today is March 21st 2009. TWILIGHT the movie has been in my home. Not on television in a commercial promoting the film, but actually playing in my home. I saw Edward & Bella. I watched the story unfold as I did months ago in a theater. Only this time I felt like an industry insider. The DVD has special features; director/actor commentary, extended scenes, production notes and of course.... deleted scenes. These deleted scenes just might end up being the bane of my current existence. I was worried about these scenes & when I watched them among Twilighters I discovered a truth to my worry: the scenes should not have been cut. 2 scenes that were deleted are "give or take them" scenes. But the rest, the rest are pivotal to the heart of the story. The depth they could have given... I could hear the collective sighs of Twilighters around the world as a scene with Carlisle & Esme was shown, I could feel the shared aggrivation as a simple caress in the meadow was lost, and I could see how a few added seconds would not have 'upset the flow of the movie' but would have actually made it more cohesive. I know it is easy to be an "armchair director" alas! come on people! I truly feel that these segments were removed due to they wanted to portray a more 'thrill' type movie rather than a 'romance'. Even after all of the above lines have been expressed I am still giddy beyond doubt due to the entire experience. 
I happened to have invited a close knit group of Twilighters over for a viewing party. Now if anyone knows how much I love to throw a party then they know there was cake, yummy cookies, games and of course thematic decor! A shoutout to Mary at Mary's Cakes in Northport - that woman makes a delicious cake & she also made me a Stupid Shiny Volvo and Danger Magnet cakes without too many questions or a call to Bryce Mental Hospital. Might I add that she has no idea what Twilight is, but her assistants did. My menu was simple but relative to the book: Pizza (Bella dares Edward to eat a bite in the cafeteria), Lemonade (the drink that Bella is drinking when Edward keeps her cap), Mushroom Ravioli (do I really need a description? The restaurant Port Angeles), Veggie Pizza (those vegetarians :o) ), Doritos (Jacob & Paul fight over these in Breaking Dawn), Apples (hello?), Diet Coke (she drinks one) and cake (Bella's birthday party). I also had goodie bags & prizes! It was so much fun! We laughed, we critiqued, we ate and we swooned! Thank you Lori, Stephanie, Tabitha, mom & Nina. For a wonderful afternoon of Twilight. Marcus kindly took Anna & Jessica to Chuck E Cheese for the afternoon & it sounds like they had a blast.
Before I leave you my wonderful readers, I wanted to give a small moment of reflection: It was a March afternoon when I discovered Twilight for the first time. That day will forever press into my memory. It is fitting that on a March day I enjoyed the movie at my home for the first time. This series is so much more than books. The friends I have made, the bonds I have developed are priceless. So please enjoy the pictures & I cannot wait to see some of everyone elses... happy Twilight weekend everybody.Note: my sister pouts as she is forced to have her picture taken before she can open the prize she won being the fastest at putting Twilight puzzles together! lol
