The following excerpt is from blogger Jeffrey Overstreet's commentary on the theme of love as it is portrayed in "Twilight," the recent blockbuster teen vampire-heroine love story. I highly recommend reading this post in its entirety, especially if you have a teenager, or tween, that has seen or is planning on seeing this movie. These movies present very real and poignant opportunities for parents and youth workers alike to engage teenagers in a way that makes them think. Challenge their thinking. Point out the gaping holes in the story's depiction of love and romance. Help them understand the biblical concept of love as self-sacrificial and God-honoring, not as emotional emptiness.
One of the reasons that divorce is becoming to prevalent, I think, is the lost concept of love. Feelings dictate decisions, and feelings don't consider commitment. Commitment involves sacrifices at times, and sacrifice is a concept which the dangerously narcissistic upcoming generations do not understand and will not practice, unless we challenge their conceptual framework and explain what love truly is and involves.
Anway, now to Overstreet's blog entry:
"Sure, the basic “Beauty and the Beast” elements are at work here. They will always work. I’m not going to deny that the Power of Myth is at work in this story. What disappoints me is how poorly it is developed, how many opportunities for thoughtful storytelling are bypassed for the sake of including long sequences that amount to “How far can we go without actually fornicating?” If you want a good vampire story involving a fascinating, monstrous vampire and an engaging heroine, check out Robin McKinley’s book Sunshine. Now THAT would make an interesting movie!
But don’t tell me that this is a love story. This is a lust story. You have to get to know someone to really be “in love” with them. Otherwise, it’s just hormones. Good luck with everything after."
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