Visions of 'Twilight'

The Korean version of "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer is strikingly different from its American counterpart. Instead of the black, red and white theme of our "Twilight" series, the book's cover is a soft white and gold. And the Korean edition for sale in my neighborhood, above, comes with a medallion adorned with the airy pastel sketches of Bella and Edward together.

And you might notice, they don't look anything like Robert Pattinson or Kristen Stewart, stars of the recent film. Which happens to be on its way to stores; the DVD goes on sale later this week. If the film's opening box office can foretell DVD sales, it'll wind up in the homes of tween girls very, very quickly.

Is it significant that these young actors are now so visually identified with Edward and Bella? For three years, the two characters lived only in the imaginations of their readers and looked however readers imagined they looked. There was room for the wispy and pastel-y Korean ideal, or any other. Any girl who loved the Twilight series could picture herself in Bella's shoes — and house and school and Edward's arms — in Forks, Wash.

I'm always torn between the urge to see my favorite books brought to life on screen and the desire to let them stay safe in my imagination. The screen versions can be so powerful that they imprint the actors and scenes indelibly upon the original stories — just as the actors' faces often end up on post-movie book covers. Will the international blond Bella, blue-eyed Bella and Japanese duo give way to Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart? Or will the imagination (and book cover designers) keep them alive?

— Carolyn Kellogg

Photo credit: Carolyn Kellogg

Comments

[Katie]

Konnichiwa,

I'm an American living in Japan and recently found the 11 books that make up the Twilight series. The website you linked to has the first three. I took pictures of the covers and some of the illustrations as well. I posted pictures, the titles of each book and the Japanese trailer that aired on TV at http://passthechopsticks.blogspot.com/2009/03/twilight-comes-to-japan.html

[Stacey]

I feel exactly the same way! I hate that whenever I say "edward is soo hot" my friends are all "what arre u talking about? robert pattinson is ugly!" and then im like "not him! Im talking about edward!" and they go "...he IS edward..." and sometimes, im imaginging the scenes and i find myself picturing edward as robert pattinson instead of the gorgeousness of my imaginary edward! I will do anything to keep my imaginary versions of edward and bella alive and NOT be replaced by RPattz and KStew (rly suckish nicknames BTW) in my brain! their faces are like viruses slowly cloaking my imagination and fantasies! its not fair! im having to draw out my own versions on paper so i dont forget!

[Rosalia Provenzano]

I totally agree, what the hell were those casting directors thinking! Rob Pattinson, Kristen Stewart?!!! Yikes! I could have casted better actors. I still have my vision of what Edward should look like and believe me he isn't anything like this Robert guy. Please don't crush my image of Edward. I didn't watch the movie Twilight and I will definitely not watch any of the rest of the sequels as long as Rob is portraying my Edward.

[carrie]

I think if you saw the movie you would think differently, robert pattinson does an amazing job of protraying edward, and personally for all the hype hes gotten its a little wierd. I find him very beautiful not just cause of his looks but his personality is extremely sincere and sweet!!!
however dont you kind of think edwards a little creepy? I mean all these people think EDWARD is sooo hot but c'mon I mean the dude listens to her conversations,stalks her cause he feels "protective of her" sneaks in her room at night to watch her sleep, and thats not even half of it. I mean seriously in the real world i would kinda think this dude is a little on the creepy/stalker side. either way robert did great I personally loved the way he protrayed edward and newsflash people, there seriously isnt anyone in the world that they could cast for edward, theres no'one with a perfect look.

[Heidi Volturi]

Wow those covers look awesome!!!

[Maryella Scharnhorst]

Having read the books - I must agree with those who have posted their opinions earlier. "Your mind is your movie theater!" The characters in the twilight saga are so well described but still vague enough to allow us to create images in our minds what they must look and sound like! I was disappointed with some of the casting choices for the movie such as, Laurant, Rosalie, Mike, Eric, even Sam. I expected Rosalie to be quite statuesque, classic, model-like. Laurant to be tall, exotic, and handsome and more. I give credit to the casting director for their choice in the lead characters as Bella, Edward, Carlisle, Jasper etc. Afterall, they are mere mortal actors in real life, but in our minds, heck, these characters are far superior....!

[cm]

i think robert pattinson and kristen steward did an amazing job playing bella and edward. you dont like it then dont watch it! but dont bad mouth the casting directors! thats there job for a reason and why your not! i love twilight and i think the casting directors did a great job!

[Elle]

i suppose if i had of read the book before the movie i might have tried to imagine there looks in my own way but i dont have a very big imagination so i guess they were spot on with every character in the movie apart from laurent, i got a bit mixed up cause i didnt imagine him so dark by the way stephanie decribed him in the book, but edi did a really good job cant imagine anyone else who could have played that part better!

[Paige Marie]

I think that all you people that are like "thats not edward!!....hes not perfect....blah blah blah..." get over it.... cause NO ONE is gonna be the perfect Edward for everyone....and no one is perfect so dont blame the casting people cause i think that they did a great job casting most of the people so just suck it up and get over it....its just a book series.....ik its good and everything, but no need to overreact....geesh...

[Carol]

Great entry. Once the film comes out, it gets tricky trying to separate the character from the actor. Which poses a problem when half the cast (of a film adaptation of a teen novel) is photographed smoking...or when Robert Pattinson's love life (or made-up love life) is splashed across the tabloids. He's not Edward Cullen; he just plays him on TV.