Gateway

Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: Entertainment

Ashley Greene as Alice Cullen, Kellan Lutz as Emmett Cullen, Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan, Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen, Nikki Reed as Rosalie Hale and Jackson Rathbone as Jasper Hale. (Photo courtesy Summit Entertainment) [Click to enlarge]

Kristen Stewart, left, and Robert Pattinson star in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon." The series is set around Forks, Wash., which has boosted tourism in the small town. (Kimberley French/Handout/MCT) [Click to enlarge]

Twi-hards everywhere are counting down the days until "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," hits theaters. The second segment of the popular vampire romance series is set to premiere in Omaha cinemas on Nov. 20 at 12:01 a.m.

In "New Moon," vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) decides to leave his human love, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), to protect her from what he is. She finds comfort in her childhood friend, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), who becomes a werewolf against his will. Danger ensues.

In Stephanie Meyer's book, Edward is MIA for most of "New Moon." However, director Chris Weitz ("About a Boy") promised Twilighters that they'd see Edward more often than the story warrants.

This may be Summit Entertainment's way of capitalizing on Pattinson's explosive fan base. The British bloodsucker was named Rolling Stone's Hottest Actor of 2008, as well as "Entertainment Tonight's" Top Hunk of 2008.

Fans have more to look forward to than just vampires, though. In "New Moon," a pack of muscular, shirtless werewolves enter the picture, including Jacob.

The day after "Twilight" wrapped filming, Lautner started bulking up for Jacob's extreme physical transformation in "New Moon." He gained a reported 30 pounds of muscle, earning him a spot on People's 100 Most Beautiful People of 2009, as well as the top spot on "Access Hollywood's" Top Five Hollywood Abs. His shirtless werewolf phases, shown in nearly every preview, are sure to give Twi-hards even more excuses to freak out.

Omahans are getting very excited, said Brandon Johnson, assistant manager for Twin Creek Cinema located at 39th Street and Highway 370. He estimated that in the last few weeks, the theater has been getting between 20 and 25 callers per day asking about "New Moon."

One thing that needs clarification for many fans is the date of the midnight premiere. When fans go to almost any theater's Web site to purchase tickets, it will say the premiere is Nov. 19 at 12:01 a.m. However, that's incorrect. "New Moon" premieres Nov. 20 at 12:01 a.m. That is Thursday into Friday, not Wednesday into Thursday. This error happens because cinemas don't have normal 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. business hours, but the ticket generators do, so midnight movies may produce date errors on tickets.

Once patrons get their tickets, Johnson said they should be prepared for long lines. He recommended buying tickets ahead of time and arriving well before the show starts, especially during the midnight premiere.

But big crowds are not necessarily a hassle for Twilighters, he said. On the contrary, they feed off everyone else's excitement.

"Some people may just go see it because they hear it's a hot thing, but the fans that come on a midnight premiere are true fans, because they actually love 'Twilight,'" Johnson said. "They're also pretty entertaining to us because they come dressed up as Edward, or come wearing their 'Twilight' shirts."

Jonathan Franta, assistant manager for Village Pointe Cinema at 174th and Dodge Streets, said he is also looking forward to seeing the devoted Twi-hards at "New Moon's" premiere.

"The fans that come to the midnight shows are the fun ones, the wild ones, the partiers. They're the ones that are really excited about it," Franta said. "If you show up to the midnight premiere all dressed up like a vampire, people are going to just walk up to you, take pictures with you and have fun. We love that."

Village Pointe Cinema is anticipating such an overwhelming crowd for the premiere that the theater is showing "New Moon" on four screens simultaneously, Franta said. Two weeks before the event, one screen was already sold out.

For those who haven't seen "Twilight," Village Pointe Cinema will have a special showing at 9 p.m. before the midnight premiere of "New Moon."

Also that night, the theater is planning a free "New Moon" party inside its lobby at 9:30 p.m. They are trying to get a variety of restaurants and vendors from Village Pointe to set up kiosks in the lobby so Twilighters can wait comfortably, Franta said.

"We're welcoming people to come in and camp out, sit in line and eat, just relax and have fun," Franta said. "There's a lot of hype behind the movie and we're doing everything to celebrate it."

Theaters aren't the only ones "celebrating the hype." It's difficult to walk through any Omaha store without getting caught up in the "New Moon" frenzy. Companies are cashing in on the craze with a plethora of products - and it's more than just the standard "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob" T-shirts.

Nobbies is selling life-sized cardboard cutouts of "New Moon" characters, as well as party plates and cups. Hot Topic has vintage-style lunch boxes inspired by the saga. Bath & Body Works is selling "Twilight" Lip Venom. Burger King will soon hand out cardboard "New Moon" crowns. Borders even has Cullen Crest jewelry, just like the vampires wear.

It's nearly impossible to ignore the bombardment of "New Moon" merchandise and commercials. That might be why the saga is so polarizing - people either love it or hate it.

Junior Karia Lor said she and her friends are huge fans and are planning to attend "New Moon's" midnight premiere.

"It'll be a girls' night with dinner and a movie. We did it last year for 'Twilight' and we'll do it for 'New Moon,'" Lor said. "I'm really excited, and they're even crazier about it than I am."

Junior Raynie Smith said she is looking forward to "New Moon," but will see it at a later date instead of dealing with the crowds at the premiere.

"I saw 'Twilight' and was kind of disappointed, but I love the story and the characters," Smith said. "Rob [Pattinson] is cute, too."

Political science major Sara Kirchhevel said she's not a fan, but a bunch of her Zeta Tau Alpha sorority sisters are.

"They have a whole big party planned; they're obsessed," Kirchhevel said. "But I just don't get into it."

Senior Andrew Burdic said he thinks the "Twilight" saga is overrated and has no desire to see "New Moon."

"It's the same kind of stuff that happens with 'Harry Potter,'" Burdic said. "'Twilight' kind of creeps me out. The next big thing will be mummies."

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