The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Dir: David Slade
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Bryce Dallas Howard, Dakota Fanning
The Twilight movies have become immune to criticism. It doesn’t matter what movie reviewers may have to say about the films they will still rake in billions at the box-office as long as there are 14-year old girls screaming at the screen rooting either for Edward, the sullen vampire (Rob Pattinson) or for Jacob, the hot-blooded werewolf (Taylor Lautner) as the two vie for the affections for our still human (and still virginal) heroine, Bella (Kristen Stewart). And since there is an endless supply of 14-year old girls (not including the 14-year olds trapped in the bodies of the 41-year olds) the success of the movies is assured.
Be that as it may, while the third instalment is an improvement on the mope-fest that was the second movie as it has a bit more going on in the action department as well as some nice interplay between the three leads, it is still mostly more of the same. The first movie took the “becoming a vampire = losing one’s virginity” metaphor as far as it could go. Three movies about sexual awakenings, sexual yearnings and abstinence with the same characters have stretched the subject just about as far as it can go. It doesn’t help that the three young leads (physically appealing as they may be) don’t provide much depth to their roles and mainly act with a scowl (Pattinson), a pout (Stewart) and a washboard stomach (Lautner).
If you haven’t been watching the earlier movies and reading the Stephanie Meyers books on which the series is based the plot can be a bit hard to follow as well (I’ve seen the earlier movies and I still got a bit confused). It appears that Bella needs protecting (I’m not sure how Edward and co. figure that out) from a bunch of rampaging, newbie vampires led by a mysterious flame-haired woman (Bryce Dallas Howard) which ultimately leads to nice battle sequence between the good and evil blood-suckers with a bunch of werewolves thrown in for good measure. But, I suppose, the plot is hardly the point for movies such as these – if you are a Twilight fan you’ll love this film. As for me, if I need a tale about vampires which is a metaphor for love, sex, death and the various passions which rule us, I’ll take True Blood over Twilight any day.
Cut to chase: Better than the 2nd instalment but still spinning its wheels.
