The hearts of teenage girls across the UK will be beating that much faster come Friday 20 November as the most anticipated film of the year, New Moon, hits cinemas. It’s the second installment in the saga, and what with Twilight’s success across the globe, New Moon has to live up to expectations set by the first movie and Stephanie Meyer’s original book. And we’re pleased to report that it doesn’t disappoint.
Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson resume their roles as Bella Swan, Jacob Black and Edward Cullen respectively. While Kristen does a great job of making Bella’s character more boring than she actually is, and Robert Pattinson is absent throughout the film (he goes on walkabout – and we’re not talking about his acting skills) it’s left to Taylor Lautner to take the helm. And he grabs it with both hands, safely steering the ship in the direction of Team Jacob. If you’re not a convert by the end of the film, what’s wrong with you?
The film begins where Twilight left off. Bella and Edward are still blissfully in love on the eve of Bella’s 18th birthday. Edward’s sister Alice has organised a birthday party and while opening gifts Bella gets a paper cut. Smelling blood, Edward’s brother Jasper moves in to attack Bella, forcing Edward to reconsider the relationship and inform Bella that, in order to protect her, he is leaving Forks, and her, for good.
Destroyed by Edward’s departure, Bella seeks solace in the form her long-term childhood friend Jacob Black. Jacob heals the hole in Bella’s heart and promises never to abandon her, although everything with Jake is not as it seems. He has his own secret to keep, and a huge crush on Bells.
The film is a whole lot more gratuitous than the first – with a whole lot of abs shots, courtesy of Taylor Lautner (and some Robert Pattinson). Not that we’re complaining. There are still some cheesy lines, but on the whole the dialogue is a lot less corny than Twilight and a lot funnier.
There’s perhaps not as much action as you’d expect from a sequel, but this is because the film needs to provide the audience with information to ensure the third and fourth films make sense, and in this way screenwriters have remained true to Meyer’s books.
Unfortunately for Team Edward fans, Robert Pattinson is largely absent from this film, as he leaves Bella and moves out of Forks. A brave move from the production company considering that Pattinson has become the face of the franchise. But this just leaves more room for Taylor Lautner’s Jacob to cement his fan base – and he doesn’t miss out on the opportunity.
The only disappointment with New Moon were the special effects, which weren’t quite up to scratch. Instead of making the story come to life, they reminded us that we were in the cinema as the computer generated wolves lumbered clumsily across the screen. We’d also have liked to know a bit more about the Volturi, as a lot of back story was missed out leaving them feeling less important, and terrifying, than they are in Meyer’s books.
All in all, New Moon is an excellent film, which will appeal to both the teenage fan base and an adult audience. Let the countdown to 2010, and Twilight Eclipse, begin.
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Watch the trailer for Twilight New Moon.
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Watch the video Meet Twilight New Moon's wolfpack.
Watch the Robert Pattinson interview talking about his role as Edward Cullen.
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart interview
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