I'm sitting on the treaty line about this movie.

[Katieb]

If you have mixed feelings about the movie, you didn't love it, but, didn't dislike it either, this is the thread to express your views.

Please remember each TwilightMOM only gets one post on the entire Review Forum. We are not allowing any replies or comments. You can go back and edit your one post if you want to add something.

[devina]

Well, just saw New Moon and I am not sure what to say. :confused: Some parts were way better than Twilight (mostly those that involved CGI effects), but some parts weren't that great, or so I felt. Anyway here goes:

New Moon pro's over Twilight:
1. Hair and makeup - Generally much, much better than Twilight, especially Edward's look. It doesn't look unnaturally pale makeup anymore - just "vampiry" pale. Edward wears a coat jacket throughout, and it is so much better than the stupid peacoat. Bella has more makeup on as well, which works well! Only complaint being Esme - I thought her hair looked much better in Twilight.

2. Wolf scenes - Well shot, great chemistry between Kristen and Taylor and between all the Quileutes.. All in all, just great fun! Taylor has done a perfect job (physique-wise and acting-wise).

3. Volturi scenes - The cast is perfect, and the fighting shots are like nothing from Twilight - great job from Chris.

4. The ending - Just marvellous, now we gotta watch Eclipse, don't we?

New Moon con's over Twilight:

1. Background score - I miss Bella's Lullaby. It was one of the most beautiful pieces of composition, and there is nothing that stands out like that in this movie.

2. Chemistry - Rob and Kristen's scenes are almost awkward - the romantic tension from Twilight seems to have disappeared here. Whatever happened? When Edward leaves Bella, we feel nothing - there is nothing that shows the binding passion between the both of them.

3. Alice's vision scene at Volterra about Bella becoming a vampire - oh my god, too too cheesy!

4. The Cullen clan gets almost no screen space - the personality of Emmett, Carlisle, Rosalie are all missing. And Renee doesn't even feature in the movie (they can't avoid her in Eclipse at least).

5. Bella doesn't narrate much in New Moon - and that takes away the whole essence of the book and of the first movie. It seems like just another big budget movie from a big studio.

PS: Edward's car - I am a big car fan and the change from a shiny silver Volvo to a black, middle aged SUV Volvo is simply inexcusable - even if I didn't care about cars, this is a big change considering the continuity.

Looks like I need to watch again to catch the rest of the points.. hmm, and to make up my mind whether I like this one more than Twilight :)

[enviro42]

I'm not really on the treaty line -- I liked it. But I really wanted to love it, and I didn't. I loved a lot of things about it. I thought the acting was great. Taylor was amazing, it is no mean feat to hold up his end of the bargain and he did great. Kristen -- unbelievable. Rob -- every time I think of something I didn't like about his performance, I realize it's something I don't like about Edward! In other words, just like the first one, he became Edward. ^:)^ I didn't actually cry but the tears were there during the breakup scene and one other time, can't remember when. Loved the whole wolf pack! And the effects were of course fantastic, far better than Twilight.

Plus I thought they captured one very important aspect of the book -- when you are reading about Bella putting her life back together with Jacob's help, you feel like you are reading about something real, but then every time Edward comes back into the picture (like when in the book she is thinking his name over and over when about to be killed by Laurent and says "I love you Edward" at the same point in the movie) suddenly the energy/intensity level goes up three notches. Very impressive.

But I don't know, something was missing. It felt stilted and forced, kind of like those Harry Potter movies where it's like, oh here's the sorting hat scene, here's the scene where they x, here's the scene where they y, etc. With Twilight I felt like the script kept a bunch of the spirit of the book while making it a movie that flowed, but NM just felt off. Especially between Bella and Edward at the outset. Sure he's tortured about it, but they were both happy I thought prior to the birthday party? I just reread it and I thought they were. But apart from those wonderful long seconds (but they were no more than 2-3 min. tops) after she saves him when they are back in the shadows, there seemed to be no connection between the two of them. The chemistry between them made the difference in Twilight. There was no kiss like The Kiss as far as I'm concerned.

Generally bad stuff: Alice's vision, SO cheesy! To some extent, same with the flashbacks to the meadow. Sparkle was better but did they stick a bunch of fake flowers in the dirt or what? Music (score, not soundtrack) -- blech.

