What's with all the Twi-hype? Seriously, I need somebody to explain it to me.

I watched the first 'Twilight' movie at the cinema last year and didn't get what all the fuss was about (although yes, it was a very, very pretty cast). And I'm tired of hearing people say to me "Oh, well, if you've read the books you'll understand". I read the books. Then I read them again. And I still don't get it.

I mean, I can see how it's a great story and all. The idea of a perfect and true love that will last forever. It's a modern-day fairytale, with Prince Charming as a vampire and an ordinary high school girl in the role of the princess. But, to update it a little, we have fast cars and some violence thrown in for good measure. Fair enough.

It's a fun story and quite engaging. But it's not, by any means, life-changing and hardly very original. Not fantastically written either, but then again Stephanie Meyer has never pretended to be Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Charles Dickens.

I do give her props for tapping into the always-ready-to-spend tween market. The group of young females who still have a very romanticised notion of the world (Gee, I sound old and cynical) as well as the same spending clout that has made 'Hannah Montana' and 'High School Musical' an advertisers' dream.

Alongside this, she has managed to tap into the so-called 'cougar market' - older women who love the idea of having a younger, gorgeous toyboy (although this one also happens to have all the maturity of his 100 years and the charm of the turn of the century).

But what I don't get, is why this story has led millions across the world to become beyond obsessed with the 'Twilight' franchise.

There are 'Twilight' posters on sale everywhere, tons of over-priced merchandise, people with actual 'Twilight' tattoos (I kid you not) and Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart can't even go to the bathroom without being mobbed by hundreds of screaming fans.

I just don't get the obsession.

I mean, take a look at the main character. The more I think about it, the more the Bella in the books grates my carrot. She is weak-willed, content to let the men in her life dictate her future and her happiness. She is prepared to give up on getting her college education and bettering herself in order to get married at 18 and have a baby, so that she can be with 'The One'.

What the hell kind of message is that sending to our teenagers? Yes, yes, I get the whole "Love is more important than anything else in the world". I just don't agree.

Maybe I was brought up differently ? maybe I am one of those cold-hearted people who put their careers ahead of getting married at 18, and a friend has already doomed me to a life of drinking vodka on the porch with hundreds of cats ? but it really, really isn't the 1950s anymore.

Meyer is a practicing Mormon (no, not the kind from 'Big Love'), which obviously impacts her world view. So for Meyer it is obvious to get married after knowing somebody for about a year, having unprotected sex and falling pregnant (yes, I guess at least they were married) and then emerging as the epitome of the Matriarch is an okay thing to do.

I think it boils down to sex. Not obvious sex (well, not until the fourth book at least), but the whole thing is a metaphor for sex and burgeoning sexuality. The book is erotic fiction for pre-teens. In modern interpretations, vampires have become inextricably linked with sexuality ? just think 'Dracula', 'Interview with a Vampire' and the 'Underworld' films. And Meyer's fanbase is made up largely of people whose hormones are just kicking in.

Well, sex and clever marketing. With the release of the 'Twilight' movies and the newest installment 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' , the phenomenon keeps on growing. The so-called "Twi-hards" are the 'Star Wars' fanatics and the Trekkies of the modern era. You can't say a single bad thing about their books or movies, for fear of having your eyes gouged out.

I just wonder if 'Twilight' will live on once their fans have grown up.