New Moon
I like the Twilight book series a lot, so I was able to tolerate all the problems the first movie adaptation had. Then comes adaptation of the second book New Moon. The movie version is an improvement on the first one, but the weakness and problems persisted. I tried very hard to figure out what went wrong and I think I figured it out. We have to look at why the books are so successful in the first place. How did it strike a chord with so many readers? I think the secret lies in the method the story was told – in first person’s perspective. The stories were told entirely in Bella’s perspective, as a reader, you really are in her head all the time, know exactly what she was thinking, feel what she’s feeling, see what she’s seeing. You are in her shoes and it is much easier to identify with her. Because of this there is an unbreakable emotional connection between the reader and Bella and it just grow stronger as the story continues. There is a reason why millions of readers were already in love with the character Edward Cullen well before Robert Pattinson was even cast in the role. When Belle fell in love with him, it is so easy for readers to be in her shoes and fell the same kind of obsessed love. When she was completely brokenhearted after Edward left, we feel for her. I swear when I was reading that few chapters I feel like I was broken up in my real life once again. The emotional connection was that strong!
Sadly, movie as a media can never replicate that same kind of emotional connection because movie is always told in third person’s perspective – unless you never want to see the main character’s face. Seeing everything in the third person’s perspective immediately separated that emotional connection. Without it, all the weakness and problems of the original materials showed up on the screen staring right at your face. And instantly you know why people who never read the book and judge the movie by itself think it’s complete garbage, although there is definitely prejudice against a female fandom like this. With that being said, the second movie is a huge improvement from the first one in so many level, even if the basic plot suffers because you don’t have an beginning and an end in this chapter. The plot of the second book has a problem of standing up on its own two feet because it is bascially a giant introduction of the werewolves and in a smaller part, the introduction of the Volturi.
You can see it from the screen that the budget of the movie was hugely increased. From the location (Italy), set (bigger, more beautiful Cullen house, Volturi’s HQ), props (the car that Alice steal in Italy), to special effect (wolves and the vampire movements) and even makeup (the vampire makeup is finally more natural! no more they put too much white powder on their faces!). The new cast members doesn’t have too much to do yet. Although Michael Sheen as Aro has the meatiest role so far as the leader of the Volturi. As for the returning cast, Taylor Lautner shines as Jacob Black, his charisma showed on the screen as much as his abs did (seriously his abs can be its own character!) I think he really turn the tide in the infinite debate between Team Edward and Team Jacob because now Jacob actually have a fighting chance in the spotlight! As for the others, Charlie and Alice steal the show whenever they are on the screen. From the book we all know Charlie is a loving father, but we never knew he could be humorous as well. Ashley Greene’s Alice is perfect. She really is exactly how I think she would act and sound like when I first read the books.
As for Rob and Kristen’s Edward and Bella. They looked the part just like in the first movie. They provided an amazing image to the characters, but their performances are still a bit, wooden, especially Rob. Yes I know his character is suppose to be the tortured soul of a stone marble statue of perfection, but seriously he never seems to smile naturally even in some happier scenes. As I mentioned before, the plot of the second book, hence this movie, has a problem of standing up on its own two feet because it doesn’t follow the standard progression in a movie. The threat (Victoria) that was building up through out the plot never really materialized. As were the introduction of the werewolves, all these plotlines got abruptly interrupted by the Volturi and was not picked back up (until the next book/movie). The mini confrontation at the Volturi HQ hardly feel satisfied as the “big ending”. The director was smart enough to throw in an end confrontation between Edward and Jacob but it still can’t change things around to make this less of a filler episode of a long series. It’s not the fault of the movie, just the original book was written like this. Hopefully and I believe with the big battle happening in book 3, the next movie will be the most satisfying.
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