And as I posted elsewhere -- NO EPIPHANY?!?! I'm not a stickler, I swear. But that is of surpassing importance. Maybe it will be at the outset of Eclipse discussing the proposal. I had no problem with the ending. They were kind of playing with us but I feel in on the joke. It was a fine movie. I hope to like it more as I see it more. But at this point I don't think it's the game-changer that Twilight was, just a movie. Can't wait for Eclipse! To say nothing of Remember Me . . . :)>-

[mystic_goddess]

I completly can relate with what yall are saying.... I really liked the movie and I tried my hardest to know that it is hard to switch from book to movie but I really do feel like some things were left in an ackward way.

Such as bellas depression? Did anyone think that it was almost short lived? I didnt even cry the only time I came close was when she was screaming and seeing what it was doing to charlie. I felt that was a pivotal scene that should have been way more depressing...if that makes sense

other parts that I was thinking is the same as devina...im still jus trying to remember that they did still do an amazing job wit the wolves for sure...they scared me at first!!

Oh and the clothes that were being worn in some aspects (cullens and even in the vision of bella a vamp...LoL that too...on her at least it made her sooo more pale)

all and all I liked it and also enjoyed the humorous parts a lot as well

[Michelle ma bella]

There were many things about the movie that liked: Taylor Lautner (he was great!), the wolf pack, Charlie...

But I am struggling. I think a part of it is the hype associated with these movies - how can they possibly measure up? But what is telling for some of us is that we thought the movie was "good" but not "great". And maybe if we see it again it will get better. Maybe that is their devious plan, to get us to spend more $ on their film. But for me, a movie should be "great" and inforgettable the first time I see it. Why should I have to convince myself that it is good?

I think I should post in the disappointed forum because that is all that I am feeling. The chemistry was missing between Bella and Edward. I didn't care about them as much. Why should they be together again??

I did not like Kristen's portrayal in the forest when Edward left (and for most of the movie if truth be told). It left me wanting. Her pain and anguish was too subdued. Its not like we have the text in front of us and we read all that she is feeling. I wasn't convinced she was devastated. The movie was made for fans who understood her pain, but if I hadn't read the books, I wouldn't have been convinced. And I have read the books and I am still not convinced!! In the book, in that moment he leaves, you truly understand how tightly they are bound to one another. The portrayals in the movie did not capture that.

The highlight for me was Taylor as Jacob, and it wasn't because he had his shirt off most of the time! His relationship with Bella was more believable for me. I am team Edward, but when it comes to this movie, I am team Jacob all the way! Or maybe that's team Taylor!

I thought the wolves looked great and I loved the music.

And not to leave this on another negative note, but can someone please explain to me how the scenes between Bella and Edward become so cheesy, especially Alice's vision? This was one of the challenges in the first movie too. The only thing I can think is it must be the screenplay.
I am not sure. All I know is, I wanted this movie to be better and I want to PROVE that it is!

[silvervolvo]

Ok, so despite my nit picking I am still going to see the movie MANY times..I still LOVE it just because it's all I have visually for New Moon, KWIM?

First of all, seeing New Moon made me appreciate (even more) Twilight & Catherine Hardwicke as a director. I liked her filming angles better.. and she really really new how to capture the Chemistry between Edward & Bella. I didn't really feel the chemistry with Edward & Bella in this movie. Maybe a 2nd viewing might change that.

I was very surprised with Taylor's acting with Jacob. He did a GREAT job. The CGI was great, and very very impressed with the Volturi.

You know, Steph's books are so long.. it's so impossible to capture every feeling and written word and translate it to screen. It's got to be HARD.. That's why the books will always be #1 for me. There's so much more to New Moon than what was in the movie.. but it's totally understandable.

Also, the movie seemed sorta of incoherent to me.. it was kinda choppy in places and switched story lines in awkward places.

I would of loved to of seen Catherine Hardwicke do this movie just to see how she would of captured Bella & Jacobs raw emotions better..
Which is weird because I was HAPPY that they got a new director for NM..

All in all, I am still going to see it again.. maybe not 20 times like I did with Twilight, but maybe 10!

[Singer]

I've only seen NM once so far...so my mind might be changed w/
a couple more viewings - just like it was w/ TW.

