Ball-less Vampires with Fang

Nevermind that I recommended seeing the Fright Night remake yesterday. I let one overzealous critic get my hopes up. My head is clear now and I realize that my initial assessment was right. Why try to redo something that was so good to begin with?

I'm a sculptor so let me use this analogy: The original Fright Night was like a sculpt of The David - it has all the right parts in the right places, everything is where it's supposed to be, it's whole. You could scrutinize it up close and see that each part is good and appropriate. You could also step back and find that all together it works and it is beautiful.

The Fright Night remake, instead of starting with a nice new block of marble, is some hybrid mutation of the original chunked up and reformed. The rebooters maybe chiseled off an arm and cemented it to the back, or sliced off the nose and glued it to a thigh. And the balls, well, they hacked those off and tossed them completely. So what you have when you take a step back and size up the remake is an ugly mess that is a little frightening (and not in a fun way), makes no sense and is ball-less.

After the show I was embarrassed to have worn my Fright Night t-shirt. I left the theater with my arms crossed over my chest. I won't pick apart who was the worst at what because everyone sucked. Farrell was a terrible Jerry Dandrige! Evil Ed sucked. Everything that made Charley Charley was gone in Yelchin's portrayal. Instead of being a innocent boy with steadfast convictions he was a wishy washy high school hero wannabe skeptical of that which he was up against. That sounds more like Peter Vincent's character! Even Charley's mom got a make over. No longer was she the clueless doting mother. Instead she was a wizened hip single mom too wary to fall to the (non existent) wiles of new neighbor Jerry Dandrige. Even new Jerry's house was innocuous and sterile. Remember how spooky original Jerry's house was, with all the old timey stuff and cobwebs and nooks -n- crannies? Nevermind that freakin' staircase! And what happened to Billy Cole, the subservient watchdog / bodyguard of Jerry's? He just got written out? I guess Jerry didn't need someone to watch his back while he sleeps the sleep of the undead since in this reboot Jerry doesn't seem to need to sleep during the day. Is the new Jerry taking queue's from the Twilight vampires now, he doesn't need to slumber during daylight hours? And forget about the special effects. I don't even want to go there because that would mean another 500 words just on how substandard the new CGI vampy effects are compared to the original. The reboot used state of the art effects to essentially try to recreate what the first movie did with masks and makeup, and FAILED.

I guess I did want to pick it apart.

This movie seemed like a metally diminished person watched the original Fright Night and incorrectly analyzed each character and then overemphasized his miscalculations when re-imagining the characters. For example, in the original I never got the feeling that Ed was an outcasted nerdy loaner / loser. He was just this creepy dude that you assumed would someday be in trouble with the law for something weird and scary. And as fate would have it, he indeed would end up doing illegal and highly scary, creepy things - only as a vampire. It always seemed like Ed's exclusion from social circles was his own doing. He didn't give a shit what anyone thought.

Same goes for the new Jerry. Where's the charisma? What happened to the sexy? They most definitely did not bring sexy back. ...Maybe they should have cast Justin Timberlake as Jerry. To sum up this heinous misrepresentation of one of cinema's coolest vampires, let me lay another analogy on you:

Farrell's Dandrige IS TO Sarandon's Dandrige AS high school drop out auto mechanic IS TO virile world traveler with a masters in antique collecting and ass kicking.

****SPOILER ALERT!****
As a matter of fact, the cameo of Chris Sarandon only served to highlight that he is STILL way cooler and more fitting as Jerry Dandrige. They should have chucked the cameo idea and just recast Sarandon as Dandrige. Let Farrell do the damned cameo.
****END - SPOILER ALERT!****


Overall I got the distinct feeling that director Craig Gillespie misunderstood the whole spirit of the original Fright Night. The original was unsettling and also whimsical. Frightening and hilarious. It understood what real horror movies are all about. It just got it. That's how you make a cult classic movie. Even the soundtrack played a pivotal role in making the original movie work. Brad Fiedel made magic with his Fright Night score. I can hear two or three cords from that creepy Fiedel Fright Night riff and I'm immediately inundated with memories of Charley Brewster sneaking about, blindly poking his nose into darkened corners and spooky places that are better left unexplored. Maybe the reboot works for a new generation of viewers, what with all the sexual remarks and wise-ass cracks. What I'm saying is that, sadly, Gillespie took a horror movie that happened to be about a teenager and turned it into a teen horror movie.

