Here's my background with this fandom:
Creation Station 2008, a staffer got many guffaws, & many annoyed groans, by turning in "sparkly vampires" as a prompt at Scenes from a Hat. At that point, I'd never been exposed to the Twilight Series, & I had no idea that was the reference.
When we started soliciting fanfics for this year's CS contest for KC, I figured I'd better acquaint myself with the canon, in case there were entries related to it.
My partner was skeptical, but found it online while I was at work, watched the whole thing, liked it enough that he insisted I watch it that night -- that's right, he sat through the whole movie twice on the same day. And normally it's hard for me to get him to do anything even remotely fandom-related.
I was surprised how much I liked the initial Twilight. But that was before I read the books. I started book 1 & was surprised how quick a read it was...& how I did want to actually finish it, even though I knew how it would end. Then I got to the CS & some staff had half-jokingly made a sign that declared the CS a "Twilight-Free Zone". During Scenes from a Hat someone turned in art of Spike from Buffy killing Bella, saying, something like, "Don't know what that bloke Edward's going on about, her blood tastes like crap" something along those lines...
I've read the 2nd & 3rd books & saw film 2 yesterday (wea ring a wolf silk-screen t-shirt). I could do without any of the Cullens except I really adore Alice. I love Jacob but could do without the rest of the pack. Graham Greene is talented. Dakota Fanning was a surprise. I *love* Michael Sheen (Frost/nixon was awesome). Ironic switch from Underworld, eh? The rest of the Volturi I could do without. Basically make me a fan film with just Jacob, Alice, Jane, Aro, & hey I can handle Bella & Charlie if needed as an excuse for that, & I'd be happy & not at all mind the absence of everyone else. Well I kinda liked Laurent. Oh & the sparling is the only worthwhile CG.