I am so over vampires.
New Moon follows from where Twilight left off. Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) are dating, but it’s a relationship balanced on a knife-edge. He’s a vampire and she’s human and her scent is simply irresistible. They can only kiss for the a few seconds before he has to break apart from her to stop himself from losing control. Despite this deadly obstacle, the couple are desperately in love, as only teenagers can be. The movie begins with Bella turning eighteen, which in her mind, makes her one year older than Edward (even though he is technically 107.) She tries to hide the fact that its her birthday from her friends, but the all-knowing Alice (Ashley Greene) throws a party. It’s here that the first turning point occurs. As Bella is unwrapping a gift she cuts herself, which unleashes the newborn vampire Jasper’s (Jackson Rathbone) thirst. A fight occurs which results in Bella becoming seriously injured. But worse than this, Edward believes he can no longer protect Bella. From his family, or from himself.
The Cullens leave Forks and Bella plunges into a depression that lasts three months. She begins a cycle of reckless behaviour which ultimately brings her closer to Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), who slowly, and unknowingly, brings her back into the world. Friendship and ultimately romance blooms and Bella learns the secret of the Quileutes.
The romantic bubble is burst by the re-appearance of one the Cullens, who brings some very distressing news. Bella is left with the question? Who will she choose?
To be honest New Moon was my least favourite of the Twilight saga. Twilight was more than absorbing. It was a black hole that sucked you in and left you reeling afterwards. With Twilight, Meyer had re-written Romeo and Juliet and instead of the tragic final death, she ended the novel with the star-crossed Bella and Edward declaring their undying love for each for each other. I reached for New Moon expecting exactly that, the moon, but instead I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth. Where was Edward? I’m a creature of habit, and can’t read a book without finishing it, and it was only the thought that he might come back that got me through it. The book was too long, and not what I was expecting. But being part of the saga it was a bestseller anyway. Stephanie Meyer has mastered the young adult genre. By the time Eclipse hit the shelves I was hooked again.
Despite my gripes about the book the film was outstanding. It was taut, constantly moving and brilliantly weaved together. The scenes between Bella and Jacob are so intimate that you almost wish that Edward doesn’t come back. I usually see film adaptations as visual companions to the novels, but this was just lovely, and far more enjoyable than the book. The movie was directed by Chris Weitz who also directed The Golden Compass. There is certainly more weight to this film, which is noticeable by the impressive special effects, the appearance of more than one heavyweight actor and a high-speed car sequence with a Ferrari, but the it retains the same moodiness of Twilight. The scenes in Forks are just as lovely, if not more so.
And Dakota Fanning shone as Jane.
To be fair I don’t think I should have written this review just after seeing the film. I am still feeling that heady afterglow and wanting to discuss it every five minutes with every person I see. Of course it wasn’t a perfect film. Jasper’s sudden impulse to charge was just too contrived, Jamie Campbell Bower’s role of Caius seemed rather pointless and everyone in the film other than Bella, Edward and Jacob seemed to only have one line. Despite these teething problems I thoroughly enjoyed it. I mean, lets be fair, no film is faultless. I can’t watch the trailer of Invictus without bursting at the seams at Matt Damon’s accent. And that might be an Oscar contender.
Read my Twilight review here.
