Chris Weitz & Nikki Reed at LA 'New Moon' DVD party - AP Photo

The Twilight Saga: New Moon has been for sale on DVD and Blu-Ray for little more than a day, but already some availability shortages are being reported.

According to one Los Angeles-based source, "Out of 3 department stores and 2 smaller video stores, only 2 stores had 10 copies or more. The rest were out and expecting more Monday or Tuesday. Other stores, after calling around are rationing their Twilight DVD's selling only so many per day so that customers who come in have a chance to purchase it as well."

Saturday at midnight, Los Angeles was host to a very special midnight New Moon DVD party: one which director Chris Weitz and actress Nikki Reed ("Rosalie") attended.

Weitz, who has made the decision not to direct Breaking Dawn, talked to Entertainment Weekly before the appearance about the DVD, and he reflected on a recent development in the Eclipse world (the addition of a new editor). "In many cases, movies like this have two editors because of the sheer amount of footage," he explained.

The varying versions of the New Moon DVD made available around the several venues might have some small differences (i.e., whether deleted and extended scenes are included), but they all have a few things in common.

Ten of those things are examined by Jen Yamato with FearNET, who points out one of the more fascinating portions of the DVD: In the break-up scene, "hilariously, the actors had to battle swarms of mosquitoes to deliver just the right dramatic pitch while filming in a thicket of trees" and on the New Moon DVD, "we get to watch the scene through playback monitors as [Robert] Pattinson tries out different tones and line deliveries, breaking up with Bella over and over again in various ways."

See also:
'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' DVD release parties take the country by storm
Chris Weitz reveals that he helmed 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' because of the cast and fans
'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' wins fan-based ShoWest award with 66 percent of the vote

Twilight Examiner
YouTube • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Email

Kellan Lutz - AP Photo

Friday, viewers of The Ellen Degeneres Show got a bit of a treat when The Twilight Saga: New Moon and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse star Kellan Lutz showed up to hang out and chat for a bit.

Lutz, who also helped to promote New Moon's release to DVD on the same evening, talked about his recent resume addition of being one of the newest Calvin Klein underwear models to join the campaign.

In one of his former television appearances, he'd done quite a few push-ups on Ellen, and she seems to allude to that when crediting herself - in jest, of course - with his CK ad feat.

Thanks: Twilight Moms

Twilight Examiner
YouTube • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Email

Nikki Reed and Chris Weitz - AP Photo

Saturday at midnight, vendors across the country invited thousands of Twilight fans to purchase their copies of The Twilight Saga: New Moon with DVD release parties - some of which were attended by cast and filmmakers from the movie.

Hours before the festivities were to begin, Summit Entertainment announced exact locations where Twilight fans could expect their cities' special guests to show up. Some of these locations were being revealed and misreported prior to the official announcements.

First, Summit announced that the Los Angeles New Moon party of interest would take place at the Santa Clara Wal-Mart.

Fans already knew that Nikki Reed and Chris Weitz were set for an L.A. appearance, so the choice as to which L.A. party to attend was probably a pretty simple one for many.

Several media outlets attended the DVD party, including People who quoted Nikki Reed to state that filming The Twilight Saga: Eclipse last fall was no picnic. "The hardest part is trying to fly around on cables in the woods at 6 o'clock, fighting the sunset and stuff. And looking like we're not cold and super powerful, when we just want to die," she said. The rest of Reed's interview with People is available here.

Reed and Chris Weitz also spoke with Kaleb Nation ("Twilight Guy") and MTV.

Also taking place at a Wal-Mart was the party in Salt Lake City, Utah where Justin Chon, Christian Serratos, and Michael Welch were guests. Reportedly, the three drew in "as many as 5,000 people" and "signed autographs and chatted with fans." The store's management, one source reports, had been preparing for the party for weeks.

Cincinnati's (with Tinsel Korey and Kiowa Gordon) was at Suncoast Video. Korey and Gordon did a Q&A with fans, and one YouTuber caught it on video.

