Jamie Parsell
BLUEFIELD — Before the “Twilight” series, the only vampire I knew existed was on a cereal box. His name was Count Chocula and I was in love. Oh, he was sweet, full of chocolate goodness. But cool with a splash of ice cold milk. Even better, he brought marshmallows, not a legion of evil vampires to the breakfast table. The only real danger from Count Chocula is empty calories and a sugar rush before 10 a.m. When it comes to looks, I think he beats Frankenberry and Boo Berry. Why? Frankenberry is pink. Not realistic enough. And Boo Berry is a ghost and I don’t really believe in ghosts. But Count Chocula? He looks human; plus, he has a cool cape and oh yeah, chocolate.
A vampire on a cereal box is friendly, not intimidating or scary. Count Chocula doesn’t have any fangs, nor is he pale from lack of sun. If he is pale, it’s from being closed up in a kitchen cabinet. Count Chocula doesn’t want to drink blood or chase humans through the woods. He just wants to eat your cereal. My first vampire love — Count Chocula — still sits on a store shelf, waiting for a chance to jump in the grocery cart. But he has been displaced by a new vampire on the screen — Edward from the “Twilight” series.
It has been a year since “Twilight” opened at the theaters, long enough for the tide of obsession to fade. Wrong. With the opening of the second movie “New Moon,” the rise of vampire related entertainment is spiraling out of control. Books, movies, TV shows and more are all geared towards vampires, especially good looking ones who want to love you and kill you at the same time.
I am not immune to the “Twilight” phenomenon. As a 29-year-old female, I am not ashamed to admit I have a soft spot for vampires, especially ones that promise roses and moonlit walks in the woods. Forget the dark vampires of Ann Rice, I want the fantasy. Last year, I read all four books and went to watch the first movie “Twilight.” And I am eager to indulge in the “Twilight” series by watching “New Moon” in the coming weeks. I am not alone; scores of friends — also in their mid to late 20s — share my interest in the genre. The stories have no age or gender requirement; both males and females, teens and adults are finding ways to get their vampire fix.
But why the obsession over the fantasy of a smooth talking, romantic vampire? I can’t answer that question. It seems too psychological. Do women want to be in danger yet safe? Perhaps it’s the excitement of the bad boy who has a dark past. It helps that Edward is played by a Hollywood cutie who makes women swoon at the theater. The books, written by Stephenie Meyer, created the obsession. But Hollywood perfected the formula by providing the visual aids. Good job. Now that the love story is already established with the first movie, “New Moon” focuses in a love triangle between the two main characters, Edward and Bella, and a third contender, Bella’s best friend Jacob, who is a werewolf. The triangle is making fans of the series pick a side — Team Edward or Team Jacob.
One friend said it was all too confusing to pick a side. I agree, it’s too psychological to evaluate the characters. And too much energy to pick through the simple obsession and declare a winner for Bell’s heart. Thankfully, the author solves the problem by the end of the series. I am content to watch it play out on the screen, without investing too much thought into the triangle. I don’t have a side; however, I do have a preference, which goes back to the breakfast table with Count Chocula. When it comes to trendy vampires, I refuse to figure out the obsession or decode the fantasy. Why do I like a teenager inspired phenomenon? It’s simple. I like good stories and this one is good till the last page.
Jamie Parsell is the Lifestyle editor of the Daily Telegraph. Contact her at jparsell@bdtonline.com.
