Categories: uncategorized
Date: 11 April 2009 07:36:58
Twilight is a phenomena, it's teen chick lit; generating the same level of hysteria amongst teenage girls that Harry Potter did amongst ten year old boys. The DVD of the film (the first in a series of four) came out this week. Yesterday, having been pursuaded by Third Party that you don't work on Good Friday, I watched it. I have to say it is, I think, the first time I have wanted to switch something off and say this is not suitable viewing - yet towards the end of the film that's exactly what I thought. Now let me be clear about this. I don't have a problem with the vampires or supernatural side of it, most good young people's literature which hasn't been based around the development of youth sub-cultures has had some element of the supernatural within it. Also, whilst I had think the film is a bit naff without managing to be ironically bad that is not my problem. I can live with the vampires having the worst attempt at goth make up ever. Equally I can live with a pretty boring plot where you are just waiting for something really substantial to happen, (Third Party explained that this is basically because this film is the introduction... if you have read the books the film is better... apparently). No what I objected to was a scene towards the end of the film which was quite violent but also highly sexualised (although thankfully my younger viewer didn't get that bit). This scene did not contain your average person bleeding to death screaming.... rather it contained a female character in their mid teens rising up and down, breathing in a particular type of heavy way, as the object of their affection sucked vemon out of their leg, following an attack by a character who had been looking at same female character in a very intense way at various points earlier in the film. This presents me with a problem. I saw something v. disturbing in the film which I could mention to Third Party worried me a bit, but I couldn't explain why. I want my daughter to retain her innocence as long as possible I don't want to get into heavy stuff on the link between violence, sex and the exploitation of women with her. Yet I don't want her to think this is ok. I am not happy my money has been spent on this type of product (having bought the DVD as her Easter present). Also I don't want to censor her, but I do want to, as much as possible protect her from harmful images. This is all v. strange to me. I'm used to being the fairly liberal mum who has never had a problem letting Third Party watch anything. Yet this has really gotten to me... suddenly I find myself puritanical about a film that everybody else seems fine with.