The Twilight Saga: New Moon Review

Published on November 21, 2009, by Jeff Leins - Posted in Reviews 32

New Moon The sequel to 2008′s vampire phenomenon is strictly for the followers of the Stephenie Meyer novels and the hordes of die-hard fanatics that squealed in delight for the original a year ago. Newcomers needn’t bother with the requisite reading or the essential viewing necessary for being up to (super) speed on the supernatural occurrences of Forks, Washington.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon picks up just months after the star-crossed lovers shared intense gazes and forest rendezvous. The teenage Bella (Kristen Stewart) narrates a passage from “Romeo & Juliet,” an obvious comparison to the forbidden love of its protagonists who commit suicide by throwing herself off a cliff drinking poison and revealing his sparkly chest driving a dagger into her heart. The play is bluntly referenced again when her senior English class studies the Shakespearean tragedy and her vampire boyfriend Edward (Robert Pattinson) recites a passage of his own.

Subtlety (or lack thereof) hasn’t changed in Forks, and neither has Edward, a 109-year-old vampire with the body of a Seventeen Magazine cover boy. Pattinson’s pained expression remains, masking his marginal talent and lack of emotional range, especially while delivering the “it’s not you, it’s me” speech after Bella’s papercut sends the blood drinkers into a frenzy.

Stewart’s incessant lip biting and hair sweeping is halted only by her skulking phase, a deep depression that spirals into a nearly catatonic state of self-pity. “Emo” Bella curls in the fetal position for months, reacting only to angst-y nightmare jags that bring her father (Billy Burke) running. New Moon Her suffering is mirrored by the audience’s, a torturous experience where time passes in a dark room while nothing happens. Luckily, I was kept awake by smatterings of unintended laughter.

Bella’s friend Jacob coaxes her from the funk in after-school sessions of building motorcycles and their relationship one piece at a time. Taylor Lautner surprisingly shows promise as an actor, if only because he was able to keep a straight face when the line “Bella, you’re bleeding!” became his cue to take off his shirt.

Naturally, Jacob’s developed pecks come from a fever that eventually turns him into a werewolf, where hanging with his friends means trading in a normal life for denim jean shorts and six pack abs. Though their furry forms mean little more than special effects dollars spent on snarling.

A long-awaited, yet rushed climax transports Bella to Italy in order to stop “The Sparkle Show” starring a suicidal Edward Cullen. There she encounters the infamous Volturi, a vampire council of various talents. This plot detour provides a tasty role for Michael Sheen, but only leads to more tedious dialogue. The dramatic pauses alone could have saved precious time that could be spent doing… well, anything else.

New Moon I was tempted to count ceiling tiles, but instead channeled my boredom into noting these numbers: No less than six separate shirtless men. 15+ passionate embraces. Less than 20 words spoken by Dakota Fanning. Three brief fight scenes. 130-minute runtime. One chaste sequel that takes itself too seriously.

The follow-up to Catherine Hardwicke’s low-budget romance has higher production value but a baffling lack of entertainment value. Replacement director Chris Weitz drags out a stagnant story for an even duller adaptation. At least the original had a relatable high school setting. We all can remember passing love notes to teen crushes, but The Twilight Saga: New Moon simply transports audiences to a place where humans, wolves, and vampires slowly tell each other why they can’t be together. Even the most fervent followers should admit some level of disappointment.

1.5 out of 5.

faithfulfan

I just saw New Moon with a friend who has not seen the first or read the books and she loved the movie so not sure what this reviewer is talking about…..

The movie is great. Stays pretty true to the book and the acting in this one is way better than in the first. The special effects are really good and there is a lot of humour within the drama of Bella's pain. I am going to go and see it again.
http://greenhatreviews.com/ andrew

I have to say I really enjoyed this one, after disliking the original. I too have never read the books, but I had a lot of fun with this occasionally cheesy, but highly entertaining romantic escapism. I thought it improved upon all of the first ones major flaws, and i really bought the leads performances, which were terrible in the first one.
And don't you think you maybe had a serious bias against it if you counted up the “passionate embraces” fomr the film's beginning? I guess to each his own.
And I am a straight male, so….
jeffleins

Yes, I was so bored I started keeping score. I lost track around 15 embraces or so. It really is a terrible film.

