this bleeds true and is shown through the representation of natives within the books (and movies for that matter) is quite racist as well. Natives are described as these animals that are unable to control themselves, in particular male natives. They change and become violent and attack the “good white vampires”. They bond people and have no option but to love this person. Jacob literally falls in love with a baby. So yes, I 100 procent agree with you. Whether or not Stephenie is still Mormon, the underlying racism and values are there.
Aside from all the obviously bad things about twilight, one of my biggest problems with it is that Jaspers back story was that he was a confederate soldier. There’s no reason in the plot for this to happen, it’s not mentioned again really after his backstory is revealed. So… is jasper just a raging racist? Why did the author feel it was necessary to write this in? Unless there was gonna be some clear growth which was a part of his character I don’t get why him being a confederate was mentioned at all. Stephanie Meyer is such an odd woman😭
I was very young when this series came out and I was too young to watch it. Now im 19 and rewatched the first one. I thought it was pretty good though. Kinda corny but a classic :) That's just my opinion. I remember people talking about the series and how it was good. It almost feels like it is nostalgic even though I did not watch it when I was younger.
The first time I read Twilight I was idk 12?13? now I am 24 and I love it to this day :) I was always an advocate for the books, I remember being so in love when I read them for the first time. The movies give a different feeling because you actually get to see this awkwardness which is funny and painful in a cringy way, the outfits makeup etc could be better, but there's beauty in that, especially due to the amazing dark gloomy aesthetic. To me the whole series is just iconic, I don't know anything similar even when it comes to other vampire/werewolf stories. Also, it gives me so much nostalgia which feels kinda nice :) it definitely has a special place in my heart despite some flaws in the story.
for me twilight is just a representation of good memories, i was 12, head over heels for Edward, i even left a window open if he wanted to go inside😂😂 good times, still one of my fav guilty pleasures movie (the first one is obviously the best from the saga)
Oh please, it’s just a fun piece of escapism. Don’t overthink it. Also, the Vampire Diary books were written wayyyyyyyy before Twilight. So Vamp Diaries didn’t copy Twilight….
The small town, the supernatural, the cozy vibes, the amazing music, the forbidden romances. It's all there.
And the RAIN!
yes!
exactly
Agree 🙏💓💓
Yeeees!
My favorit thing about Twilight was the fact that Bella, despite being the "not like other girls" girl, never looked down at her peers. She was friends with the popular and nerdy girl and she always supported them (best shown in movie one). And despite her literal dependency towards Edward (and their not so heathy relationship), she's actually pretty capable herself, she punches Jacob when he kisses her, she sets boundaries and she does what she feels is right, despite what her dad, Edward and Jacob deems the best for her. Also can we talk about Charlie? Best dad ever. Would love a movie just about him tbh.
If you read the books you would know she definitely did look down at them.
@@DrGregoryHouseIT and Charlie wasn't as good of the dad, he didn't take seriously that Bella didn't like Jacob and he kissed her against her will. He laughed and continued pushing for Bella to be with him.
Yeah, the movies did a lot to polish up Bella's character and Charlie's character in that way - the books definitely did have Bella looking down on everyone and Charlie brushing off things that as a dad (and a police officer, at that) he should have paid attention to. But the movies smoothed that over quite a bit in a way that I view as an improvement.
@@alexmooney7474 honestly, books made me feel for Bella, cause there she came to Forks, because she felt that her mom didn't need her. And she constantly kept cooking and cleaning after Charlie. Gave a vibe of someone who had to grow up faster, because she had to
@@DrGregoryHouseIT She might have looked down on her peers, but is that any different than real teenage girl friendships? Real life is complex. And high schoolers have no life experience so they HAVE TO compare others. I’m sick of people throwing out the entire book/series because the main character is realistic. While also claiming she is a shell that the reader inserts themselves into. How many seventeen year olds are the exclusive cook and cleaner of the family? Yeah… thought so. People are just upset to discover a lot of teenage feelings overlap and THAT’S why Bella is relatable. Being 17 isn’t that unique. lol
I am 56. Twilight is my once a year read. It is typical teenage angst. Feeling the desperate need for love and to be special. I can remember feeling this way.
Nice job! As a former teenage girl myself (I was maybe thirteen or fourteen when I read the books) I think your take is spot on. I enjoyed the books so much at that time, it felt like a "grown up" version (yes I see the irony) of other fantasy novels like Harry Potter. This duality of desire and repression, a mysterious """"boy"""" hardly being able to constrain himself and a clumsy, shy girl - that resonated very well with angsty, awkward, horny teenage me at that time
That part about it being a more "grown up" version of other YA fantasy stuff like Harry Potter is definitely fair. Harry Potter had a lot of action and plot, but the characters themselves were rather flat and didn't have much in the way of emotional depth. Their romances seemed like plot points that had be hit just for the sake of having them. At least in Twilight, the characters did seem to actually have feelings about each other, even if the dialogue and plots were a bit overdramatic or bizarre.
