In defence of Twilight

Hi, my name is Samreen and I'm a Twihard.

Just like the millions of screaming fans around the world, I'm not ashamed to admit that I am completely taken in by a certain vampire-themed love story called Twilight.

Granted I haven't read the books, don't secretly etch Mrs Cullen tattoos into my skin, or own posters of a sparkling Robert Pattinson, but I will be queuing up to see the film.

Why, you ask? Well, I say, why not? The forbidden love of its characters (played by swoon-worthy actors) set alongside a deep-rooted mythology gives Twilight all the trappings of a blockbuster which, like others before it, deserves its fair share of fan-following.

Twilight tells the age-old story of boy (or vampire) meets girl. Bella is the heroine in this "epic romance" that every teenage girl identifies with: clumsy, slightly dowdy but quietly beautiful. Edward is a typical, but flawed, knight-in-shining-armour. Their match is unstoppable, and Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have generated enough off-camera interest to keep the momentum strong (they've collected over a billion dollars from the first two instalments).

Twilight is not intelligent, deep or symbolic, and truthfully, it never sought to be. All it is, is entertaining and somewhat compelling. The story has the same magnetic appeal found in fairytales (Snow White, Cinderella, etc), the right mix of fantasy and reality that gives viewers hope and comfort, if not much else.

Critics are quick to ridicule the film for sub-standard acting. But, admonishing a teen romance for its lack of intellect is like berating Shakira for not being able to pen songs like The Beatles. Naysayers also snicker at its awards, but really, is anyone expecting MTV or Nickelodeon to honour the year's best acting talent?

The film will win no serious praise and frankly, it doesn't need to. Its appeal is in the mass sub-culture it has spun, from the global camaraderie to the million-dollar industry.

Twihards have the energy and enthusiasm, coupled with spending power and web-savvyness to make almost anything a hit.

A google search for "Twilight fans" generates over 42,000,000 hits including websites and blogs dedicated solely to the reverence of all things Twilight (debating serious issues like Team Jacob vs Team Edward?) .

Is there an overdose of Twihard-ness?

Yes, but how are its rabid fans any different to those of other franchises?

How else can you justify how drivel like the Diehard series (1-4) is successful? Or for that matter, Matrix, Batman, Spiderman (the list is endless).

Some might deem this sacrilege, but Twihards are not any more annoying than Star Wars worshippers (people who incessantly quote Darth Vader, while brandishing a light-up toy called a "light-sabre"). For someone who has never seen the Star Wars trilogy, the idea of an alternate galaxy with furry aliens and father-son fighting is as ridiculous as a vampire-human romance. Yes, the high-pitched screams and the 96-hour camp-outs are slightly insane but if Star Wars fans are allowed to attend conventions in costume and revere a green soothsayer (for 30 years now), why aren't Twilight fans entitled to the same?