MY DATE WITH EDWARD AND JACOB

New Moon opened last November 20. I was fortunate to see it yesterday, December 5. I was able to read the book also. But what do we expect, the movie version is always different from the book. They only include the important points in the movie such as:

Edward leaving Bella in the woods

Jacob started to avoid Bella after the movie
Jacob's transformation to werewolf
Bella saving Edward from being executed by the Volturri
Bella decided to call a meeting with the entire Cullen family to discuss her future

I am definitely a team Edward. Of course for me, it should be Bella and Edward forever. Since Bella's love for Edward transcends the boundaries. She even wants to be a vampire to be with Edward forever. In the final scenes, she even offered herself to be a meal in exchange for Edward's life. She was only saved when Aro saw in a vision of Alice that Bella will become one of them someday...which is favorable to Bella.

The Volturri is also interested in Bella becoming a vampire. What with her special ability that the vampires could not read her thoughts, it is very interesting for the Volturri. In the latter part, her special ability will be one of her skills when she becomes a vampire.

Jacob Black is also a revelation. From a lanky teenager in Twilight, he became a bulky, beefed-up hunk. According to Bella, he is having some growth spurts, which is explained when the time comes for him to transform into a werewolf. For me, it's healthy for Bella to have Jacob, but only as a friend.

Because in the beginning, it was truly Edward and Bella. It's like their lives are parallel to Romeo and Juliet were one cannot live without the other.

New Moon is still showing at your local theaters. In the Philippines, the movie will only last for a month, no extensions...

MY OWN BRAND OF HEROINE

I was first hooked with Twilight. I first saw the film before reading the book.

Then my U.S.-based relatives sent me via balikbayan box the 4 Twilight series entitled: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn.

I am currently reading Breaking Dawn.

And now, there is New Moon coming soon in theaters.

Here are the trailers of the movie. Courtesy of http://www.youtube.com

Twilight - Released November 21, 2008

Cast: Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan and Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen

New Moon - to be release on November 20, 2009

Cast: Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan, Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen and Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black

THE FIGMENT OF OUR IMAGINATION

Over the years, our imaginations are ruled by fictional characters and superstitious images of horrifying creatures. When I was a child, my parents would scare the hell of me of vampires or "aswang," ghost or "multo" or "moomoo," and other make-believe creatures so that I could eat my food, behave or go to sleep in time.

My spiritual adviser used to say that they are the works of evil. I always pray if I feel so afraid or if a rumor spread that there is a monster roaming around the streets of Metro Manila.

When I went to college, I was educated about this mythical creatures. They are part of the literary stories handed down from generations to generations. So much education lured me away from them. I was now more afraid of the living than the mythical creatures they blame when a series of unfortunate events happen.

But I seldom watch horror movies. I don't like the gory details or the blood spilling out from one's body. It makes me sick.

When I was in Grade 5, I was exposed to the very first vampire movie entitled "Fright Night." The vampire was considered a villain who drinks blood and can turn his victim into one of them. I evolved from being scared to reading vampire books like "Dracula," which narrates his power over centuries as ruler of the Transylvannian Kingdom. It was made into a movie starring Winona Ryder, Keannu Reeves and Gary Oldman as Dracula.

Brad Pitt became famous because he starred in a vampire film with Tom Cruise entitled "Interview with the Vampire," before he snatch the heart of Angelina Jolie. Although Louis became a vampire, he does not want to be a monster by feeding blood of rats. In the end he and Lestat had a falling out because he cannot stand the lifestyle of murdering innocent people to satisfy your thirst.

Fast forward to present. It's vampire phenomenon once again as Stephenie Meyer wrote a novel depicting a lovestory between the vampire and human. At first Edward Cullen tried to stay away from Bella Swan because her blood is like a heroin to him. But little did Edward know that his prey is falling in love with him. And for Bella, Edward was her knight-in-shining armor. Her angel. That's why people fell in love with Edward Cullen too.

I just finished reading Twilight. But now, I'm about to finish New Moon. Frankly, Robert Pattinson as Edward and Kristen Stewart as Bella are the perfect match for the role. I can't think of any celebrities that could give justice to the role. Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black was also an improvement from being a lanky boy in Twilight to a muscular shape-shifter in New Moon.

I can't wait for November 20. I just hope that I am forgiven if my thoughts are with Stephenie Meyer's characters.