@@FurTheWorkers yea I used to think Rowling is a great writer, but when you return to her books now... It's not as amazing writing as I remember it was. The characters are flat and lack depth...
@@FurTheWorkers I agree. I remember picking up Twilight not long after finishing the Harry Potter series at the same age and although there were some moments in which Harry portrayed the angsty loneliness of being a teen - in particular the time when everyone turned their back on him - I never recognized myself and the feelings I was struggling with in the HP series as I did with Twilight
@@FurTheWorkers You not kidding 😦. The characters in HP is flat compare to twiglight??? Idk what to say, kinda trigger but it's too bizarre that i'm turn speechless.
It genuinely pains me to see a content creator clealy put so much time and effort and not have the views reflect that. Here's a like and comment for the algorithm.
I definitely appreciate meeptop's thoughtful analysis and intelligent discourse in the videos. I love video essays and I think his are some of the best I've seen.
Don't forget being a teen means feeling lost in the world- you're no longer helped like a kid but at the same time still aren't an adult and there are more expectations. I think it's the time people are the most lonely. Edward really played into the role of protecting and being there for Bella. And Bella was really allowed to feel sad and angsty around him- she didn't have to play a role with him and pretend to be happy or fun etc. In this way Edward was unconditional and reliable like no other teen romance male lead was- at least in my view.
twilight was sooooo formative bc i was around 10 during the movie premiers and me and my mom and all my aunts and female cousins would go and wait in line in the freezing cold bc it was something that was clearly made for women and it became sort of communal. and the tradition of going to the premiers felt like an opportunity to bond with a bunch of girls and women. the fandom was incredibly messy and toxic, the writing is terrible, the direction was awful, but it was ourssss!
So ur saying most females( i said female bcuz its not only girls or women but both) desire abusive / toxic relationships? Idk. Kinda f up. I just don’t understand. Im a girl but im not obsessed with edward or jacob cuz they both annoying to me. The relationship between bella and edward is not healthy AT ALL. So idk why is this a fantasy for females.
@@scarlett9750 i did not say women desire abuse nor did i say twilight is a common female fantasy. lol. i said it was clearly made for women, which it was, and bc of the lack of things made for women in the media, we gravitated toward it. that’s just my personal lives experience, u are free to feel differently, but i never made a generalization like that.
@@scarlett9750 It was a different time back in those days! In early 2000’s, the internet was sort of the Wild West, and the media (including film and tv) Twilight was a new beginning for us. Especially us girls, man… there was nothing like it, and like the previous person said, it was marketed towards WOMEN. Not only was it a romance, but it was a paranormal romance and that was incredibly uncommon for women. It was just… something DIFFERENT ya know? Yes, the age gap between the two characters was something that definitely went over our heads (along with Edward watching Bella sleep) but like I said, it was a different time, and the things that were considered taboo or unheard of, Stephanie Meyer was the one to kinda shine a light on it; including the film (mostly the film lol) but, again, this film was a different kinda romance. It’s a FANTASY romance brought to life. Just like how Fifty Shades of Grey was a fantasy romance brought to life (meaning that these authors wrote about their sexual fantasies) was it terrible? Yes, it most definitely was, but it was a groundbreaking thing that broke the ice for us women. We were tired of being repressed, and we finally had something to grasp on to and talk about, just like it is still talked about today!
this
I don’t see this as much different than the notebook
"A lightly horror influence romance book or movie with thematic and metaphorical representations of tension and repression written by a woman targetted to teens"
In a sense you could say Twilight eclipsed Wuthering Heights, which is pretty much what you've just described
And in twilight Bella is reading wuthering heights again!
God, I love Twilight so much, always have. I’m reading “Midnight Sun” now and I didn’t know I needed it, his perspective is so strange 😂
There's definitely something to twilight. I couldn't stand it, personally, but i respect it. what it does nail perfectly is tween/teen girl burgeoning sexuality. It is a combination of desire and fear but wrapped up in something safe that won't actually hurt you, like the bad boy whos dangerous buy who exists only to save you. He wants you but he'll never force you...or maybe he's older and more experienced but he'll be patient and gentle with you and wait until you're ready, etc..... the horror element adds the edge of fear needed to really sell it. But if you create something that speaks to that specific kind of sexuality then it doesn't matter what the genre, it will be a hit amongst teens and horned up lonely housewives.