Please forget I recommended the Fright Night reboot so enthusiastically. Pretend I said Daybreakers.

Eclipse Premiere... Anyone?

Hi everyone. My admiration for the Twilight Empire has remained inspired but unfortunately life is not a forgone constant. Sometimes in life your schedule is open and malleable enough that you can go to midnight showings of movie premieres and sleep in the next day. Other times ratty old job commitments ensnare you in their evil grip and won't let go.

Essentially what I'm saying is shit happens.

So, I have to work crappy hours now and since I owe a mortgage company part of my mortal soul I haven't seen Eclipse yet. Grrr! Don't big corporations understand the order of importance: Eat, sleep, poop, family, friends, pets, TWILIGHT, 100's of other things, work and bills.

Guess not.

I do have plans to go see it this Monday. I'm excited. I've heard good things so far. I have remained removed from the hype this time around though so I really have no expectations about the story or actors or special effects and all that. But I know I'll like it all the same. It's kind of better this way. I'll see it totally unconditioned for what's coming. It might be more intense that way. I'll let you know.

I'll post my review here sometime next week.

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend, my fellow Twilighters.

First Official Eclipse Poster

Direct from The World of Twilight - Official Site. I'm so excited. This poster is the harbinger of delicious love-triangle-y things to come. I know I'll just about faint during the mountain tent scene and then for the big, wet, you-know-what between Jacob and Bella that comes after it! Seriously folks, I hope that director David Slade really draws out that scene. I mean, it can last an hour all by its self. That would be totally okay to me. Because I'm going to be in - straight up, no holds barred - ecstasy! I just hope I'll be able to control myself enough to keep from melting out of the theater seat and writhing around on the floor!

I can't wait to see how Slade handles the banter that goes on between Edward and Jacob in the tent. The audience will most certainly have to have access to Jacob's thoughts to make it enjoyable and understandable. Otherwise it'll just seem like Edward is grumpily talking to himself.

Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!!

Big ones!

Hey, I found some super gigantic New Moon stills. So close up you can almost feel them!! Enjoy :)

mmmm, Jacob... Rescue me, baby!

Some Edward for Peggy ;)

Holy heck, that's nice :)

So close up, you can see the fret lines!

Sad Edward needs some comforting. There there, Mr. Hotty ;)

Our favorite meadow!

Get away from him, you brute!

Jacob in my favorite T-Shirt. So hot!

Jasper getting all wild. Rawr!

I had a minute today to wax philosophical...

Since I first saw previews for Twilight something has been nagging at me. I couldn't put my finger on it but I've figured it out. I totally love the look of Rob as Edward. I'm okay with that. And generally speaking, he's a fairly good Edward. And Kristen is um... okay looking as Bella (although this person more closely matches my idea of Bella) and we know I've had issues with Kristen's actual portrayal of how Bella would act/react/move/speak/blink (lol) BUT, my issue is that I never bought into the hype that the chemistry between Rob and Kristen onscreen was so great. I never saw it. I still don't. In my opinion, there isn't that much heat between them. And what's more, there doesn't seem to be any conviction behind what they say to each other. I don't believe them, I suppose is what I'm getting at. They said all the right words at the right times, seemed to understand the import of the words behind the dialog. And yet, there's more to just 'saying' them. I know they are only actors, and not Edward and Bella, but I know there are actors out there somewhere who could have made me yearn, ache and empathize with their plight to be together against all odds. I wanted so badly to feel it. I needed to know that Bella felt she would burst if Edward didn't lean in and kiss her. I wanted my heart beat to quicken when Edward's growing hunger forced him to expel Bella from him ...before he did something he'd regret. I never once got the right feelings while watching B&E interact onscreen. I couldn't tell that it was the end of the world for Bella being separated from Edward for even one day. I know I should have felt that way because that's exactly how I felt when I read the books. I yearned for his return right along with her. I hated the times Bella showed up at school and found that Edward and the rest of the Cullen's weren't there. It depressed me when she'd go home to her room and he wasn't there. When he leaned in for the first time, just to 'try one thing' I thought I'd go mad with want!