LOVED -
> The visual effects!
Wolves, Volturi fight scene, sparkling vamps - all were very, very nice!
> Months passing; that was pretty cool.
> The scene betw. Bella and Carlisle - though they left off a bit much.
> How Jacob and Bella's relationship was shown. It seemed natural.
> Clock tower scene; pre-alley.
> The final line of the film.
> That there was more Alice ;-)

NOT SO HOT ABOUT -
> Rob's makeup was so odd - very mask-like [kabuki x100!] to me.
> Not giving us any real reasons WHY she loved Edward: like in TWI,
so many conversations that reveal who they are are simply left out -
leaving non-readers wondering, no doubt, why she'd even like him.
> Charlie not being around much...Billy does such a great job; I missed his
scene-stealing ways!

HATED -
> Jasper's hair.
> No sense of Bella's pain - just numbness.
> No 'epiphany' or explanation of Bella's hallucinations.
> Too much emphasis on Jacob IMHO [I'm Switzerland but still...]

I realize it's difficult to 'condense' these stories, but so much of the heart
seems to be left-out - I really hope this changes in Eclipse!

[beansjo]

I have to admit that I was disappointed in New Moon. I understand that a movie has to change from the book.
I didn't get the feel of Bella's depression in the movie as I did in the book. To me it seemed like just another break up.
Another part that bother me was when Jacob gave her the dream catcher. I thought that would be better in Eclipse. Since, Jacob gives her the wolf charm in that book.

[ChiaraT]

I'm very much on the fence/treaty line about New Moon, however I expected as much before I saw the film. I didn't go into it expecting to be wowed. I knew that there would be no way to fully capture the novel on the big screen - certainly not in two hours. 563 pages to 110. No way.

Overall, I enjoyed it. It lived up to my (realistic) expectations and in some instances surpassed them. Visually, it was beautiful. I like Weitz's style, although some of the fancy camera stuff gave me a little vertigo. It was worth it.

Taylor Lautner was almost incessantly amazing and Kristen Stewart impressed me often. Robert Pattinson was... okay. He had his moments, but there are times when Lautner and Stewart were acting circles around him, sorry to say.

The pack... Loved the pack. Short of finding the blossoming of Bella and Jacob's relationship rushed, I really enjoyed the middle of the film. Lautner and Stewart are great together. I loved the other wolves - Jared and Embry, especially.

I enjoyed the humorous lines here and there. They were just comical enough not to detract from the serious emotional tone of the film. Well done.

Strangely, my favorite scene in the whole movie was the "hunt." Victoria! I can't believe Rachelle Lefevre was recast! AHH! NO! She was perfect! That whole scene was just... WOW. Brilliant! I totally wasn't expecting it and it was really the one scene I felt they did 100% right, the scene at Emily's and the confrontation with the pack just before that coming in a few paces behind it.

Bella's zombie months - October, November, December... I expected to get a little teary for the break-up. I did not. This however, did the trick and I wasn't expecting it. It was really the only time during the film where I really felt emotionally engaged.

Bella's returned e-mails and narration. This was a nice touch. I liked how this was used to put perspective on the fact that Bella lost more than just Edward. It didn't get as in depth as the book, of course, but it was somewhere in between and for that, I must give some credit.


On to the other side of the line...

There were a few things I very much disliked about the movie. Some things I suppose were unavoidable, given a time constraint of ~2hrs. My husband, who has seen Twilight, but who has not read any of the books, was a little bit lost. The film jumped from scene to seem in a way that he claimed "seemed disjointed" and I had to agree. Having read the book, I could fill in the gaps in my head, but the movie suffers for leaping in a very staccato fashion from key scene to key scene. There's continuity, but the transitions are so abrupt. Even within individual scenes themselves, everything happens so fast, there's not really time to feel anything. There were certain events - some critical - such as the break-up that suffered for the lack of build-up to them.

Unfortunately, the only way to remedy this would have been to extend the film's run time. I really think an extra 30 minutes was warranted and when I look at the figures in the reports on how much $$$ this movie has raked in over the past two days, I find myself asking "why the heck not?" There's no law that says "your film must be between 110 and 130 minutes, but after the fact, I can only hope that the box office numbers for New Moon sway Summit to give Slade & crew a little leeway on Eclipse in that regard when it comes to including/cutting scenes (I know filming is wrapped) for the final cut.