The older men part sounds like grooming 😂
@@scarlett9750 yes an grooming is one of the most popular Hollywood romance tropes. Twilight is a perfect example.
The body horror of pregnancy was also really well handled. Only Mark Kermode really addressed that at the time.
I saw another analysis that referred to Edward as a “safe” person to be attracted to and I think that is where a lot of the draw came from. Set aside the more toxic elements of their relationship- 😬 - Edward was protective, didn’t pressure her into anything, tried to dissuade her from things she wasn’t ready for (… which I guess does play into puritan culture at times). But I think at 13, those qualities can make understanding attraction a bit less scary and a bit more comprehensible. I can definitely see how this film could be an outlet for those very new and complex feelings. So yeah, I think you got it exactly right :)
Because I am unconditionally, and irrevocably in love with it
If I had to take a guess: It has its own identity. People can spoof it without naming it and people will immediately know it’s Twilight. And of course, it has a cult following. Making it a cult movie. Those movies aren’t forgotten.
Plus unique visual appeal. (That gets more muddled as the series goes on, but is there regardless.) Sort of like how Tom Burton has his own aesthetic. Twilight also has its own aesthetic. Gloomy, pale, nostalgic.
Its great to watch on rainy days and the soundtrack is good.
It was so great to imagine that all the suffering suppressing causes would pay off. That there was something noble and beautiful on that.
One of the things that my sister and I find so deeply fulfilling about Twilight, even now, is that Bella is a person. She doesn't pose prettily when she's alone in her room. She wears baggy, comfy clothes. She wants people to like her and she's nervous they won't, but she also doesn't like attention. She likes her girl friends and spending time with them. She says silly things and sometimes she trips or accidentally closes the car door on somebody. You got it, dude; this is the only movie I've ever seen where a girl gets to be a person in imperfect and uncomfortable reality. And that's not even getting into the later movies where she has to convince Edward that she enjoys rough sex, and later she has an uncomfortable and raw pregnancy. Bella Swan is a realistic woman, and it's such a relief.
Bella is hardly a realistic woman. She's the "I'm so clumsy" only really shes perfect and everyone wants her everywhere she goes teenage girl trope.
@@rebeccalaff853 She's attractive as a person, but not everyone wants her.
@@mittag983 lol what book did you read? There are at least 3 men vying for her at one point. That's not what happens to 'normal 'realistic" women. Bella barely has 1 whole dimension to her 'personality '.
@@rebeccalaff853 It's 3 yes, but even I had more and I'm ugly. Men are thirsty sorry not sorry.
@@rebeccalaff853 Not to mention in the books Bella's inner monologues can be incredibly rude and judgemental, especially when it comes to the humans around her
I've always held twillight in a weird place in my heart, as a child I loved it then as a teen hated it with passion but now as a teen-adult I see it as a nostalgic, funny and bizarre piece of media we keep coming back to
Really really great video with takes I haven't seen yet!
The more I think about it, I think that part of why it's still loved and talked about today is *because* it's so deeply flawed in its premise and execution. Bella and Edward like each other against their better judgement, and we like the story against our better judgement, especially in 2022. That dynamic makes it really engaging as time goes and our values evolve more.
Plus it satisfies the fantasy that maybe the unhealthy thing we're after will actually work out lol. It's peak guilty pleasure.
This is such a good analysis. I never made the connection that the overall story can symbolize repression and giving into feelings after being taught that they are inherently wrong. That's genius, and the book cover strongly supports the theme
I watched the entire Twilight saga in one day in 2013 when I was kicking heroin at a friend’s house, just sick on a couch and he would be at work all day. I really enjoyed it, despite the gross abstinence and pro-life stuff. One thing I think is really special about it is the setting and atmosphere. I mean I’m a little biased as a PNW native who lives just a couple hours’ drive from Twilight shooting locations, but they shot our landscape so lovingly, so beautifully, and I even love that distinctive color grading, it makes the trees and cliffs and river so hauntingly beautiful. I haven’t watched it since then but I wouldn’t be opposed to it, just to spend time in their version of Forks
Yesss! Agreed! I’m on Vancouver Island and I loved seeing this part of the world shot in such a lovely way.
Oh my God abstinence and not having abortions is like…so gross! 🤢🤮 But casual sex and baby killing is so totally not gross at all!! Am I right girls?! 🎉😃🥳
@@hayleycarr364there's no babies involved in this conversation lady
Dude the way you talked about this had me tearing up at the end. Thank you so much for sharing!
