The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (B or 3/4 stars)
Teens, tweens, & all other form of romantics - heads up - the 3rd installment of the Twilight Saga is upon us. Here to overtake your local multiplex is 'Eclipse', helmed by Davis Slade (director of another vampire flick, 30 Days of Night). The plot picks up after the vote for Isabella Swan (Kristen Stewart) becoming immortal. Trouble is brewing for our protagonists, however, when a string of mysterious deaths in nearby Seattle gives fair warning to the inhabitants of Forks. The crimson-haired vampiress, Victoria (now played by Bryce Dallas Howard), is back to avenge her dead lover, James (killed by Edward). Plainly put, she wants 'Bella' dead. For help, she recruits an army of newborn vampires, led by her new boy toy, Riley (a stellar Xavier Samuel).
And while this is going on, the vampires' ruling council, Volturi (led by scary-ass Dakota Fanning), sit from beyond; watching ever-closely. What are they up to? Throughout all of that, so continues the heavy-hearted love triangle btwn. Bella, the vampire-with-a-tortured-soul, Edward (Robert Pattinson), & the bare-chested werewolf, Jacob (Taylor Lautner). Bella wants Edward sexually ... big time. But Edward, a 100+ yr. old vampire, believes that 'courting' comes first. Meanwhile, lovelorn Jacob is desperate to woo Bella towards him. Misunderstood to each other, the 2 males finally have a mature discussion (in a tent, for God's sake) over Bella one cold, stormy night -- Brokeback, anyone? Can these foes unite to save Bella & defeat the newborn vampires in an all-out surprise attack?
It's interesting to see how Stephanie Meyers' books/movies have given human, sexual desire emotions to vampire/werewolf lore. I have to say, it's pretty damn intoxicating. The story keeps revolving around Bella's 'choice'. She definitely has feelings for both, but is stringing one along in miserable fashion. It's just clear to me (& anyone with a notion of intuition) who she'll side with in the end. It's funny. This film has more going on - narratively & action-wise - than the other 2 movies in this franchise, and yet, the movie ends right where it began (will Bella choose her true love, Edward, or her best friend, Taylor? Will she choose to remain mortal, or become immortal?)! Haha, the cyclic nature is kinda perplexing to watch unfold. But I digress.
For me, 'Eclipse' is the best movie in the Twilight franchise. I kinda liked the 1st film because it was all set-up (I enjoy sinking my teeth into part 1's of trilogies, and such). But that was not a good "movie". The 2nd Twilight film bored me (too much teen angst, hair-flipping, lip-biting, & ambiguous, uber-serious moping about). But this film really felt like there was something at stake. There is plot. There is action. There is self-mocking HUMOR. It's not just painfully serious conversations, or teens giving googly eyes at each other. It's not all gooeyness. This film finally stitches together a story where the romance(s) feel palpable; the emotions feel real; and the intermingling of bodily fluids could come to fruition at any moment. Hot damn!
Now, don't get me wrong. This movie is no example of exemplary cinema. All I'm saying is that I was 'tuned-in' for nearly the entire time, enjoyed what I saw, & only experienced a few dips/slow spots. According to my friend Marcia, the film remains very true to the source material; varying only when cinematically necessary. The dialogue feels a bit more naturalistic, & not as much like page-to-screen drivel. i.e., loved Jessica's (Anna Kendrick) graduation speech. And I really enjoyed seeing some back stories of the minor characters: Jasper, Maria, Rosalie (Jackson Rathbone, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Nikki Reed). These plot threads are necessary to the development of the story. That's been a problem with me (in the prior films) ... the lack of fleshing things out.
And of course, the movie thrives when it is squarely on the main trio. Bella's as vulnerable as ever. Edward is as madly-in-love, yet cool as ever. Jacob is as hot-blooded, & bothered as ever. One's the ice, one's the fire, & she must decide which burns in her favor. It's what the fans want to see. Stewart is more tolerable this time around; I particularly liked her proposal chat with Edward, & her humorous talk with dad (Billy Burke). She even gets some gumption (it's not you should be, but who you are). Pattinson's Edward made me see, for the 1st time, why Bella would give up her life for him. And as poor, neglected Jacob, Lautner finally gets to show 'some' comedic, action, & acting chops. Good on him for calling Bella & Edward out on their lovey-doveyness, too (haha).
