SFX: the leading science fiction, fantasy and horror magazine

« BLOG Billy Buddy’s Backst... | Weblog | The "I'm Not That Sad" Qu... »

Tuesday November 24, 2009

FILM REVIEW: The Twilight Saga - New Moon

12A • 125 mins • OUT NOW

Director: Chris Weitz

Cast: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Michael Sheen

Rating:

You can’t help watching without worrying about the future of humanity. It’s a bona fide box office smash, largely because seemingly every teenage girl on the planet is lapping it up. They all wish they could be Bella, some vacuous girl who pines over a guy who looks like he's stuck his head in a bowl of flour, has about as much personality as a sock, mumbles incessantly, dumps her, buggers off to Italy and then turns up in her dreams whenever she seems to be getting over him to wag his finger because she's callous enough not to be pining for him anymore.

Why? Well, he's sorta good looking, and it’s the power of true love, right? If this is the world’s next generation of womanhood, that's a century of female emancipation down the drain. Bella's more likely to polish her chastity belt than burn her bra.
To be fair, in many ways New Moon is a better film than its predecessor, on a technical level at least. There are some impressive CG werewolves, a spectacular vampire slugfest at the climax and a few moments of directorial flourish and impressive cinematography. And some of the supporting characters (especially Edward’s sister Alice and Michael Sheen’s creepy vampire Godfather) add some much needed life to a largely somnambulistic cast.

But none of these things counteract the dispiriting dullness of the central plot, hamstrung by the fact that the two central characters are so insipid. Edward leaves town when Bella says she wants to become a vampire too so that they can live together for eternity. Talk about commitment issues. Bella reacts by locking herself in her room for three months, before finally emerging to become the lamest rebel in teen history (she rides a motorbike!)

With Eddie Munster off the scene, werewolf boy Jake proves a far more charismatic love rival (despite actor Lautner’s weird knack for looking like he's being prompted off-camera the whole time). Good grief, he manages to make Bella smile and make her vaguely interesting. It’s unfathomable why Bella would want Edward instead.
Oh, and sparkly vampires? They still look naff.

Dominic Power

Posted by Dave Golder [Film reviews] ( Tuesday November 24, 2009 )

Permalink | Comments [21]

Trackback URL:

« BLOG Billy Buddy’s Backst... | Weblog | The "I'm Not That Sad" Qu... »

Comments:

Bravest review....ev-ah! Well done Dominic, I hope you enjoy your time it the witness relocation program! :)

Posted by Chrismk (127.0.0.1) on November 24, 2009 at 03:47 PM GMT #

Dom Poweeeeeeeeeeeer, hes the one with the name that you'd like to touccccccccccch, but you musn't toooooooooouch! Love the review though - I have a sister in law who'd strenuously disagree!!

Posted by Bob Jordan (127.0.0.1) on November 24, 2009 at 04:03 PM GMT #

Saw it over the weekend, and have to say I enjoyed - I think the press has been overly harsh on the film to appease their readership. For instance how can they say that New Moon is better than Twilight yet rate the first on 3.5 stars and then the second one 1.5 stars - it makes no sense except to play up to their readership. I would have probably awarded the film 3.5 stars again.

Posted by ChrisSmyth (127.0.0.1) on November 24, 2009 at 04:10 PM GMT #

Or the reviews were by different people with different opinions...

That's pretty much always been the case with SFX reviews, things going from high marks to low in some cases between the film and DVD releases (or vice versa).

Posted by HDimagination (127.0.0.1) on November 24, 2009 at 05:12 PM GMT #

Best review ever! At last, someone else sees the similarity between that pale twat and jedward

Posted by rodders (127.0.0.1) on November 24, 2009 at 06:35 PM GMT #

I can't believe this movie's opening day pull in beat that of "Dark Knight" here in North America!!!! :(

Posted by Kyla (127.0.0.1) on November 24, 2009 at 08:09 PM GMT #

Well, Dominic the film wasn't intended for you! I have to completely disagree with you. Yes it may not be the best film ever made however if you were a fan of the Twilight books you would, speaking as a fan, thoroughly enjoy the film. Perhaps the magic of the story hasn't been completely translated to the screen for non-fans but you know what who cares? Read the book and then try and argue why Bella wouldn't want Edward. If it gets more teenage girls (and no I am no longer a teenage girl) reading novels and SFX then wheres the problem!