I found myself torn between wondering if the film was largely meant to cater to the existing novel-reading fanbase a little too exclusively, given that those who have not read the novel might find themselves as lost and unengaged as my husband, and wondering if there was too much of a deliberate effort made to appeal to those outside of the current fanbase on a very different level. Weitz took an emotionally-driven story and turned it into an action-drama-tragiromance-fantasy feature, in that order. I liked the action. I really did. However, it came in such concentrated little packets that it really irked me. Paul vs. Jacob, briefly... Felix vs. Edward, briefly... On their own, these scenes were "good," but they only served to disjoint the film further. They are interruptions, not for their existence, but for their brevity. I could not get into the scenes for the lack of time to adjust.

(Oddly enough, it's like the difference between reading a play and watching it. 'They fight, Paris falls.')


Now, to really nitpick.

What I MUCH DISLIKED about The Twilight Saga: New Moon

The kissing: For the love of locked lips everywhere... All four kissing scenes left a great deal to be desired. (Perhaps so much as a mere hint of desire...?)

I mean, I get it. I get that it's supposed to be very difficult for Edward to kiss Bella. I get that! Don't we all? That came across well enough in Twilight, but in New Moon, it's like Edward's disgusted rather than pained/tempted by Bella's blood. The utterly awkward body language between them gives me the impression that neither of them really want to be kissing the other. There's no passion. Not even a spark. The first kiss between them in Twilight still gives me chills. There is tension, danger, romance, longing, passion, restraint, pain, etc, etc. It's one heck of a kiss! But even the 'reunion' kiss between Bella and Edward is somehow lacking (and the camera work on it is... displeasing).

And perhaps my dissatisfaction with the lip-to-lip moments is for the fact that in general, there is no passion. Edward and Bella could not have had weaker chemistry between them. Going by the first minutes of New Moon, I'd believe him that easily, too. They're supposed to be madly, irrevocably in love with one another, are they not? The dialogue to illustrate this point is there but there's a general awkwardness between Pattinson and Stewart that makes me wonder. Was it poor direction on the matter of trying to emphasize the 'limits on their physical relationship?' Was it bad acting? Was it paranoia over the tabloid rumors during filming? It was something, that much is certain. It was so THERE in Twilight (sometimes, anyway). It is absent from New Moon.

Alice's vision. This could have been done so much better. The audience was laughing (snickering might be a more appropriate word), myself included.

The disregard of/inattention to Bella's concern for the Cullens on the matter of the vote. Yes, her desire to become a vampire is something that is selfish at its core. We all have our selfish concerns and desires, but just about everything in the film points to Bella with a glowing, neon SELFISH. The flip side to her nature - that she is actually capable of thinking of others beyond herself - is largely illustrated by internal monologue in the novel. It is therefore nearly absent from the movie, save in two brief exchanges with Jacob. The vote was the one opportunity in the film where but a line or two could have demonstrated that she was in fact concerned about the Volturi coming after the Cullen family and not simply making a move that would rob Edward of any say in the matter of her mortality.

My husband totally missed Caius's line about returning the favor of a visit. On the way home, his words were, "What a [w]itch! She pulled the carpet right out from under him!" Um... yeah, 'cause it wasn't just about her after that... at least, it was like that in the book.

The end. To avoid blatantly spoiling spoilers for those who have not yet seen the movie - what rotten timing! It wasn't that the movie ended on a bit of a cliff-hanger that bugged me at all. It was how Edward (and to some extent, Bella) seemed to have utterly forgotten what had happened all of a minute earlier. More to the point, it was like he didn't give a hoot. Out of sight, out of mind. Tsk, tsk.

