'Twilight' 101: Who It's About and Why It's So Darned Beloved (Continued) 

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Edward Cullen: He's a 100-year-old vampire trapped in the luscious, glittering body of a 17-year-old boy who would have died from influenza if he hadn't been turned undead just in the nick of time.

A word about Meyer's vampires: In addition to being blessed with extraordinary beauty, which helps them capture their human prey, they sometimes possess a superpower, which is basically an exaggerated version of a former human strength. And, unlike most of the vampires you've heard of, "Twilight" vampires can withstand sunlight, but they avoid it because it makes their skin sparkle conspicuously.

Edward can read minds -- everyone's except Bella's. What's more, she is nigh irresistible to him. That "nigh" is important, because Edward does resist her. Again and again. And again and again and again. He also resists another sort of human-meat consumption, feeding himself on wild animals he catches in the woods.

Edward has the self-control of a monk, which explains why the mothers of teenage girls find him so darned attractive. Edward also drives a Volvo and occasionally carries Bella piggyback-style, something that by itself is probably worth the price of a movie ticket.

Robert Pattinson, Cedric Diggory in "Harry Potter," plays Edward. Some fans found him to be not gorgeous enough. I invite them to check their eyesight. That said, his image on the "Twilight" poster is icky and he should totally fire his stylist.

Charlie Swan: Bella's dad and the police chief in Forks. He's possibly not all that bright, because he never did figure out how to cook in all the years since Bella's mother left him. Bella has to prepare his meals for him -- something that adds fuel to the feminist argument that Bella is a throwback to a less enlightened time. Billy Burke plays Charlie Swan in the movie.

James: He's a tracker vampire who decides Bella is his ideal prey. Cam Gigandet plays the role in the movie. Rachelle Lefevre plays Victoria, his lover.

The Cullen family: Vampires generally travel in covens, and Edward's pretends to be the Cullen family, which is chock full of gorgeous, muscular and mostly noble "vegetarian" vampires.

Carlisle Cullen: The head of the family. He's also the Forks doctor; so good is his control over his bloodlust, he apparently can be surrounded by it without going all pointy in the teeth. He's negotiated a truce with a neighboring pack of werewolves (more on them in later books). Centuries old, Carlisle is trapped in the body of a super-handsome 23-year-old. He and his wife have adopted the rest of the Cullen "kids."

Peter Facinelli, formerly of the TV show "Fastlane," and husband of Jennie "90210" Garth, plays Carlisle in the film.

Esme Cullen: Carlisle's gorgeous wife, whom he "saved" after she attempted suicide when her infant son died. Esme dotes on Bella and her vampire children. Elizabeth Reaser plays Esme.

Rosalie Hale: The book describes her as beautiful, even for a vampire. But poor Rosalie has a rough backstory: She was betrayed by her own fiancé, raped and left for dead in the streets. Carlisle turned her into a vampire. Nikki Reed plays Rosalie.

Emmett Cullen: He's big and burly, and has the distinction of being mauled by a bear before being turned into a vampire. Kellan Lutz plays Emmett in the movie.

Alice Cullen: Edward can see into minds, and the petite, beautiful Alice can see into the future, sort of. She and Bella are best friends, and Alice really enjoys planning parties, shopping and doing her own homemade version of "What Not to Wear." Ashley Greene plays Alice.

Jasper Hale: He's Alice's husband, and his gift is one of empathy and charisma. He can calm people down, which helps when Bella is around. Jasper is tall, muscular and full of scars from fighting young vampires. Jackson Rathbone plays the part in the movie.

Jacob Black: He plays a larger role in later stories, but in "Twilight," Jacob is a young Native American pup with a crush on Bella, which she takes advantage of to learn more about the mysterious Cullen family. Taylor Lautner plays Jacob, who is the son of Charlie Swan's best friend, Billy.

You pumped for "Twilight"? Tell us why at heymsn@microsoft.com

Martha Brockenbrough is MSN's Cinemama, for the Parents' Movie Guide. She is also the author of Things That Make Us [Sic], a guide to funny bad grammar published by St. Martin's press. She also blogs about family life for Cozi.com, and writes an educational humor column for Encarta. Check out her Web site.

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