"I've never read the books."



In general, that doesn't stop most people from watching a film adaptation.  The fact that most people didn't know "Fight Club" was based on a book always amazed me.



But I think the "Twilight" series may be a different story.  Much like "Harry Potter," the books have been a huge success among teenagers, young adults and - well, just about everyone.



Though I have in the past mistakenly referred to it as a trilogy, "The Twilight Saga" is in fact a four-book series, which will, undoubtedly, become a four-movie series.  Though as far as I know, no plans have been made beyond the third movie (please correct me if you've heard otherwise).



The second movie, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," premiered last night in Los Angeles.  Based on Time's coverage, the red carpet was louder than a Jonas Brothers concert.  Robert Pattinson, the lead vampire heart-throb Edward Cullen, compared it to what he imagined the Beatles may have experienced.



"New Moon" will hit theaters nationwide on Friday, complete with midnight showings.



About 12 years ago, I might have gotten caught up in this frenzy. Afterall, I was a budding teenager at the peak of the Britney Spears/NSYNC/Backstreet Boys craze.  I'm ashamed to say I succumbed to it a little bit.



But I'd like to pose a bigger question here, and it's not about whether or not these "phenomena" are worth all the attentions and praise they get.



Is it healthy for young women to act this way?  There are two ways to look at it: 1) they're just young and having fun and enjoying being a kid, or 2) they're developing unhealthy obsessions with unrealistic ideals and may never find "real life" as satisfying as delusions of what it might be like to date Robert Pattinson.



Extremes?  Maybe.   But when I Google "unhealthy Twilight obsession," mostly what pops up are blogs of people talking about their obsession - and admitting that it's unhealthy! Is it a cry for help or hyperbole?



Interestingly, there is also discussion about the relationships of the characters - how they're needy, abusive and, also, obsessive.



Will this construct a potentially harmful ideal of what a relationship should look like for young girls?  There are no academic or scientific studies - nothing to really give any of this speculation any weight.



But so often it's the things that seem like harmless entertainment that can perpetuate problems for children in the future.



Am I reading too much into this?  Quite possibly.  I've been known to be an over-analyzer (though with a degree in English Literature and minors in psychology and philosophy, that sort of comes with the territory).



But it's definitely something to think about.