Twilight will always be nostalgic for me. I was obsessed in high school and loved the films. They’re not perfect and the books are cringey but this was my childhood. The cold emo feel these films have is something I look forward to watching as soon as the cold weathers hit. These films introduced me to good music and I constantly listen to the soundtrack as as comfort playlist. Good job on this video essay 👍🏼
This channel constantly puts out winners. I Was Not expecting you to mention the 9/11 created fifty shades pipeline in the first minute of the video
"Self-destructively ironic" could be used to describe most of the characters in the franchise, not just the franchise as a whole. I think you really hit the core of why it was such a phenomenon: it's essentially just a wish-fulfillment fantasy with a main character that just about anyone can project some facet of their personality onto, such as feeling isolated or even something as simple as liking books. Twilight also exonerates toxic behaviors in such a way that it becomes an escapist fantasy where harmful behaviors can be seen as harmless because it's the love interest performing them. Hell, it even glorified toxic and codependent relationships as 'romantic', 'misunderstood', and 'beautiful'. That's not to say I don't think there are any good things about the story. But it was clear from the first time I read it that Twilight is the product of a very specific sort of trauma. A trauma I was very familiar with, but trauma nonetheless, and it wasn't processed in a healthy way....
Awesome video man. Glad to see someone talk about Twilight LOL
I loved this so much! I'm one of those grown women in my mid 40's that STILL watches the "trilogy" every Thanksgiving/ Christmas season! I just love it so much....no matter how "bad" it is!
Your feelings cloud your judgment
@@yuboikai1646 That's a bit harsh considering that the only judgement it needs is the emotion attached to the media.
Yep teenage girls and their mums definitely... I teach adults English and I can't tell you how many of my female students were addicted to these books!! Never been interested in either the books nor the movies myself but I DID really enjoy your video very much... well done!!!
It’s because it was the most accurate portrayal of what it feels like to be a teenage girl in love for the first time.
Wow 🥺 thank you for saying all that. It was exactly what I was waiting to hear.
Funnily enough, when I read these books in high school I was uninterested in the romance and was more interested in the vampire stuff. I wasn't uninterested in romance, I was... active... in that regard (and maybe that's why it didn't appeal to me in that way, I didn't have those questions). But I did have intense existential dread and body dysmorphia so the idea of living forever with a perfect body and lots of money was very escapism.
And, I think, being unapologetically emotional. I went through bouts of depression (sometimes over unrequited love, sometimes just old-fashioned depression) and the melodramatic nature of the second book was really cathartic. I think people forget that teenagers truly experience emotions more intensely, a combination of hormones and the emotions being fresh. Even if they are "over the top", they feel that intense and should be respected.
Some fan fictions do a better job than the source material tbh. The canon kind, not the dirty 50 Shades of Grey kind. I think there's an interesting story and characters in there, just weirdly held back by teenage marriage and baby-needing.
twilight unironically made me appreciate living in washington LOL. it had that power on me for real. the story has a sense of mystery all throughout, and combining it with the angst and longing for romance that you mentioned just makes it all the more appealing i think
it's the FIRST movie that had some odd magic to it. lower budget and we didn't know where the franchise would go yet... new moon had a big budget. the color was warmer. it was a totally different story and it is my favorite one in the franchise. and then...... eclipse happened. and it started to go wrong..... and by the time breaking dawn came around, we just wanted to see what happened next i guess. but i was personally not invested anymore. but TWILIGHT... still today.. it has magic.
it's the colors, the odd acting choices lol... the score. kristen and roberts chemistry. it's good. it's a vibe. i like it. but only the twilight and new moon.
this! It's why it's so difficult for me to get through the last two films especially. the first two had so much going for it that made it easy to ignore the story's flaws, whereas with breaking dawn all it had going for it was the story... and that's the problem, the story was fucking awful. they got rid of all the unique artistic aspects of the first film that made it so good just to churn out typical big budget mindless entertainment hollywood garbage
@@ghostbreath yea. It’s like the director was like: “ alright let’s just get this over with as quickly as possible”.
The sets are so obviously sets. And green screen and. Just awful 😄
I also only love the first 2 movies. Especially the first one, the awkwardness of the teen characters and how the friend groups interact was realistic to my own high school experience. The colors and the music are nostalgic too and give a comforting fall vibe
qgree!! the first movie has these impeccable indie movie vibes and that asthetic with that blue filter
Thank you for this.
