Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Runtime: 130 min
UK release date: 20 November 2009:
People who watch this film are going to fall, very distinctly,
into two camps - no we're not talking about whether you're on Team
Jacob or Team Edward - we're referring to whether you're into the
whole Twilight thing or whether you're not. A number of
critics seem to be sitting on the fence on this one or slating New
Moon for its qualities as a stand-alone-film. But New Moon is not
just a film. It's part of a saga; a phenomenon; one which has
taken over teenage girls, their mums and Film24 employees who
really should know better.
While Twilight was filled with long lingering stares and the
twisted love story between Bella and Edward with just a little bit
of action at the end, New Moon packs in more action and more
character with the addition of a werewolf pack and vampire clan the
Volturi. Director Chris White remains faithful to the book
and takes the Twilight saga to a new level.
We left the first Twilight with Edward and Bella's relationship
blooming. Despite feeling a constant thirst for her blood
Edward is in love with Bella and she, in turn, dazzled by his
beauty is madly in love with him too. Apart from a niggling worry
about ageing while her boyfriend is destined to live eternally in
the body of a 17 year old, an impromptu 18th birthday party
leads to a paper cut which turns Edward's brother into a frenzy at
the site of blood. Edward decides it is best for him to
disappear from Bella's life forever leaving Bella to become the
most heartbroken teenager ever. She becomes a zombie (not, just to
clarify, literally although in this series you really never know)
until she finds a way to see Edward-shaped ghostly apparitions
through adrenalin-filled near-death experiences. Bella also
finds comfort in the now very large arms of Jacob. Gone is
the long-haired 15 year old boy of the first Twilight film, Jacob
has piled on the muscle, lobbed off the hair and become Bella's
knight in - well - nothing more than a pair of shorts
actually. But the plot thickens when we find that Jacob's not
quite all he seems to be either. Just in case there's anybody
out there who doesn't know the rest of the story - which is
probably about as likely as people not knowing how Titanic ends -
we'll leave it at that.
For those who hate the whole Twilight phenomenon New Moon probably
won't change their mind although it is definitely the better film
of the two. But for Twilight fans Chris White does a great
job of bringing the second book to life and will satisfy fans
whichever 'team' they're on.