Concerns With the Ever So Popular Twilight

I love vampire and supernatural books as much as the next person so I picked up the novel Twilight in grade seven at a book fair when the book was unheard of and newly released. I noticed a few odd concepts in the novel but at the age of 13 it doesn't register to a full degree.  By grade 9 the book was flowering with the popularity it was receiving and I read it again. I was disturbed by the new things I found that I now know isn't natural.

Edward Cullen. Main hot, sexy male character.

He is a stalker and a pedophile.

He watched Bella as she slept? He thirsted for her blood? He followed her home? 
There and then, the alarm bell started going, but Bella STILL fell in love with him! She's okay with the fact she watches her. She's okay with the fact that he thirsts for her blood and wants to EAT her.  Usually you would not be turned on or attracted to someone who takes their free time to watch you sleep or wants to eat you...you get a restraining order.

To top it,  he is over 100 years old. She is 17.  Can you say Pedophilia?
Think, if he did show his age?  He'd be ANCIENT.

Why is he in high school again? WHY would you want to repeat the thing most can't wait to get out of?
Possibly Edward has had hits to his manly pride as well. After all, he does Sparkle like a diamond in the sun.  What happened to the TRADITIONAL vampires? The ones who stayed inside all day? Who were afraid of crosses? Who hated garlic?
They were replaced with sparkling, human loving vampires like Edward.

Miss Bella Swan becomes SO RELIANT on Edward. Ditches her friends, ditches her friends and  lies to her father several times throughout the series.
Then he breaks up with her suddenly.
What does she do?
She sits, in a corner and mops. For MONTHS. In the SAME clothes.  She refuses to talk to anyone and shuts out the world.
WHAT?
GO GET SOME HELP.
She is a boy. We get it. You loved him but hunny, get over it.
Then he comes back and she goes on crawling back to him like a sick little puppy.

What does this teach the young girls of today who read these books?
Be reliant on your man.
WOW.
Independence? We fought for that! Why do you need a man? You can live just fine without one. Don't make me start quoting the Pussycat Dolls and their "I Don't Need A Man" song.

"I don't need a ring around my finger, to make me feel complete" -PCD
Yep, but Bella does. At the age of 18, she ditches University and her family and goes off to marry Edward. Smart move. Way to give up your entire life for a man.

Now after going though Biology in grade 9, I realize a HUGE problem.

BELLA GETS PREGNANT?

HOW?

That is biologically incorrect.

He has no blood and no semen therefore not only is it not possible for him to have intercourse with her, it is impossible to make her pregnant.
Also, WHY would you want the child of a vampire who will rip its way out of your body when its ready to come out?

Smart thinking...I guess they didn't think people learned biology. Or did they just wish for us to ignore the basic facts of reproduction?


Call me critical because I can't enjoy a basic vampire novel but I can only ignore so many details before it becomes unbearable to read without thinking WHAT THE...?

Harry Potter vs. Twilight

It has come down to this question: Are you a pothead or are you a twihard? We are talking about two of the biggest phenomenons here in pop culture history: Harry Potter and Twilight. People today are having difficulty deciding where their loyalties lie. I however, have no trouble choosing my side. Boys and girls, I think we can all agree here that Mr. Potter wins this battle. Twilight fans may beg to differ, but I assure you; after reading this post your views are bound to change. Now before Team Edward decides to bite me (or Team Jacob decides to rip me to shreds), I will admit that I am not completely against the whole Twilight franchise. I mean I've seen the movies and read all the books, but that of course does not make me a fanatic. But then again, that makes it fair game for me to compare the two series...

First off, J.K. Rowling is an exceptional writer, and a much better one than Stephannie Meyer at that, because her books are more rich in detail and much more believable (as far as fantasy goes). Even Stephen King said: "The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephannie Meyer can't write worth a [darn]." Now that's a little harsh, but at the same time completely true in some ways. I don't want to spoil Breaking Dawn (the fourth book in the Twilight series) for anyone who hasn't read it, but the ending is a complete waste of time especially after reading 700 and something pages in order to reach it.

The Harry Potter series is better aimed towards both genders as an audience. There is a good mixture of humour, adventure, mystery, and even sometimes a love story on the side. It is also better than Twilight because there are morals in the story worth following by. I'm talking about: courage, sacrifice, love, good conquers over evil, the power of friendship, and that all heroes have flaws. It is harder for me to find morals in the Twilight series (except love I guess). Another point is that I for one find Twilight quite sexist in terms of the characters because Bella is always the damsel in distress and she is constantly relying on Edward to save her. It is particularly annoying in New Moon when Bella is practically a zombie due to moping her head off just because the so called love of her life leaves the town. On the other hand, Hermione Granger of the Harry Potter series, is a clever young lady who is able to take care of herself without clinging to Harry or Ron every minute of the day. Hermione is a character that girls should look up to, not clingy Bella.

Now let's talk about the film adaptations of the two books and the actual talent involved. I'm not saying the young actors involved in Harry Potter are the Clint Eastwoods and Meryl Streeps of our generation, but they sure are better than the Twilight young actors. The audience was able to grow with them throughout the movies because the characters had so much depth. Although maybe I should cut the Twilight cast some slack; it's not their fault they have to follow a cheesy script. I hate how in the Teen Choice Awards (which isn't even a legitimate awards show in my opinion) Twilight wins a countless number of times just because they have good-looking actors. But then of course Twihards will argue that the Twilight cast is actually made up of talented young actors. Oh really? What are the acting qualities that teenage girls find exceptional in the Twilight saga? Is it Taylor Lautner's forced intense expression, Robert Pattinson's beady eyes, or perhaps Kristen Stewart's constant frowning and lip biting? I didn't think so.

Now I don't mind if you enjoy the Twilight saga because of the plot and characters, but if you prefer the series over Harry Potter just because "they have hotter actors," then that is despicable. Choose what you want to believe after reading this post, but Harry Potter will always be the better series in my mind. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, vampires and wizards; my work here is done (for now). Mischief Managed.