I would add something else--while this all about repressed feelings and stuff, it is also in a very serious way about female empowerment. Not in terms of vast powers for the most part. Bella spends most the books as a mere human whose decisions and choices impact everything, simply by being the person she is--a good, smart, humble, kind, generous human being. That is something we can aspire to, rather than being a wildly powerful immortal and divinely beautiful being with glowing skin and eyes and kryptonian levels of strength, endurance, and speed. It is IMHO important to realize even when Bella does become a startlingly powerful vampire, her power is as a Shield. She protects others. That's not a bad lesson, nor a bad example of woman as a source of power without what we regard as "power." Still, it is not as if it is enough in the big picture. Those vampires who refuse to change, to learn, to be anything but killing machines, are clearly presented as the enemy. The series ends on the note that the Cullens and their allies have become a center of a new movement, one which can in time change the world in a really positive way. That kind of subtle but real power is a lot more attainable.
Ngl, this video was more insightful than I'd anticipated. Great job!
The quality of your videos is very impressive!!!
Everything you said is so accurate. I think it's exactly what we all needed and wanted when it came out.
i dont understand how people could hate and or call this movie bad??? they just dont pass the vibe at all
I can barely sit through the entire movie yet it’s my favourite movie. That is the Enigma of Twilight. It helps that the sound track is fire, the fan content is amazing and overall everything about it is camp and fun including how much the cast hated it at the time. And of course the nostalgia factor plays into the resurgence.
I watched Twilight for the first time this year and i was BLOWN AWAY. This is so awkward, cringe and also comfy. I'm an absolute fan.
Lets be real Twilight is just Spiderman for girls.
Maaate this is the content I'm here for. This video is really great, I'd like to talk a little about these movies sometime but it's so off topic from my usual stuff lol - It's insane how much unjust hatred they all good. In my opinion they're perfectly fine. But most of all even if they're not "fine" and they're objectively bad... It doesn't fucking matter. Just let girls enjoy things... In 2007 anyway lol
i honestly immediately subscribed to you after hearing the silent hill ost once the video started lol
Right??? I was racking my brain trying to think of where i had heard the theme until it suddenly struck me while playing SH on my ps2. 😅
For me it was the feeling it gave you. You stepped into her shoes and became her, and then here enters a hot mysterious guy that most of the school admires or is jealous of and he is "fascinated by you". Also, you feel a draw to him as well.
It's the feeling of first love, if your first love liked you back (and it wasn't one sided) and if it was forbidden love.
Stephanie got that feeling down pat.
9/11 to twilight pipeline is something I never thought I would ever hear in the same sentence
just found your channel, binging on your videos! :)
I recently red all of the books one after another and then proceeded to watch the films, when they were new i was too little to be interested in a romantic story, now at 19yo i really really enjoyed it, it has its flaws everyone knows, it's not great, but it's has this "spice" I will say, the tension, the mistery, the angst, the drama, I guess they are things women just love by default.
Also i always feel like I need to put more input on the imprinting thing, since that is something the book mentions very early but it's not very well explained in the films, but basically it means that they're "connected" it's not something that they choose, it's destiny, but it also means that for example in the case of Rename and Jacob, Jacob will be whatever Renesme need, in the moment she is a baby and under the circumstances Jacob will be the best protector she can have, if Bella and Edward where to die Jacob will be her father, if she needs a friend he will be the best friend she can have, so, it's not that Jacob falls in love with a baby, it's that they're destined to be together no matter in what way, Jacob also explain that they don't really need to be a couple, like, Renesme could still fall in love with someone else, but like if you're presented with a persona that will always understands you and matches you in every way it would be pretty hard to not be with that person, idk, when I read the book it didn't felt as weird as watching the movie cus they make it more about being in love and it's not necessarily that.
Just found you and so glad I did! You’re awesome and I love your videos! Keep up the good work!
I love twilight haven’t seen it in forever but just watched it the past few days. Still wish they made more of them.