I'll admit, the Edward conjured up in our own minds based on the words crafted by Stephenie is a hard act to follow. Same with the addictive, incendiary love and lust between Edward and Bella. There is a perfection of angsty love on those pages that would be near impossible to duplicate. But still, I feel a little slighted that Rob and Kristen didn't come closer. I think there was so much worry about the technicality of getting it right, they over thought it. They being not just the actors, but all involved: director, writers, lighting guy, lol. I think everyone believed that the onscreen Edward and Bella had to embody what made us all fall in love with them in the first place, so much so that they focused on pursuing that perfection and lost what should have felt easy: the natural, undeniable, immediate attraction between the two.

I never once felt watching either movie that these are two people who want more than anything to be together, that they'd rather die than live without each other or that their attraction was so demanding that they had to be touching at all times, that Bella would risk her own death over and over to keep trying to be with him or that Edward would subject himself to constant, torturous pain just to be with her.

I know those are hard things to convey onscreen. But the heart wants what the heart wants. And I know it's not impossible because someone else did it. Taylor Lautner. He made me believe him. He was subtlety heartbroken over and over by Bella's unintentional rejections. His unrequited love was so... delicious. I bought him hook, line and sinker. As Jacob, he became the boy whose sunny disposition wouldn't let him be defeated. He wore his heart on his sleeve valiantly and was the eternal, beautiful best friend. I found him irresistible. Some of you may scoff and accuse me of reacting to his (stunningly) transformed body from that of a boy to a man and while I cannot deny that his physical presence was noteworthy, it's not what I'm proud of here. I'm proud of the fact that Taylor was willing to gruelingly work out to change himself completely. He's committed to being Jacob and it shows, and not just physically. In the last scene of New Moon, when Jacob whispers "Bella", I felt it. In that one word, I knew that he was putting himself out there and not caring who saw (Edward), pleading with her, but still knowing he had lost (the battle but not the war) and was subsequently broken.

My little gripes about things should by no means be considered as admission of any sort of dislike for any of the Twilight movies. I just pointed out something that needles at me. I applaud Rob and Kristen for taking on two of the most beloved characters of the last decade. And here's hoping that next time, they'll get a little closer to that sweet tortured love that haunts my fantasies.

Onward and Upward

I think I mentioned before that I'd rather they spaced the Twilight Saga movies out evenly, one a year. But, alas, they are pushing for earlier release dates and Eclipse's date is approaching. We won't have a whole year to complain about how looong away the opening day is. I really enjoyed the year long count down. The drawn out length of time was such sweet agony. And, I sort of feel like I did when I first read the books; postpone the end at all costs! Cause once all the movies are made and been through the theaters, that's it. It'll be over. Yeah, we'll all have the DVDs added to our collection to watch any time we want, but it won't be like this. The hype, the excitement, the anticipation.. It'll all die away and we'll go on about our day to day business. Sigh... it just seems sad to me.

So, right now I'm happily aware of how far away Eclipse seems. I hope time drags by dreadfully slow. That way we can all go impatiently bonkers together.

New Moon: Viewing #3 Under My Belt, #4 Tomorrow

I went to see it again Wednesday… And so I’m all a tingle again. I went alone and I have to tell you, it was magical. I really was absorbed in the story. Usually I feed off the reaction of whoever is with me and while it is really super fun to share that experience with friends, there is something I cherish about hunkering down by myself and giving myself over to the inundation of sites and emotions on the screen. I’d had a bad day Wednesday and I felt I owed myself this treat. I forgot everything from the day and was pulled into the story completely. I almost teared up in parts. I was so drawn into the story and was even feeling Edward’s plight. My emotions were raw. Two hours of suspended bliss. Crazy!