Posted by snowjayne (127.0.0.1) on November 24, 2009 at 09:07 PM GMT #

This kind of tripe teaches teenage girls that their importance lies in getting the best looking guy ( who happens to drive the best car and have the best home and have a father who's a doctor)...see where I'm going with this? And he'll be beautiful forever and if she becomes a vampire she'll be young and beautiful forever, because isn't that what we all should want? And these teenage girls are inundated with these images and learn to value looks above substance in themselves and others. No wonder the horrendous self-esteem issues facing girls today. It's worse than ever, not better.
Reading Toni Morrison for example, might be a better choice. And that's just one example. This is the worst kind of garbage to influence teenagers.

Posted by Cathy Atkins (127.0.0.1) on November 24, 2009 at 10:29 PM GMT #

Brilliant review, spot on!

Posted by Colin Cooper (127.0.0.1) on November 25, 2009 at 12:04 AM GMT #

It's all Mary Sue fiction really

http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Twilight

Posted by Ray (127.0.0.1) on November 25, 2009 at 12:23 AM GMT #

The Twilight movies and books really are garbage, and for the precise reasons that Mr. Power nails: they teach young girls that passivity and weakness are virtues. Life happens to Bella; she doesn't act, she only reacts or is acted upon. She's more of a plot device than an actual character. The whole franchise makes me throw up in my mouth, and when I hear grown women going gooey over it, I go from disgusted to actively creeped out.

Posted by Theo (127.0.0.1) on November 27, 2009 at 11:34 PM GMT #

The movie is a triumph. Of the marketing of utter garbage. As one of Alice Walker's characters remarks, reflecting on the substitution of schmaltz for real emotion, and of our brain-washed inability to see the difference, "One day this is going to be a pitiful country". That day would be today.

Posted by Paul Baker (127.0.0.1) on December 01, 2009 at 11:31 PM GMT
Website: http://echoesofsilence-ecosdelsilencio.pbworks.com #

I'm a young lady of the age where I "should" be infatuated like many other "fans" of the Twilight series, but I am not. I saw both movies outside of the movie theater (lucky me not having to deal with people drooling over people they will most likely never meet). I enjoy a good movie, especially a good vampire movie. Why, a few moments of escapism, but its' always back to reality and what's really important in life. This movie is the same thing that draws others to vampire movies: everything is forever. They live forever, they love forever, etc. It appeals to our desires to be beautiful and meaningful because we equate importance to beauty, if you haven't noticed. These "beings" seemingly live with conviction, but it is a "fan"atical(I wonder if these people know this is where the word comes from...) conviction which leaves all other things important, such as self-respect, behind. In essence it is hypocritical still even though this is what the "fan" believes is not true. "Why can't I find someone to love me like Edward or Jake", because in real life many people have self-respect. They will not be with someone who lacks respect among other important qualities. The point is the movie is a fantasy, but that with the lack of proper parenting, they should be putting all this into perspective for their kids, these "hormonal teenagers" and others will continue to worship, and live vicariously through, this sort of vain half-ass hypocritical so called conviction. It is a sad but true thing. This movie is only a pebble in a pond of other negative messages that society puts forth. Think about it.

Posted by Natacha (127.0.0.1) on December 02, 2009 at 01:10 PM GMT #

to-ta-lly. wonderful review, although i haven't seen the movie (i don't really mean to, the first one was more than enough).

it makes me sad so few women are pointing these things out, while many men are. shame on all retarded teens who like to feel inferior and enslaved, shame on s. meyer who is a hypocritical idiot (and writes worse stuff than a three-year-old), and shame on the parents who go crazy over sex scenes and contraception, but not over sexist propaganda.

god, twlilight makes me angry.

Posted by monkey_music (127.0.0.1) on December 07, 2009 at 03:53 AM GMT #

monkey_music raised a really good point.

Why the heck are more men outraged by the vacuous, insipid and down-right self-depricating image that Ms. Meyer has created for tween girls to emulate, than women?

It boggles my mind. As a man, it bugs me simply knowing this crap is out there, attempting to erase everything feminists and progressive minded women have fought for. But why aren't more women angry that this garabage is aimed squarely at them and thier daughters, sisters, friends?

C'mon women, lets hear you roar!

Also: Dear Twilight, put a freakin' shirt on!

