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John Reviews Twilight and New Moon

2009-11-30 · John, Sarah Urist Green · watch on YouTube · Pop culture · advice recommendation

John mocks Twilight's premise and criticises its adult-teen romance and its idea that Bella needs a man, but says the books are engrossing, escapist fun that argue true love wins; he calls New Moon the film stupid and says Harry Potter versus Twilight is 'a question wrongly asked'.

What is said

00:00:00 — It's Sunday; on Tuesday John will announce Hank's punishment and discuss Pakistan; today, the Twilight Saga

  • ★★ John says that on Tuesday he will announce Hank's punishment and discuss the political situation in Pakistan. — 00:00:00 · Hank Green, Punishment

00:00:15 — Comic summary of Twilight: Edward Cullen, a 107-year-old sparkly vampire, dates a 16-year-old

  • ★★ John comically summarises Twilight: Edward Cullen looks 17 but is a 107-year-old sparkly vampire who dates a 16-year-old girl, "which for some reason isn't wrong". (playful) — 00:00:15 · Edward Cullen

00:00:59 — Why adults shouldn't date teenagers; Bella needing men; 'like a fish needs a bicycle'; the Yeti's answer

  • ★★★ John argues adults shouldn't have romantic relationships with teenagers not because adults look old but because they are old: it's about how many times you've been around the sun. — 00:00:59
  • ★★★ John says the books suggest Bella can't be whole without a man to take care of her, whereas a woman needs a man "like a fish needs a bicycle". — 00:01:13
  • ★ Asked by John whether she needs a man who can bench press her body weight to feel whole, Sarah (the Yeti) answers "Obviously not." (playful) — 00:01:38 · Sarah Urist Green

00:01:52 — Why Twilight is engrossing; obsession versus love; New Moon film; true love as a beautiful lie; Harry Potter vs Twilight a question wrongly asked; verdict

  • ★★★ John says Twilight, for him and millions of others, is a fantasy so engrossing you never stop to question it; you keep reading to learn whether they will finally "do it". — 00:01:52
  • ★★★ John thinks Edward and Bella's relationship dynamics are troubling and that obsession shouldn't be conflated with love, though everyone romanticises those they adore, especially in high school. (hedged) — 00:02:18 · Edward Cullen
  • ★★★ John saw the New Moon film and found it kind of stupid, but it reminded him what he likes about Twilight: fun, escape from the world's pain, and the argument that true love triumphs, true or not. (hedged) — 00:02:18 > «if it's a lie it's the most beautiful lie we have»
  • ★★★ John thinks whether Harry Potter or Twilight is better is "a question wrongly asked", as the series pursue different goals and readers can read broadly enough for both and more. (hedged) — 00:02:48 · Harry Potter > «a question wrongly asked»
  • ★★★ John's verdict: the books are insanely fun to read, the movie was pretty stupid, though Jacob Black is "insanely V-shaped in his torso". (playful) — 00:03:08

Humor (significant)

  • Summarising Edward Cullen's appeal, John says what girls apparently want boys to be. — 00:00:46 > «Sparkly, non-farting, 107 year olds in 17 year old bodies.»
  • John calls Edward and Jacob 'well idealized romantic others' and then explains the phrase. — 00:02:34 > «And by well idealized romantic others I, of course, mean that they are hot.»
  • John hopes we can read broadly enough for a world that includes Harry Potter, Twilight and more. — 00:03:06 > «You know, like my books.»
  • Signing off, John addresses Hank about his outfit. — 00:03:24 > «because I'm discussing Twilight today, I left a button unbuttoned.»

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