ST: A Peculiar Review of Twilight
Most of you might know the article that came out in today’s Life! ( 10 January 2008 ) and most of us were upset by it. For those who didn’t get the chance to read it, here it is:
Click on the article to zoom in. We know that most of you have something to say about this article so let it all out! And please refrain yourself from using any profanities or vulgarities. If we find anything impolite, we will delete your comment.
Twilight News
Twilight was mentioned in yesterday’s Straits Times (November 24) Life section:
Washington – Twilight, the film based on a series of books about teen vampires by Stephanie Meyer, may make US$74.3 million (S$113.5 million) in its weekend debut, said box-office tracker Media by Numbers.
The film from independent studio Summit Entertainment earned US$35.7 million last Friday, including US$7 million from Thursday midnight showings, said the California-based tracker.
Summit Entertainment, formed in April last year, said it will begin production on a second film, to be called New Moon, the second title in the four-book vampire saga.
The book series has become wildly popular with teenage girls, who lined up outside theatres to see Twilight.
New Moon is centred on Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson, leaving Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) to keep her safe from other vampires. It will prove a challenge for producers as Cullen is largely absent from the second novel and Pattinson has been a gid draw for smitten Twilight fans.
“Summit did a great job with the marketing (of Twilight). It was so pervasive that even the casual observer was aware that this movie was coming out,” said Mr Paul Dergarabedian, president of media By Numbers. “This totally puts them on the map.”
The opening, if the numbers hold, would make the film the fourth-biggest-ever got this month, he said. It will beat the debuts of Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (US$25 million) and Quantum Of Solace (US$27 million).
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire holds this month’s debut record with US$102.3 million in receipts.
But critics have been split on the film, with review aggregating website Rottentomatoes.com last Friday giving the film a rating of 43 per cent based on 118 reviews.
In a positive review, Los Angeles Times critic Kenneth Turan wrote:”I am not now not have I ever been a 13-year-old girl, but Twilight made me wish I could be, at least for a couple of hours, the better to appreciate a movie that has been targeted at that demographic with the delicious specifity of a laser weapon.
On a more negative note, Christian Orr of The New Republic magazine wrote that the film was “underwhelming” for anyone except teen girls. – Bloomberg, Reuters
Twilight was mentioned again in today’s Straits Times (November 25) Life Section page C18:
TWILIGHT TOPS US BOX OFFICE
Teen-vampire love story, Twilight, was No.1 in the North American weekend box office with some US$70.6 million (S$108 million) in ticket sales, the second-highest ever for an independent film.
Catherine Hardwicke’s movie, made for US$37 million, had the biggest opening ever for a female director.
The Twilight casts will be appearing on The Tyra Banks show on November 28th (Friday). Do keep a look out on that. And you can read here for more information about the show.
Twilight News
Yes it’s true! Twilight Singapore was mentioned in today’s Sunday Times Lifestyle! The staff members of Twilight Singapore met up with Stephanie Yap last Thursday for the interview and we had fun! The article can be found in today’s Sunday Times (23 November 2008), Lifestyle! section page 3! Izzati will scan the proper article tomorrow.
It is confirmed that New Moon will be made into a movie! While we are waiting for the movie here in Singapore, let’s look at the reviews and comments of movie critics. It’s spoiler free. First of, Ms Truitt from Twilight Novel Novice gave comments on why movie critics do not like Twilight. And secondly, Twilight Guy has his own Twilight movie review.
NoMoreMarbles has added a video interview with Michael Welch (Mike Newton). Enjoy the three videos below. They are broken into 3 parts.
Twilight on Straits Times and My Paper!
Thanks to Pameline for the heads up! Today’s Straits Times (18 November 2008), Life! Section has a Twilight write-up on page C7.
” Teens go mad for ‘vampire’
Philadelphia – There are times when the limitations of the printed word come into focus.
Take, for example, the need to convey how it sounded when Robert Pattinson, who stars as as vampire heartthrob Edward Cullen in the upcoming movie Twilight, stepped onto a platform at the King of Prussia Mall outside Philadelphia last Thursday evening, in front of more than 1,000 mostly teenage girls.In collective pitch, frequency and volume, the sound would make a shuttle launching seem demure. It may even have approached Beatles-at Shea Stadium loud, replete with the weeping, swooning and self-hugging, with only the flutter of cellphone cameras and furious texting by way of modern update. All this for a mostly unknown British actor who plays character in a movie that will not be released in the United States until Friday.
