Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Director: Chris Weitz (About a Boy, The Golden Compass)
Running Time: 2 hrs 10 min
Release Date: Nov. 20, 2009
Budget: $50 million
Critics’ Thumbs up: 42%
“Fan-ready and saga-solid.” Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
“Where’s the excitement? Where’s the action?” Kyle Smith, New York Post
New Moon, the second installment in this supernatural romance series, is as starkly different from last year’s Twilight as the actual twilight is different from sunrise. Whereas the first film was dull, cloying and rushed, this follow-up − with Weitz onboard as the new director − was immensely entertaining due to its engaging story, faithful and complete adaptation, and spectacular special effects (see a teenage boy fully and believably transition into a werewolf). Based on Stephanie Meyer’s wildly popular books, New Moon explores mortal teenager Bella’s (Stewart) blooming relationship with werewolf Jacob (Lautner) as she struggles with the departure of Edward, her vampire beau (Pattinson). Sure she mopes and stares blankly out the window to the backdrop of emo music much to the distaste of other critics, but Weitz and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg understand her pain and rightly don’t underscore the ache Bella feels in Edward’s absence. Though Stewart, with her edginess and surliness, is miscast as sweet, clumsy Bella, the three leads, especially Lautner, still give standout, character-driven performances. Plus, Dakota Fanning takes a surprisingly wicked turn as evil vampire Jane. My only request for New Moon is to tone down the teeny-bopperness. Enough with the slow-mo shots of Edward swaggering toward the camera, and, yes, we all agree Lautner looks good without a shirt despite the constant reminder from squealing teenage moviegoer girls.
