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A great adaptation of Stephanie Myer’s second novel in The Twilight Saga *teen screams*. New Moon proves much more thrilling and true to the story that fans know and love. Directed wonderfully by Chris Weitz, it is lightyears ahead in style and the transition from page to screen is seamless in comparison to the first film, Twilight, directed by Catherine Hardwicke which left many fans disheartened.
Teen idol, Robert Pattinson, uses his limited screen time well and really shines in Edward’s farewell scene with Bella where he leaves her behind in Forks to protect her from his supernatural world. At midnight screenings there were many tears and sympathetic head-tilts, only to be followed by a surge of hormones later as he takes off his shirt…v e r y … s l o w l y.
The torso-baring theme was continued (yay) in the newly buffed up members of the Quileute Wolf Pack. Seventeen year old (yes, really) Taylor Lautner does well in his performance as the aggressive young Jacob Black, a wolf struggling to handle his extraordinary, shape shifting powers as well as his heart-broken longing for the depressed and abandoned Bella who is too busy moping around, jumping off cliffs and throwing herself off motorcycles to notice him walking around La Push semi-naked (we noticed Jacob, bring those abs over here). I have to add that whilst the movie is already quite long at a mighty 130mins, screentime could have been used more effectively to draw on Bella’s support structure in spending time with the wolf pack and Emily. Instead of the recurring torture of Bella’s misery.
I fully sympathised with Bella Swan as she moseyed around Forks trying to kill herself, I felt the same watching Kristen Stewart’s mono-tone, mono-expression performance… AGAIN. Though I’ll give her credit, she was better in New Moon than in Twilight. But only in the way that a paper cut gets better, in that you know what to expect.
The casting of the Volturi, though not what I expected, was pleasing and I’m glad the multi-million dollar draw of the movie world invaded my imagination on this occasion. Dakota Fanning as the torturing Jane, is exceptionally creepy and may haunt my thoughts forever more. Michael Sheen’s performance as the Royal Leader of the Volturi is spine-chilling and does draw up a genuine fear that has made sure I shall never take a tourist trip to any cathedrals in Italy.
My star of the movie however was Billy Burke as Police Chief of Forks and Bella’s father, Charlie Swan. His witty comments and desperate misunderstanding of his teenage daughter (and her supernatural companions) is something familiar we can all relate to in this whirlwind of vampires and werewolves. Not to mention he’s a bit dishy, mothers of Twi-hards unite and take your daughters to the cinema this weekend, you will not be disappointed.
