Comments on: LFM Review: The Twilight Saga and its new film Eclipse

By: sanjuro

sanjuro — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:53:21 +0000

Thanks, It GREAT to have Y’ALL back.
I’ve missed the information, opinion, repartee and the love of film that is the axiom of your website.

By: H. Arundel

H. Arundel — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 21:48:13 +0000

I never “got” the “Twilight” movies, and I’m afraid I never will. The teen and vampire thing is just not for me. Nice writeup though.

By: Prehistoric Woman

Prehistoric Woman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:12:18 +0000

I agree with everyone’s comments above … Hollywood should take some pointers from how well these movies are doing. I’m curious though why more movies have not been made out of Anne Rice’s vampire books. They’re much better than Meyer’s. Rice has produced a far greater variety of romantic vampire/horror books than Meyer, and I think they’ve overall sold more too.

By: Party Girl

Party Girl — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 07:55:54 +0000

Very interesting review, Govindini. It would be really great if there were more good movies for women, but there just aren’t and it’s very frustrating. I think that is why the Twilight movies do so incredibly well … there is just so little for women to go and see. When I was in the theater seeing Eclipse the other day, there were middle-aged women there in the audience too. It wasn’t just all teenage girls. It just shows you that women will go to the theaters if you give them movies that make an effort to entertain them.

By: Govindini Murty

Govindini Murty — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:06:50 +0000

Thanks Sanjuro – that’s great to know about! I’ve never watched Dark Shadows, but I’ll have to see if its available on Netflix. It just goes to show you how popular this kind of material has always been. Thanks for the comment, and it’s good to have you back.

By: Govindini Murty

Govindini Murty — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:11:49 +0000

Patricia – thank you so much for your comment – and for your own recent excellent contribution to LFM! Yes, there needs to be more respect today for young women who chose chastity or a more restrained life of the mind and/or spiritual values. Otherwise, life is very empty indeed. One always has to aim for the highest things in life – virtue, love, knowledge, faith, justice – and it’s so important that these things be communicated in our art as well.

And thank you for the Brick Lane recommendation – I will have to look for that at my local video store. Many thanks again for your comment!

By: Govindini Murty

Govindini Murty — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:08:00 +0000

Jennifer – thank you so much for your wonderful comment – and for your own fantastic writing on LFM! That’s very funny what you say about the “Twilight” series – I agree, Bella is a very unsympathetic character and really needs to have more of a life and motivations of her own. It points to certain retrogressive tendencies in young girls that they would find it so easy to identify with her. It tells you that our culture is not feeding our young women enough intelligent material for them to know any better, and it also tells you that culturally, feminism has failed these young women. There need to be new, intelligent female writers to inspire young girls and young women to want better things. (Ahem, ahem!)

And I’m so delighted that you’re now inspired to go read Mallory and Austen! These discussions of film are great when they inspire further reading and reflection. Thank you for your insightful thoughts, and I look forward to further interesting discussions!

By: Govindini Murty

Govindini Murty — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:02:13 +0000

That’s very kind of you to say that K, many thanks. Our goal at LFM is to share our love of all things cultural with our readers, and to make our utmost effort each day to bring you high quality writing and thought. Many thanks again for reading and commenting!

By: Govindini Murty

Govindini Murty — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:58:33 +0000

Thank you so much Looksoverpark! I always appreciate your own thoughtful comments, and thank you for your regular readership. I enjoy studying mythology, literature, and philosophy, and appreciate having the chance to share with LFM readers how those interests play out in movies and pop culture today. Many thanks again for your kind comments!

By: Patricia

Patricia — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 17:28:25 +0000

Yes, excellent review, Govindini. I think present day filmmakers deny the spiritual realm, and the entire heritage of chivalric love to the detriment of their stories. I have read so much disdain at Bella’s chastity, for instance, or at movies like The Phantom. Today there are no moral codes standing in the way of lovers, so where is the necessary conflict?

Maybe these themes appear only in movies about fantasy worlds because filmmakers cannot imagine humans dealing with such conflicts. Brick Lane, does it well, I think, and I would recommend that film.

Anyway, great food for thought.