Peter Facinelli's attendance was at Best Buy in New York City. The store opened a reported nine hours earlier than usual for the event, and offered "midnight snacks like popcorn and blood cocktails up for grabs."

In Atlanta, Chaske Spencer and Tyson Houseman had fans waiting. One fan took video feed from the Q&A.

Daniel Cudmore ("Felix") made his way to Houston, Texas to talk to fans at their New Moon DVD release party at Borders.

Elizabeth Reaser made her way to the Phoenix opening at Borders, and more photos from her appearance are available here.

There were some smaller and more tame parties, of course, but chances are the film fared well in weekend sales numbers.

The New Moon DVD celebrations aren't over yet for some places, either. Canada.com reports that Cameron Bright will be appearing today (Sunday) at More Than Movies in Nanaimo.

Thanks: Twilight Lexicon

Twilight Examiner
YouTube • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Email

'Eclipse' by Stephenie Meyer - Hatchette Books

This week’s Eclipse quote discussion involves Chapter 14, “Declaration.” Last week, we talked about how in Chapter 13, Bella began to realize the destructive consequences of her current plight. Her new family, the Cullens, could potentially endanger themselves in order to save her from the wrath of the vengeance-seeking Victoria.

So, when Chapter 14 opens up with Alice telling Bella that “her” graduation party is still on, Bella seems a bit befuddled, but, as conversations with Alice tend to go, there was no point in arguing over it.

One point that did deserve some special attention was the idea of Bella becoming a vampire in order to (a) be able to protect herself and (b) speed up the inevitable process.

Of course, Edward being Edward, he wasn’t having it. Only, it was Alice whose logic was “unassailable” on the issue.

“There’s not enough time to make you helpful, Bella . . . You’d be no good in a fight. You wouldn’t be able to control your instincts, and that would make you an easy target. And then Edward would get hurt trying to protect you,” she says on Page 313.

After their brief discussion, Bella and Edward are alone again and Edward reveals that he is going to go hunting to gather up his strength. Human blood, he explains, is the best source of energy and power (and this is why newborns, whose own human blood trickles through their system and is absorbed by their body throughout the course of their first year, are so much stronger than veteran vampires), but as a vegetarian he must settle for bigger wildlife than usual.

“Human blood makes us the strongest, though only fractionally. Jasper’s been thinking about cheating – adverse as he is to the idea, he’s not if not practical – but he won’t suggest it. He knows what Carlisle will say,” Edward explains on Page 317.

This is a really interesting piece of information. We just learned in the last chapter that not only is Jasper the newest reformer of the Cullen coven, but he’s also the most conflicted about it. His decision, it seemed, revolved more around his need to escape the hate, rage, and sadness that he absorbed from his lifestyle before. Also, Alice pretty much led him into this lifestyle, and he followed without question. The reason that Jasper’s wishes here are interesting are that he is not thinking of drinking human blood because of his thirst, it seems, but rather his desire to gain strength from the hunt.

What’s even more interesting is Bella’s response (which she later hates herself for).

“Would that help?” she asks on Page 317. “I shuddered, realizing I was willing to have a stranger die to protect him. I was horrified at myself, but not entirely able to deny it, either” (Page 317).

While Edward is set to go hunting with some of his family, he has offered that a few of the others can watch over Bella in his absence. Bella snatches up the opportunity to spend time with Jacob, and Edward agrees to it.

When he goes to drop her off at the La Push border, he seems bothered by Jacob. Bella realizes that he’s listening in on Jacob’s thoughts but Edward insists that “It’s not easy to ignore someone when he’s shouting” (Page 319). He tells Bella that he’s “absolutely certain he’ll mention it himself” (Page 319).

And, after a nap and Bella’s realization that Jacob has been pulling “double shifts” to watch over her since Sam Uley won’t get involved just yet, he does mention it.

“I’m in love with you, Bella . . . Bella, I love you. And I want you to pick me instead of him. I know you don’t feel that way, but I need the truth out there so that you know your options. I wouldn’t want a miscommunication to stand in our way” (Page 327).

