Oh, decisions, decisions. Poor Bella. Poor Jacob. Oh poor Edward, too. I feel for them. I do. Life is tough when you think you love more than one guy.
So, everytime I think about this movie, this Lovin' Spoonful song starts running through my head:
Did you ever have to make up your mind
Pick up on one and leave the other behind
It's not often easy and not often kind
Did you ever have to make up your mind
Did you ever have to finally decide
Say yes to one and let the other one ride
There's so many changes and tears you must hide
Did you ever have to finally decide
- The Lovin' Spoonful
(and here it is in case you aren't familiar with it - Enjoy)
Let's do a little Twilight recap, just for fun (and yes I know it's silly and immature to even spend this much time writing a blog post about this whole thing. But I don't think I spend nearly enough time in my days being silly and immature, so I'm just going to go with it, thank you very much. You can just play along - or not).
So there's Bella. Who thinks she loves the unbelievably gorgeous vampire Edward (her words, not mine). And he decides that rather than put her at risk of being killed by his fellow vampires (or himself) at some point in time, he will convince her their relationship is over, disappear forever, and let her start over in a new life.
Smart move, Edward. I think this was a rather mature and responsible decision, really. Because wouldn't she really be better off not loving a vampire? C'mon now, in all reality, yes, yes, she would. Admit it.
But she is convinced he is her ONE TRUE LOVE. So of course she can't live without him. So she falls into a deep depression with his absence.
Then there's Jacob. The sweet young boy who has always had a thing for Bella. And she starts hanging out with him (albeit in a twisted risk-seeking venture to get more hallucinogenic visitations from Edward) - but they start to develop a true friendship. Not this "oh, my gosh, you are so hot I can hardly control myself"-type relationship (as with Edward) - but a true spending time together, talking, getting to know each other-type relationship.
Just so happens he's a werewolf. And you know, these werewolves and vampires just never can get along.
Now, I won't really get into the Team Jacob and Team Edward debates. Whether you like Hot or Cold, Fur or Fangs and so on.
But. I sympathized with Jacob. And I thought they would have a more normal life and a more functional relationship together than Bella and Edward. Afterall, she wouldn't have to sell her soul and her mortality to be with him. And they were actually friends, which to my mind is more important than the whole hot and heavy lustful-thing. Call me crazy.
But here's the deal. I think New Moon was my favorite of the books (maybe - it's been so long since I've read them, I've forgotten a lot and seem to be mixing up the details of what happens exactly in which book). But what I liked about it was that Bella's heartache seemed real to me (more so in the book than the movie). And I like when the emotions feel raw and real in a book I'm reading. Maybe I'm just a little bit masochistic, but I can identify with pain. And, I can identify a little with the tortured torn emotions of thinking that you have a crush on 2 different boys, that you like them, maybe even love them both (or what love is to a teenager). I'll spare you the details. But am I only one who has been in those shoes?
Thinking maybe one can just be a friend, but knowing you really feel a little more than just friendship. And not really sure which one you want to be with, if you were forced to choose. Or knowing which one you really want but still not wanting to lose the other. Well, I guess Bella is pretty certain which one she'll choose (although I don't think the book makes it quite so clear). Anyway, she doesn't want to give either of them up.
I like the dramatic conflict and tension of it all. And I think the fact of the matter is that you always have to choose. You can't have them both. At least not both the way they want. Someone has to end up hurt. It's just the way it is. Oh, these twisted love triangles.
So, no Bella. You don't get them both. Just make up your mind, girl.
And that's what I think New Moon is all about (and a lot of the next one, too). I liked it. (even more than the "romance" of Edward and Bella) :)
What do you think about it all?
Or do you, *gasp* want nothing to do with it at all?!?
6 comments:
bren and i just saw new moon last night. he loved it (of course), i thought it was meh. as with most "in between" movies, it was too obviously "in between". i'm already tired of bella's twitching eyes.
what do i think? i think it's hilarious that this poor girl has to choose between a werewolf and a vampire. i mean, what are the odds? heheh.
but that belittles what you're talking about with regards to heartache etc, which i agree.. i definitely feel more connected when there's real raw emotions.
and you are definitely not the only one who has felt torn between crushes/loves/whatever.
personally, i don't believe that you can always choose who you love. i believe that connections between people can spark and exist without any conscious decision whatsoever. and yes, i believe it's possible to truly love more than one person at a time. i mean, think about kids.. does your heart love one kid more than another? does having another kid somehow detract from the love for the ones you already have? no, of course not. our hearts have an immense capacity for love. yet, society dictates that you can only have one "love". it's absurd, really, if you think about it..
~m
I agree with you Kristen. But I still *gasp* want nothing to do with it. :) Glad you enjoyed it!
I LOVE NEW MOON AND WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN! :)
The conflict reminds me of something...hmm. But i loved this movie so much better than Twilight and it was just so close to the book. I was pleased! I'm glad you liked it Kristen!
I need to watch it again, because I really didn't love it. But New Moon was my least favorite of the books. Probably because there was so little of Edward in it. :) I just love the idea of having someone who's meant for you, and Jacob was not him! It's like they discuss in the book - who would have read Romeo and Juliet if Romeo had died and Juliet had just settled for Paris? Bo-ring.
ah, but then again, part of the appeal of Romeo and Juliet is that it is a TRAGEDY. And not everything works out perfectly like twilight does (in a weird construed forced way), which is why the ending of the Twilight books was so unsatisfactory to me. :)
But that's a discussion for another day.
Every time I read New Moon, I say it is my favorite for the same reasons as you Kristen, it was so real, so human. I struggle with the last half of Breaking Dawn because I can no longer relate with Bella, the human element is gone. I always read New Moon quickly though, because I feel like Bella is stranded in her depression until I finish the book (and then Eclipse becomes my fav until I read Breaking Dawn :)). I have to say the first time through I fought against Bella and Jacob a lot, Bella was meant to be with Edward (even though I was mad at him for leaving) and Jacob was nice but in the way. Once I finished the series and knew my Edward would win out in the end, I felt more for Jacob. What a tough spot and yes, he would be healthier for Bella, and if Edward never came back, I think we all know what would have happened. But the supernatural element won out and I'm glad, because I adore Edward. And I loved the movie because it followed the book so well. Yea!
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