Looking back now, it was pretty cheesy, but it kickstart the shows like True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, and many more teen fantasy movies. I love the ost though. =D
In my opinion twilight has a complete different meaning. Vampires and werewolves don't exits. it's a fantasy movie. In all fairy tales or dreams where animals appear that means the characters are a part of yourself. The vampires are spiritual beings, they have the power to read the mind, one can see the future, one has compassion, Bella can shield, Jasper knows how to fight, etc. The werewolves have self love, self confidence, they are their own sun. Those two traits, self love and spirituality makes you strong to fight the biggest fear a human being has - death and to lose a loved one, It's about life and death, faith and to empower yourself with love. The relationship between Bella and Edward was not abusive, it was tender. Werewolves can not decide when they imprint on someone, that's an example, how we fell in love with someone, but not to another person, or why we love our child more, than a any other baby, the same way we love our baby. We want to protect and love the person we are attached to. Only with self love and spirituality we can overcome our fear of death and the death of a loved one. Jasper is showing us how to fight fear, "don't show your back to the enemy" (means don't let fear unconsciously go in to your being, "don't let the newborn lay the hands around you, it will crush you", don't let fear attack you, "be focused", be conscious when fears enters your brain........ All the poems, Shakespeare, the songs, have a meaning to the topic death. Bella says always in the beginning of the movie what the topic is of the meaning in the movie. Separation, death and death of a loved one - one of our biggest fear in life. In that way, the movies are teaching us great lessons. Only when the werewolves and the vampires work together, that is the way to empower ourselves.
Couldn't agree more..
@@sreyanayantara4322 Oh, thank you so much! There is something else what twilight is trying to show: The development of a girl into a strong woman. All her obstacles, her fear, her love, her anxiety to lose someone, her insecurities until she has developed her strong female part in herself. Giving birth is a symbol of the transformation into a strong woman. The titles, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn is a reflection of all the different emotional parts Bella has to go through.
@@hannaz4617 I wish everyone can see this part what we Sawant blvd and stop critisizing for once
@@sreyanayantara4322 Yes, so many people feel entitled to do a video about the movies without saying anything about the meaning of twilight. They make as if they watched the movie the first time and they are just not getting the real message of the Twilight. I feel bad for the artists, the producers and the writers. They laugh about it, criticizing the movie and they don't even check the meaning of the poems, or Shakespeare. Everything is online, even the meanings of the songs. They don't do a real research. They are making fun of it and it's so embarrassing and childish!
@@hannaz4617 yes indeed but I never thought I will found someone who actually has 5he same feelings the way I feel...
Yeah, you're totally right that we don't talk about this stuff. Actually, I never got the talk at all. My parents just assumed the school gave it to me, but I was actually absent each day they did. So... I literally had to piece it together myself from being on the internet. And let me tell you, it was probably a lot more traumatizing than if someone sat me down and explained it. But that's how much my parents didn't want to talk to me about this stuff-I literally had to find it all out on my own.
I ain’t gonna lie I love twilight I remember I seen the first trailer when I was like 7 and I already knew it was a vampire movie instantly
Because its good in a bad way? I only watch it regularly to fall asleep to or because of that baseball scene.
I love Eclipse way more though. It really expanded on Rosalie and Jaspers stories. Would have love to see more of the others and how the Voluturi was founded and worked.
I love the Silent Hill music. Also a man of class.
The phenomenon that was these movies felt like a cloud over my early teens. Not a bad cloud just a very obvious cloud that it seemed everyone else was staring at. I looked at it a few times and gave it some attention here and there but I wasn’t staring at it with unflinching eyes.
Though when it came to an end it was honestly kind of a bummer. It was such an event across 4 years of my life that I couldn’t help but miss it. Now I can comfortably watch these films and take them for what they are which helps me enjoy them. They definitely are a time capsule but it’s from a time I don’t mind returning to every now and again.
Pff, I agree! Why doesn't this have more views?! Well, it showed up on my algorithm, and I happily clicked! Well done! Keep it up 👏👏👏
That was great. Thank you. Really loved how and when you’d break the mood of the video, and change the background music. Especially the elevator music you used when you said, Is it good? No, 😂
Twilight is oddly similar to the visual novel Tsukihime.
What's it about?
I was a small kid when twilight released. But all of my older peers were so obsessed with vampire novels and I remember role playing as a vampire child for my cousins this one time it was so fun but looking back at it it was kinda weird lmao
Twilight forever ♥️🖤💪
*Spoilers for Twilight and ACOTAR.
I loved to hate Twilight in my teens 😅 but I did love the movies, I still do.
After ‘graduating’ up to other fantasy series, I’ve re-read and re-watched Twilight, and though it has a lot of flaws, there’s something refreshing I really like about Twilight.
It’s Bella’s choice. She’s a human who makes frankly questionable choices, but she knows what it is she wants and she pursues it.
I’ve read very popular fantasy books now where the female protagonists seem to have their choices ultimately stripped away.
I can’t help the comparison between Bella Swan’s terrifying pregnancy and birth and ACOTAR’s Feyre’s pregnancy and birth.
Both Bella and Feyre are women in a rare set of circumstances for their pregnancy that are going to cause harm and death.
