A Girl's Movie Review: Twilight

Starring Edward Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
Rated PG-13

You might have heard that vampires are all the rage these days. With the frenzy over the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and television's success with True Blood and The Vampire Diaries, vampires seem to be invading our landscape at every turn. The Twilight movie is based on the first book in this four-book series. The story follows Bella Swan, a teenage girl who has moved to Washington to live with her dad. Bella is a quiet girl who has trouble connecting with other teenagers. Bella's perspective on life changes in her first few weeks of school, as she meets another "different" group of teenagers - the Cullen kids.

Twilight follows the beginning of a romance between Bella and the eldest Cullen boy - Edward. Bella must confront the strange realities of Edward's behavior - his speed, strength and ability to read other's thoughts. While exploring the possibilities, Bella also realizes her own love - really complete infatuation - with this teenage boy. Bella and Edward both share the truth of their backgrounds and starting building on this foundation in a romantic relationship. Like any good Hollywood romance, this seemingly doomed couple must overcome impossible odds to stay together.

The Twilight movie falls short in many ways. The key interaction places within the book are reduced or completely eliminated. For example, Bella cooks dinner every night for her dad and they eat together at home. This nightly ritual gives the reader a sense of Bella and her father's relationship. In the Twilight movie, they eat at a local restaurant, which diminishes some of the tenderness between Bella and her dad. Also, the Twilight movie skips over key dialogue that is essential for setting up future movies based on the series. The entire meadow scene is portrayed almost like a cheesy after-school special. I think the actors aptly portray what was written. I just think the screenplay writing and directing were poorly done.

While the stories may differ, the Twilight book and movie have a central theme - the truth of a greater reality. Bella has no idea that a greater world exists outside of humanity. When she is confronted with this truth, she is prompted to respond. Her life is forever changed by knowing something greater exists than what humans can see. As a Christian, it doesn't take you long to see the parallel to a similar theme in the Bible. When we come into a relationship with God, our existence is expanded into Christ. He is greater than this world. He is greater than our reality. He is greater than anything or anyone. Christ connects us back into relationship with a holy God. When we know this truth, we are also prompted to respond. As Bella makes a choice to love Edward after contemplating the consequences, we must also choose how to respond to God's love. He doesn't force us into a relationship with Him. We always have the choice. One of my favorite passages about greater realities can be found in the book of Ephesians. I love how Eugene Peterson interprets the apostle Paul's words about this topic:

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. Ephesians 1:3-10, The Message

While I certainly made the choice to see the Twilight movie, I think my better choice was reading the actual book. Although, the Twilight movie does reflect some of the positive aspects of the book series. Bella and Edward have some strict physical boundaries in their relationship. Their primary form of communication and relationship-building comes through face-to-face dialogue (versus texting or getting to know each other on social websites). Also, Edward's family have chosen a life of helping people versus destroying them through murder. I would highly encourage you to read the Twilight book series if you are interested in this story. The more I watch the Twilight movie, the more I don't like it. This movie just doesn't adequately portray the deep theme of love as Stephenie Meyer wrote it. Although, I have high hopes for the next film in the series, New Moon. Maybe the next movie won't disappoint.

Rating: Thumbs Down

(This entry is taken from my personal blog, where I write about Bible studies, movies, books and television shows. You can see more at http://sallyloftis.blogspot.com/.)

A Biblical Look into Twilight: Exploring Edward

“What if I’m not a superhero? What if I’m the bad guy?” He smiled playfully, but his eyes were impenetrable.
“Oh,” I said, as several things he’d hinted fell suddenly into place. “I see.”
“Do you?” His face was abruptly severe, as if he were afraid that he’d accidentally said too much.
“You’re dangerous?” I guessed, my pulse quickening as I intuitively realized the truth of my own words. He was dangerous. He’d been trying to tell me that all along.
He just looked at me, eyes full of some emotion I couldn’t comprehend.
“But not bad,” I whispered, shaking my head. “No, I don’t believe that you’re bad.”Edward and Bella, Chapter 5 of Twilight
We have looked into the heart of Bella. Now it’s time for us to explore her object of fascination – Edward Cullen. The weeks pass in a matter of paragraphs in Twilight, but the time is dragging for Bella until something changes. A plethora of boys ask Bella to the spring dance. These boys seem to spur the aloof Edward into action. The next day Edward asks Bella if he can give her a ride to Seattle on the day of the spring dance. Everything changes. Edward is engaging in dialogue with Bella, but he keeps a distance through his verbal warnings. He discourages her from being friends with him and states his addict-like draw to her. He pursues her and pushes her away. OK, timeout here. I know he is a vampire, but Edward is acting like such a teenage boy right here! He appears to be conflicted but enjoying himself all at the same time. Ugh!!

Edward asks Bella to sit with him at lunch the next day. Their in-depth conversation gives us as the readers some insight into Edward. Bella shares her frustration and even one theory on his crazy demeanor. Edward chuckles at Bella's worship of him because he doesn't see himself in that way at all. Edward’s own perception of himself is full of self-loathing. That’s how it goes with those who seem arrogant. The people who seem to think the most of themselves are usually the ones who hate themselves the most. Edward is no different. Bella sees him as a “god.” Edward can see nothing but evil in himself. As the Twilight story continues, we learn that Edward also struggles with anger. Did you know that anger can be a symptom of self-hate? Interesting.

We learn that Edward’s birth parents died when he was young, and he was adopted by a young doctor and his wife, Carlisle and Esme. I love that Carlisle and Esme have adopted children. The love of a parent for an adopted child is beautiful to me. We choose who we love and bring into our lives. Adopting a child is a lifelong commitment to raise someone else in your household. It is a deliberate act. While a pregnancy can be unexpected, adoptions are planned. Throughout the Twilight saga, Edward’s adopted parents will become an attractive picture of compassion and love.