Posted by conformunist (127.0.0.1) on December 08, 2009 at 06:07 PM GMT #

there are plenty of women out there who are disgusted by this crap. unfortunately, we are drowned out by the idiots who can't seem to use logic and instead embrace emotion only. the people who say "you don't get it. we like it, so stop hating" are the same people who think that britney spears and miley cyrus are wonderful artists for the ages. They believe that popularity equals quality. And these books/movies play up that idea. I keep hearing people mention about how this has put women and feminism back years and i agree. The scary thing is that there is a growing number of people who miss the entire point of fighting for equality. I read posts from women saying that feminism was about choice and how they choose to be a wife and a stay at home mom and so they are the "true" feminists. Strangely, I thought civil rights for all people were more about the fact that we all have worth in our own right and that we do not need to rely on other people for support, for sustenance. That there is no weaker sex, no inferior race that needs to be coddled to by others. I would have no problem with the twilight saga if it were just another book/movie franchise that people merely enjoyed. But the fanatics are scary. It is frightening that this has become a cultural phenomenon for as many as it has. That after having gotten away from the fairy tale mentality that women need to find a man and have a family and that is all that is important in life, not finding personal fulfillment... the fact that we are encouraging the younger generation to revert to this mentality (which ironically isn't all that attractive to men) saddens me.

Posted by they want to be stupid, what's the point (127.0.0.1) on December 09, 2009 at 06:23 PM GMT #

I thought it was exciting, and funny, but hilariously mushy. I can't see the point of every girl wanting to be Isabella Swan, though.
Still, I did love Sheen and Greene.

Posted by Tamsin (127.0.0.1) on December 10, 2009 at 08:55 AM GMT
Website: http://hunlin.deviantart.com/ #

*chuckle* awesome review. In fairness I've not seen this movie but since the first one made me throw up in my mouth a little bit for all the same reasons Dominic mentions here I think I can safely give it a miss.
Seriously when did it become ok for girls to think that the pinnacle of female life was to lie around pining for a controlling, impotent narcissist with a wind-tunnel hairdo?

I'm thinking maybe a programme of grabbing girls from outside the cinema and making them watch Aliens could be considered a necessary act of social activism.

Posted by LemLems (127.0.0.1) on December 11, 2009 at 06:31 PM GMT #

awesome review. ^^ As a 17 year old teenage girl (shockhorror) I am personally disgusted with the fanatiscm over the series. The movie, and the book, were very meh- if they were not so popular, then they would not be slammed so harshly by critics. But then, the TwiFans are simply terrifying. I wish reviews like this would get to them and actually have an effect on them- but alas, all they can do is tell anyone who points out anything bad about the series to "go away, they weren't made for *you.* You don't get it."
I dispear for my peers.

Posted by Chey (127.0.0.1) on December 12, 2009 at 11:29 AM GMT #

Okay here goes...
I have read the books (borrowed from a friend who insisted I read them) and seen both movies (curiosity mostly on the first, and seeing as Jake was my favorite character, I saw the second). So I actually do know all that happens in the series, not just the movies.

I have to say that I agree with all that has been said before. I am thoroughly disgusted by the fact that this series teaches women (especially young girls) that it is okay to center your life around a guy. To be with him Bella will give up her family, friends, and life. How is she a good role model for youth? Not once does she mention a goal in her life besides becoming a vampire for Edward; where are her ambitions? Not once does she mention liking or disliking something without Edward in close connection. Bella is not an individual, she is a manic depressive, co-dependent child. This story teaches a horrible lesson in relationships. Bella is needy and can't exist without Edward, while Edward on the other hand is either controlling or abandoning. Yet in the end, they end up happily ever after in each others arms? People say this is a love story, but I don't see respect coming from either Edward or Bella towards one another, so how can they possibly claim to love each other?

Twilight could be one of the most disastrous series in quite awhile to young people everywhere.

Posted by Beth (127.0.0.1) on December 15, 2009 at 09:19 PM GMT #

The author of this story did a very good job of preparing girls to read romance novels with Fabio on the cover later in their lives. What disturbed me is I saw a 65 year-old woman lust after the boy who played the wolf. My God! He's just a boy and they packaged him as a sex object. And now all this women want to molest him, including the filthy one. I'm a woman, I can't look at this boy sexually no matter how muscular he is. It's so wrong.

I could only read 200 pages of the New Moon and returned it to the library, thinking it's a total piece of crap. I would had hit my head on the wall if I bought the books.

The story basically feed on the wish of being self-centered, unattractive and still HOT GUYS will love you. Hahahahah Go luck ladies!

The actors performance is bad. Of course, you think respectable actors like Heath Ledger, Scarlett Johansson will sign on to this kind of crap! It's a career suicide. Getting famous is different from getting a good job that film makers recognize.

Posted by Lisa (127.0.0.1) on December 18, 2009 at 03:27 AM GMT #

Categories

Latest Issue

Links

Search

News Feeds

FILM REVIEW: The Twilight Saga - New Moon

Poll

Calendar