One of the most recent craze-causing movie franchises to sweep the nation is “Twilight”, based on the popular book series with the same name, written by novelist Stephanie Meyer. Her epic novels follow the story of the handsome 108-year-old vampire Edward Cullen, physically stuck at the age of 17, and his belle, Isabella “Bella” Swan.

The two obviously fall in love, despite Edward’s initial resistance to their relationship. The mass hysteria coming from the part of fan girls everywhere is easily explained once you understand Edward’s character, who is dark, handsome, yet still a true gentleman. And it doesn’t hurt that he is played by the dreamy Robert Pattinson. Pattinson is at his second heartbreaker part, as he recently portrayed another swoon-causing character in the stunningly popular “Harry Potter” franchise, namely the tragic pretty-boy Cedric Diggory.

Although fantasy-material for teenage girls and young women, the character of Edward Cullen and, of course, Robert Pattinson himself, are appealing to women of all ages, even 50-year-old soccer moms, who have claimed to be attracted to Edward (or is it Robert? Who can tell now?) because “he is gentlemanly and caring and unattainable and mysterious all at the same time!”, as a mother bellowed in a movie theater. Even the 70-year-old mother of “Twilight” director Catherine Hardwicke showed a very lively interest in meeting just Robert Pattinson, without his beautiful female co-star, Kristen Stewart. On its opening weekend, the movie scored $69.9 at the box office, a number that exceeded even the wildest predictions.