First I think I should state – I didn’t like the Twilight movie – not that I don’t defend it – I think Catherine Hardwicke did an amazing job reining in a script that had a track star Bella and FBI agents chasing the Cullens on jet skies – and with no budget, I liked most of the special effects – but ultimately, Edward’s facial expressions and the slow pacing and timing of the film didn’t work for me. I love parts of it – mainly Billy Burke, Anna Kendrick, Michael Welch – the whole supporting Human cast – and I probably enjoyed the Cullen House scene most. Yes, there was passion between Edward and Bella and I ate it up – but there wasn’t enough of it. I loved the fight scene – but portions of that too, just didn’t work. I didn’t love the movie and I couldn’t bring myself to recommend it to people who hadn’t read the book. I am still shocked and surprised by the number of people who became converts by the movie. Now on to New Moon….
Click below to read the review – many spoilers, so if you haven’t watched, don’t click.
The Good
The supporting cast was, as it was in Twilight, fantastic. Billy Burke, Anna Kendrick, Michael Welch – they were fantastic. The comedic timing great – they can’t help but make us laugh and I think all three manage to steal the show – despite what shirtless hunk might be in the scene.
The Volturi. Michael Sheen was beyond creepy – the fight scene between Edward and Felix fantastically choreographed. And I’m so glad for that addition to the story line.
Taylor Lautner. I’ve never been a Team Jacob girl – pretty solidly Team Switzerland – with maybe a slight leaning toward Edward (After all this is I Love Boys Who Sparkle – and not Runs With Wolfs). But he did it for me, Bella’s personal sun. I think he did a fantastic job both playing and looking the part.
Kristen Stewart. She is a perfect Bella for me. I felt like even though the lip biting may have still been in full force, the hair tossing was less – and I love her as the angsty teenager, she does it well and this is what this role is. She also manages to play Bella without making her weak, whiny, needy, pathetic – and given the story, it would be all too easy to let that happen. I think Bella’s character is strong and Kristen plays her that way. And big props to Melissa Rosenberg for creating emails to Alice – it was the perfect way to have Bella express what she was going through.
Victoria’s final escape scene. I have not one complaint about this – I loved this part. Every moment of it. The action and choreography, the music it was timed to, the clips of Charlie with Harry spliced in – they showed beautifully what I think we all imagined Victoria’s talents to be… it was perfect.
The Bad
Alice’s vision of Bella’s future. So cheesy and awkward … no offense to Kristen Stewart or Robert Pattinson, but they are two of the most awkward people when it comes to their bodies and physical activity – and both of them running playfully together? It show cased how unvampire they are…. ugh.
It had been talked up that they beefed up Victoria’s storyline – yet she doesn’t even udder a word in the entire film. I think this is an incredible disservice to Rachellle LeFevre and the film – and whether it was about the studio dispute about her contract, or how it always was – I expected more.
Laurent’s last stand. I realize that there is no description for what happened to him in the book – but I really expected more from this. Heck, they choreographed a stunning, impressive fight scene for the Volturi where none had previously existed and even Victoria has some fight interaction with Jacob. I expected what we got from the Volturi for Laurent’s final moments – and instead we just get a glimpse of him falling – we spent more time watching Paul and Jacob – and sorry we didn’t need that.
The Unfortunate
The forced insertion of the soundtrack. Trust me, I ooooo-ed and ahhh-ed and sprang for joy when the soundtrack was released. I loved many of the little bands that made the cut – and was thrilled with the idea that these small bands were going to be exposed to such a large segment of the population. But half the time the music just didn’t seem to fit – and even when it did, it seemed like they were just throwing in 30 seconds of tune, without really trying to make it work within the rest of the film. Cue music at one level, end music. It was disjointed and poorly done.
Taylor Launter’s and the wolf pack’s constant shirtlessness. I know this may be a surprising statement coming from me … but yeah, it was so overdone. “Hello, would you like a muffin – best to take off your shirt.” “Oh, you’re going to the store, here let me take my shirt off.” It was so over the top – and I felt like it kind of brought us all down a peg, as every time he appeared on screen everyone shrieked or worse – I swear the girl in front of me had an orgasm every time he was on screen.
