The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
RSSBy Kent Turner
In a dramatic twist, the action-packed adaption of Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse (Little, Brown, 2007) will dodge most of the criticism (including from yours truly) heaped upon the first two films in the "Twilight" series. No question, this is the most successful entry so far-and that's high praise, considering the first two films were comatose in comparison.
Eclipse begins where the last installment, New Moon, ended, with Bella (Kristen Stewart) reunited with her alabaster-skinned vampire boyfriend, Edward (Robert Pattinson, still looking as painfully perplexed as ever).
It's Bella's last month of high school, and her graduation plans include going to college and becoming undead-that is, to be free from mortality so she and Edward can be together for eternity. There's one hitch, however: Edward demands that Bella marry him first, prompting her best friend, the werewolf Jacob (Taylor Lautner, who's almost always shirtless), to persuade her that she belongs with him instead. Meanwhile, without the protection from both Edward and Jacob, she'll most certainly become roadkill for a revengeful vampire or a rampaging army of newborn bloodsuckers in nearby Seattle.
Fortunately, Melissa Rosenberg, the film adapter, tore through the 629-page novel, making judicious cuts and retaining much of the book's melodramatic passages. As a result, Rosenberg has met the challenge of bringing to life the book's many story lines, which develop slowly, mostly through dialogue between Bella and her competing beaus, who go on and on about their feelings. Here, flashbacks of each character's backstory don't interfere with the narrative momentum, and the script smoothly weaves in the subplot involving the reckless renegade vampires. Just like in the book, Rosenberg builds excitement by saving the showdown with the turf invaders for the end.
The lead actors are faithful to Meyer's characters, both in type and temperament, with one exception. Although Stewart is more than convincing as the thoughtful and cautious teen who doesn't want to be normal, the drama queen in Bella is still missing in action. Her subdued acting makes it hard to believe Bella's struggle with the most important decision of her life-to stay human and eventually die or live forever undead.
However, as in the previous films, the supporting characters practically steal the movie, especially, this time, Nikki Reed as the standoffish vampire Rosalie. She envies Bella for having a life ahead of her-as a human. When Rosalie reveals to a surprised Bella how she tragically became part of the vampire coven, she lends a dose of sadness and then wicked glee that the film needs.
The concluding installment, Breaking Dawn, is scheduled to open on November 18, 2011.
Directed by David Slade
121 min.
Rated PG-13 (for blood sucking, blood spurting, and heavy petting)
