Twilight: New Moon

Torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool.

Well that pretty much sums up "New Moon," the latest in Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" series. I have not read any of the “Twilight” soap opera series of books and just reviewing this film only. I am sure the book is probably better. This movie is for "Twilight" fans or teenage girls.

First piece of advice for those who know nothing about this series and want to watch this movie ... rent it do not buy it. Secondly, you need to see "Twilight" first, as this movie does not recap much for the newly initiated. Finally, do not expect much in the way of any deep revelations on vampire lore.

A quick synopsis from "Twilight" -- girl meets vampire; girl falls in love with vampire (it’s a bad-boy thing); more bad guys come between girl and vampire; vampire saves girl. Good, we have caught up with the series. In "New Moon," we focus more on the shape-shifting Native-Americans living up in Fork, Washington. They introduce the werewolf part in the "Twilight," just so you know. Leaving off from "Twilight," all seems well and good for Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward ( Robert Pattinson) until Edward tells Bella that his Vampire family, the Cullens, have to move on because the locals are noticing how remarkably well preserved they all look after all these years - it must be the vegetarian lifestyle. So off they go, leaving Bella to face her fears of growing old.

I am sure that this movie appeals to teenage girls for precisely this reason, their first love, their realization that growing up and leaving home and facing their mortality is just awful. Either sit at home in a rocking chair like Bella, or get out and get another boyfriend. Bella does both. She goes after Jacob, her friend from childhood, and also a member of the local American-Indian tribe, the Quileute. Bella forces herself on this kid; re-build motorcycles together, and Bella is falling for him. Jacob, played by Taylor Lautner, is a bright kid, has an impressive hunky body (my daughter's words, not mine) and seems to be smart, but who is running with the wrong crowd. Now this is where "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" comes to mind. Bella's choice for a boyfriend is difficult, should she go for the hairy and hot Jacob? Perhaps she should go for the smooth and cold Edward? The changing into werewolf is a metaphor for the change and Jacob is changing from a child into a man.

The photography is beautiful, the greens contrasting nicely against the gray pallet of the North West. The acting is barely passable, the characters are not credible, and the actors are attractive, but the acting is too reserved. The story is weak and limps its way. The visual effects are great, although Edward shines too much. The ending ... Well let’s just say that they set you up for "Eclipse," the third in this series. Ultimately “New Moon” is a terrible movie.

Movie Data

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy | Romance

Year: 2009

Starting: Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Ashley Greene, Peter Facinelli

Director: Chris Weitz

Writers: Melissa Rosenberg, (screenplay) - Stephenie Meyer

Producers: Wyck Godfrey

Rating: PG-13

On The Road

I  read Jack Kerouac's "On The Road" several times in my life. The first time was in High School, when I needed to write an essay on a book of my choice.  The first time I read it, I can't say I was "amazed." I was too young with no real experience behind me to evaluate such a phenomenal novel against.  A few years later I saw  "Heart Beat," a film released in 1980 before I graduated. Once again my interest peaked and I pulled my copy out and read it again.  This time with some life experience I could read it in a new light. This time I could "see" more of what Dean and Sal a bit more from their perspective.  
Later in the early 90's after settling down and having time to reflect after the last 10 years of insanity that I called my life, and the amount of miles I put on myself and my poor 86 Charger (200,000 miles in just over 4 years) I could see what Jack Kerouac envisioned.  This year (2012) sometime, MK2 Productions is releasing "On The Road." No date is scheduled, however, I just saw the trailer, which stars Sam Riley as Sal Paradise whom in the book is told from his point of view.Dean Moriarty, the main character, is played by Garrett Hedlund ("TRON: Legacy"). Kirsten Stewart ("Twilight" series, "The Runaways") plays the ditzy Marylou, Dean's first wife. 

Also listed in the cast are Kirsten Dunst,Viggo Mortensen, Amy Adams, Alice Braga, and 
Steve Buscemi.  Also coming out this December is F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."  So if 2012 isn't remembered for the apocalypse, then perhaps the audience will rember 2012 as  the year that the great literary giants Fitzgerald, and Kerouac, had their novels come again to the big screen and a new generation will take inspiration from Jay and Dean.

Movie Data

Genre: Adventure, Drama

Year: 2012

Staring: Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, Tom Sturridge, Alice Braga, Elisabeth Moss

Director: Walter Salles

Producer(s): Roman Coppola, Charles Gillibert, Nathanaël Karmitz, Rebecca Yeldham

Writer: Jose Rivera, Jack Kerouac (novel)

Rating: R

Running Time: 124 minutes

Release Date: 5/23/2012

Twilight: Eclipse Review

Eclipse Has the Best Male Bonding Tent Scene Since Brokeback Mountain

T he first thing to remember is that the whole "Twilight Series" is written for teenaged girls. However, for every teenage girl that wants to see "Eclipse," a teenage boy will want to take her.  For every teenage girl without a boyfriend and without a driver's license, there are the girl’s parents to take her and family to see "Eclipse."  So right away, you can see how the ticket sales multiply exponentially in this fashion.  Knowing this bit of information, at least sets ones expectations for "Eclipse" in the right place.  Of The "Twilight" Saga's three different directors, David Slade ("30 Days of Night") may be the best yet.  Returning to her role as Bella Swan is the ever-dark Kristen Stewart, and reprising his James Dean looking character is the ever quiet Robert Pattinson as Edward the vampire.  Bringing heat and passion to the cold northwest is Taylor Lautner as the shape-shifting werewolf, Jacob Black.  Once again set in the cold dreary rural outskirts of Seattle, in the little town of Forks Washington, "Eclipse" brings a less depressing Bella and a more entertaining story to Twilight fans everywhere.

