edited by Jonathan Doyle

Cloverfield [BLU-RAY] (Paramount Home Entertainment, 6.3.2008) Disguised under deliberately goofy, yet deliciously edible-sounding, aliases such as Cheese and Slusho, Matt Reeves' Cloverfield was produced and rushed into theaters under an equally appetizing shroud of secrecy. From last year's incredibly elusive Super Bowl ad to the film's viral marketing campaign, Cloverfield had everybody scratching their heads and drooling in anticipation. Aside from the as-yet untitled title and the Blair Witch-ian visual style, the film's biggest appeal was the enigmatic creature who was last (un)seen hurling the decapitated head of the Statue of Liberty onto the crowded streets of New York City. All we knew about the mysterious beast was that it was big and angry. Now that the highy-anticipated project has come and gone, one question has fortunately been answered: Cloverfield was a major success. (continued)

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Fangs and Mormonism

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I get it. I know why the mostly female audience (literally young or young at heart) is expected to flock big-time to Twilight (Summit, 11.21). It's because they've read Stephenie Meyers' books (or book) and they basically expect the film to be Wuthering Heights with fangs. Fine -- no problem with that.

And I know for sure that the vast majority of this audience doesn't care very much about Meyers' Mormon background. And that fans who are aware of this probably haven't noticed (or cared to notice) what themes or metaphors in the books and the film express some aspect of Mormon culture.

But once the film is finally screened for people like me (which will be...what, two days before it opens?) and once it opens commercially, I'd like to read a concise and knowledgable piece that explains it all without going on and on. The Mormon Undercurrents in Twilight for Dummies. I'm not looking to bash the film because of any possible Mormon tissue within. Like I said, most of the fans don't know or care about the undercurrents, and I have other fish to fry.

But if there's any kind of theological Mormon presence in Twilight, I'd like to clearly understand what it is. Even if there's just a faint aroma, I'd like to sniff it with forearmed knowledge.

Hoboken, Baby<< previous | next >>Faraway Downs

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 12, 2008 at 6:23 AM

comment #1

actionman says ...

I am so excited for this film to finally get released that way it will finally just go away.

Has anyone seen those trailers or tv spots? The film looks HORRIBLE. Like a cross between Blood & Chocolate and The Covenant. I can't believe that anyone could be excited for this shit.

Posted by actionman at November 12, 2008 7:09 AM

comment #2

Rich S. says ...

I'll bet this site would have been really interesting reading had Romney gotten the presidential (or vice presidential) nomination.

Posted by Rich S. at November 12, 2008 7:11 AM

comment #3

R. Hunt says ...

Actually it's "Pride and Prejudice" with fangs.

Posted by R. Hunt at November 12, 2008 8:05 AM

comment #4

The Bandsaw Vigilante says ...

Nah, Jeff -- if it's Mormonist theology-pushers you're worried about, you should be looking at Orson Scott Card instead; the guy's writing used be awesome, but now he's totally fucking destroy-the-gays-and-the-U.S.-government insane.

(Be very afraid if that ENDER'S GAME movie ever gets made, is all I'm sayin'.)

Posted by The Bandsaw Vigilante at November 12, 2008 8:10 AM

comment #5

DeafBrownTrashPunk says ...

actionman, i agree.

thankfully I'm gonna be gone in Saudi Arabia next week for almost 4 weeks and there will be NO talk of Twilight.

that fug vampire boy and his ugly GF need to fuck off.

Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk at November 12, 2008 8:15 AM

comment #6

corey3rd says ...

One explores the films of Marty with an eye towards his Catholic faith. And what about the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? Or Madonna? Or Battlefield Earth?

When people talk about Anne Rice, there's plenty of Catholic chatter in relationship with her view of Vampires.
k

Posted by corey3rd at November 12, 2008 8:27 AM

comment #7

Krazy Eyes says ...

I believe all the vampires in TWILIGHT wear magic underwear.

Posted by Krazy Eyes at November 12, 2008 8:45 AM

comment #8

Edward says ...

I didn't know Mormon's come back as vampire's after they die.

Posted by Edward at November 12, 2008 8:56 AM

comment #9

York "Budd" Durden says ...

I'm going to immediately write something with some religious undertone subtext (and with vampires). Man alive, that stuff sells like hotcakes.

Posted by York "Budd" Durden at November 12, 2008 9:27 AM

comment #10

Belloc-Lowndes says ...

Maybe there's a particularly Mormon take on it, but to me it sounds like pretty stock wish-fulfillment for knocked-up teens, that some dreamy guy will come along and prove to be the man that the actual baby daddy is clearly not up to being or interested in being.

You know, like Jerry Maguire.

(I know, the baby daddy "died" in that, like the missing parent in a 60s sitcom.)

Posted by Belloc-Lowndes at November 12, 2008 9:52 AM

comment #11

corey3rd says ...

The mormons keep "baptizing" dead Jews and declaring that they're now Mormons in heaven.

This even the Catholic Church draws the line at converting the dead. Sounds pretty vampirish to me.

Posted by corey3rd at November 12, 2008 10:18 AM

comment #12

Chase Kahn says ...

THE COVENANT is awesome compared with this crap...

This won't even been the best teen vampire movie of November...

Posted by Chase Kahn at November 12, 2008 11:01 AM

comment #13

DarthCorleone says ...

The mormons keep "baptizing" dead Jews and declaring that they're now Mormons in heaven.

I had to look this up to believe it. I thought you were making a joke. I guess I'm practicing my religious bigotry again, but - I'm sorry - that's just batshit crazy.

Posted by DarthCorleone at November 12, 2008 1:12 PM

comment #14

crod1 says ...

Paul taught, "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all, why are they then baptized for the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:29).

Posted by crod1 at November 12, 2008 1:23 PM

comment #15

bfm says ...

Mitt Romney's a vampire?

Posted by bfm at November 12, 2008 2:47 PM

comment #16

Kim Voynar says ...

Jeff, I wrote about the Twilight-Mormon issue a bit back in August as a part of a piece looking at the feminist backlash to the series:

http://www.cinematical.com/2008/08/11/film-clips-is-twilight-anti-feminist/

Posted by Kim Voynar at November 12, 2008 7:34 PM

comment #17

frankbooth says ...

Here's what I don't understand: how can Mormons even write or read this stuff? It's occult! And it's not good religious folks vs bad vampires, either. Vampires are the protagonists, based on what I've read.

Serious Christianist fundie-types don't let their kids read Harry Potter. How can Mormons condone a cursed, blood-drinking hero?

Posted by frankbooth at November 12, 2008 11:37 PM

comment #18