Sunday, November 22, 2009
A+E, Movies, Q&A
Twi-Hard 2: Twi-Harder
‘New Moon’ lacks the bite of its predecessor
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson
“THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON”
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Directed by Chris Weitz
Rated PG-13
Wide release
BY STEVE WARREN
As if author Stephenie Meyer knew audiences would be vampired out by “The Vampire Diaries” and two seasons of “True Blood” by the time the film version of her second novel hit the screen, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” gives at least equal time to werewolves. Maybe someone thought the Twi-hards, as the series’ fans are known, wanted to see more sunlight shining on shirtless guys than a vampire saga can credibly accommodate.
I was pleasantly surprised by “Twilight,” which may be why the sequel disappointed me so much. It tries to top the original with more of everything: more intensity, which makes the boring scenes more intensely boring; more pop songs, played louder; and more romantic angst for the still-virginal heroine.
The preview audience seemed more jacked up before the movie started, but they soon got quiet, and there was more traffic in and out of the auditorium than usual—not a sign of intense focus.
Perhaps Chris Weitz, who failed to turn “The Golden Compass” into a viable franchise, wasn’t the best choice to succeed Catherine Hardwicke as director. After his contributions to “American Pie” and “About a Boy,” you wouldn’t think humor would be one of this film’s weaknesses. It also lacks the sexiness that permeated “Twilight.”
Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is having bad dreams going into her senior year of high school, but they don’t compare to the bad reality when Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) dumps her. She’s ready to have him change her into a vampire when he tells her his family’s leaving town and she can’t come: This is goodbye forever. Obviously (to us, not to Bella), he’s doing it for her own good.
The bad dreams continue, despite the dream catcher that was given to Bella by her Native American friend Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Most people call him “Jake” now, as if he was less than Jake before. He’s put on some weight—mostly muscle—since the last movie. He dismisses it as “just fillin’ out,” but there’s something more sinister behind it.
When Bella gets into dangerous situations, Edward appears to her in visions to warn her; he can’t stop being her protector. Wanting to live dangerously, she asks Jacob to restore two motorcycles she found at the junkyard. This gives them an excuse to spend a lot of time together, which is cruel on Bella’s part, because she knows Jake’s in love with her and she’s just using him.
One scene where Jake removes his shirt draws the largest collective gasp from an audience since the unmasking of Lon Chaney’s “Phantom of the Opera.” The guy is halfway to Hulk before we learn it’s because he’s becoming a werewolf, whose job is to protect humans from vampires. This is convenient, since a couple of angry vampires from the first movie are coming after Bella.
Bella’s journal-like narration takes the form of e-mails she sends to Edward’s sister Alice (Ashley Greene), even though they all bounce back. Alice is the one who returns to Forks, Wash., to set the final phase of the plot in motion. It involves Bella racing to Italy to save Edward, who’s trying to sacrifice himself before the Volturi, the tribunal that has the power to make a vampire un-undead.
Although a romantic triangle is established with Edward and Jake both loving Bella, there’s never a moment’s doubt whose love she returns. so it’s hard to work up suspense around that situation.
The wolves are the best thing about “New Moon”—the way they look, the way they move and the way they change to and from people. This is the breakthrough movie for Lautner, who seems to have adjusted well to his new body but is not always up to the increased dramatic demands. Stewart portrays depression so well it rubs off on the viewer, and her few happy moments don’t help. Pattinson plays a much smaller role this time, and it’s strange to see minor roles filled with the likes of Michael Sheen, Dakota Fanning and—knowing what’s going to happen to her career when “Up in the Air” is released—Anna Kendrick.
“Twilight” almost turned me into a Twi-hard, but the franchise lost me this time. If the filmmakers want to get me back with the next installment, “Eclipse,” they’ll have to twi-harder.
2.5 STARS
INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRES
With “New Moon” mania sweeping the globe, covens of celeb vampires and packs of werewolf hotties (that’s a legit journalistic term, right?) promoted the highly anticipated flick on a whirlwind mall tour that would make Tiffany’s head spin. A day after they spoke to hundreds of shrieking fans at the Mall of Georgia, SP braved a sit-down with two of the film’s most bloodthirsty vampire villains—Jamie Campbell Bower (Caius) and Edi Gathegi (Laurent)—at the W Midtown’s Whiskey Park, and got all the gory details.—
Alison Abbey How’s Atlanta been treating you?
BOWER: It’s been Southern hospitality from the second we landed. We didn’t even have to carry our own luggage! They escorted us off the plane, into a car, and drove us off the tarmac past all the other planes.
What’s the most awkward place you’ve ever been recognized?
GATHEGI: Well I don’t go to awkward places [laughs]. No, it’s never awkward. It just reminds you that you’re an actor …
BOWER: Oh, is that what we do?
GATHEGI: Yes! It reminds you people appreciate what you do, and that you were in a movie people saw. I came from a stage acting background, so to be a film actor—you go into a room and do your job. It’s great to be recognized and appreciated [months later] for what you did in that room.
Jamie, this was your first film with “The Twilight Saga.” How was it coming onto the set?
BOWER: Going into any new film is intimidating, but everyone in the cast is really friendly. They’ve all had this experience together, but they were very warm and welcoming.
Edi, was it bittersweet knowing “New Moon” would be your last film in the saga?
GATHEGI: I don’t know that I’d call it bittersweet, I’d say it was sad and sweet all at once.
What about “New Moon” makes it stand out from “Twilight”?
BOWER: So much! The fight scenes, the introduction of new characters …
GATHEGI: It’s become a pop-culture phenomenon, so it has that chance to be even bigger than “Twilight.” SP