ENGLISH - PG13 - 26 November 2009 - Action/Martial Art
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Running Time: 130 mins.
Director: Chris Weitz
Producers: Mark Morgan, Wyck Godfrey
Writers: Melissa Rosenberg, Stephenie Meyer
Casts: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene
Plot: After Bella recovers from the vampire attack that almost takes her life, she looks to celebrate her birthday with Edward and his family. However, a minor accident during the festivities results in Bella's blood being shed, a sight that proves too intense for the Cullens, who decide to leave the town of Forks in Washington, for Bella and Edward's sake. Initially heartbroken, Bella finds a form of comfort in reckless living, as well as an even closer friendship with Jacob Black. Danger in different forms awaits.
The Verdict:
Green Tea Bern says:
Whether this is a pure chick flick or just using the vampire to lure in love and blood-thirst does not bother me anymore. Welcome to the perhaps most over-rated movie of the year, watching the trailer gave me a sense of more actions but ended up very disappointing. It was not the novel's fault when it comes to this piece of dull adaptation, but blame it on the transitional stage. The preface to sum it all up - only Twilight Fans will enjoy it!
This continues where we left behind from the first installment, with a new central conflict. While remaining faithful to the original novel, it uses the love triangle between Bella, Edward and Jacob in a brilliant way, manifests into a strong and solid centralized plot to follow. But here's the problem - the story that supposedly can be translated in a fluent-flow ended up been choked by its lazy, sloppy and achingly slow pace. There are too many unnecessary scenes and dragging moments that has made this film 130 minutes long.
The cheesy humour introduced by Chris Weitz works little to make it interesting. It is terribly written dialog, serving cold and lame conversations that even dampened the spirit of enjoying the movie.
For the second movie, the story not only talks about the love triangle but also deals with the pain and agony of growing up as a teenager. However, interestingly, the story deviates by introducing too much of adrenaline-rush and junkie in it. Totally deviated and so wrong!
Besides, the movie is easily predictable. I bet those who have not read the novel yet could guess the outcome. It is not the problem when one has already tells you in hand what is going to happen but take it that it is still too easy to guess what is going to happen. I think the never-ever reader would have know Bella insisted to be with Edward despite been dumped - because she try some adrenaline-junk-act so that Edward can teleport himself back to save her. See!!
The acting skills are still over the place for Stewart while Pattinson proved he can acted better than her. Lautner did much better than both of them by showing more variance of emotions. But the best of all is perhaps Dakota Fanning - cold-hearted while inflict the pain on anyone she likes, she gave the best performance on this film while Michael Sheen as Voulturi's leader Aro made Pattinson looked timid. They stole the show despite a short screentime.
Cinematography and visualization take a step forward and better than the first Twilight. I guess that is the only thing that goes better than the previous one. No more slacky and too CGI-ed vampire flying around but it does not make the movie felt better. Story-wise, I still go for the first one. New Moon is just too dry and only underage girls would love it.
NOTE: I looked at this movie from technical aspect and not trying to be biased!!
STORY - 2.5 stars
CASTS - 3.5 stars
CINEMATOGRAPHY - 3.5 stars
EFFECTS - 3.5 stars
OVERALL - 3.0 stars
Green-Tea-O-Meter: 12.4