Even In Nebraska, Eclipse Sells Out

It's official.  While New Moon held the previous opening night box office take, Eclipse has taken the cake with a whalloping $30 million in ticket sales.

$10 per "smiling" face . . . not bad

Even in my native Nebraska, I'm pleased to report that the midnight show was completely sold out.  Not because I had tickets, no, no, no.  Thursday night late show for me . . . currently rewatching the first two movies and cringing at the Star Wars level smoothness of the dialogue.  However, the Twi-hards I discovered at the insurance office today (who knew? And they were right under my nose all along!!) informed me that I'm making the right choice by waiting.  Evidently the late late show of Eclipse was filled with tween crazies.  Hopefully by Thursday it will be cleared out and I'll be able to enjoy Eclipse to the max!

Jodelle Ferland On Bree Tanner Book

As I continue to explore information about Stephanie Meyer's promotional book, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, I found this interview about the book with Jodelle Ferland, who plays Bree in Eclipse.

New Year, New Plans, New Fics

Welcome to 2010!

I know that lots of people have been doing reflections back on the decade that just passed, but I'm still home with the parents for the holidays (leaving for Ecuador the 13th, make it please come sooner!) and so I don't want to look back on the decade because I'm feeling enough time warp as it is just sleeping in my old room.

Thus, let's forget the past and focus on the future. Now, I'm not going to be one of those yahoos jumping up and down screaming about how 2010 is gonna be great. It's not gonna be that great, y'all. Calm the eff down. Loud noises in early January are bad, okay?

However, 2010 should be reasonably decent, and I'm looking forward to the year ahead. Lots of good things are going to happen, like me spending the rest of the winter somewhere warm and Eclipse coming out.

I also want to get back to posting every day, even though I know it likely won't happen until after I am out of the parents house. The Twilight withdrawal has diminished to a dull, yet constant ache somewhere in the back of my brain. I can't explain to Mom & Dad why changing the channel away when Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift broke up was a party foul. I just have to endure.

My endurance has been tempered by some sneaky fan fiction reading. Thought I'd share a few of my new favorites here, in case you are looking for a way to pass the time!

1. Irritable Grizzly Adams: Ignore that the title doesn't scream Twilight Fan Fiction. This story is a good alternative universe creation based on a unique take on the break up scene and the Edward-never-comes-back theme. I was hooked from the first chapter. I wasn't alone in falling hard for the story, as The Lazy, Yet Discerning Ficster also recommended it way back in the day. It even has a thread on Twilighted for the dedicated!

2. Geek Love: In addition to being an absolutely awesome story, I'm so thrilled that the author of Geek Love, SassenachWench, replied to pretty much every review I left. She seems like a funny, cool, and well-adjusted type--and yes, I am fan crushing on her hard-core at the moment. The story is Bella and Edward as computer geek types, complete with Nerf battles and binary code references. Updates regularly with lovely subtle humor and some gut busting scenes, too. Chapter 22 should be out soon!

Also, while I'm at it: You need to check out Elemental for a cool twist on the Forks families, The Naked Guy Upstairs for light laughs and love, and Art After 5 for some really well done angst (I've loved on this one before, but now it's complete!).

PS: My photo comparing Kellan Lutz to Marky Mark for the Calvin Klein campaign got pulled since Mr. Wanberg was in his underwear. I think this is a bad sign for my plan for billboard scans of the Kellan campaign, don't you?

And The Twi-Sanity Officially Kicks It Up A Notch

Holy hell, people. It is like, what? Day One of the mega-publicity blitz and after reading my updates for the last hour I am not even to the end. Keep in mind that I checked in this morning, too.

It's that intense out there. And that's before I even touch the fan fiction front . . .

Let me 'splain . . .

No, is too much. Let me sum up.

The short version, in no particular order:

• Stephenie Meyer will be on Oprah November 13th. If only I didn't hate Oprah so damn much for Dr. Phil and a hundred other gag me transgressions . . . I will buy Harper's Bazaar but watching Oprah is going to far. The fandom is going to have to take one for the team for me on this one. Clips I will watch.
• How many Extended Access clips are there of the cast doing interviews about New Moon? I move they just read us the script. Then I could just hear the audio instead of putting up with the buffering, buffering, buffering I get on the video.
• The Eclipse movie poster is out. It's a little creepy.

• I got a real combat trained soldier to walk through a fight scene with me for my fan fic, Distilling Down. How excited am I for the next chapter? Oh, very. Next week!
  
• Project Team Beta, I love you. Just giving the shout out now. I will read the 10 emails I have from you as soon as I finish watching the Wolf Pack do their interview thing.
• I had no idea Taylor Lautner was short. Check his foot! It's a total Tom Cruise thing.
  

Until tomorrow!

Xavier Samuel Runs From Bryce Dallas Howard

The Eclipse movie spoilers are trickling out, and apparently the script is getting beefier for some of the parts. Apparently Riley, the vampire played by Xavier Samuel, gets to be chased and killed by Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard, boo) as the opening scene of film. In the rain, because what every vampire movie needs more of is hot, wet men.

Stills from the opening sequence of Eclipse

Yeah, I'd run screaming from Bryce Dallas Howard, too, and you know why? Because she's not the real Victoria. But, hey, you work with what Summit makes you, right?

You can watch some footage of the supposed opening scene here at YouTube. Kind of longish, and you'll want to use your imagination, but he does die convincingly a few times. Bits of Eclipse dialogue spoilers as well.

Justin Chon: The Dude Abides

Not sure when Justin Chon became a surfer/stoner type, but for some reason in this photo I am really thinking of The Big Lebowski hard. For no apparent reason.

Arriving in Vancouver, naturally. 'Cause that's where the dude needs to be.

The 2 Victorias: Awkward vs. Hot

Bryce Dallas Howard and Xavier Samuel shot some footage of a romance scene between them this past weekend. I look at it, and you know what I think? AWKWARD. 10 kinds of awkward.

I don't know if I am just missing the chemistry between these two, or if its the hair. See, Rachelle Lefevre, in addition to all the other awesome qualities she brought to the Victoria character, NATURALLY looked the part. None of this dicking around with wigs nonsense, or spending 16 bazillion hours trying to make stick straight hair be big and curly. She just had the authenticity to really pull off the part.

As a reminder of the awesomeness that could have been, here's a still of Rachelle Lefevre from Barney's Version this past week.

Xavier Samuel, you just don't know what you're missing . . .go find Summit and call them a pack of losers on my behalf, will you? That's a good boy.

Something Nice Happens To Leah?

In blatant violation of the unwritten but surely chiseled in stone Twi-Rule that nothing good can happen to Leah Clearwater, Julia Jones has been cast as Leah for Eclipse.

Eat it, Cousin Emily!

You know what I don't see in these photos?

Bitterness. Or at least that kind of hard flinty eye that lets you know this is a woman who has been through some major pain and suffering. Leah Clearwater is NOT a happy camper, though she is trying to deal. She just gets the short end of the stick on a lot of things.

Julia Jones seems too nice for the role. On the other hand, her last major movie was called Hell Ride, so maybe there is some inner badass lurking in there that is really coming to make this work.

Fun Things I Learned About Julia Jones researching this post:

• She's studied ballet since she was 4
• She likes doing the NY Times Crossword (brains, I LIKE IT)
• She has a degree in English from The Columbian University (translation: has probably read the books--and that's a good thing, too)
  

I'd Never Forgive My Parents

They've been finalizing some cast members for the Eclipse film, and yes, I will get around to discussing each and every one of them. Eventually.

First, let me just say that there are some parental sins which are flat out unforgivable. Neglect, abuse, and . . . .

Naming your kid BooBoo.

Meet the new Seth Clearwater, ladies and gentleman. BooBoo Stewart.

I'm not sure if his smile is years of therapy, or the knowledge that by playing this part well he will finally be able to afford to get back at the 'rents! I'm just glad I didn't have to be him in the third grade . . . .

Touching Rob Pattinson Professionally

So, I had the most wonderful 2 hour massage today, which made me think of the Twilight boys.

Let me break that logic down for you:

1. My massage was an awesome reward for surviving a busy week.

2. Eclipse just started filming. Lots of busy weeks coming up here.

3. Massage therapists get to touch people for a living.

4. People doing vampire stunts probably ache after a long week.

5. People who have muscle aches are likely to engage the services of a masseuse.

6. The Eclipse team probably includes a group of professional masseurs.

7. Someone is making a living out of rubbing down Rob Pattinson after a long day.

8. Someone is making a living out of helping Taylor Lautner ease those poor overworked muscles of his.

9. Someone is making a living out of helping Kellan Lutz, Jackson Rathbone, Xavier Samuel, and the Wolfpack with their "tension".

10. Someone's life is hella good.

11. I knew I should have dropped out of school and become a masseuse. Damn career counselors didn't know what could have been in my hands. For hours each day. After which someone would have handed me a fat paycheck. For touching the Twilight boys.

12. Damn, damn, damn!

13. Sigh. Tell me again why my parents wanted me to have a real career? Someone out there is getting paid to touch those hot ass actors, and I'm just relaxed enough not to be too jealous.

Vancouver Hotels 25% Cheaper

As you all know, the Eclipse cast is up in Vancouver, getting ready for filming to start. So far, the cast of Eclipse has been out for sushi, been to a concert, gone shopping, and of course, met with fans.

You could have been there.

You could STILL be there.

Shopping with Mr. Lutz? I would brave a mall for that.

Heck, even I could be there.

Why? Vancouver has gotten affordable. Or, at least, cheaper than it used to be.

I was watching TV at lunch today, trying to recover from a super busy end of week of work here, and I saw that Vancouver hotel rates are down 25% compared to this time last year. And despite trying to hang on to my sanity, my first thought was, "Sweet! Now I can set stalk for Eclipse on the cheap!"

Unfortunately, I was out with normal people, so I couldn't totally squee about it, but it did set the little wheels to spinning. Vancouver hotels 25% off, essentially. I could learn to love this crappy economy after all.

Rob Pattinson vs. Xavier Samuel

In a battle for hotness to the death, who would win? Although this was something I had personally never contemplated, not knowing Xavier Samuel from a rock in my shoe, apparently there are swirls in the blogosphere that he may be a contender for replacing Rob Pattinson as the King of Sex Incarnate.

WTForks, right?

I mean, in one corner we have legions . . .and legions . . . and legions of SCREAMING fan girls, followed by millions of quieter women who kind of know better but don't give a flying squirrel about how ridiculous they are with their little Robsession. I'm in their camp. And it's not so little (Yeah, that's what she said).

Oh, I may sneak over to Team Jacob now and again, and let's all just admit that the Wolf Pack abs are perfectly lickable, but honestly, it's ROB PATTINSON.

All Hail The Hotness!

And in the other corner, we have Xavier Samuel.

Thanks, JustJared.

Things that I knew about Xavier Samuel, prior to him getting cast as Riley in Eclipse:

• (crickets)
  

Things I learned about Xavier Samuel from the general Twiverse prior to writing this post:

• Australian
• Blonde
• Smokes
• Made the cut for the cast

Things I learned about Xavier Samuel on Wikipedia:

• He's 25, which makes him older than Rob and not jailbait (in most states) like Taylor.

We'll take that as a win. Some of the cast needs to be of age, or how will I ever get Jacob and the Wolf Pack drunk enough to . . . never mind. Focus, focus, focus.

• He's done some theater: Two Weeks With The Queen, Osama The Hero, and Mercury Fur.

Never heard of any of those. You? (crickets) Yeah, I kind of thought that.

• He's done two TV shows. McLeod's Daughters, a series, and Dream Life, a movie.
  

Still not ringing a bell.

• There are some movies in there too, 2:37, Angela's Decision, September, Newcastle, The Loved Ones, and Road Train.
  

Maybe they were big in Australia?

So, basically I'm a prejudiced, original cast loving kind of girl. Who is Xavier Samuel? In my book, until he starts doing Kellan Lutz push up tricks, starts a band a la Mr. Rathbone, or sprouts Wolf Pack worthy abs, this kid is a nobody.

And he's definitely not hotter than Rob!

Who Killed Victoria?

I look away from the Twiverse for just a minute while I sort out some real life nonsense, and when I turn around somebody went and killed my favorite bad guy. Well, bad girl.

James, I'm blaming you for this!

Let's all say it together: Rachelle Lefevre is 'effing awesome. She rocks the living evil out of the Victoria character. She pimps herself out at the Twilight promo events, and seems to keep a good humor around the fans. She's earned her love by putting in the hours and rocking things out on screen and off. For Pete's sake people, she even has her own doll now!

I may have to buy these as souvenirs of the glory that was . . . .

Frankly my dears, I am just appalled. I know I'm not alone here on this one, what with the petitions and the letter writing campaigns. I may even send a few of my own. Right after I figure out how to make Summit voodoo dollies to go with the bad vampire dolls. And to that new red haired girl . . . .yes, it's a kick ass part but really, have you no shame?

We all know she belongs in the more than just this poster!