But Bella is shown being aware of this as Stephanie Meyers doesn’t shy away from the details, and Bella makes that choice herself to continue the pregnancy and birth.
Feyre is deliberately kept in the dark by her partner and family that she and her baby will die, and we don’t get to see her perspective about it at all. In fact, the one character who does finally have the guts to tell Feyre the truth, is treated abominably by the other characters for doing so. I’m not sure WHY or WHAT the author was trying to say about this, as keeping a woman’s own medical information pertinent to her own life and her baby’s is WILD even with the best of intentions.
As a side note, I read ACOTAR back in 2015 and the subsequent books as they came out. I was obsessed with them until I kept getting too much ick about the characters. Probably around ACOWAR and onwards I struggled, but kept reading because I’m a completionist. Nearly 10 years later when it seems to be huge now, I can look back on the series with a 10 year time of processing it and I’m very much critical of the series like I am with Twilight. But every now and then I enjoy certain parts of it in isolation.
Somehow by reading modern fantasy books, I’ve developed a new appreciation for Twilight. It is not a GOOD piece of literature - but it is a good piece of pop culture.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh I know
Ok. Hear me out. Kristen Stewart chose RPatz, right? She was like - that’s him. In the casting. He was an awkward London guy and her an accomplished awkward American actress. They were thrust into a mad situation where she had to attend class (genuinely) while filming because of her age and he suddenly became an overnight star - having been a hot hipster east london guy before. Right? And they fell in love. On set, basically. And we kind of watched that. We watched a bunch of people thrust into a mad intense world of fame together, and they were all just as awkward IRL as in the film, and it was genuinely cute.
I dunno. To me it’s because they fell in love. We watched a lovely pair of people fall in love and have to be stupid for their job. And it was super cute and kind of fitted the story actually.
God, I love the first film. Good damnit. Anyway great video.
Twilight isn't good, but it's nice
It is a fantasy movie ..as a Batman...i dont understand why people hate this saga...and there was magic music...
the catherine hardwicke impact
For the algorithm. Your AHS & Dahmer videos were truly insightful. And THIS analysis on Twilight ...well done.
Wao, never even considered all this. Good analysis
I actually recommend midnight sun because it’s insane! One thing I can say about Meyer is she goes all the way with her characters, despite the criticism she doubles down on Edward’s characterization and you get stuck in the characters dramatic, weird, edgy brain.
Now I kinda wanna reread it to see how different it feels from when I was a teenager
Because it's iconic lol. Nobody will ever forget Home Alone right?
the silent hill ost with twilight clips really gets the comfort dopamine going
Love the persona music ♡
This series is so nostalgic
Commenting for the algorithm.
The persona sound track in the background was nostalgic 😭
I have to at least watch the saga once a year. Even though I watch it like every season kek so 4 times it’s still so good
I personally don't think the other films come close to the "allure" that the first film had, and I believe the first film is a HUGE part of why the franchise was so successful. There's this whole aesthetic and pervasive vibe of danger and mystique coupled with intense teen angst that Catherine Hardwicke established SO well in the first film that was difficult to capture and replicate without her at the helm. Not that the subsequent films needed to be carbon copies of the first, New Moon still holds onto some of that essence and it's still very good but then it's downhill after that. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that it's a book written by a woman for women and the first film was directed by a woman - like Catherine GETS it, she captures the feeling of the book so well and she knows her audience. She was able to take a bad story with empty and insufferable characters and turned it into a cult classic. I've never rewatched a film as much as I've rewatched Twilight. The dialogue is cringe and like you said it's extremely awkward; if it was another piece of media I would totally scoff at and laugh off any relationship that plays out the way Bella and Edward's did, but my god is it one of my favourite films of all time.
The entire series of twilight is my comfort movies.
I still love twilight
Awesome video, 100% agree!
I love twilight its my comfort film
Hi ! i just watched the Ari Ester video about Midsommar and hereditary. I was wondering what you think about Mike Flanagan's work. Great video by the way
I'm definitely a fan of Mike Flanagan! Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass are some of my personal favorite pieces of horror media of the last decade. I have a video up about Doctor Sleep, if you want to check that out!
@@meeptop I was on a movie review overdose but I will check it out for sure. I love Mike Flanagan but I feel like his flaws are more there in the series he has made. He is very good at endings in my opinion, although they can be heartbreaking. I love how romantic and sensitive his horror is, BUT I do think that he sometimes goes overboard with the lengthy monologues that spiral into full on philosophical talk. Not all of them are too much but I felt it particularly in Midnight Mass. I guess your critic of Ari Ester made me think of what I felt with Flanagan.