Dun dun dunnnnnn . . .

Prior Eclipse quote discussions are available here.

Twilight Examiner
YouTube • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Email

'Twilight' by Stephenie Meyer - Hatchette Books

A few weeks ago, we learned that Cambridge University was to be introducing the Twilight saga into its Faculty of Education's curriculum so as to better understand children and their relationship to current books. The series has also made its way into middle and high school course plans, onto English reading lists, and beyond. 

Now, the first full-length college course on the Twilight series has been approved, according to Dr. Natalie Wilson, the Cal State San Marcos Women's Studies professor who'll be teaching it.

Wilson, who is currently penning an analysis of the Saga's impact on popular culture, revealed that the course will be entitled "Twilight: The Texts and the Fandom" and that fans outside of the classroom will be able to participate in the course in a lot of ways as well. Actual students will be granted general credit for taking this class.

Wilson plans to devise the course materials as a mixture of the books, derivative theory-based works, the films, parodies, and the social and fan internet community. Students of the class will be asked to develop reactions and critiques to these materials in one of several ways (including through parodies, skits, blogs, or texts).

The course will also be unique in that it will involve the internet fan community in two ways. First, fans who are not a member of the Twilight class will be able to follow along and participate through Dr. Natalie Wilson's blog. Second, members of the classroom will be encouraged to reach out into the Twilight fan community and learn more about the blogs and news sources that are out there.

You can see Wilson's blog (the location of said updates) here.

In her blog, she posted about the curriculum approval, saying the following:

I can hear all those naysayers that claim Twilight has nothing to teach us shrieking in dismay “Oh, it’s the end of the academy!”  Well, the same arguments were made when Harry Potter, Buffy, and Star Trek courses made it onto the curriculum. As such courses have proven, examining popular texts and popular culture has much to tell us about our historical epoch, about race, class, gender, sexuality, philosophy, literature, etc.

Wilson considers herself a critical fan, in that she may point out the controversy in some aspects and messages of the Saga, but she states that she is a fan and finds the series to have both positive messages and culturally subsversive ones.

Twilight Examiner
YouTube • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Email

'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' - Summit Ent.

Not that you'd need to be reminded of it (or that you aren't already reminded by the onslaught of media attention to this fact), but The Twilight Saga: New Moon comes to DVD tonight at midnight!

There are tons of tidbits of information floating about to prepare you for the occasion, so, to help guide you in the right direction, here's all you need to know about The Twilight Saga: New Moon's DVD release.

• Decisions, Decisions . . .

There are about a dozen different venues offering exclusive this and thats in their version of the The Twilight Saga: New Moon DVD. It's confusing, constantly changing, and very tempting to just buy all of them so as not to miss anything.

However, one TwiFans contributor has brought forth a great synopsis of what the Walmart, Target, and Borders versions have to offer, so that should prove to be helpful if you're considering one of those options. You can check out the listing here.

Also, Twilight Series Theories has an ecumenical guide that spans availability the world over. It's probably the most comprehensive and informative guide out there. You can see that here.

Finally, Kimmy from His Golden Eyes has put together a great "DVD buying guide" video that introduces the various features available.

• Coupons

The Official Twilight Twitter page reminded us yesterday that RedPlum is running area-specific coupons for purchase of both The Twilight Saga: New Moon on DVD and Twilight In Forks. You can check those out here.

• Midnight Release Parties

As a reminder, along with the release of New Moon on DVD, several vendors and venues are hosting New Moon DVD release parties across the country, and several Twilight series cast members and filmmakers are all lined up to join fans at some of them!

New Moon DVD parties are searchable through the Official New Moon website, and a list of what cities' parties are to be attended by whom can be found here.

Phew! That should be about all you need to know to get your New Moon DVD tonight!

UPDATE: Twilight Lexicon is running a tally of which stars' exact appearance locations are known. Check it out here. Also, the Official Twilight Twitter page is releasing some of that information as well.

