Cast Kristen Stewart Robert Pattinson Catherine Hardwicke Taylor Lautner Billy Burke Peter Facinelli Nikki Reed Jackson Rathbone Ashley Greene Kellan Lutz Elizabeth Reaser Gil Birmingham Edi Gathegi Rachelle Lefevre
Dakota Fanning Chaske Spencer Bronson Pelletier Alex Meraz Kiowa Gordon Tyson Houseman Jamie Campbell-Bower Michael Sheen.
Plot After an unfortunate near-death incident at Bella’s (Kristen Stewart) 18th birthday party, vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) vows to leave his true love for her own good. Bella is devastated, but the help of her friend Jacob (Taylor Lautner) helps her through. But Jacob is dealing with issues of his own…
Review Let’s assume that you’re going into the second episode of Stephenie Meyers’ vampire saga with an open mind, having been pleasantly surprised that the first film didn’t turn out to be Vampire High School Musical. If that’s the case, you’ll probably enjoy this slice of high melodrama. If not, stay away. This is a series almost entirely lacking in irony, one that takes its central tortured romance too seriously to waste good gazing-soulfully time on filling in the background or winning over naysayers. There’s moping to be done, after all.
That’s not entirely a criticism. To berate the Twilight saga for indulging in moping would be like suggesting that perhaps John McClane and Hans Gruber could have sat down and talked their differences out. This is a series about the all-encompassing, deadly seriousness of first love, and judged on those terms the first Twilight did convey that feeling of mad romance and the second film picks up that theme and snogs it senseless. But in the same way that most second superhero movies are about our hero trying to give up the cape, this sequel is about the heartbreak that almost certainly follows such unthinking passion.
Robert Pattinson’s upright, buttoned-down Edward gives up Kristen Stewart’s Bella for her own good (as it seems to him) and disappears from her life. After turning into a virtual zombie as a result, the heartbroken Bella finds some comfort in the friendship of Native American Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), himself afflicted with a searing crush on the self-effacing heroine. Unfortunately, it turns out that that’s not the only thing Jacob’s afflicted with, as he starts turning furry and lupine and also abandons Bella for her own protection.
Amid such masculine faffing about, Bella’s character is the only constant, and she comes across as a little stronger this time around, gradually pulling herself out of the fog of depression and fighting to keep both men in her life – if only in hallucinations in Edward’s case. Stewart still relies a little too heavily on the tactic of blinking a lot, but then the same could be said of the male leads’ reliance on slight frowns, and all three are doing a good enough job to win over the fans and convey the high drama of the novel. Incoming director Chris Weitz, taking over from Catherine Hardwicke, is more reserved and perhaps slightly less attuned to his teenage stars, but handles the action and the effects well despite the breakneck production schedule.
While there’s only a tiny and very occasional hint of humour from the love triangle members, however, the addition of Jacob’s fellow Wolf Pack members and more traditional high vampires the Volturi allow for a little looseness and the opening up of the Twilight world. The Wolf Pack are given, at best, momentary character sketches but receive just enough attention to establish them for future instalments, while the Volturi threaten to romp away with the film in just moments onscreen. Then what can you expect when they’re led by Michael Sheen’s deliciously dangerous Aro, and boast a psychic torturer played by an immaculate Dakota Fanning?
The plethora of shirtless men (sometimes shot in – god help us – slow-motion) and general fetishisation of Bella’s love interests may raise a giggle or an eyebrow in audiences more accustomed to seeing women in their scanties, and the pace does sometimes slow to a crawl, but this is another faithful and largely successful adaptation of Meyers’ old-fashioned love story.
Verdict If you buy in to the central romance, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll swoon. Otherwise, the lingering glances, lip-chewing and regular de-shirting may cause uncontrollable giggles.
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Your Reviews
Average user rating for Twilight: New Moon
Old enough to know better
OK, let me say this straight away - I'm 32 years old and I know I should know better. But, I can't help myself - these films make me feel like a teenager again.
This would get 3 stars if it wasn't the long awaited sequel to Twilight (which frankly was much better) but as it is it gets 4. I know the book is not as good as the first but they could have made the film better - the director sucks. It only picks up when the Volturi come into it.
Looking forward to number 3. ... Read More
Having known nothing about the Twilight saga last year I saw the first one because of all the hype, and it wasn't that bad. The scenes were quite arty and the music was good, however the second installment is different story! All the actors do is pout, the music is crap and there is no general direction and pace to the film. A definate disappointment is comparison to the first film. The second one could have been so much better, never mind, it'll still make a bomb at the box office with all the... Read More
I saw Twilight last year because it got a good review. I took my 13 year old sister to see this a few weeks ago and she tells me it is fairly true to the book. I admit it was funny in parts because of the cheesiness, I like this film its a good story. I already know what happens at the end of the books but I will be coming back for more . ... Read More
I loved it and mostly because they kept it very well with the book and didn't leave vital things out. Kristen's oerformance was less stuttery but i did get annoyed at the whole 'job to protect you' ' Your my only reason to be alive' they would make Edward seem more light hearted and funny. Not too serious ... Read More
Is it just me or are we all missing something? The fact that it doesn't make sense? Why if there is no mortal threat to these creatures, you can become a wolf at will, live forever etc, why would all of these creatures become the dominant spieces on the planet instead of repeating high school over and oover again? Sure, if they woke up in 21st Century they would be hunted, experimented on, but 400 or 500 or 1000 years ago? How about they would eb worshiped like gods!&nbs... Read More
L: MariannaBelle
I love this movie
Ilove the book
I love Taylor Lautner
So i can never give a reasonable unbiased view. And i'm glad because all those you dont see or understand the beauty of twilight are losing out. That must suck!
ou do know Lautner is gay, right?
... Read More
I love this movie
Ilove the book
I love Taylor Lautner
So i can never give a reasonable unbiased view. And i'm glad because all those you dont see or understand the beauty of twilight are losing out. That must suck! ... Read More
I love this movie
Ilove the book
I love Taylor Lautner
So i can never give a reasonable unbiased view. And i'm glad because all those you dont see or understand the beauty of twilight are losing out. That must suck! ... Read More
L: Dirk Miggler
Took our lass and here little sister to watch this the other day, the cinema was packed with teen girls, a few girls who dragged the boyfriend and more girls.
The missus loved it, so did her little sister and all the other girls in the cinema seemed to love it. I didnt love it or really care about what was going on, all I know is i've definately seen worse, suits me fine as I know I will have to put up with it being on my telly everday when it comes out on dvd.
ound... Read More
Classic
Excellent
Good
Fair
Tragic
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