I also think that Catherine is really an underrated director.

She really is... Without a doubt...

And think about it this way, if "Twilight" doesn't become a worldwide hit, then I think that there are a lot of books and movie frachises don't get their starts either. "Twilight's" success also allows Kristen the fiancial freedom to pick and choose the projects that she wants to and she is grateful for "Twilight" despite the media's attempts to tear it apart.

And Bella is a strong woman who goes after what she wants, but unfortunately for her I think that this is treated like a character flaw.

And Bella is a strong woman who goes after what she wants, but unfortunately for her I think that this is treated like a character flaw.

Yes it is. Because what she wanted was Edward and to be part of his family! Why is that not a strong female role-model? She went after what she wanted and wouldn't let anyone, even Edward, tell her NO!

I think Bella is treated differently then the characters in the many super hero movies because she isn't viewed as saving the world from danger.

Alice reposted this today.

When I was doing Twilight there was a moment when it was snowing and hailing in the middle of the set and I couldn’t finish shooting the scene, so I went behind a tree and cried for like 30 seconds and came back and then went ‘right we’re going to do this and this’. On that film I never went over budget, never went over schedule, never fired people or yelled at people, nothing. But I get told that I’m emotional and difficult and cried on sets.” She laughs. “Listen I’ve been on sets where male directors have fired the crew, gone over schedule by a month, two months, even three, gone over budget by millions, come in unprepared, not even had a shot list, yelled and got into physical fights with people or, you know, brought hookers to set… No one says they’re difficult. Or I’ve also seen a big man, a former football player, who cried on set and you know what happened? People gave him a round of applause and said he’s so sensitive… If somebody says there’s not a gender bias, that there’s not a double standard, then they do not have their eyes open.”
Catherine Hardwicke

The thing is a lot of people obviously watched and related to Bella's story.

True...!!