OMFG!!!!1 ECLIPSE WOZ AMAZING!!
...may be the only positive criticism of the new Twilight film you would anticipate. However, my feeling's reflect this sentiment given the surprisingly good turn David Slade has done for the teen-vamp franchise.
So we're at the third instalment of this decades' ultimate love it or hate it – most would have you believe that those who love it are exclusively 15 year old girls, of course – from an unbiased cinephiles viewpoint the films so far have been passable but haven't met their potential in terms of storytelling and balance of fantastic action and weepy love story. However, I am not unbiased, I like what I like but I just guess that I'm too much of a pro at this to hate something so socially acceptable to hate. Coming soon: “10 things I hate about The Shawshank Redemption” - just joking... I haven't seen it.
We've joked at length about the whole boyfriend dragged to the cinema notion and indeed this is my introduction to Twilight Saga, but this time I was looking forward to it. And that definitely wasn't on the strength of New Moon. A new director can give a series the direction it needs, a comparable example is Alfonso Cuarón's turn on the third Harry Potter film The Prisoner of Azkaban, whose dark change of tone and careful balance of plot elements made it far superior to its too predecessors, even if it is one of those “in between” books.
This issue was given to explaining the poor result of New Moon, not much happens and worse still Robert Patternson's Edward Cullen character is absent for a lot of it. But the reason Eclipse is such a good film is not just a more suitable plot outline from the source, but the careful a management of these elements and a clear understanding of what these films could have been like all along.
David Slade hits the nail on the head.
Eclipse starts in a much more horrific manner – it's night and a man is stalked by an unseen creature - and Slade's vision of the Twilight universe revels in its heritage of gothic romance & horror. The pure horror aesthetic is a strong undertone in the movie, before we could've forgot we're talking about dark dark shit... yeah, they sparkle but they suck blood out of your neck ! Nicely, Slade avoids clichés, or at least it feels natural. So from full moons and dark dark woods, the film visuals are brilliant when sun rises too. We really get a sense of the landscape in this movie helping the fantasy ride out in a more engaging fashion that its only fitting for an epic romantic tale – think Wuthering Heights. What's more whatever trendy music they've used perfectly compliments the film and adds to a great atmosphere.
Atmosphere and mood are important in a film like this. Yes more than plot .. shh.
To be honest, I'm writing this quite a while after seeing it and don't really recall the plot in detail. But get this: there's a love triangle and an impending battle. The important thing, and what impressed me was the way it was balanced so neatly. This stopped one element being more or less engaging. Similarly this is easily the most unisex, in it's appeal, of the movies. The action and indeed violence is brilliantly executed, harsh (but appropriate within the age rating), stylised and doesn't look as daft as the others, I assure you. On the other side, the romantic trials of our heroine Bella are really involving. Working as a metaphor the film is powerful – many have contested the message of the movie but the journey Bella is going through in this film is something we can all understand it is not just a choice of who she wants to make it with but who she wants to be. Doesn't get more teenage than that. This love triangle is what roots the film through all the fantasy to something universal... though maybe you'll appreciate it more as a heartache soaked teeny-something - and also makes Bella a lot more likeable than in the other films. She's is presented as a well-rounded character, who's head we can really get into, in a well-balanced film that doesn't let the fantasy override the romance or the kissing get in the way of the horror.
Not perfect enough a mix for you? There's some great humour in this film too, that should help erase memories of squirming in your seat, next to your girlfriend, screaming inside your head “Bella for fucks sake!! Lighten up!”.
Very well written and unbiased review. I personally don't see the series as such a love it or hate it proposition myself. Like any film, it must somewhat be judged through the prism of how well it appeals to its intended audience. The Twilight films have managed to drastically improve along those lines over all 3 films, all the while figuring out how to become better movies in general. I wrote the series up a few months back when Eclipse came out. Check it out if you have the time or inclination.
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