A Piece of Love

I watched Twilight and Mulan yesterday and today. Here is what I think.

Entering into the cinema, I was already aware of Twilight's popularity. I watched the first episode out of curiousity, and the second one as an effort to please a friend. Secretly, I wanted to see what's so captivating about this movie, I have to see for myself its charms, even after the lousy first one.

I saw what I expected.

Forget about the romantic parts, I have no business with them. As a single guy who had never been part of the script, I have no say and right to judge. Instead, I want to draw attention to some of the 'hidden' values in the movie, and probably the book as well.

Even knowing that it is an American movie with American values, I was still shocked at the portrayal of the father and daughter relationship in the movie. In my opinion, Bella was never the perfect daughter, but her father is certainly near perfection. I expected it, be it American or whatnot, that the modern definition of family relationships is fading into oblivion and ingratitude. In Twilight, B was so ever ready to flee with her love. Note this conversation:

(One of the guys) : what about Charlie?

B : I'm eighteen, I can go wherever I like.

Are you serious? I did not like it. It was the ultimate disrespect for filial duty, and its supposed romantic love story begun to look ridiculous. Leaving your old daddy behind without any justification but love is nothing romantic, even if it's Edward the Hot Vamp. Imagine the old man returning from his police duties to find his daughter missing, and missing for ever. Imagine the effect on him.

Then again, this might work for the Western world, but I earnestly pray, prithee, that this never seeps into our world and culture. Never. And Miss Swan was clearly shown to be only eighteen. A terrible thing to do, just before your foray into the adult world.

Blind love. When love becomes something like this one, it turns into an ugly shade. Love should never obstruct our responsibilities as human beings, whereas logic should not dictate our lives. Bella leaving her father just like that, her eager readiness, is simply disgusting and revolting.

Love is not all in life. There are girls who would be so ready to die for it, without realising that they don't have to. True love is never selfish, and rarely it asks you to ditch your old man like that. The romance is broken when you are ready to forsake your parents.

Another point to note is the surprising occupancy of romance in Bella's life. A friend talked to me about the difference of being single and its opposite, right after he separated. His words were reflected in the movie, when Bella shuts herself from her world for months (November, December), neglecting her friends and, as mentioned, her dad. I do not know if it's just me, but her friends were portrayed as being frivolous and silly throughout the movie, beside the solemn and quiet Bella Swan.

When we allow love to dominate and encroach into our lives like that, our souls are hardly happy, no matter how we deceive ourselves. Deep down inside we yearned for freedom, and no romance can satisfy that thirst. How is it that when Edward Cullen appeared, Bella's friends just scattered into nothingness? How is it that her friend kept talking nonsense while Bella saw Edward's shadow everywhere?

As with most matters in life, there must be a balance. Love is great and happy and all, but a blind one is bitter, destructive, and selfish. Having said that, I know that different people think differently, but there is, somehow, certain duties that will bind us, for they define us as human beings. There are certain requirements, certain responsibilities to tend to, and escaping them all under the guise of romance is a rather sad case.