I’m writing this a few hours after leaving the midnight screening of Eclipse! Keep in mind, I also saw it the night before at a special sneak screening. I don’t tell you this to brag, but so you know (if you don’t already) that I am a HUGE Twilight fan. You need to know this before you read my review. I write this review not as someone who makes a living critiquing movies, but as a fan of the Twilight books as well as the movies. Since most of the reviewers I saw at the screening were older men, I’m guessing they’re going to hate it. A few of them even laughed in places that weren’t supposed to be funny. People who “don’t get” us Twi-hards, will never understand the obsession and that’s fine. Just let those of us who do love it, enjoy it, and not care about all the details that movie reviewers are paid to care about. Bottom line for us…Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?

That said, onto the movie. No surprise here…I absolutely loved it! The feedback I’ve been hearing from other people and from Twitter and Facebook, is that people are loving it and think it’s the best of the series. After sitting in the theater for 7 1/2 hours last night to check out The Twilight Experience (all three movies including the midnight premiere), I would have to say that while I believe the quality of the movies has evolved, I do have a special place in my heart for each one of them. I’m guessing it’s kind of like not being able to pick which one of your kids you love the most!

The details… I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll be careful about what I say, but here’s what I believe to be the good and the bad of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

What I loved:

The chemistry between Edward and Bella is as beautiful and passionate as ever. I always say that every woman wants their man to love them as much as Edward loves Bella.

Jacob Black is HOT! No doubt about it, Taylor Lautner has a lot of women defecting from Team Edward to Team Jacob. Bonus: he spends most of the movie shirtless! Edward actually makes a funny comment about it!

The Tent Scene – This is the one scene I was looking forward to the most and it did not disappoint! Jacob has a classic line that will make you laugh and cheer, and the conversation in the tent between Edward and Jacob makes you love Edward even more!

Charlie – He isn’t one of the “Holy Trinity” as I call Kristen, Rob and Taylor, but Charlie is one of the best characters in the movie. Billy Burke is PERFECTION!

Emmett and Bella – There are only a few exchanges between them in the movies, but I love the digs he takes at Bella. Very cute!

Back stories – I love that they show you the history of Rosalie, Jasper, AND they get into the story of the werewolves. Awesome!

Anna Kendrick – She is just so cute, and she is such a scene stealer. I love her, and she was great in Up in the Air. Can’t wait to see what else she’s in.

Fight Scenes – This is what’s going to draw some guys to the theater, and they really are great! I also loved seeing Jasper in a slightly bigger role as the “instructor” for the battle.

Riley – Xavier Samuel is incredible as Victoria’s “puppet” Riley. They made a great choice in Samuel, and as a woman, I love that they’ve added a little more eye-candy!

What I didn’t love:

Victoria – I’m sorry. I watched her on the Jimmy Kimmel/Twilight special and she was really sweet and nice. I wanted to like her, and love the fact that she’s a Twilight fan, but she is no Victoria! I REALLY missed Rachelle Lefevre, who was the original Victoria. All I kept thinking was how much I would have loved to have seen what she did with the role.

Wigs – It’s really insignificant, but some of the wigs are just really bad! Not enough to screw up my enjoyment of the movie, but every once and a while, I would think to myself, “Damn, that is a horrible wig!”

I think that may be it! I loved Eclipse, and I’m excited to see it for the third (today) and fourth (tomorrow) time! I know that reviewers are going to rip the movie apart, but we Twi-hards need to stick together and let them know that their opinion doesn’t mean crap to us! We love our Edward, Jacob and Bella and no matter what they say, we’re always going to love them!

My prediction…between $170 – $180 million! Twilight made $70 mil, New Moon made $140, and with Eclipse coming out in IMAX and the appeal for guys, I think it will break the New Moon record. Cross your fingers!

Have you seen Eclipse?  What did you think?  Do you think it’s the best of the series?  What were your favorite parts?  Leave me a comment, I would love to hear your opinion.

Just my humble opinion…

Pebbles

If you had the chance to be on a reality show, would you do it?  I really and truly want and need to know…why would ANYONE want to be on a reality show these days?  Is it the desire for your 15 minutes of fame?  Is it that you’re bored?  Do you just not care what people think?  I’m not here to judge, but the more I see how crazy people look, the more I don’t understand.

I just finished watching the reunion show for the Real Housewives of New York, and yes I’m hanging my head in shame over that fact.  After watching the THREE-PART reunion, because they couldn’t fit all that drama into one show, I am even more confused as to why people do these shows anymore.  On this season of the show alone, we had: two previous close friends have their relationship dissolve, one woman in denial about a nervous breakdown, catty behavior from grown women that I don’t think is even seen in Junior High, and despite all of that, the desire to want to do it again!

I’m really just throwing the question out there because I don’t understand why, after seeing the fights, the cattiness, and the staged “reality,” I’m not getting how this benefits anyone’s life.  Sure, you’ll make a few bucks, of course people will know who you are, but is it worth it?  If it is, that’s fine, I would love to hear someone say that.  Is it a stepping stone to another career?  Tell me.  I really need to know.

It’s no secret that reality shows are extremely popular.  Personally, I’ve gotten a lot more selective about which ones I watch.  I started to look at how watching them affected me and it wasn’t pretty.  I specifically remember one season of The Bachelor when he didn’t pick the girl that I thought he should have, and was pissed for days!  I have since stopped watching that show, and most shows about anyone living in a house with a group of people for no particular reason, or trying to pick Mr. or Mrs. Right out of a group of pre-selected crazies.  Most of the time I watch the reality shows that most people would consider boring: Top Chef, Project Runway, The Biggest Loser, etc.  It’s TV, so of course there’s a little drama, but the drama is more of an extra than the star of the show.

I would love to hear from you.  After seeing what’s out there for reality shows, would you be on one if the opportunity arose?  Why would you do it?  And what would you be looking to get out of doing it?  Which show out there would you want to be on, or what show would you like to create for yourself?  Please leave me a comment.  I would love to hear your opinion.  For now…

Just my humble opinion,

Pebbles