Twilight Examiner
YouTube • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Email

Chaske Spencer - AP Photo

Tomorrow, New Orleans, Louisiana will be flush with stars from The Twilight Saga: New Moon and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse as the year's first Vampire Baseball event kicks off with Chaske Spencer, Daniel Cudmore, Tyson Houseman, Alex Meraz, and other small-part actors from the series. MUTEMATH, who contributed the song "Spotlight" to the Twilight soundtrack, will be debuting their brand new song at the event as well. Other series actors like True Blood's Nelsan Ellis and Prison Break's Sam Medina will also be present.

The event is sponsored by FanTrips, who has two lined up for this year, and a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit several charities, including the American Red Cross and Hope for Haiti Now, and the 9th Ward Field of Dreams.

The day's events kick off at Zephyr Field at 10:00 a.m., and tickets are still available either here or at the door.

For those that can't make it to the game itself, Pay Per View is allowing patrons to watch the game live on PPV for $4.99, and more details on that are available here and here.

Twilight Examiner
YouTube • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Email

Cameron Bright - AP Photo

For far too long now, non-fans of the Twilight saga have jibed about the sparkliness of the series' vampires.

Well, Cameron Bright ("Alec" in The Twilight Saga: New Moon and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) has something to say about that.

"We have a side history, something unique. Sometimes I hear people criticizing the way the vampires are presented in the film, the fact that we glitter and turn into diamonds but, here’s the thing: Vampires don’t exist! We can portray them any way we want to," he said to Metrowest.

Well, not any way the actors or filmmakers want to (since the series should be and is based upon Stephenie Meyer's vampire mythology), but close enough.

What Bright is actually saying here is very astute, though, because he's pointing out the most obvious thing about the series - it's fiction.

Not all movie vampires (and certainly not those of the Twilight series) have to conform to the modus operandi and physical make-up of traditional vampire lore. Sure, in some cases it's appropriate, but it is fiction, and there's no real-life, actual source upon which to base the creation of these characters.

So, fangs versus real teeth? Burning in the sun versus sparkling? To each her own vampire.

Thanks: Twilight Lexicon

Twilight Examiner
YouTube • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Email

Chris Weitz - AP Photo

Chris Weitz's decision to helm The Twilight Saga: New Moon, he revealed to CNN, was based upon his appreciation of the Twilight cast ensemble and the series' fans.

"I think the first reason that I got involved was that I liked the actors very much. I think they're very good. Then I went to see the [first] movie in a little theater, and the response of the fans around me was amazing -- their degree of devotion, the delight they took in it. And you don't always get that as a director. You don't always know that there are going to be people watching and taking pleasure from what you're doing, so that's kind of a wonderful opportunity," he said.

Weitz also said that he was "astonished" at the intensity of the Twilight fandom and that, now that he has nearly completed his work on the Twilight saga, he is prepared to disappear into non-recognizable oblivion once again.

Unfortunately for Weitz, right now his name and face are still two things that Twilight fans are very acutely familiar with.

As you already know, Weitz has declared that he will not be heading back to the Twilight saga to direct The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.

Thanks: Twilight Moms, Twilight Lexicon

Twilight Examiner
YouTube • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Email

Dakota Fanning on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'

Wednesday evening, Dakota Fanning followed up her The Runaways co-star Kristen Stewart by appearing on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon to promote the film's release (which occurs today).

In the interview, Fanning answered fan questions, including one about the difficulty of recording or performing certain songs for the film's official soundtrack.

Fanning revealed that the most difficult ("nerve-wracking") song to recreate was "Cherry Bomb" because it is so iconic and loved.

Another question was submitted by co-star Kristen Stewart (a surprise to Fanning). "I think you're amazing, and I'm such a huge fan . . . from everything, not just Twilight, and I was wondering what's it like to kiss Kristen Stewart?"

"It was pretty great," Fanning answered. "We're definitely not kissing in the Twilight movie, definitely not," she continued.

See also:
Kristen Stewart appears on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon' to promote 'The Runaways'

Twilight Examiner
YouTube • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Email