Jackson Rathbone, you are beautiful and they made you into this:
For shame. For shame.
Finally – What was with the clock tower reunion? I wanted – I expected an immediate embrace and release of passion that they were both still alive … and instead, I got bunch of dialog followed, too lately by a brief series of kisses.
So overall, where does this leave me? I loved parts of the movie wholly and completely. Other parts made me uncomfortable at best – sometimes I was out right laughing (when clearly I shouldn’t have been) because it was so bad. So overall, New Moon is my favorite book – and I’ll probably still own the movie and defend its nay sayers … but given the budget, the cast, the fan support – I think we could have and should have gotten a lot more from this film.
Team_SixPack said:SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!
OK, so I’m pretty much completely in agreement with JE’s review.
The Good:
Supporting cast, I agree. Kellan cracked me up during the birthday scene. But I still feel like we didn’t get enough of the Cullens’…at the very end we finally get some sort of emotion out of Rosalie though. Anna Kendrick was great…all the humans were great though, their comedic timing is perfect. The wolf pack was great and funny. Alex Meraz after the fight, one line but perfect. Sam and Emily’s scene made me feel sorry for Bella. Charlie! Oh Charlie and your mustache. I loved you, I just wish there was more of you!Taylor, obviously I’m Team Edward, but GOOD JOB TAYLOR!! You rocked the roll of Jacob.
Kristen, she did great. I think the addition of her emails to Alice was a good way to show her inner sadness. She seemed less twitchy than in Twilight. I have no complaints at all about her performance great job!
Rob, not a lot of him, he just seems so SO controlled the entire movie. Like Edward was afraid to show any emotion towards Bella at all for a while now, but the small edition of his scene in Rio really got to me. And his conversation about suicide during Romeo & Juliet. Good job for Rob!
The Brilliant:
The Volturi: Michael Sheen! Such an amazing actor. He made Aro great! He made him look like an absolute lunatic! Dakota Fanning’s scenes as Jane were so brief, but she definitely had an impact. Felix was terrifying! His fight scene with Rob was awesome. I loved that whole sequence! And Kristen really did some good acting here when she screamed for them to kill her instead. I love that they made the Volturi seem more threatening than they appeared to be in the book. It worked. All of it.Victoria’s escape. PERFECT absolutely PERFECT. The music the choreography the special effect, the lack of dialogue was perfect to show the shock between Charlie and Harry Clearwater. This was amazingly done!
The Bad:
The Cliff Dive. Let down. in the trailer it looked so emotional, haunting almost, but then the addition of the Grizzly bears song. FTW?! That killed it for me! Which brings me to JE’s point about the soundtrack…. you know when you’re shuffling through your iPod and you maybe listen to a track for 30 seconds then decide to skip and move on to the next track because it doesn’t fit your mood, that’s how I felt they placed the songs in the movie. None of them resonated with me except for the beginning of the BRMC track. The only exception is the track during Victoria’s escape….again that was perfect!… So back to the Cliff dive, this should have been a moment where they let Alexandre Desplat shine, instead out of no where it was *cue music* a portion of the Grizzly Bears track?! Ruined it for me and that was one of the few scenes in the book that I almost cried at.I agreed with JE about Rachelle LeFevre, did they minimize her role or what is always that way? I know in the book Victoria is never actually present with any of the character’s she’s just talked about, but I feel bad for Rachelle she deserved a little bit of the spot light.
Alice’s vision of Bella for Aro: I will categorize this under UGLY. The audience laughed during this scene, and they shouldn’t have. We just had the major fight scene, we got to see how scary Jane’s powers were, our characters didn’t know if Aro was going to let them live or die… it’s a pretty serious situation for Edward, Bella & Alice, but then scene change, all of a sudden we have Hansel and Gretel frolicking gaily through the forest…oh wait that’s Edward and Bella. I’m sorry twi-hards. I hated this. This would be a scene where I think the principal of less is more could have applied. All they needed to show was a glimpse of Bella’s eyes, or her skin sparkling in the sun and we would know what she was. I think what could have worked was just Edward and Bella standing together and she looks up to him and we see her eyes are the same as his.