Bella (Stewart) and Edward (Pattinson) are making plans for graduation and potential plans for Bella's change into a vampire afterwards.  Edward is proposing marriage; however, Bella just wants to turn.  In the seedy areas of rainy, wet, Seattle, there is a series of murders taking place by newbie vampires who are without the boundaries that all good little vampires need.  You know, "spare the rod spoil the vampire.”  An old enemy from the past is creating a vampire army to take on the Cullens and specifically Edward and Bella.  Much of the movie revolves around the teen posturing that you usually find on a high school campus.  For any one who has attended high school, the scenes in "Eclipse" will bring back memories, either fond ones or not so fond memories of those good old school days.  Staying away for the first part of the film is Taylor Lautner, as he was rejected by Bella in the last movie, "New Moon," or he was still in shock from the reviews.  Returning to the screen the shirtless wonder and with his wide smile, Lautner brings the heat and warmth that the cold Edward lacks.  Bella, ever in a state of confusion, is more cheerful and active than she was in New Moon.

While lounging in the tall summer grass, Bella quotes to Edward from Robert Frost's poem 

Fire and Ice, Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice,  I think I know enough of hate To know that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

Bella hints to the audience which boyfriend she plans to choose with this poem.  Warned by the psychic Alice (Ashley Greene), that she and Edward are being hunted by Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard), Bella comes out of her shell and wants to help.  Joining the cast as this episode's list of enemies, is actor Xavier Samuel as Riley, a young man who went missing about a year ago and has since started building a vampire army.  "Eclipse" presents the viewers with the best of all situations for the teenaged audience, two guys as a love interest both fighting over you and protecting you.  Both Edward and Jacob, in trying to protect Bella from the Vampire Army, and the freezing cold, have a long wordy male bonding session in a tent while a storm howls outside.  What they say is not important, what is important to the viewer is that the two work together.  What Bella doesn't realize is that you can't have your cake and eat it too, or maybe you can.  Dealing with subject of becoming a vampirism and the subject of marriage in the same scene harkens back to the days of gothic horror.  Bella begging for penetration of one kind or another, author Stephanie Meyers through the character of Edward firmly say no.  Becoming a vampire has always been a metaphor of casting aside society’s conventions and releasing oneself to ones inner passions and Eclipse dances around this very well.  Add some well placed comedy and director David Slade turned what could easily be a very bad movie into something more enjoyable than New Moon.  


The young actors, under Slade’s direction, enrich their characters this time around.  The script is too wordy for an adult audience, but I think screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, and director Slade chose to keep in the explanations, making it easier for the teen audience and those new to the Twilight series to catch on.  In the last film, New Moon, I felt too much was left unsaid, and have not read the book the film didn't stand on its own.  Being more active in Eclipse, Stewart whose past roles include a suicidal teen in 2007's "The Messengers," frozen through most of "Zathura: A Space Adventure" (2005), and a depressed rape victim in "Speak" (2004) provided her with the background for angst ridden teens.  "Eclipse" gives her an opportunity to show some acting growth, and hopefully she will show us more in "Breaking Dawn" films.  Pattison bares his fangs from time to time and plays his part very subtly, however Lautner, reacts to Stewart's chemistry like a wolf in heat, pun intended. "Eclipse" does stand on it’s on as a complete story while leaving the audience wanting more.  

Howard Shore's compositions for the film score are appropriate and not overbearing nor pretentious.  The effects seemed a little sloppy, but happen so fast that most teenagers or adults won't notice if they are paying attention to the live actors and the story.  In this case, Slades’ direction to his visual effects group was that he wanted the effects to help tell the story and not be the story.  In that, I do applaud the "30 Days of Night" director for keeping the attention focused on the story.  Not many actual shape-shifting scenes to distract the audience with, Slade keeps the audience focused on his three lead characters and the story.  Mixing the cold blues of the Northwest sky with glowing, warm scenes of Edward and Bella, or scenes with Bella and Jacob walking in the sun keep away the gloom.  "Eclipse" is well paced, but more dialog than needed film. For the Young Adult, and extreme fans of Stephanie Meyers novels may find "Eclipse" fun and worthy of their time. However, the narrative is encumbered with overly wordy dialog at times, and a story that sometimes doesn't make any sense, but overall a fun movie to watch with your teenaged daughter. The bottom line is, take your kids if they have to see it, otherwise wait for the DVD or Blu-ray.

Movie Data

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance 

Year:  2010

Staring:  Xavier Samuel, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Taylor Lautner

Director: David Slade

Producer(s): Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt

Writer: Melissa Rosenberg, Stephenie Meyer  (Novel)

Rating: PG-13

Running Time: 124 minutes

Release Date: 6/30/2010

Originally published on Associated Content by Robert Barbere on 7/2/2010