The Twilight Saga: New Moon opens in theaters today, and as the title suggests, it’s a follow-up to the hugely successful Twilight. While the latter movie may have boosted Rob’s career, playing the bad boy vampire, it’s the former that has truly made him a household name.
The first Twilight was released in 2009 and was an immediate success both at the box office and with fans. Its box office returns were spectacular, crossing the $500 million mark domestically and internationally. It also became the highest-grossing film of all time in China, Russia, and Germany—not to mention the fact that it holds the record for the biggest box-office haul in Ireland. (The Hollywood Reporter) Now, almost seven years later, we’re finally going to get an answer to the age-old question: Is Rob really a vampire?
The answer is…yes, but not in the way you might think. While he may indulge in the occasional cup of blood, Rob essentially is a “vampire” in the same way Harry Potter is a wizard. That is to say, he can cast spells, but he needs blood to fuel his magic. In addition, unlike traditional vampires, who drink the blood of others, Rob feeds off the lust and desire of his fellow moviegoers—in other words, he sucks the fun out of going to the movies.
A Quick Aside About Vampires And Movies
Before we begin, let’s talk about vampires and movies for a moment. In both cases, it’s about people who drink the blood of others. As a rule, vampires are typically depicted as monsters in stories, but that’s simply because real vampires are really quite dull. (Well, according to some.) In reality, vampires are quite intelligent, physically strong, and can live for hundreds of years. (Not to mention they’re really quite stylish.) While Hollywood usually portrays vampires as aristocrats living in castles and driving fast cars, that’s more for aesthetic purposes. (There aren’t very many vampire cars.)
Traditional vampires are also known as “werewolves among us,” and that’s probably because their true nature is somewhat hard to define. They are neither as they appear to be human, nor are they really animals. That’s because they can shift between their human and animal forms with ease. (It doesn’t hurt that wolves and vampires both have a tendency to get thirsty on those cold nights.) While most vampires in stories are evil and lustful, that’s just a literary convention. In real life, the majority of vampires are simply misunderstood. (Or, as some have put it, “werewolves who eat grapes and live in castles.”)
The Evolution Of Vampire Design
So what changed? Why the sudden rise in popularity for vampires? The short answer is that horror fans have always been into bloodsuckers, but in the past few years, a new generation of fans is embracing vampires. There are a variety of reasons for this, including the overall shift to darker stories and the influence of TV shows like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries. (Yes, the latter is a really big show in the U.S. currently.) Even earlier this year, Warner Bros. released the film adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s award-winning book, The Sandman, and in it, the titular character is a vampire. (News Flash: Vampires Are Trendy Now!)
All of this suggests that Hollywood has begun to realize that not only are vampires interesting characters, but they have become interesting characters over the years. (I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them started looking like the originals.) Vampires have never been out of style, but now they are the preferred fashion icon of numerous designers. (Some of them even have vampire-themed parties to promote their collections.) So while it’s always been cool to be a vampire, it’s now more than ever.
Robert Pattinson: The Good, The Bad, And The Gorgeous
Before we get into the Twilight comparisons, it’s important to discuss Rob’s background and how he came to fame. As with any famous person, there’s always going to be a shadow side to Rob, and it wouldn’t be unfair to say that there are more bad stories than good ones. (After all, it’s not like he’s killed anyone or done anything particularly bad.)
The first issue involves Kristen, his real-life sweetheart. When they first met, Kristen was an aspiring ballerina who was training at the London School of Ballet. (Yes, that London School of Ballet. In case you were wondering, the London School of Ballet happens to be the originator of the term “ballet creep” which, as you would imagine, refers to guys who leer at and harass young dancers, even when they’re not in a school setting.) In any case, one night after training, Rob and Kristen went to a party and had some drinks, where Kristen had a few drinks and smoked a joint. (Not Rob. He doesn’t do drugs.) That’s when things took a turn for the worse, as one of the guests at the party mistook Rob for a hotel guest, and raped him while he was still at the party. (He was 16 at the time.) In response, Rob’s alter-ego, the vampire Lestat, bit off the rapist’s face. That’s when Rob decided to become a vampire. (It’s hard to say what would have happened had he not done so. Maybe he would have turned out okay. Who knows?)
After the rape, Rob spent two and a half years in a mental institution, (that’s the good part,) but upon his release, he dedicated himself to bringing “true darkness” to the world. Now, at 27 years old, he is one of the most sought-after men in Hollywood. (Not to mention the fact that he has been named one of the “most attractive men in the world” by Elle. It would seem that he hasn’t lost his touch.)
Twilight: Why Another Successful Adaptation?
Now we come to the meat of this article: Is Rob really a vampire, and does he need to drink blood to be able to cast spells? Let’s begin with the good news. Like I said, not all vampires are evil. As for whether Rob is a vampire or not, the answer is a definite yes. If you watched or read the Twilight movies, it’s pretty much a given. (Don’t worry, you don’t have to because it’s really not that difficult to follow.)
In Twilight, the character Jacob searches for his biological parents, and while he’s looking, he comes across the following family line:
- Edward
- Esme
- Carlisle
- Isabella
- Sophie
All of these people have a connection to each other, and a bit of a history with regards to blood. In fact, in the course of the search, he learns that he is a vampire, and that he has been in this cursed state since birth. So while it’s true that he can’t shift into his animal form without blood, (it’s also important to note here that he can shift into an animal form with minimal blood transfusions.)
A Little Background On The Twilight Saga
Before we begin, let’s quickly discuss the Twilight Saga for those of you who may not be familiar with it. The saga begins with Bella Swan, a young woman who moves to a small town in western Massachusetts to live with her aunt. There, she meets a mysterious young man named Edward Cullen. While initially aloof and standoff-ish, Edward eventually warms up to Bella, and they fall in love. (It’s a classic Romeo and Juliet situation, except Edward is a vampire and won’t be satisfied with just one bite out of his “little rosebud,” as he calls her.) Unfortunately, Edward’s thirst for blood becomes his undoing. He begins to covet Bella’s blood, and once he tastes it, he has nowhere else to go but down. (It doesn’t help that the local animal population has been diminishing since the start of the century. It would seem that vampires are “pack animals,” and once they’ve tasted blood, they can’t help but move farther north.) Finally, in Twilight, the battle between vampire and wolf is brought to a head. It ends with Bella leaving town with Edward in tow, determined to ensure that they never again be separated.