We have been chosen by a loving Father. Read Ephesians 1:3-12. Write down the actions of God in these verses.

God has acted powerfully in bridging the gap of sin to build a redeeming relationship with us. We were created by God, but our ancestors chose to disobey Him. (See Genesis 1-3.) That choice brought sin into this world, which brought complete separation from our Creator God. Our God is love, and He always provides a way back. This passage in Ephesians gives us some insight into our heavenly Pursuer. He is always working in our lives, even when we can't see Him or can't imagine that He wants to be involved with us. Unlike humans, our God never gives up on us. I love that!

A Biblical Look into Twilight: Bella Moves to Forks

"I knew that if I'd never gone to Forks, I wouldn't be facing death now. But, terrified as I was, I couldn't bring myself to regret the decision. When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it's not reasonable to grieve when it comes to an end."
Bella in the preface of Twilight

As we read the first few pages of Twilight, the reader is introduced to a teenage girl named Bella Swan. Bella has lived most of her life with her mother in Phoenix, AZ. When her mother remarries, Bella decides to move to Forks, WA, to live with her dad. The book opens as Bella is making her way to Forks with her father, Charlie. Charlie is the police chief of this small town. He is a quiet and reserved man. This is a contrast from Bella's mother, Renee, who Bella describes in chapter 1 as "my loving, erratic, hair-brained mother."

Bella is preparing herself for a very different experience in Forks. She is moving from a crowded, sunny metropolis to a clouded, sparse town. We learn a lot about Bella in the preface and first chapter of Twilight. How would you describe her?

I see Bella as a quiet, perceptive girl whose intelligence and maturity measure beyond her age. She is also a clumsy and awkward girl. Bella sees herself as different as everyone else. She has a hard time relating to other people her age. This has impacted her friendships and dating life. While no religious background for Bella is mentioned in Twilight, her remarks in the preface show a respect for a Higher Being who is giving. She is also a girl who lies a lot. That character flaw will certainly come into play in Twilight and the following books.

Bella bases her identity on her own perception of herself. When we view our identity through our own internal lenses, we can have faulty assumptions and logic. An identity based on internal evaluations or even external comments can fluctuate depending on the feelings of that day, the time of the month or even our current lifestage. A Higher Being - the Creator God - offers us an identity based on eternal love.

Review the following passages in the Bible. Note how the children of God are identified. Do you fall into this category?

Ephesians 2:10

2 Corinthians 5:17

1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10

Ephesians 1:3-6

Should Christians Read Twilight?

Should Christians read the Twilight series? It's a question being asked in a lot of evangelical circles these days. Some Christian schools have banned the Twilight series from their bookshelves. Anyone can find websites managed by Christians who claim this book series is demonic and treacherous. Goodness, I have even had members in my own congregation express concern over my writing a Bible study that involves the Twilight series. Why are these books causing such a fuss among Christians?

The Twilight series tells the story of a teenage girl who falls in love with a teenage vampire. The story is told through the eyes of the girl, Bella Swan. The teenage vampire, Edward Cullen, and his family have chosen a life of animal blood versus human blood. The duo face impossible odds in being together and even encounter a few werewolves along the way. Over 70 million books have been sold in the Twilight series, which is labeled as teen fiction. The first movie based on the books, Twilight, earned more than $240 million at the box office. You can find hundreds of websites dedicated to the Twilight series. Fans are called "Twilighters" and range in age from nine years old to ninety.

I believe that most people who denounce the Twilight series from a Christian perspective are acting out of ignorance and fear. These books have started a feeding frenzy in our culture - similar to Elvis and the Beatles, and some Christians are scared of it. Honestly, the fear doesn't come from the Twilight books. It is based on a fear of how to engage our culture. Each Christian is called to live in this world without planting spiritual roots here. Some people define that life in Christ as staying as far away as possible from anything that gains popularity in contemporary life. These people will denounce certain TV shows, political parties or even reading options that supposedly promote a "sinful" lifestyle.

I certainly understand why every person should exhibit caution in what he or she consumes from our culture. Yet sometimes these groups only promote hypocrisy and dissension by their actions. If one TV show is not appropriate for a Christian, then how can any TV show be appropriate if all sins are really equal? I have yet to find any TV show that doesn't involve some kind of sin. The same is true of our music, books, art and anything else produced in this world. The Twilight series is based on vampires and werewolves - fictional characters not found in the Bible. If one actually reads the story, then he or she will see that the Twilight series encourages morality, sexual abstinence and connected family relationships. How many so-called Christian book series have sold more than 70 million books, promoted these values and caused an absolute craze in our country?

The real issue here is cultural engagement. How we as Christians engage our culture can either increase or diminish our testimony. For too long, Christians have been sitting on the sidelines of cultural conversations and letting other people answer the questions in our world. We CANNOT do this anymore. If we don't participate in these conversations, then people without a biblical context will provide the answers to searching people. We Christians need to put our brains back into our heads and use them for good. We can't always control the direction of our country's culture, but we can sit at the table and provide life-giving solutions to the complex problems in this world.

Millions of people are infatuated with a story about love and immortality right now, and Christians have an amazing perspective on these themes. So, let's get back to our original question. Should Christians read the Twilight series? I believe that is a personal choice. I don't think anybody is going to hell or less of a Christian for reading these books. The Twilight series is simply a choice among millions of cultural options in our world. The real danger in these books is the same for anything besides the Bible. When we elevate anything or anyone above God or to the level of God's Word, then we have delved into sin - the sin of idolatry. Outside of that, God gives us grace as we move through this temporary life into an eternity with Him. Let's take this opportunity to share the story of our Immortal Love with the world.