Overall, I found 'Eclipse' to be compulsively watchable, passably entertaining, and containing some much needed substance & depth that the last films have sorely lacked. It's nice that the climactic battle scene actually meant something. And so, director David Slade gets better performances out of his young cast, finds an edgier tone, & injects the verging-on-tiresome teen passions with some real narrative interest. For the 1st time ever - despite some cheesy stretches & bouts of self-importance - I am actually curious to see what the next installment brings.
And while this is going on, the vampires' ruling council, Volturi (led by scary-ass Dakota Fanning), sit from beyond; watching ever-closely. What are they up to? Throughout all of that, so continues the heavy-hearted love triangle btwn. Bella, the vampire-with-a-tortured-soul, Edward (Robert Pattinson), & the bare-chested werewolf, Jacob (Taylor Lautner). Bella wants Edward sexually ... big time. But Edward, a 100+ yr. old vampire, believes that 'courting' comes first. Meanwhile, lovelorn Jacob is desperate to woo Bella towards him. Misunderstood to each other, the 2 males finally have a mature discussion (in a tent, for God's sake) over Bella one cold, stormy night -- Brokeback, anyone? Can these foes unite to save Bella & defeat the newborn vampires in an all-out surprise attack?
It's interesting to see how Stephanie Meyers' books/movies have given human, sexual desire emotions to vampire/werewolf lore. I have to say, it's pretty damn intoxicating. The story keeps revolving around Bella's 'choice'. She definitely has feelings for both, but is stringing one along in miserable fashion. It's just clear to me (& anyone with a notion of intuition) who she'll side with in the end. It's funny. This film has more going on - narratively & action-wise - than the other 2 movies in this franchise, and yet, the movie ends right where it began (will Bella choose her true love, Edward, or her best friend, Taylor? Will she choose to remain mortal, or become immortal?)! Haha, the cyclic nature is kinda perplexing to watch unfold. But I digress.
For me, 'Eclipse' is the best movie in the Twilight franchise. I kinda liked the 1st film because it was all set-up (I enjoy sinking my teeth into part 1's of trilogies, and such). But that was not a good "movie". The 2nd Twilight film bored me (too much teen angst, hair-flipping, lip-biting, & ambiguous, uber-serious moping about). But this film really felt like there was something at stake. There is plot. There is action. There is self-mocking HUMOR. It's not just painfully serious conversations, or teens giving googly eyes at each other. It's not all gooeyness. This film finally stitches together a story where the romance(s) feel palpable; the emotions feel real; and the intermingling of bodily fluids could come to fruition at any moment. Hot damn!
Now, don't get me wrong. This movie is no example of exemplary cinema. All I'm saying is that I was 'tuned-in' for nearly the entire time, enjoyed what I saw, & only experienced a few dips/slow spots. According to my friend Marcia, the film remains very true to the source material; varying only when cinematically necessary. The dialogue feels a bit more naturalistic, & not as much like page-to-screen drivel. i.e., loved Jessica's (Anna Kendrick) graduation speech. And I really enjoyed seeing some back stories of the minor characters: Jasper, Maria, Rosalie (Jackson Rathbone, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Nikki Reed). These plot threads are necessary to the development of the story. That's been a problem with me (in the prior films) ... the lack of fleshing things out.
And of course, the movie thrives when it is squarely on the main trio. Bella's as vulnerable as ever. Edward is as madly-in-love, yet cool as ever. Jacob is as hot-blooded, & bothered as ever. One's the ice, one's the fire, & she must decide which burns in her favor. It's what the fans want to see. Stewart is more tolerable this time around; I particularly liked her proposal chat with Edward, & her humorous talk with dad (Billy Burke). She even gets some gumption (it's not you should be, but who you are). Pattinson's Edward made me see, for the 1st time, why Bella would give up her life for him. And as poor, neglected Jacob, Lautner finally gets to show 'some' comedic, action, & acting chops. Good on him for calling Bella & Edward out on their lovey-doveyness, too (haha).
Overall, I found 'Eclipse' to be compulsively watchable, passably entertaining, and containing some much needed substance & depth that the last films have sorely lacked. It's nice that the climactic battle scene actually meant something. And so, director David Slade gets better performances out of his young cast, finds an edgier tone, & injects the verging-on-tiresome teen passions with some real narrative interest. For the 1st time ever - despite some cheesy stretches & bouts of self-importance - I am actually curious to see what the next installment brings.