Is it a good masterpiece series? No.
Do I think the people who enjoy it should be bullied and shamed into hiding their enjoyment of it? No.
Do I think the harassment of Stephanie Meyer was justified or that her work being stolen by the lady who made 50 shades either? No.
And most importantly, it’s really not THAT bad. It’s bad, don’t get me wrong. But I feel like we were too hard on it.
This is a wonderful video ! And I agree with all your takes! I was a former twilight fan myself, which is one of the reasons why I chose to write about this in my bachelors project ! And I actually came to a lot of your conclusions, however, since I study religions , I looked at it from that perspective. I would argue that a lot of these values and features have roots in the values of the church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (Mormonism) since Stephanie is a member as well. I won’t go into all details, but I drew a lot of parallels about the idea of being together forever to their (general Mormons’) idea of being together forever on a planet as gods. As well as abstinence until marriage, despite their pull towards each other and so on, just like you mentioned. Very lovely video ! You got yourself a new subscriber!🥰
people tend to forget that stephanie is (or was) a mormon and that bleeds into the story A LOT. like we dont see it in the twilight movies because she finally budged, but in the books people of color who became vampires would literally become white (they were described as having a slight olive tint to their skin but otherwise were identical to white vampires). this is already crazy - anyone with a brain knows dead people of color dont become totally white even when their body goes cold, just desaturated - but it aligns with the mormon faith initially believing that having darker skin was a punishment by god and any people of color who joined mromonism would be blessed with white skin when they achieve immortality (in this case, immortal life being vampirism)
@@coatimundi69 oh yes, this is definitely true! The underlying racism or just plain racism within the books is clear, for example as you mention, the way she literally brightens the pocs. Another example is also Mormonism’s connection and beliefs around Native Americans (it’s been quite awhile since I’ve read it, but it is along the lines of the natives not being the Mormons’ enemies. I apologise if this is not a proper explanation) - and this bleeds true and is shown through the representation of natives within the books (and movies for that matter) is quite racist as well. Natives are described as these animals that are unable to control themselves, in particular male natives. They change and become violent and attack the “good white vampires”. They bond people and have no option but to love this person. Jacob literally falls in love with a baby.
So yes, I 100 procent agree with you. Whether or not Stephenie is still Mormon, the underlying racism and values are there.
Aside from all the obviously bad things about twilight, one of my biggest problems with it is that Jaspers back story was that he was a confederate soldier. There’s no reason in the plot for this to happen, it’s not mentioned again really after his backstory is revealed. So… is jasper just a raging racist? Why did the author feel it was necessary to write this in? Unless there was gonna be some clear growth which was a part of his character I don’t get why him being a confederate was mentioned at all. Stephanie Meyer is such an odd woman😭
Ah man can’t anyone just watch a movie decide if they like it or not and move on
Me: Sees the title
Also me: "I've been wondering that all these years..."
Lmao 😂 I was just about to go off TH-cam to have a Twilight marathon night and I see this video recommendation
I was very young when this series came out and I was too young to watch it. Now im 19 and rewatched the first one. I thought it was pretty good though. Kinda corny but a classic :) That's just my opinion. I remember people talking about the series and how it was good. It almost feels like it is nostalgic even though I did not watch it when I was younger.
For me it was the characters and the warmth of some of them like Esmee
The first time I read Twilight I was idk 12?13? now I am 24 and I love it to this day :) I was always an advocate for the books, I remember being so in love when I read them for the first time. The movies give a different feeling because you actually get to see this awkwardness which is funny and painful in a cringy way, the outfits makeup etc could be better, but there's beauty in that, especially due to the amazing dark gloomy aesthetic. To me the whole series is just iconic, I don't know anything similar even when it comes to other vampire/werewolf stories. Also, it gives me so much nostalgia which feels kinda nice :) it definitely has a special place in my heart despite some flaws in the story.
I enjoyed the video! Anyway, do you have a podcast?
Such a good video
The only comparable story I can think of to Twilight is the Anita Blake series....but those books are clearly adult. Twilight is still so unique.
for me twilight is just a representation of good memories, i was 12, head over heels for Edward, i even left a window open if he wanted to go inside😂😂 good times, still one of my fav guilty pleasures movie (the first one is obviously the best from the saga)
Felicitări si mult succes tuturor
Oh please, it’s just a fun piece of escapism. Don’t overthink it. Also, the Vampire Diary books were written wayyyyyyyy before Twilight. So Vamp Diaries didn’t copy Twilight….
My favourite 😊♥️
watch this movie with the rifftrax. totally worth it
thanks i love it