Sadly, I've read the books.
Liza

I have to say, that it is a book, turned into a movie. If you have read the books, well, there is never going to be a perfect representation of what you, personally, saw in your head. Ever. So, that being said, take it for what it is worth: one person's vision of what the book looked like in their head. It is entertainment. It wasn't designed to win awards, it was made for entertainment. Did I have some issues with it, yes. But it was fun to watch, and quite frankly, that is all I ask for in a movie. I go to movies with the intention of being lost in a world that isn't my reality for a while. This movie did that. Keep in mind that the book is classified “young adult.” So if someone came to this movie looking for a horror movie that rivaled Hannibal or Resident Evil, you came to the wrong movie.
Liza

This is a book turned movie. It is a “young adult” book turned movie. It is entertainment and if one is looking for something more, then look else where.
2naughty4u

I also have read the book and seen the movie and all i have to say about this reviewer is check the box office numbers LOL BEST MOVIE IN 2009 so i think that speaks for itself
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Isabelle

I read all of the four books, looking foreward to the fifth. Twilight was my least favourite, the movie lacked and the makeup was… The directing was quite hardly good. But it became an epic love story once she discovers. The book was better. For New Moon, I saw the movie, Chris Weitz-the new and improved director-followed the story and added scenes, or just messed around with them. Like the bedroom scene with jacob and Bella, it was'nt supposed to be not in the movie, but it was'nt supposed to be there in the story. I also noticed they used the exact quotes from the book, only the best,tough, in my opinion, wich was pretty great for me. I found New Moon a bit… I'm not quite sure how to explain myself. But I'm returning to see it, it was that okay for me. It's a definate improvement next to Twilight. I just sorta know but still sorta hope that “The Twilight Saga:Eclipse” is better, I know the book is so let's see what David Slade brought to the movie. I heard he's making it darker and scarier, he has experience with vampire movies and I guess he would be improving the saga even more, but I cant wait to see exactly how.
hezsnez

I have read these books a few times and love love love them, the person who wrote the above review obviously hasn't read the books, if they had they would have known that the story of New Moon is all about Bella and Edward breaking up, Bella being heartbroken and Jacob bringing Bella back to life! I thought the film potrayed the book perfectly and if you don't like the books or the story line then don't waste your or my time going to watch the film and then slagging it off if you're not prepared to put the leg work in by reading the books and getting to know the characters.
soulenfin

Reading the book a movie is based on is not a prerequisite for reviewing the movie itself. The reviewer was obviously (at least to those of us not slavishly bound to the series) basing his review on the “merits” of the film alone which, if you knew anything about movie reviews, is what they're about. I totally agree with reviewer, as watching the movie sent me into the same catatonic state that Kristen Stewart affected. I read the books out of morbid curiosity and lament that I can never get that part of my life back. Thank goodness I hadn't forked out the money for this one.
anna8864

Just saw the movie, and must admit I was DISAPPOINTED:( I have read the books several times and it just seems like they tried to jam pack everything that happened in the book into the movie and it totally would not have made sense without reading the book. Also I was bored!!!! It was soooooooooo hard to get into the movie, they just kept throwing fact after fact at us but no real story line. I want the original director back!!!!!! Also the music, which is very important since it sets the mood for the scene, sucked big time in New Moon, Twilight was so much better in comparison. There were no major memorable moments in this movie, for example Twilight had the part where Edward saves Bella from being hit by the truck, everything in this movie seemed to float by…..
jeffleins

I read all four books.
jeffleins

Box office numbers do not equal quality. Transformers 2, the biggest movie of 2009 right now, is a perfect example.
Team Edward

omg new moon was amazin! it was 50 times better then twilight and twilight was amazin! it was so much like the book and they seemed to stay to it for the most part.. the only thing that sucked was that the wolves looked really fake….they need to make them look more real in the next movie

but otherwise AMAZIN movie!