More of the unfortunate:
The Shirtlessness: Ok as JE said, we like shirtless boys, we have a category dedicated to them. However this was over the top and I think the tweens in the audience all had their first orgasms at New Moon…while I cringed at their reactions. Especially at how forced it was when Jacob took off his shirt to dab the blood off Bella’s head. They could have made it more “holy crap you’re bleeding!” and he rushes to take it off to help stop the bleeding, but instead it was “oh… you’re bleeding… *cue chip n’ dales music* let me take my shirt off for you, Bella.” yea, that’ll stop the bleeding.Laurent’s last stand: NOT ENOUGH. It was too quick, and ended too soon. In contrast why did we have to see Jacob and Paul fight each other forever? I think we needed to see what a threat the wolves really were to vampires right here. Instead the only wolf fighting we got was against each other–and yes I know that serves a purpose too to show how volatile they are.
The clock tower reunion: Major, major let down.
In my eyes this should have been such an emotional moment. They both realize the other is alive. Edward should have in a daze after they come up for air from kissing and said “Carlise was right” Edward should have been stupefied, mystified in complete disbelief. Remember in the book he thought he was in heaven? Having rational dialogue and a few quick pecks on the lips doesn’t seem like heaven to me. Edward and Bella have been apart for months, they both thought the other was dead or about to die…it’s a very dramatic emotional scene in the book. This is where Catherine Hardwicke worked for Twilight–bringing out these extreme emotions. It just completely fell short in the movie. And the beautiful sequence that was in one of the trailers of them kissing as the camera moved around them wasn’t there. That scene worked, that scene made it look like they couldn’t get close enough to each other and that they didn’t want to let go (kind of how you would expect to lovers to react when they find out their love isn’t dead). Where was that scene???! I’m a sucker for romantic sap…romance me dammit lol!
So overall I’m split on the film. There’s definitely a lot of good, don’t get me wrong, but there’s a lot I thought didn’t work either (as you have read
) I know it doesn’t sound like this from reading my comments, but I didn’t HATE the film. Edward in the begining, the birthday scene, the break up scene, Bella’s sorrow, Jacob and Bella in the garage, Bella and Jacobs “are you breaking up with me??” scene, Victoria’s escape, Alice’s return, the Volturi fight, The Vote for Bella, and the very end scene were all great. There were just some key things I wish they had done differently. Just as a comparison, I’m not one of those people that thought twilight was perfect either… The ballet studio was my favorite scene in the book, it should have been the climax in the movie… it was a let down. The reunion should have been the climax of New Moon and that was a let down too. *shrugs* Don’t know what to say about all of it anymore.
I’m already lined up to see it at least two more times because I have so many different friends who want to see it together.
New Moon was not my favorite book when I first read through, pretty much didn’t like it, but after a second read it got to me. Eclipse was my favorite book, so I can’t wait to see what David Slade’s vision brings to the big screen. 3 times a charm right? (Cause I don’t think I can hang around for Breaking Dawn).
November 20th, 2009
K_InTheFlo said:I saw it on Midnight and came away very underwhelmed for ALL (every one) of the reasons mentioned here. Then I saw it again at Noon today and I was satisfied. Perhaps the pace was good for me at Noon – not so good at midnight..body rhythms?? geesh i dunno why. But I liked it way more.
The goods:
Gotta go Team Jacob while viewing.BIG Kudos To Taylor Lautner. There’s an extra dog treat for ya! good boy. Kristen Stewart’s performance was much better and she looked amazing. I don’t even remember much lip biting in NM. Rob Looked like more man than boy…yum. Billy, Anna & Mike all were great.The bads:
I told this to TS…when Bella wakes up back in Forks – they are on their way to the Cullens and she has her epiphany that he loves her. This was key in the book (i thought)..A major shift for her.yeah there needed to be some significant highs for all of edward’s lows. Rob or chris weitz took the tone to monotone. gimme some smiley smirk – some sincere love in their eyes..and open those god damn mouths and really kiss – once.
