[WrigleyMike]

Have been watching this series on DVD - my wife watches it primarily because so many of her friends either have the books or love the movies.

It is pure unadulterated poison for young women - I can see why it is appealing for young women - the main character, Bella is about 18 or so, knows what she wants, understands things more than Dad and Mom (separated), and in many ways makes a lot of wrong decisions that work out perfectly at the end of the series.

Translated from the whether she should choose a werewolf (Jacob) or vampire (Edward) for a boyfriend and eventual husband, we have a flesh and blood, still human guy who turns into a huge wolf in the event of danger, or an emotionally distant, soul-less vampire who looks cool but says he loves her.

The human/wolf drives a beater car and lives on the Indian reservation - sort of like a trailer park.

The vampire lives an upper-class existence as the "father" vampire is a doctor -excellent product placement - they all drive Volvos as a sign of their classiness.

What are some of the things that I have problems with:

1. Moral relativism / equivalency with vampires and humans - borders on the Luciferian or occult if you ask me

2. Bella has co-dependant relationship with Edward - really intense, like if you saw your daughter or son having this kind of relationship you would be trying to figure out how to have an intervention. I mean it is weird interaction, like personality cult or suicide pact level of weirdness.

3. Parents/adults almost all are clueless about "what is really happening" - undermining of authority / encouraging rebellion

4. Bella wants to have pre-marital sex, Edward does not (role reversal / promiscuity) - Edward wanting to wait until marriage is portrayed as extremely old-fashioned, "from another era" etc. Seems romantic, but also undermines the idea that it is something people should be doing (waiting) in the 21st century.

5. She accepts Edward's marriage proposal, then kisses Jacob to placate him to prevent him ... kind of slutty / manipulative IMHO.

etc., etc.