-team Edward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
emmaxxx3

I think this was a great movie nest to Twilight. I think the Voltire and the Quilette wolf pack really made it for me. It may have been confusing to those who didn't read the books, but if you did, as mentioned earlier, it is a perfect representation. Also, some of the akward parts, were funny. I donn't think Robert Pattinson played a very good Edward, but that's my personal opinion.
original_team_awesome

Kristen Stewart's acting reminds me of Neve Campbell and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Every line is so choppy and frustrating. “I…love…you, Edward. Please don't…kill…yourself.” She never looks happy around him.
Oh and Fanning's natural creepiness has been put to such good use.
Sarah

I couldn't agree more. I am for sure not excited about seeing any more twilight films, unless they get a new director and follow the first movies lead.

I felt like I was watching one of those low budget scary movies…
Sasha

The movie sucked! Badly.Me and my friends were cracking up through the most seriouse parts of the movie.The werewolves were like I'm cute.Fear me! It's kinda messed up to.I was Like desprate…x] Then how to you go to Edward to Jacob back to Edward? You're were about to kiss Jacob!But then you save Edward and your back inlove?I MEAN SERIOUSLY COME ONE!I would just say screw you for leaving me.Yes I know this is partly for the book but Robert patterson I can't take seriously and Kristen doesn't even act like bella.Then Taylor actually was pretty good though.Well this is what I have to say about twilight.If you think it was good well that's awesome but you have no good taste in movies or books.I'm just saying the truth to.
Nisha_Raven

I read all of Stephanie Books, actually i ran out and bought all four when my friends convinced me to watch Twilight. It is in no way a comparison to Anne Rice who is the best Vampire Novelist. Her character Lestat captures you in her books where you have no choice but fall in love with him. New Moon was a bit dissapointing. My favourite of the 4 books is Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. But although ready the books i still feel the story was a bit dry. There's nothing new to young love. There's too much i loe you, i cant live without you, ill never hurt you. Quite simply put if their wasnt really hunk and appealing men in the movie i would have slept for the entire thing. Jacob was awesome very promising actor. But i really fell “Bella's” performance was so lacking she needed to be more fragile and a little more feminine. But i will give it 2 out of 5.
Big Nick 5000

I seriously doubt that your straight if you liked this movie. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Big Nick 5000

The reviewer is soooo wrong. This movie was excellent. I especially love the part where the dinosuars get loose throughout the park and everyone is running and screami…. Hold on, that was Jurrasic Park. This movie sucked. 0 out of 5 stars
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tanr

loved the movie!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Donna-Castledine/1786161350 Donna Castledine

As a devoted Twilight fan, sadly, I DO have to agree with the reviewer on most points re New Moon. While the script was a good representation of the book, the Director completely missed the mark in the visual production. The centre piece of this story was Bella's pain and the “hole in her chest”. We can only assume that laying passively in a fetal position and having night-screams like she was on a rollercoaster, is the only way a man can present a young girls emotional pain?? Clearly the Director didn't get it! (Catherine…. we really really missed your wonderful insight on this one!!). One of the key assets of this franchise is RPatts, who put in a brilliant performance in Twilight (Hey Chris W., that's what pain looks like!) which very much made this odd little movie GREAT! Catherine GOT all the emotional triggers of Edward, to snag every woman's heart!! But in New Moon, the Director completely hobbled RPatts's performance, making him a cardboard cut-out of himself. Bad camera angles also ruined any “emotional” moments between Edward and Bella. Twilight was filled with breathtaking “moments”; New Moon had none. Taylor did well as the new improved Jacob, but he is no match for the range that RPatts can bring… if he was allowed to bring-it! The ghastly vampire make-up was particularly jarring…no way these folks would have “blended in” looking like this. What were you thinking?!!? Sadly, the Director of New Moon put all his focus on the special effects and making KStew look stunningly beautiful. While there is some merit to this, missing the emotional centre of the story was a travesty.
http://www.filmeshd.tv/category/filmes-2010/ filmes 2010

