Elle m'a regardé de ces yeux pétillants auxquels je n'ai jamais pu résister

Question

2 questions about this sentence:1. Is "yeux étincelants" not acceptable here?2. Why is the passé composé used instead of the imparfait "les yeux...auxquels je ne pouvais jamais résister"?

Accepted Answer

In my understanding, both étincelant as well as pétillant are possible. As are a whole slew of other similar adjectives. It's just impossible to list them all. A good online dictionary will, however, help you decide for yourself.
Regarding the tense: no, you couldn't use the imperfect without changing the meaning. Using the passé composé conveys that it is an event in the past, which is also true in the present: he can still not resist her brilliant eyes. The same as you would say in English: "...I could never resist her brilliant eyes."