New Moon Grade: B+
If you are a “Twilighter,” you will absolutely love “New Moon.”
Followers of Stephenie Meyer’s vampire saga will not be disappointed by the second film installment of the series. It is clear that director Chris Weitz was determined to do the best he could in order to bring a faithful adaptation of the book to life — and he succeeded.
“Twilight’s” sequel has dreamboat vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) leaving fragile human Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) after a particularly terrifying incident involving a paper cut. He assumes she is never going to be safe around him, so in order to protect her, he leaves the town of Forks, Wash., with his entire family.
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The script is better, making Cullen and Swan’s romance seem less like the soap opera we encountered in the previous film. The type of lines that made me cringe during “Twilight” — lines like “This is the skin of a killer, Bella” or “You’re like my own personal brand of heroin” — are gone.
The acting is better, as well — not perfect, but better. It felt more relaxed, as if the actors had finally grown comfortable in their roles. Stewart has definitely improved since we last saw her, and her portrayal of Swan, lost after being abandoned by her true love, seems sincere and truly heartfelt. The only actor whose presence could possibly make you flinch is Jackson Rathbone. His awkward portrayal of Cullen’s brother, Jasper Hale, is enough to garner secondhand embarrassment.
Weitz has put together an aesthetically powerful film. The blue tint in “Twilight” could give you a headache after watching it a few time and, thankfully, Weitz gives the series a new tone and feeling that pleases the eye. Visual effects are much improved; Edward’s sparkly skin does not look like some strange type of sweat anymore, and the werewolves were surprisingly detailed.
Alexandre Desplat’s beautiful score gave “New Moon” a romantic feeling, unlike Carter Burwell’s edgy “Twilight” score. Desplat’s compositions sound amazing and otherworldly; his style gives the movie a truly epic feel. This film, as a whole, is more polished than its predecessor.
Of course, a major dilemma for “Twilighters” surfaces with this film: choosing between the dreamy Cullen and the ripped Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner).
It is Black’s job to bring Swan out of her dark depression once Cullen leaves. I must admit that Lautner’s Black brightened up the film, and I actually enjoyed seeing his chemistry with Stewart on the big screen. Lautner makes Black a compelling character. His character undergoes an involuntary transformation into a werewolf, the mortal enemy to Cullen’s vampire, and slowly falls in love with Swan even though she cannot reciprocate his feelings. Lautner plays this conflicted teenager perfectly.
Black’s wolf pack brings some much-needed humor to the film. The werewolves, as well as Lautner himself, are a sight to behold. They spend the vast majority of their screen time shirtless, flaunting perfectly chiseled abs and making teenage girls — and their mothers — scream in delight. Sometimes one cannot help but laugh — having a scene with a half-naked Lautner getting soaked under the rain seems like a bit too much.
The same goes for Pattinson’s Cullen: the first time you see him, it feels as though you’re watching a Volvo ad, with the gorgeous vampire walking away from his car in slow-motion and looking amazing while doing so.
The film obviously has its flaws; there is the occasional awkward scene that, even though meant to be dramatic, comes across as funny. Apart from that, it’s everything fans have been dying to see.
If you’re not familiar with “The Twilight Saga,” then it is likely you will not be dazzled by the second installment in the series. Only a fan that has seen the first film or read the books — or both — can fully appreciate this movie. As I watched, I was thrilled to see all the things I had imagined actually play out in front of me. This film is a “Twilighter’s” dream come true, and it did more than satisfy and exceed my expectations — it left me thirsty for more.
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” is currently playing in theaters.
You can reach this staff writer at rgonzalez@theeagleonline.com.