Ah, Stephenie, what tales she masterfully weaves! How dare she hijack my emotions so completely. Once again. Did she sell her soul to old Beelzebub or something? Such rich, three dimensional, irresistible characters! I’m in love again, for real. I dwell on those intriguing Quileute words softly uttered in the kitchen and imagine myself the recipient of such intoxicating ardor. It's quite an exquisite feeling, getting so utterly enthralled in something.. I hope you have all seen New Moon. It is sooo good!

By the way, I've Googled that Quileute phrase (that Jacob said to Bella in the kitchen right before the 'almost' kiss) to see what it means and I guess Taylor Lautner spent time in La Push doing movie research and he learned the phrase from a Quileute elder. He knows the meaning and it was his idea to add it to the scene. But he's not giving up the meaning of it. General consensus seems to be that it means "Stay with me, forever."

Just when I think I can't like Jacob any more than I already do. . .

Dang that Jacob… yummy. J

Wonder what that naughty boy said...

Saw this today, too. I thought it was hilarious. Rob looks like such a scoundrel!

Taylor Lautner Hosting SNL December 12th

Yay! Here's a promotional spot for this weeks Saturday Night Live. It's Taylor and Kristen Wiig (who I love!!) and it's very cute. Kristen got her hair cut and she looks phenomenal! And Taylor, well, he's his gorgeous affable self.

Enjoy!!

New Moon Movie Script

Hi all.

I was kicking around the web and found the New Moon movie script! Now, I haven't gotten a chance to read it yet so I can't attest to it's accuracy but as far as I know, this is the actual movie script! I've also added a link to the pdf in the links bar on this blog's right side navigation. How much do you love me??

You're welcome!

New Moon script here (pdf)

My 5 Favorite New Moon Scenes

I'm going to go see New Moon again tomorrow and I can't wait. It'll be #3 for me. Since our heads are all still swimming from the chemistry between Bella and Jacob (chemistry: Bella: 10%, Jacob: 90%) I just can't get it out of my mind!

Now I know that others have probably done lists like this, maybe even similar to mine. But I feel I must list my 5 favorite New Moon scenes. It should be done for posterity's sake. Let's not be surprised if it's very Jacob friendly.

5.) "Jacob in Bella's Bedroom" - I loved it when Jacob monkeyed his way up the outside of the Swann's house and slid right in through the window. Gosh! And the topper to the whole danged scene was that look on his face. He was so pleased with himself. It was a cocky look that's hard to explain. But I can tell you I've scene it time and time again on the faces of young men who, in the attempt to impress a girl, pull off some macho, physical feat perfectly. Yes, that and the bare-chested Jacob hug that followed. All things in between those two events are a blur to me right now. Maybe I'll catch it next time.

4.) "Meet the Volturi" - Finally, we got to see the inside of that tower. It was interesting watching the interactions of the Volturi members. Aro's cruel disdain, Marcus' ageless ennui, Caius' indignant petulance. All very intriguing.

3.) "Jacob & Bella Motorcycle ride / tumble" - AKA 1st shirtless Jacob scene. It was so highly anticipated and well worth the wait. It was almost a magical moment when Jacob gallantly shed his very own clothing to tend to the needs of a lady, long hair cascading down perfectly chiseled bronze shoulders. ~sigh~

2.) "Victoria / Wolf Fight, Harry heart attack, Bella Cliffdiving Montage" - I've mentioned this one before. It's a dialog free scene, a montage really, used to propel the story forth. It's score is Thom Yorke's Hearing Damage. That song fit so eloquently for the scene. It was a masterful combination, very memorable.

1.) "Almost kiss in the kitchen" - Are you surprised? Really? Come on! The way I swooned during the movie and gushed to you online afterwards?! When Jacob closes in on Bella, practically pinning her against the counter in her father's kitchen, DEMANDING that she respond. I just... I can't take it. It was too sublime. He leans in, all manly like, his lip grazing hers, taunting us. She, succumbing. You can almost hear her brain working. She was into it. Oh yeah. That damned Edward!

