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No, it wasn't a political gathering; it was the midnight showing of "New Moon," the "Twilight" sequel. For anyone who's been living in the hinterlands of Newton County without benefit of communication to the outside world for the past couple of years, "Twilight" is a series of books by Stephenie Meyer and now a movie series about Bella, an awkward teenage girl coming of age who falls for Edward, the most handsome and romantic teenage vampire in the world (although he's been a teenager since about 1918). She's head over heels in love with him, he's fangs over heels in love with her, and while she's anxious to become a vampire, too, he's reluctant to "turn" her.

With "New Moon," Bella gets the added complication of her best friend Jacob, an Indian teenager who just happens to be a werewolf, falling in love with her, too. Werewolves and vampires are mortal enemies, so that sets up an interesting love triangle. The book and movie also bring in a vampire clan called the Volturi, which is a sort of royalty that enforces vampire law, the main one being to keep their existence secret, which Edward's violated.

Then it gets complicated.

I've been reading "New Moon." Amelia's read all four books since seeing "Twilight" last November. She's up on me as far as where the story's headed. We went to the midnight DVD release of "Twilight" in March, which happened to be on Amelia's birthday. So it was a natural to go to the midnight debut of "New Moon" at the theater. The theater has sold about 700 advance tickets, and it looked like everybody showed up for the screening, along with a few more. It was a largely female audience with a few boyfriends, husbands and at least one dad present. The ladies in attendance ranged from tweens to a grandma or two who have fallen in love with the series themselves.

When the movie popped on the screen shortly after midnight, the audience was ready. As Edward appeared for the first time, there were several loud sighs and "Ahhhs" to be heard. Later in the movie Jacob whipped his shirt off for the first time and the audience went wild. Surrounded by females, I heard several comments about how gorgeous both Edward and Jacob were. I think Jacob got a few more sighs than Edward, but he was more buff, too. When the mushy parts came on, there were more sighs.

When a werewolf was first glimpsed, just a hulking shape in the dark forest with two glowing eyes, from behind me a young lady exclaimed "Holy ... !"

I just munched my popcorn and sipped my Diet Dr Pepper, and enjoyed the audience reaction about as much as the movie.

Now the "Twilight" stories aren't high-falutin', highbrow "films," they're movies, and fun ones for fans. As usual, movie critics don't get it. They approach movies intellectually, usually looking down their noses at such movies. To be honest, some of those critically acclaimed films and big Oscar winners of the last few years have been boring to me and just not entertaining. (For example, I haven't even made it through "There Will Be Blood," and don't particularly want to.)

Then they criticize these movies because they're not bloody and don't have gut-wrenching special effects and aren't horrific. I've got news for them; these aren't horror movies, they're romances that just happen to have vampires and werewolves. As in soap operas, the emphasis is on the romance, not the supernatural.

These are stories and movies for the fans. And there were lots of fans at the theater for the midnight showing on four screens. It looks like that wizard kid is getting overshadowed by the supernatural hunks.

Then there's the comment I heard from behind me: "This is like our generation's 'Star Wars,' for girls."

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a nap.