[Isalight]

I liked NM and it certainly did a good job introducing the B/J relationship and kept quite close to the book. However I have one major problem: I was missing Edward. And I don't mean that in that he didn't have enough screen time. I think the time he was in the movie was very appropriate. I mean the Edward from the books wasn't there. I can't help but think they changed the story to play down Edward and play up Jacob.
Edward looked strange with caked on make up and grandpa cloths. He looked better in Twilight. They left out the whole sleeping over and spending the entire summer together part. I think a brief collage in the beginning of the movie to show this would have been nice. Edward never gave Bella a CD with music for her birthday instead she gets a cute gift from Jacob which she doesn't in the book. The R/J scene was taken from an intimate setting at home on the couch to a class room and hence lost its romantic touch though I think Rob did great in it. There was one brief scene in which E/B looked in love and cute together and that was the parking lot scene at the very beginning. The rest between them is agony. The whole epiphany chapter was cut as was the cute banter in it. That is the highlight of the entire book. The POINT of their seperation namely that they realize they belong together. How can you cut this??? The proposal comes right after Bella tell Jacob she loves him. Really? That made it look like Edward only asks out of jealousy which wasn't his motivation in the book at all.
In contrast they changed some things about Jacob for the positive. In think in the books Jacob never expresses concerrn about hurting Bella. That's IMO one of the major differences between him and Edward. Edward is overprotective and Jacob is reckless at times. Jake never sees himself being a werewolf as a danger for Bella. In the movie Jacob has a whole scene explaining how he'd never hurt Bella the way Sam hurt Emily. In the end of the book he gives the dirt bikes to Charlie getting Bella into trouble as revenge for being rejected showing his vengeful side. That was left out.
Bella flirts with Jacob. She is in his face whenever they talk, hugs him and almost kisses him twice. She was totally leading him on in the movie while I never had that impression in the book. You can't help but feel sorry for Jacob to have been strung along like that. In contrast I think there is only one scene in which she looks sort of in love with Edward.
I get that NM is about the problems and drama in the E/B relationship but I can totally understand how someone who hasn't read the books would come out of the cinema and wonder why Bella would chose the sulky vampire rather than the sweet werewolf. I don't know whose fault it was whether it were the actors - though I thought Rob and Kristen were great in the first movie - or whether it was the lack of loving E/B scenes in the script or the direction of CW but IMO they changed the dynamics and characters from the book.
Edward is colder and more aloof than he ever really was, Jacob even sweeter and more innocent and Bella quite bluntly plays with two guys feelings. I have no idea how they want to fix that in Eclipse.

[bookwoman]

I have to fit into this category as well... not quite Switzerland, but not totally loving NM. There was a lot about it I liked (as others have said), including the very lush look of it. Christ Weitz's filming style is wonderful. The phasing of the wolves was the part my husband loved best because it took only a second. And the CGI altogether was really good. Loved Billy Burke as Charlie-- would have liked more of him. Of course, I loved him the in the first film, too. He is so RIGHT for Charlie.

Things I REALLY didn't like:

Edward's awful makeup (someone said kabuki and I second that!)
The really awful contact lenses that the Cullens wore this time. They stood out horribly-- no one would even think they were real eyes! Especially Edward and Alice. Maybe Edward looked so pained all the time because his contacts bothered him!
Rpattz acting was very stiff in this film-- I agree that the tension was just missing between him and Kristen. The only place you even got a hint of it was at the reunion in the alley in Volterra.

I liked the "sparkly" skin much better, but thought Rosalie's wig was just awful. When she had her few lines telling Bella why she was voting no on Bella becoming a vamp, she looked like a middle-aged woman. (I can say that since I am one!) If I were Nikki Reed, I'd be PISSED.

I also agree that the Alice dream sequence was just CHEESY! What was with those clothes, for gosh sake??? Bella didn't die in 1917!

Taylor Lautner was really very very good as Jacob; but I also agree that having read the books, he fell too quickly too hard in the movie. They do start out just friends, after all.

I realize the difficulty of putting a hefty tome into a 2-hour movie. But to stick the "Marry me" at the end and then a fast blackout was a bit much for me. At least we don't have wait another year for Eclipse! It's up in June. Let's go for a little longer movie with a little more continuity and some of that luscious sexual tension that was present in Twilight and is certainly present in the book Eclipse.

[wannabe-writer]

I liked it but was disappointed. There were too many things that could have made it so much better and would have been so easy to do.

- after Edward leaves, Bella should have showed more dramatic emotion while walking (she should have been running) through the forest, it would have been more moving. But the rest of the depression was nicely done.

- when Bella runs through the crowd in Italy, she should have been calling Edward's name! It would have made it so much more exciting! And then they should have had a little of Edward thinking he was dead, and then the dramatic moment of realising he wasn't when the Volturi turned up. In the book this whole bit was absolutely perfect and made to be a cinematic scene, why didn't they do it that way?

