Thursday, December 24, 2009

Movie Review & Reflections: New Moon (Spoilers, if you haven't seen!)

I saw my wonderful Aunt Amazing today, and she said, "Deb, I was disappointed not to see your thoughts on New Moon!"  So, in honor of Aunt Amazing, here are my thoughts on the movie.  I'm anxious to get yours.

1. Better.  I thought this one was better in almost every respect than the movie version of Twilight.  The actors seemed a bit more comfortable in their roles, especially Kristen Stewart.  However, since Bella is supposed to be in an emotionless fog for most of the film, perhaps this one just played to her strengths.  I don't know.

2. Better than the book.  I actually think the film improved on the book in several ways.  Some of the (minor) changes they made allowed the story, for me, to make more sense and have more emotional resonance.  (I should say New Moon has always been my least favorite in the series.)  Most notably: the visual hallucinations of Edward, which I know was done to keep Rob Pattinson visible, but I thought it really added to the story.  I also liked the twist on Harry's heart attack, having it brought about by Victoria during the hunt.

3. Team Jacob.  I now understand how someone could prefer Jacob to Edward.  Jacob, in the books, has always been a completely unappealing character.  I had no idea how Bella could possibly want him, even a little bit.  Now I know, thanks to Taylor Lautner's performance, which I think is what makes the film.

4. Music.  Like Twilight, New Moon had a great soundtrack that really, really enhanced the movie for me.

5. Disappointment: I wanted more of the Volturi sequence.  I know, they did it nearly verbatim, but that was one area where I really wanted more.  They picked amazing actors to play just about everyone, had a big buildup, amazing location, all for a scene that ended far too soon.  I would have loved to see about 10 minutes of angsty Bella cut in favor of an extra 10 minutes of red-eyed Volturi action.  Oh, well.

I thought it was good.  I saw it with Momz and we each commented on how fast it went by; it didn't seem like a two-hour-plus movie.  Overall, this movie made me hopeful that the films will continue to improve.  Eclipse, from what the director has said on Twitter, is in the can and set for a summer release.  Breaking Dawn is set to be two movies.  I predict they will cut it at the point in which Bella "dies" and begin the second half when she opens her eyes as a new vampire, but that's just my prediction.

And, my friends, what then?  Will we ever get Midnight Sun?  Will we even want it by that point?  I'm not sure.

5 comments:

  1. I FINALLY saw New Moon today, and I agree, it was definitely better than Twilight! I tend to be frustrated by plot changes that I can't explain to myself, so I have to ask, where was the stinkin bracelet? What possible reason was there to replace it with a dreamcatcher? WHY?

    I've always been strongly Team Edward, but I've liked Jacob, but in this movie, I was alllllmost rooting for him. I actually believed the tension in this one, much more than in Twilight.

    And I'm glad they finally found a meadow! It was a bit weird, though, flashing back to a scene and changing the scene ;)

    My favorite, though, was when my boyfriend, after the movie, referenced "the part when the Volturi reenacted Face Punch."

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  2. I'm with you on #5. The build-up on the actors was way too much for just a five minute scene. Also, same feelings on Jacob. I never really cared for him in the books---but I agree, Taylor really did a good job making him someone you could cheer for.

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  3. Gostaria que fizesse uma reflexão sobre o Crepúsculo pode ser(twilight) Ai eu traduzo a pagina desculpe escrever em portugues eu sou brasileira mais ai esta a tradução :

    Translation :

    I would like to make a reflection on the Twilight can be! Oh I'm sorry I translate the page to write in Brazilian Portuguese I am anymore, this is the translation:

    Beijoos tchauu :D

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  4. It was a great movie. Way better than Twilight. I'm glad they changed the directors. Everything went really good I thought. The thing that cracked em up was going to bathrom after the movie and just about everyone in there was discussing New Moon. Just strangers turning and saying to each other "OH MY GOSH!! Did you just come from New Moon?? Oh wow that was amazing wasnt it and the..." And so forth. That made me smile.

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  5. OOps. Spelling mistake, got a bit excited.

    one point it says : "...that cracked em up was going..." It should be: "that cracked me up was going..." :)

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