“What is with all the screaming?” Pattinson asked. He absently ran his hand through his hair. Pandemonium ensued. He tugged nervously at his white T-shirt in response. Oh boy. Then he laughed good-naturedly t the absurdity of it all.
Along with other members of the Twilight cast, the actor is touring stores of Hot Topic, a retail chain that caters to teenagers and pop culture, in malls across the country this month. It is not so much to up interest in the film, but to feed the monster it has already become.
For his appearance, fans arrived outside the mall the night before to get a ticket. The first 500 would receive a quick autograph on a poster and the rest a chance to see Pattinson. When he appeared, the crowd did not see an actor. They saw Edward Cullen, the perfect boyfriend who just happened to live on blood.Twilight comes to cinemas with a long and profitable back story in print: four novels and 17 million copies sold. Written by Stephenie Meyer, 34, the series originated with a dream she had about a young woman and her love for a vampire, who returns her love while managing to avoid his urge to bite her.
The books that followed take place in Cloudy Forks, Washington, where the Cullens, a group of sun-shirking vampires, live among humans but do not prey on them, drinking animal blood instead. Bella Swan, a shy, bookish young woman, is drawn to one of them, Edward, even after she comes to understand the danger.
He becomes her protector after another vampire, James, takes aim at her tender neck. So you have your against-the-odds teen love, your woman in peril, your vampires and your cult following.
The 22-year-old said he had no idea what to make of his situation, about to meet thousands of teenage girls – and many of their mothers – who were flat-out in love with him.
“It is bizarre,” he said. “People come from three states away and walk up to you trembling. I feel that I am at a disadvantage here because I can’t provide this mystical thing that they came for in the two seconds we have.” “
New York Times
[ UPDATED]: Thanks to Rocket Queen for the heads up and the link to the article! My Paper also has a write-up on Twilight. You can read more about the article here.
Twilight in Straits Times Life!
We’re very happy to say that Twilight is finally getting the limelight in Singapore!! Today’s ( Saturday July 26 2008 ) Straits Times featured the Twilight response in the Comic-Con. The article can be found in the Life! section on page 9. I took a shot of it and you can click on the picture so you won’t miss it!
Apologies if you’re not able to read the article as I used my camera. For those who don’t have a copy of this article and can’t read it, I’ve typed it out for you guys. Enjoy!!
TEENS IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE
SAN DIEGO – If you haven’t heard of Twilight, ask a teenager. The best-selling Young Adult book isn’t bound for the big screen until December, but fan frenzy for the film practically took over Comic-Con on Thursday.
Hundreds of teens camped over night outside of the San Diego Convention Center for a chance to see early footage of the film and get a glimpse of the cast of heart-throbs set to bring the teen-vampire tale to live.
One fan, Syena Sarrfpour, 17, said:”You don’t understand it until you read it. The cast of amazing people – their hot – obviously adds to the excitement.”
She and her friends wore homemade t-shirts touting their love for Edward, the vampire hero who falls in love with a human girl.
“It’s a really good love story that has fantasy,” said Emma Quan, 18. “It’s like Harry Potter plus romance plus good looking people.”
Thousands of fans filled the convention’s largest exhibition hall, drowning out the casts introductions with enthusiastic, high-pitched screams.
“Oh my god, Robert Pattinson is so hot,” said 17 year old Jenna Berazsu of the actor who plays vampire Edward Cullen. “I love him. He’s perfect for Edward.”
Fans were just as excited to see Kristen Stewart who plays the story’s heroine, Bella Swan.
“Everyone wants to be Bella,” said Sarrafpour. “And (author) Stephenie Meyer wrote Edward as like the perfect guy.”
Meyer, who followed up Twilight with three other bestsellers, said her main character, “typical teen”, is key to the series’ appeal.
She said:”There are a lot of people who are just quieter and aren’t having the Prada lifestyle and going to a special school in New York where everyone’s rich and fabulous. There are normal people out there and I think that’s one of the reasons Bella has become so popular.”
Twilight is slated for release in December in the United States. – AP