Oh and sparkly Bella running along side another emotionless edward in some costumes cast off from some BBC canceled seeries is a Total Fail. yes – show us the eyes . something.. that says Vampire..Not a jane Austin Novel’s youngest heroine. (No disrespect to JA)…
and the soundtrack. well i never listened to twilight b4 i saw it and so i went that way with NM..and no tunes stuck..ya know. nothing. can’t remember one. Unlike Twilight. remembered all of them afterwards.
so the film is beautiful but lacks to hit a range of emotions that is new moon.
Now if someone can take CW’s technical skills with CH’s heart – we will have a sure winner .
November 20th, 2009
K_InTheFlo said:OMG – I’m so sorry that was so long.. Comment Fail!
November 20th, 2009
Team_SixPack said:I’m glad you commented
I don’t care how long it was!
November 20th, 2009
Caroline said:HA! I am lol at some of the insight in these reviews. Great reviews! I have not seen the movie yet, but I like to read reviews before seeing a movie so I can pay special attention to what’s good and bad. I am very surprised to hear about “New Moon”‘s shortcomings. I felt for sure it would be a huge improvement over “Twilight.” Perhaps it is, but still….Some of the shortcomings JE and TS mentioned sound just awful. I will have more of an opinion by the end of this weekend, if I see the movie on Sunday, as I hope to.
November 20th, 2009
Just_Erin said:K_InTheFlow – Comments are like kisses from Edward – they can never be too long.
Caroline – do make sure to write what you think when you see it… I hope nothing we said ruined anything for you.
November 21st, 2009
Team_SixPack said:So K, after seeing it for a second time I really enjoyed a lot better with out the squeeling and all around exhaustion from being up so late.
The scenes that stood out as unbearable to me were less so. Although I still maintain that that soundtrack being thrown in your face, the shirtlessness and the frolicking scene were unnecessary but they didn’t stand out as much.
The clock tower scene was slightly better because I liked the part where Rob smiles and says “You’re alive” it’s like the only time he shows some emotion during the movie except for anger, and sadness. I do agree what we need CH’s heart and CW’s technical abilities.
of the group of women I was with, 2 thought it was terrible and wanted that two hours of their life back, 1 thought it sucked (but didn’t go as far to say they wanted those two hours of their life back), 2 thought it was good but cheesy, 1 liked it and then there was me who enjoyed it a whole lot more the second time around. But the good part about being with this group was that they kept their emotions under control and didn’t squeel or orgasm in the theater, in fact the entire Friday night audience was quiet allowing me to actually enjoy the film better.
JE I agree, for eclipse we are going to a theater where there will be less or few tweens.
November 22nd, 2009
K_InTheFlo said:wow TS were the women you went with twi-Hards the 2nd time? curious.
After seeing Twilight I was left with some lovely tween emotional high. Even though I liked NM more the 2nd time I am left with well – not much -emotionally. That’s a bummer. Also – HATED the new “eyes” creepy and also took away from whatever emotions might have made it to moi. I can’t see Meyer liking them. Rob played it so low-key that I had to say to myself..OK when I download it onto my laptop and put my headphones on then I’ll really hear wtf he said. LOL.
One thing that pisses me off about the interviews is how they always say it’s a Jacob movie orm an edward moive. But WTF. Bella/Kristen is in every fucking scene in a BIG Effin way. i feel that it just shows how much the culture is anti-women. If Bella Was Brad and was a strong willed teen boy who fell in love with a VampGirl – It would always be HIS Movie.. anyone get me on this? That Kstew doesn’t get the fraction of Love for all that she puts into this. That girl really pulled it out for this one. How exhausting must that have been. I see her running in Italy.that was beautiifuly done.
That’s my rant! And i still have no idea how they’re gonna do edward chewing through Bella’s Baby Bump! shudders. But I want me some leg hitch, some good open mouth kissing, some good warm me up in the tent while my Vamp BF watches..And now that Bella has chosen Edward..i want some fucking smirky happy Edward . I will end Rob if he plays it any more monotone-angsty.
That. Is. all. for now.! Thanks JE & TS!
November 22nd, 2009
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