Movie Review - Twilight Saga: New Moon

Stephenie Meyer’s second novel in the Twilight Saga, New Moon, hit theatres around the country at 12:01 Friday morning. It outsold The Dark Knight and even Harry Potter, but it was actually for a good reason this time around.

Twilight was a fun, indie film, but New Moon was more of a blockbuster release a la the Harry Potter series. As any fan of the books will know, this movie is more about Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and her best friend Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) than Bella and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson).

This was definitely Taylor’s movie and he did a phenomenal job. Not just a jealous kid, but a caring friend who is struggling with his new way of life as a werewolf. The big-wigs might have wanted to replace him for the second film but thankfully Taylor worked hard to make sure he kept his role as it paid off. His acting was able to shine and he, hopefully, showed the fans he’s not just a pretty face in the background.

Speaking of pretty faces, Robert Pattinson might not have been present through most of New Moon, but he upped his game in the latest installment. He showed that he can act and the corny lines weren’t as present in New Moon, so he was able to appear as a normal, well, vampire.

As for Kristen Stewart, the same has to be said about her. Having seen her in previous films, it’s obvious she’s a great actress, but New Moon really allowed her emotions to go through the wringer and show the critics that she can, and will always be, Bella Swan.

The acting overall was superb, but it was more than that that made this a good film. Chris Weitz, the new director, was given a lot more rein with special effects and it helped give a more realistic quality to the film. Readers of the book know that New Moon is definitely an action-packed novel with the addition of werewolves and the Volturi, a group of vampires who uphold the vampire law. Included in this pack are Aro (Michael Sheen), Jane (Dakota Fanning) and Caius (Jamie Campbell Bower), which shows that New Moon has become more of a celebrity-enhanced film than Twilight, but in a graceful way.

Now, in the end, it always seems to come down to teams. You have Team Edward, Team Jacob, Team Werewolves, and Team Vampires, but the team that should really get a shout out is Team Humans. These young men and women are great actors who provide a lot of the real-life humor amongst the supernatural beings of the series. Whether you are listening to Jessica (Anna Kendrick) rant about zombies,  Mike (Michael Welch) get sick while seeing a movie with Bella,  Eric (Justin Chon) crying during a class viewing of Romeo and Juliet, or Charlie (Billy Burke) trying to take care of his teenage daughter, viewers are sure to get a laugh from this group.

Justin Chon himself believes that these are the true stars of the film because, as he stated, “team humans are better than all the rest because I happen to be one of them!”

Regardless of which side you are on, Chon wants fans to know that this is a good film with a lot of different aspects added.

“In New Moon we have a new director and a ton of new actors," he said. "It is always better and more interesting when things are changed up a bit.”

Though New Moon was much more of a hit than Twilight, most viewers will be left hanging and wanting only to see Eclipse, the third in the series. However, the humans might have to take a bit of a back seat on that one, especially Chon’s Eric Yorkie.

“Eclipse will not disappoint.  If you read the books, you know that Eric is not in the third book much," Chon said. "Eric is in the third movie even less.  In the end I end up only making a cameo in the third film.”

If New Moon is anything to go by, it should still be one fun movie. Fans and critics alike can catch that next summer on June 30, 2010.

Grade: A-

8 comments

Your name

Mon Nov 23 2009 14:22

i agree, Taylor did a GREAT fantastic job on his role here. and definitely the best actor among those 3 lead roles. I really cant see why K-stew can act as Bella. sheeesh!.
anyhow better than twilight hoping for more on Eclipse!

Susan

Sun Nov 22 2009 06:56

Doc- I'm a 38 year old female with a fairly high level of mentality, and I loved the books, and now I love New Moon. So much better than Twilight was done. I was a little disappointed that so much of the book was left out. I could have sat for another hour and watched it- Braveheart and LOTR all made extra long movies and got away with it. Where was the imprinting? Since when does Bella have the guts to slug Sam? In the book Paul loses it because he thinks that Jake gave the secret away, and it happens in a private place, not at Jakes house. Me, I've always been Team Jacob, and New Moon only reaffirms that. In my opinion, Jacob is way too good for Bella. He is sweet, sincere, warm, mysterious, tall, dark, and most definitely handsome. The type most women look for. But for Bella he would have been second best and he wouldn't deserve that. Bella isn't good enough for him. I think that Kristin Stewart does a horrible Bella. Bella was smart in the books, very shy, and clumsy because of a medical condition that is never fully explained in the books. Kristin makes Bella stutter and sit with a stupid look on her face when anyone talks to her. But I am glad that Edward gets Bella, because if you've read the books it is obvious she was born to be a vampire. But I am so hoping that Meyer will write more books. I need more! What about Jake and Nessie and when the Volturi come back? I also think that Leah needs a happy ending. She is one that grabbed my heart and I think that she should imprint on the other half human/ half vamp in Breaking Dawn. That one would actually be ironic, but work. I don't think the story ended right so I think we need more. So hopefully Stephanie is reading this!!!!

Dok

Sun Nov 22 2009 03:33

If you're female and have a menality of a 12 year old, then this movie is for you. Otherwise, skip it, pure garbage.

Team Taylor

Sat Nov 21 2009 21:25

Saw this at midnight the day it came out!! It was a little anti-climactic in some places, and they left some important things out (not to mention some Jacob scenes that I was really looking forward to). But overall they did a really good job with it. Taylor Lautner was the best actore out of the three leads, and I'm so glad that he worked to keep his role. This really is his movie, and not just because he takes his shirt off every other scene (which i am NOT complaining about ;D) Loved the movie, SO worth standing in line for five hours. TEAM JAKE FOREVER

jessica

Sat Nov 21 2009 20:52

i saw new moon today... omg it was so much better than the first and Kristen didn't do that hyper active blinking thing this time... i loved it

Country Girl

Sat Nov 21 2009 20:20

I saw the movie today, It was okay I think they gave out to much information in the previews but I want the old director back the new did work really well with the movie which made it not the greatest. :(

Millie-12 yrs old

Sat Nov 21 2009 19:34

i saw new moon...fastly paced but excellent...the only bad thing was that in the adds there was an advert for "Paranormal Activity". Young children went into the cinema to watch new moon but they were hit with a freakiest add ever....parents should not have to worry about horror adds before a fantastic movie.

Doc

Sat Nov 21 2009 18:16

give the "rein", not the reign...Chris, despite his wishful thinking, doesn't rule...well, anything. Cheers, s

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