From Twilight to Spencer
I hate to say this, because I’m well aware of Twilight’s loyal fanbase, but I was never a fan of the saga. I let friends and family talk my ear off about how great they are. I watched the movies when it happened to be playing. And if I remember correctly, I even went to a book release party for who knows which book when I was in high school (okay, a simple Google search told me it was Breaking Dawn) because a friend begged me to go. I made fun of her the entire time.
Why I wasn’t a fan of the saga, you ask? Probably because I was butt hurt about Clare de Lune being abused in that god awful dancing scene. I remember when that scene was released as a sneak peek and I was like, “What was that and what just happened?!” Where are my piano players and Classical music enthusiasts at?! And the same with Flightless American Bird by Iron and Wine. I read somewhere that Kristin picked that song for that scene so I guess she has decent taste in music. My biggest aversion to the Twilight movies was Kristen Stewart. I watched her in In the Land of Women which I loved, except for Kristin’s acting! It wasn’t until I watched Charlie’s Angels where Stewart finally played a role that matched her personality (not that that’s what acting is, but if you've watched several Stewart movies, you’ll probably know what I mean) and was quite impressed with her as Sebina. Last year when news of Stewart being the next person to don the Diana wig was announced, I was surprised. Every actress who played Diana seems to get better and better. Naomi Watts had the blue eyes, but that was pretty much it. Emma Corrin gave us the young Diana complete with a much better wig and accent than Watts. Kristen Stewert adds her squared jaw line to the list of Diana characteristics.
Mikey Boardman on his Instagram live show, The Mikey and Lynnie Show, said that he wasn’t wowed by Twilight and Stewart’s acting, “I worshiped and adored Emma Corrin in The Crown as Diana. I’m worried about Kristen Stewart as Diana because I think Kristen Stewart is a bad actress and I’m worried [Spencer] is not going to be good.” Lynn Yaeger then asked if Mickey liked her in Twilight, “I only saw fifteen minutes of Twilight. It was fine, but it wasn’t acting.” Boardman said the last thing he saw Stewart in was “that horrible Woody Allen movie, [Café Society].” and Yaeger retorted, “Oh that wasn’t her fault. You can’t blame her for that. That was a terrible movie.”
When I saw the first trailer, (btw props to the person who edited that trailer) my jaw dropped when I heard Stewart’s Diana accent. Kristen Stewart may look and sound like Diana, but we’ll have to see if Pablo Larraín’s directing and Steven Knight’s writing will give us the Diana we all want. How are you feeling about Kristen Stewart as Diana? Do you agree with Mr. Mickey or Baby Lynnie?
Now for the fun part. I did watch The Twilight Saga as preparation for Spencer. Probably not the best comparison, but it’ll be fun to see the worst and, fingers crossed, the best of Stewart. It’ll definitely help in giving us perspective on how far she’s come. Seriously though, I’m hoping for the best and not for the sake of my love for Diana, the people’s Princess, but because creativity is tough and (I include myself in this) all eyes are on Stewart anticipating if she’ll fail or win as Larraín’s Diana.
So here are 38 reactions to the Twilight Saga (that will prep you for seeing Stewart at Diana):
Ew to Bella saying “Hello biceps!”
LOL to Jacob looking at Edward while he’s hugging Bella.
LOL to Edward saying, “You give me everything by just breathing.”
LOL to the music when Edward recites Shakespeare
Ew to “Dating an older woman, hot.”
NO when Bella stupidly cuts her finger and LOL at Jasper
“You couldn’t be damned. That’s impossible!” -- triggered by memories of my teenage self who wanted to save everyone.
LOL to Bella saying, “If this is about my soul, take it. I don’t want it without you.”
That camera angle on Bella as her heart is breaking. . . why?!
LOL at Bella who is chasing after a vampire. . .who has super speed.
Oh please don’t do a montage of November and December of her just sitting there. Op, they did.
Replaying Bella’s delayed reaction to Edward’s apparition five times for a good LOL.
LOL at Bella saying “Jake, you’re like, buff.”
Ew to Jacob taking his shirt off to clean up Bella’s blood.They made him go there. SMH.
Ew to Bella saying, “You’re like your own sun.” Who wrote that line?!
Ew to Bella’s interest in unattainable men.
This vampire and werewolf situation is very classist and racist. Vampires are mostly white folks (except for Laurant who gets killed in the beginning. . .typical) and the werewolves are Indigenous people who are aren’t fancy and rich, but are mostly men running around half naked and in cut up shorts. Can we be done making people of color be anamorphic and glamorizing being exotic in movies?!
Ew to Jake begging Bella to stay for Charlie. . .can’t own up to wanting Bella to stay for him.
They warmed up the tone of the fourth movie because they just figured out that the pale appearance was too weird.
Ew to Bella looking so pained walking down the aisle.
This far into the saga, I’m still not sold on Bella and Edward. Bella doesn’t have to lose anyone if she chooses Jacob!
“There’s no way she’s still wearing that dress!” -- me remembering when I traveled after my wedding day.
I didn’t read the books so I don’t understand how Stephanie Myers worked out the mechanics of a vampire being able to have sex. I also don’t care to know. Just asking.
Ew to the fantasy of a man who can hurt a woman, but chooses not to and how that gets a woman going. EW.
Ew to Myers writing this whole nightmare of a husband not being interested in his wife shortly after marrying her. But it goes with the idea of man being able to stick to his morals I guess.
Ew to Jacob saying, “You’re wrong.” when Bella says she’s strong.
Why do women have to fight to be heard or seen in this movie? You didn’t have to take everything from the LDS Church as inspiration Stephanie!!!
29 minutes and 51 seconds into Breaking Dawn part 2 is when they decided to pick back up with the narrating.
LOL at Bella using her speed to go to the book shelf, but she’s gonna walk to meet the Vultori.
That’s how we lost Carlisle?!?
I’m so tense!
Use those elements MALEK!!!
Jane is a loser.
Wait, I’m actually enjoying this movie.
Get her ass Alice!
Has Marcus just been waiting to die?
I got excited about that fight scene and it was just Alice’s vision. Ew at me.
Okay, they use their speed when leaving, but you took your precious time walking to Folks when y'all were pissed about the Cullens having an immortal. Okay.
Illustration of Kristen Stewart based off scenes from the Twilight Saga and was illustrated on printmaking paper with watercolor, gouache, chalk pastels, and sumi ink.