 

I realize now that my list is glaringly devoid of an Edward entry. I didn't set out to exclude him. The fact is, when I began thinking on my favorite New Moon scenes, none of his came up. There are a couple reasons for this, I suppose. First off, dear Edward was absent most of the movie. That's okay, but since it happened that way, there was less time to be enamored of that beautiful brooding boy. And secondly, New Moon was intentionally Jacob's time to shine. And shine he did. So since I've always given excessive adulation to Mr. E. Cullen on this blog, I feel justified in expressing my honest appreciation for Jacob in New Moon (and the upcoming Eclipse too, I imagine). So, hail the time of the wolf! For it is joyous and sadly, fleeting.

I still <3 you, Edward!! Super big image: enjoy!!

Hey, here's some pictures of Taylor Lautner!

I don't know why I never thought of posting pics of Taylor before but it finally hit me that some of you guys might want to see his... bulging biceps and his beefy frame and his gorgeous smile. But that's just you.. Not me.

Okay, pathetic attempt to blame you guys for me posting ridiculous amounts of Taylor Lautner pictures. The sad part is, I don't even have enough common sense to be ashamed of myself.

Now hear this! I'm done pretending that I:

A.) Don't want to feverishly ogle every beautiful image of Taylor I can find
B.) Am not crushing on him as Jacob Black

There, you happy? Just ogle the damn pictures too and quit looking at me that way. Geesh!

yummy

That right there is one hot smile.

My Favorite New Moon Scene

Hi all. I'm sure I had something concrete to say... I just, you know, found this picture and all of a sudden I... really don't remember what I was going to tell you..

Funny how the brain works. Anyway, here is a nice little picture that displays the culmination of all those touch-and-go moments between Jacob and Bella. You know, all those little moments when their eyes meet or their hands touch. Little by little the two of them work up to this point, mostly because of Jacob's persistence. Bella is sort of along for the ride, as we know, humoring Jacob so as not to hurt his tender teenage feelings. She's lucky Stephenie Meyer didn't write me into New Moon because something tells me I would have been the horny Jacob groupie always popping in for a visit. I guess Bella would have just had to deal with that big ole hole in her chest all by herself. :D

"Hearing Damage" - Thom Yorke

Hello my little Twilight sweeties! I guess by now you've all gotten your cabooses out in droves to see Twilight: New Moon, like is expected of a true Twilighty fan!

And so, like me, I suppose you've got a hankering to see it again. AND you may just share my obsession for the soundtrack as well. In particular Hearing Damage by Thom Yorke. That sound has seeped into my subconscious and won't let me alone! It's also used in one of my favorites scenes in the movie.

Remember the Harry Clearwater heart-attack / wolf - Victoria fight / Bella cliff diving scene? I love, love, LOVE that scene. It's bad-assed and you know it. Especially the acrobatic  talents of Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre) and the sky view of the flying / hovering crow. Too cool.

Anywayz, my point is, I found the song on youtube and I'm posting it here. And when I get more time, I'm going to create the New Moon soundtrack playlist and post it right here so you can come back and listen till your eardrums bleed.

Here's hoping you have a good sound system, now turn the volume clockwise all the way.
Listen on youtube.com here

Rob's Bum

I hate to sink this low, but I found a picture of Rob taken during the clock tower scene. From behind. lol

Someone, please get that boy a belt!!

More Jacob Pics

Yeah, I know, I know. But these aren't for me, I swear! I care about my readers. That's all. I figured you gals might be interested in even more pictures of Taylor. Honest. My hard work: all for you.

<3 love <3

High Res:

Look! Here's that one with the guns! I found the high res version. yum

Jacob Black Pictures II

Here's a few more Jacob (Taylor) pics. These ones are high res. I figured I've posted so many Edward (Rob) images on my blog over the last year and since I've *ahem* acclimated to Taylor as Jacob, I'll give him some face time too :)

PS - The black and white one is beautiful. Desktop image quality there.

sigh... were I but a teenage girl...

Okay, this one isn't high res, but... look! Look at his arms!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi everyone! I wish you all a 'Happy Thanksgiving'! I am winding down after a day of family fun and food and I thought I'd drop a line. I found this picture of Jacob Black and decided to share. I'm crushing on Jacob currently. I know I'm going to have to get Twilight (book) out and start reading them again. It's been a while so hopefully it'll be kind of knew to me, again.

My friend and I are going to see New Moon again this Saturday. It'll be the second time. Hopefully we can get in 2 or 3 more viewings after that. I know there are things I missed the first time so I'm eager to get back and catch what I didn't see.

So, any how, hope you holidays are getting started off right. Enjoy the picture of Jacob and post a comment if you have anything to share about the movie or characters or whatever else!

About That Movie: New Moon REVIEW!

Hello my little fellow Twi-hards! I bring wonderful news. My friends and I gathered once again for a Twilight Saga midnight premiere, this time for New Moon. I think it’s becoming a tradition. It was such sweet anticipation that built over the months. And we were rewarded handsomely (handsome Edward, Handsome Jacob. Heck, even Handsome Charlie, lol). I almost regret that Eclipse production started so early because as my friend Peggy mentioned, we were beginning to look forward to the annual schedule. That way we can suspend this wonderful fairytale for as long as possible. Remember when you were reading the books and was nearing the end of the saga? That feeling of abject sadness and despair at having nothing to look forward to? That your sanity and happiness were all bounded within the pages of those magical novels? I think the movies are part of that, an extension of it. We eagerly wait to devour every image on the silver screen that reminds us of the story and all those lovelies within. I tell you, I haven’t read a Saga book in almost a year and I felt far removed from the goings on of Forks, Washington. But after seeing New Moon, I feel the pull. That damned inexplicable, intoxicating pull is starting all over again.

With all the uncertainty of our hectic, depressing modern day lives, this one story has captivated so many and seems an appropriate (read: perfect) outlet for the child (read: hormonal teenager) inside us. It is a grand and lovely diversion that I personally welcome with open arms.

So without any further (ramblings) ado: on to the movie review!

I know from past experience that when coming off a Bella and Edward movie high, I have a tendency to over embellish in my review points. So, it’s strictly business here readers! You’ll get nothing but the facts from me ;)

I must say, I loved New Moon. I know, I know, as a Twilighter I’m sort of expected to say that. But no, I mean it. I thought I’d like it even better than I did Twilight and I did. Mostly, I suppose, because technically speaking, the movie was made better. Through no fault of Catherine Hardwicke, of course, because we all remember that she was working on a pittance of a budget which was literally nuttin’ compared to that of New Moon. But that super sized budget for New Moon can be solely attributed to the success of Twilight. So kudos to Catherine and the rest of the cast and crew for that.

But it was also better for me because of my lovely, lovable, loving, loved Jacob Black. You know I heart me some Jacob. Sigh. . . . And I wasn’t disappointed. I have to smile now just thinking back. Let me FORMALLY APOLOGIZE for any harsh words I may have previously spewed about my stubbornness toward Taylor being recast for the part of Jacob Black in New Moon. Taylor Lautner came through. Oh great, now I may be mooning after him like a puppy eyed (yes, pun) 30 – something stalker (let’s hope it never comes to that!) Do cougars and wolves date? (You get my drift, Twilight mommies?) I mean, how can you say no to those big, beautiful, tanned, and bulging biceps? But of course I digress as I knew I would. Back on track now. I know that it is widely accepted in Twilight circles to say that the chemistry on screen between Bella and Edward is palpable. But I dare you to not swoon at the wonderful achiness of unrequited love displayed by Jacob and considered by Bella. I tell you, their scenes together were magic (I have three words for you: kitchen sink scene. Whew!) Taylor Lautner was a scene stealer. Not only was his physical presence just so… demanding, but his subtle yearning for Bella was addictive. It would have been a big ole mess if I would have been put in her shoes. You couldn’t have peeled me off of Jacob, lol.

Okay, I know you Edward lovers out there are chomping at the bit so let’s get on with it. Every scene that Edward was in, he looked duly constipated just like a good little vampire. JUST KIDDING! LOL. I had to pull your leg, ladies. Edward was so much more beautiful in New Moon than Twilight that my heart ached just looking at him. Thank goodness they took a new direction with the vampire makeup. Instead of looking like a vaudevillian actor spackled with pancake makeup, he simply looked anemically pale (as he should). Same goes for all of the Cullen’s. Good job. Carlisle was just beautiful. I think he maybe had a wig (or super bad bleach job) in Twilight were as in New Moon, his hair looked more believably golden. I think he worked out some too because his body was tight, son! Even Esme looked nice. Beautiful Jasper gave a better showing as well. His hair was less ‘mad scientist’ and more ‘southern gentleman’. That’s all superficial stuff but they are beautiful vampires so it goes without saying it had to be addressed.

The scenes where Bella does daredevil things to evoke the image of Edward were pretty neat. I’m sorry there isn’t more to say about Edward but as we all know, the biggest chunk of New Moon was all Jacob and Bella. Suffice it to say Rob Pattinson does a wonderful job portraying Edward, just like before. There was simply no other choice for Edward. To me, Rob is Edward. And so he’s always on his ‘A’ game. Just assume unless specifically noted, he was perfect, lol.

As for Kristen Stewart, I have to mention her much improved portrayal of Bella. I’m happy to report that she has toned down the fluttering eyelid thing, the spastic head jerking, and her overall thespianic flair for the dramatic (read: overacting). Probably due to some strict reigning in on the part of seasoned director Chris Weitz, Kristen wasn’t hard to watch this time around. I wonder if it was as obvious to Weitz as it was to us that her mini convulsions in Twilight were distracting and annoying. So, anyway, congratulations to Weitz and Stewart. Good, good job!

The story moved along nicely and didn’t seem choppy or confusing. My only complaint, as a Twilight addict, is that it wasn’t long enough! Hey, if Harry Potter can score 3+ hour movie times, why couldn’t Twilight? I don’t think ANYONE would complain about an exorbitant movie length. If it meant more of the scenes we remember and love, we’d be all for it. There were some scenes that seemed a little rushed to fit the whole story in. But at least Chris Weitz was smart about which ones he did that too. The one that comes to mind is when Bella and Alice travel to Italy. Weitz created a little montage to get them there in record time.

The supporting cast was great. It was obvious that everyone involved was proud to be a part of the Twilight franchise and used every scene to knock one out of the park. But no one was grandiose. There was no ‘overacting’. All gave subdued performances that only added to the likeability of New Moon. Score for good direction. Honorable mentions go to Billy Burke (Charlie), Christopher Heyerdahl (Marcus), Justin Chon (Eric), Graham Greene (Harry Clearwater), Edi Gathegi (Laurent), and Chaske Spencer (Sam). Their performances were so outstanding that even though their time on screen was limited, they supported the starring cast perfectly. Very memorable, all.

I have to specifically mention Michael Sheen. I know, he’s one of my favorite actors so you may think my gushing praise of his performance is biased …and maybe so. But one reason he’s a favorite actor of mine is because he kicks major ass. Always. And New Moon was no exception. Michael is in a group of elite performers. His screen presence is so commanding, you can’t not believe him. He becomes the character. He’s like a chameleon that way. He becomes so intertwined into the character he plays that he’s almost unrecognizable as himself. He IS that guy. He reminds me of Gary Oldman that way. Two of the best right there. As Aro, Michael was politely domineering. Courteously lethal. Even his voice was disturbing. I LOVED him.

It’s fair to say that the Volturi in general was excellent. It’s hard to break it down for you as they didn’t share much screen time. I wish there had been a way for them to be more involved, but alas, it cannot be. Dakota Fanning was satisfactory but not super memorable like I’d hoped. She did give a solid, good performance. I didn’t find her believably scary as Jane was in the books though.

So there you have it. The 411 on New Moon. My express opinions of the long anticipated second installment of the Twilight Saga, as of this posting. If my mind conjures up any more in depth musings, I will get them to you post haste. And I’m sure it will!

As one final note, would you have me answer these questions:

Was there any important, relevant catch phrases overlooked? One that helped build a character? One that instantly reminds us of someone so lovable, which shapes and defines him? One that catapults him irrevocably into the hearts of millions of girls? One that, once uttered leaves no doubt as to who had spoken?

To those questions I whole-heartedly must reply: “Sure, sure.”

Until next time Twilighters, love you!

I don't think... I've ever anticipated... anything more...
Newest New Moon Trailer