The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - Movie Review

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - Movie Review

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Rating: 7/10
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Xavier Samuel, Bryce Dallas Howard, Peter Facinelli
Director: David Slade
Consequences of choice and yet more teen angst.
That's the two chief ingredients of this latest Twilight film to hit the cinema.
It's been 220 days since The Twilight Saga: New Moon fever swept the world - and the debate began over Team Jacob and Team Edward. Well, that and the swooning and lusty cat calls thanks to the gratuitous flesh on display in the Wolf Pack.
New Moon ended with Robert Pattinson's Edward asking Kristen Stewart's Bella to marry him - and this one follows on a short time after that initial proposal. Back in her home town of Forks, Bella's turning Edward down because he won't make her a vampire like she wants so that they can be together forever.
However, Bella's dad Charlie (a welcome infusion of humanity and humour amid the teenage angst) is keen for Bella to spend less time with Edward and a little more time with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) and her friends ahead of her graduation. But unknown to them, that's when Bella's decided she wants to become a vampire and part of the Cullen clan.
Things though are moving apace elsewhere with vamp Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) working on exacting her revenge on the Cullens following the death of her beau back in the first film. And as she forms her plan, Seattle is ravaged by a series of deaths which seem to be tied in with Bella and Edward's destiny...
Soon, an army of vampires is descending on Forks - and the choices Edward, Jacob and Bella make will have consequences for all those involved.
The third film in franchise is a marked change from the previous two - it's a slower more evenly paced kind of film with a lot more dialogue and bursts of action throughout. Consequently - and this is where divisions will form, my Twihard friends - some of the acting feels a little more stilted and the dialogue a bit cornier as the romance plays out (sample lines - 'I will fight for you until your heart stops beating' and ' Edward is my life.'). But to be fair, you expect that - and the audience which loves this film, won't care a jot for corniness and lines like those.
However, if you can get past that, this is actually a more mature film than the previous ones - with plenty of discussion about sex before marriage, consequences of Bella's choices and a fair degree of menace early on as the storm clouds begin to gather over Forks and its lovestruck inhabitants.
It's also richer in emotion and character - two of the Cullen clan get their back stories fleshed out immensely and there's quite the whiff of tragedy about their previous lives. And it's finally nice to acknowledge the fact that vampires are predators; the additional creatures we see in Eclipse (including fan fave Bree Tanner - who's got her own story - read a review of The Second Short Life of Bree Tanner here) are dangerous, evil creatures whose only desire is to satiate their blood lust.
That's not to say this isn't without its flaws - the final fight scenes between the Cullen clan, the wolves (whose CGI this time round is markedly improved) and the new born vampire army - as well as the Volturi's entrance (including the ethereal and sneering Jane) - feel a little rushed and end too quickly. Having had this level of menace hinted at throughout the film, it does feel like it's wrapped up a little too conveniently.
But ultimately, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is once again about Bella, Jake and Edward (as well as the continuing antagonism between the vamps and the wolves) - and all the rest of the film is merely padding around that relentless triangular relationship. The characters this time have been given more grey edges. Edward is now more jealous and petty; Jacob continues his unrelenting quest to get Bella to admit she loves him and not the vamp, and Bella loses a lot of sympathy she gained from New Moon by being completely unsure of her choices.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse may not win many new fans or converts to the cause thanks to some of its corny, aching angst - but with a richer story, stronger writing and more solid direction, it's one of the better Twilight films and one which the Twihards will once again covet. This series continues to be a phenomenon and Eclipse is a more measured entry into the genre.

Oh, and for the cougars out there, don't worry. Jake-Abs is back again (even giving birth to Edward's great line -'Does he not have a shirt?') so prepare your lustiest wolf whistle.