thanks men show the contents brother enjoyed very good
Abbylee

I agree. This movie totally sucked and the acting was terrible.
Greg

I should have been cast as Edward….
Thedeed

I read all of the review that are up about New Moon and I think the reviewer was right on. The movie did drag. I read the books and really liked them. I've read them several times over but the movie sucked. Kirsten Stewart just isn't Bella and Robert Pattinson was more Edward in Twilight then New Moon. People who like this movie only liked it because they read the books and fell in love with the characters that way. If you hadn't read the books you wouldn't be able to understand why Eward even likes Bella. This movie is the most unromantic romantic story. The actors are horrible and the dialogue sucked. Everyone who said that the movie followed the book was right. But, that's not a good thing cause certain things just don't translate well to film (i.e. “I've never met someone more prone to life threatening idiocy”). Also when Jacob goes to Bella's room to get her to guess what his secret is they totally messed that scene up. In Twilight Jacob never told Bella about the cold one's she found the term from her own research. Then in New Moon Jacob's asks her about the story and she says “the cold one'' and he says “figure's you'd only remember that part”. The minor characters were so much better then the lead characters as far as acting goes. I understand people being excited to see the picture's from their heads put on film but come on. How could anyone say this was a fantastic movie? The only thing that I liked was when Edward flips Bella over his shoulder trying to protect her from Felix. Also someone needs to teach Kristen Stewart how to cry. In the book Bella cries a lot Kristen Stewart just breathes heavy and blinks a lot. She's so awkward it's painful to watch her on screen. I want to smack her hand every time she puts it in her hair. The sad thing is that every character she plays is basically Kristen Stewart she doesn't know how to bring a character to life. I think that the director Chris Weitz should think about directing a movie that isn't an adaptation. I think if he tackled that type of project then he could do great things. He keeps trying to adapt stories that already have a following. He should trying directing something where his vision is the only vision the audience sees. I think he'd do great at that but as far as New Moon it just wasn't good. Yes it had good numbers in the box office but doesn't mean it was the best film it just means people saw it that has nothing to do with how good it was.
chelseywi

i love talor
Alexandra Mielke

This was the most horrible movie which I new it was by the way twilight went plus the whole idea of the story.Sparkling vampires,obsessed girl,and a cute wolfs?Really its just a horrible movie in the first place.But I have to say this movie was worse then the first one and I didn't know if that was really possible.Me and my friend went to see it and we had to cover are mouths just to stop us from laughing!I thought we were going to get kicked out for laughing so hard.Especially on the most serious parts.Like Edward leaving belle can you say desperate.
Now lets get on to the actors.First off…Kristian Stewart!She can't really act she just acts like herself.Then Robert Patterson I can't really relate to the book he looks like hes trying just a little to hard,Then I keep getting annoyed on the fact every 5 seconds Robert and Kristian puts there hand through there hair its not hot its not even cool its really annoying.This might sound kind of harsh but its my opinion so deal with it :) oh and on a rating of 1-5 its -10.
Alexandra Mielke

This was the most horrible movie which I new it was by the way twilight went plus the whole idea of the story.Sparkling vampires,obsessed girl,and a cute wolfs?Really its just a horrible movie in the first place.But I have to say this movie was worse then the first one and I didn't know if that was really possible.Me and my friend went to see it and we had to cover are mouths just to stop us from laughing!I thought we were going to get kicked out for laughing so hard.Especially on the most serious parts.Like Edward leaving belle can you say desperate.
Now lets get on to the actors.First off…Kristian Stewart!She can't really act she just acts like herself.Then Robert Patterson I can't really relate to the book he looks like hes trying just a little to hard,Then I keep getting annoyed on the fact every 5 seconds Robert and Kristian puts there hand through there hair its not hot its not even cool its really annoying.This might sound kind of harsh but its my opinion so deal with it :) oh and on a rating of 1-5 its -10.