I know, it's a teenage chick flick of super-fantastic proportions of female hormone angst. However, it is fascinating in its display of a group of vampires who have sworn off blood. Carlisle, the leader, is the best at ignoring its tempting power. "Years and years of practice." Yet, other younger ones in their group are still terribly and fatally attracted to blood, e.g., the hilarious birthday scene at their house for Bella, the female love interest of Edward Cullen. Bela Lugosi? More subtle humor.
Part of the theme of this sequel, other than love and competing loves, is the fact of age. Vampires do not age, but humans do, so what happens between the vampire and the human as the human ages. Bella wants to be changed by Edward and become a vampire like him, so that she will not age, so that Edward will not cease to love her. The vampire, Edward claims he'll love Bella no matter what age she is; his love is like that of Christianity, agape.
Edward also has a conscience and a theology. He believes that he is cursed; therefore, he has another reason to refuse to change Bella - he cares for her immortal soul. So, this vampire believes in heaven and hell, loves in his potential wife in a Christian way, and refuses to grant her wishes when he knows it is not for her good, even when it might bring him pleasure, or at least, longer lasting pleasure with Bella. Is this the vampire who, like the man who explained loving his neighbor to Chris, is "not far from the kingdom of God?" Interesting.
Bella and Edward's abstinence is akin to two teenagers trying to avoid sex. In that way, the movie may promote romantic attraction amongst teenagers, but it also promotes abstinence from sexual activity. It is questionable whether such bipolar messages will help or hurt young people in their endeavor to remain sexually pure.
Edward's presence at every dangerous event in Bella's life, after he left, is akin to Christ's promise to never leave or forsake us. Yes, the it is ostensibly every young girl's, woman's, fantasy of the ever present, every protective, ever thoughtful lover/husband, but it is only God who can be that for anyone. Jesus told His disciples: "It is better that I leave, for otherwise the Spirit will not come to you." Edward told Bella that it was better that he leave, that Bella could not come with him. So Christ told His disciples that they could not come with him now.
Toward the end of the movie, the Romeo and Juliet theme that was introduced at the beginning of the movie returns, when Edward thinks that Bella has died. Suddenly, he has lost his power to be present with her and apparently cannot tell that she is still alive. In a reversal of the Romeo and Juliet ending, life conquers death, instead of a deceptive death encouraging death. Bella tells the superhuman, the "divine," Edward that she is nothing, merely human. She can't understand why he would love her. Likewise, if we understand the truth of who we are, in the presence of the holy God, must say the same, but we must also recognize His love.
It is a very odd ending - the Volturi and all that vampire royalty stuff. Yet, the Volturi also have a biblical meaning in being some sort of perverse tribunal, and executioner, for vampires. Interestingly, none of the vampires can read Bella's thoughts. Unlike others, the vampires, particularly Edward, must get to know her by talking with her and having experiences with her. It demonstrates part of the evil of divination and mind-reading; it short-circuits the human relation that God has set up for mankind. It denies respect for one half of the couple. And as she watches Edward's life about to be sacrificed, she offers her own life for "a soul-less monster," as the chief Volturi says. Love for the unholy, the wicked, the cast-out. He is amazed, as we should be at God's grace for us - the unholy, the wicked, the cast-out. Bella's offering saves Edward from their clutches. Then, the prelude to the 2nd sequel arrives, as the Volturi demand the keeping of he promise of Edward and his sister to change her into an "immortal."
I shouldn't neglect to say that this movie presents a teenage romantic dream about love that is so extreme as to be idolatrous. Bella's desire for Edward is so great, she exclaims, "If this is about my soul, take it, I don't want it without you!" This is a godless demand for another human being of a blasphemous kind. It is beyond just idolatry, something the bible tells us to flee from. Prov. 19:8 says that "He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good." It is the one area one can be selfish. Jesus spoke in terms of profit and loss. "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul." There's nothing to compare in value - no person, no wealth, no accomplishment, no pleasure - to one's soul being on good ground with God. And even the sin of giving up one's own soul is forgiveable - in Christ. "He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."
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