- when Edward was in Bella's bedroom after Italy it should have had the same chemistry that was in Twilight.

I liked the first half, but the second was too full of missed opportunities.

[mt mommy]

I am so glad to not be the only one on the treaty line with this movie!

Good parts;
1. Jacob! Taylor nails him. LOVE HIM!

2. Volturi, AMAZING! Loved the cinematography in the Volterra scenes!

BAD Parts;

1. What is the deal with the chemistry between Bella and Edward being so off? I don't get why. It seemed to be so much BETTER in Twilight! Is it bad acting? Are the scenes not written right? I'm not sure.

2. No use of the music like in Twilight. No Bella's Lullabye, no Muse music with the fun baseball scene. I really missed how Catherine used the music so well in Twilight.

I need to see it again, so I can look at it from all angles again. I was just so disappointed in the non chemistry between Edward and Bella.

[briteeyes]

Don't get me wrong, I liked the movie; but I enjoyed Twilight better. This one had more action. I loved how they did the wolves. Unfortunately, I felt they did not focus on the relationships like they did in the first one. They seemed to rush Bella and Jacobs relationship. They almost kissed twice!!

I loved the look of the movie, but not the makeup. The Cullens would not have fit in like they did in the first movie. In the first movie, they only stood out because they were a little pale and amazing looking. Now they stand out because they are beyond pale and have shocking eyes.

I liked the way they portrayed Bella's loss. I cried. Yet they still made her seem very selfish in this movie. She openly encouraged Jacob in the movie. In the book, it was more of a by product of her coming back. Also, the vote scene was disappointing. It made Bella look like a spoiled brat: I want this and I want it no matter what Edward says. The scene failed to express her concern for the Volturi coming after the Cullens and others if she was not changed. For those who had not read the book, this was an important factor demonstrating how shelfless Bella really is.

I went to see it again, and I still enjoyed it. I thought the actors did a good job. Jackson did an excellent job portraying Jasper's hunger in the birthday scene. I most likely will go see it again. I wish they would have included more of the relationships between the characters. The movie could have been longer if that was the issue. Other movies have been 2 1/2 and 3 hours long. I can't wait for the DVD.

[bloodrose]

OK, here it goes all my TWMoms; my opinion of New Moon: I must say that CW, the director really captured the "maturity" of the book. I was glad to see that the coloring, texturing and warmth of this movie were displayed in a very upscale/professional way. He really took the time to understand the book and most importantly what we should (and I say "should" loosely) come away with after seeing the film.

However, as one of you mentioned, KS's portrayal of "Bella" is somewhat leaving my in question as to whether or not she really understands this character. Bella is an emotional teenage girl (at least in my vision) and in the scene when Edward/Rob leaves her in the woods; I was left saying to myself "is that all we're going to get?". He looked more in pain than she did? I was expecting much more emotion from her. Now, mind you not over the top dramatic; but when the "love of your life" has just announced that "you don't belong in his world" --- well lets just say I would have expected tears and falling to your knees rocking back and forth.

As for the connection between "Bella and Jacob"; I think they both KS and TL did a phenomonal job -- especially Taylor. He certainly understands his character "Jacob" and I can't wait to see the continuation of this character development from him in Eclipse -- which by the way is my favorite book in the series! As for Rob in his portrayal of "Edward", I truely feel that he "got" it in this movie. I think he really took the time to understand Edward and how he has matured the character. Remember "Edward" is 100+ years old even though he is in a "17" year olds body. He should be more mature than Bella. His emotional development I felt was more compelling then KS's. And all I have to say is that in Eclipse there is so many different emotions that NEED to be played out by all of them, that I hope they really took the time to understand how important it's going to be to deliver. I tend to be a very visual person and I need to see actors/actresses feel that character in their facial expressions and most importantly in their eyes. What's that quote: "The eyes are the windows to the soul".


But all in all, I have to say I do think it was better than Twilight. Twilight was good, but as with everything in life "you need to live and learn"! I do wish the cast and production crew all the best in the final productions of Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. I'm sure all of us will be pleased in what is delivered.

Happ New Year to All Kim :flower: