Courtesy of Summit Entertainment.
An open mind and patience are the key components one must have when watching The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. If you have those attributes, you may find yourself enjoying the 124 minute feature. Or at least some aspects of it.
Since the Twilight franchise is technically critic-proof. Plus, with the army of fans who believe anyone that doesn't give this a high rating is not qualified to be reviewing movies. Allow me to spare you reading six more paragraphs, with my thoughts on the first two installments. First movie. Horrendous. Second one. Did a few things right. Third chapter...keep reading.
Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella (Kristen Stewart) struggle with everyday couple issues. You know, being turned into a vampire and whether to get married. Bella wants the vampire life, Edward is hesitant in giving it to her. Yet he wants marriage, but she won't give an answer until she is a vamp. Then we have the persistent Jacob (Taylor Lautner), who's still believes he can win Bella's love. And he might be right. The supernatural "sword fight" for Bella's love rages on between Jacob and Edward. However, a series of murders and disappearances has the werewolves and Cullen vampires uniting.
Led by newborn vamp Riley (Xavier Samuel) and being manipulated by the vengeful Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard). Riley creates an army of newborn vampires to attack the Cullen clan. As the Cullens and werewolf pack prepare for battle, Edward and Bella suspect that the Volturi may be involved as well. Edward, Jacob...Werewolves and Vampires, must put their differences aside to protect their beloved town and keep Bella safe.
Eclipse has a nice climatic moment and much improved battle sequences than its predecessors. Certain shots encompassing the landscape of the area, helped in keeping this film lively. The previous two were dreary. Only issue is the audience must listen to the recycled dialogue of Edward and/or Jacob with Bella. Wouldn't mind it if they came up with new lines, but the dialogue is pretty much keeps the same tone and delivery of New Moon. So this flick kind of feels like a place-holder until Breaking Dawn. To change the pace, director David Slade infused more comedic moments into this piece. In order to get these inside jokes, one has to have seen the first two flicks. Although, for the casual fan, indirect comedic moments are sprinkled throughout. Which will help the guys who get dragged to this by their ladies make it through.
Slade also fleshed out characters in the Cullen clan. Specifically Jasper Hale (Jackson Rathbone). His character is the most attractive in this piece and the script was smart to feature him a bit more. Only so much of the love triangle one can take. Rosalie (Nikki Hale) also gets the flashback treatment. By doing this, Eclipse and the future installments, will be able to avoid getting stale with the same three characters. Fortunately, screen time is being divvied up to performers with acting talent.
According to the group of women sitting next to me (as always), this installment did stay true to the book.
Our three main characters didn't really progress from the last film. In fairness, Pattinson's portrayal of Edward isn't as boring this time around. Kristen Stewart didn't wow me but it was nice to see her give effort in the handful of challenging scenes. Taylor Lautner seemed to resemble a high school play level actor (Unsure and choppy) in certain scenes with his delivery. Timing with these three has to be touched upon for it makes up a good portion of the flick. When they hit (i.e. Tent scene), one can get into it. Sadly, the trio still isn't a well-oiled machine yet. Which needs to happen to jump this flick out of the average, mediocre realm and handle more complex material. Much like the Harry Potter cast, who improved with every installment for example. True talent is noticed in the bit roles with Anna Kendrick and Billy Burke. Rathbone will hopefully have a meatier role in the upcoming releases as well. (Team Jasper!).
Overall, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse survived by not taking a step back-wards. The CGI and action-sequences will extract emotion and the story entices just enough curiosity out of an audience. In the end, you have to remember this is a love story. Sure, the subplots in the background are far more interesting. Perhaps this point of view will change if the leading trio can up their game beyond the "not bad" level. Eclipse isn't painful by any means. It's just not flawless as all the Twi-Hards think.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse opens Wednesday in the Tampa Bay market.
Comments
I just want to know how the entire saga ends!
I have to disagree on this one with you, Joe. While I saw it as an improvement to the previous two, I still cringed at the dialogue and bad acting. Though they did improve in some spots, it wasn't quite enough for me to really enjoy it. And for some reason, I'm trying to share my review on Facebook and it links to yours. Strange.
...I feel for you Joe. I could only image having to sit through all 3 installments of the most overrated, underachiving story to hit the shelves since Obama's bio. I miss Anne Rice. Any movies gonnabe based off her books again? We need a new Lestat.
eclipse i love you so much!!
kristen did it best!
Well said Joe. I guess I'll have to see this when it releases on blu-ray to prepare for Breaking Dawn. But, I'm sure not rushing out to see it in the theaters.
By the way, got out of a screening of 'The Last Airbender' around 9pm tonight...already about 200 people in line for the midnight showing! INSANE!
It's a phenomenon. Bottom line: the movies don't have to be that great as long as they are hitting home with the fans...and, obviously they are. Movies are meant to be entertainment, but money is the bottom line. No denying the bankability of these films. So, like you said, doesn't matter what the critics think on this series!
Nice review!
In my opinion, the movie is best where it sticks closer to the book. When the screenwriter had the necessity of reducing dialogue in the essence of time she lost it completely and reverted back to the mediocre, soap-opera like corniness of the first two films. Then tent scene, being most true to the book, was most definately the most compelling. The success of the films was inevitable due to the "twi-hards" who were calling out for a visual portrayal of the books they love so dearly. My dog could have written the screenplay and still the fans would have still turned out. Too bad this screenwriters ego will be stroked yet again by the popularity of the film and we'll see the same corny crap in Breaking Dawn.
Contrary to popular belief, there are many fans of this series that are not drooling, relentlessly faithful teenagers. Most of the people I know love the books but feel that the movies fall very short. Regardless, we still see the movies just out of curiosity. Don't lump "twi-hards" as people who don't find anything wrong with the films. Maybe they are always on the defensive against people who haven't read the books and only judge the series based on the movies or simply judge based on the screaming immature obsessed teenagers.
I just want it to end! Besides the atrocious acting & grammar challenged writing (in the book), I have 2 BIG problems with the series. First, a fully grown (200 year old?) man with a teen. Doesn't that bother moms?? Second, he's lived all that time, & Bella is the first person he's been in love with? Really?
Nice job, Joe! I look forward to your review of "Vampires Suck".
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