Published: November 18, 2009 08:30 pm      

'New Moon' fever strikes

BLUEFIELD — This weekend an important question will weigh on the hearts and minds of females everywhere — Team Edward or Team Jacob? Fans of the “Twilight” series have had a year to pick sides between the dashing vampire named Edward, or Jacob, the strong leader of the wolf pack, but time is running out.

The latest installment, “New Moon,” hits theaters tonight at midnight. Bluefield Carmike Cinemas will devote eight screens to the second movie in the series. As of Wednesday afternoon, Assistant Manager Amanda Hale said the theater had 250 tickets left for the midnight show.

“Everybody is really excited,” Hale said. “People are coming in every day about tickets and the phone is ringing off the hook.”

Friday’s show at 7 p.m. is already sold out, but a few tickets remain for the 9:50 show Hale said. The Bluefield theater began selling tickets in September and have seen plenty of adults — men and women — buy tickets for “New Moon.” Most have already seen “Twilight” and are eager for the rest of the story.

“It is a pretty decent plot and there is good action,” said Tyler Bullington of Princeton. “Honestly, I didn’t have any desire to see it, but my wife dragged me. I ended up really liking it. It’s not your normal teen heartthrob movie.”

Bullington admits the first movie had everything — love, action and a good story. And he doesn’t believe the series is only for women.

“This is like ‘The Notebook’ with fighting,” he said.

Bullington, who also read all four books in the series, is looking forward to “New Moon” because the love story is already in place and he expects more action in the second film.

The second book, written by Stephenie Meyer in 2006, centers around Bella Swan’s romance with a vampire named Edward Cullen. In the latest movie, a love triangle erupts between Bella, played by Kristen Stewart, and male characters Edward, played by Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner as Jacob. The teenage love story is causing fans to pick between the two males.

“I switch from side to side,” said Rebecca King of Princeton. “Right now, I love Edward, but then I resent him for leaving Bella. Then I fall in love with Jacob because he is so loyal to Bella. But then I fall back in love with Edward because of his dedication to Bella in the end.”

Amber Martin of Bluefield also picked Team Edward, but she had a hard time deciding on the vampire.

“It was a toss up until Jacob became more vicious. Edward seems more realistic and cares more about Bella and her happiness,” she said.

Both are going to watch the movie this weekend. Martin plans to attend a midnight showing, while King will settle for the 4 p.m. show at Carmike in Bluefield. Rhonda Lilly of Princeton has never read the books, but she has seen the first movie “Twilight” and plans to watch “New Moon.” She went to the first movie last year because of her daughter.

“It was actually pretty good. I have always liked romantic vampire movies,” Lilly said.

Fascination with the “Twilight” series has created a rush of merchandise, books and more in recent years. Last year’s release has prompted a surge in vampire related entertainment. Hale expects the “New Moon” to win the box office war, noting the 2009 release is comparable, if not more chaotic, than “Twilight’s” debut a year ago.

In the spirit of “New Moon,” Craft Memorial Library will host a party to celebrate the movie on Friday from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Fans will create a keepsake box for the movie and be entered into a drawing for free movie tickets. Eva McQuire, the director of the library, said this is the second annual party for “Twilight.” The series — books one through four — are still in high demand by readers of all ages.

— Contact Jamie Parsell at jparsell@bdtonline.com