Okay, so it’s not a writing topic, but film studies do deal with story, character development, etc. And I’ve been working on a short story about zombies, so I have scary things on the mind. That being said, here are what I believe are the seven deadly sins of scary movies. (Beware of Spoilers!)

I'll admit it. I didn't read the Twilight books. They're on my list of books to read, but I haven't read them yet. That being said, my reaction to last night's "Breaking Dawn Pt. II" is based largely on the commentaries of those who have read the books. In Part II of my adaptations rant, I'll touch on the final installment of this saga (without spoilers), and I'll look at another well known, well loved set of adaptations.

As a one-line summary of Part I of the rant, my theory is that a movie adaptation of a book can be successful if it stays true to the intention of the story and the integrity of the characters.

Tonight, I'm one of those crazy people who will be going to see the final installment of the Twilight saga, "Breaking Dawn Part II" in theaters. Yes, it's opening night. Yes, it will be nuts. No, that doesn't deter me. Why? Well, partially because my sister invited me to a friend's super awesome private theater showing. And partially because I have a thing for book adaptations.

I’ve never considered myself a particularly emotional person. My husband, who comforts me when the little fish dies at the beginning of Finding Nemo or when a nature show documents the lion eating that poor, sick little gazelle, might disagree. Still, I try to react from the basis of reason rather than emotion if at all possible. I really don’t like to cry around people, so I do everything within my power to avoid it.

I recently watched the movie Misery (1990) for the first time, and it worried me just a bit. I have a penchant for killing off characters. It’s not that I like to kill them off or really want to, but I find that death is a great device for moving a story forward. The death of a friend or loved one forces a character to show their true colors. It spurs them either to action or nothingness. It’s the ultimate test for a character, and it challenges them to pick up the pieces of a broken life and pull him or herself up by the proverbial bootstraps. I cry every time a character dies, but still, they die.

Misery, however, makes me stop and think.