The Twilight Saga of New Moon Reviews by Larson Hill
After months of Twilight Saga buzz for what could be the most over hyped movie in history, reviews are now pouring in for the Twilight sequel New Moon. And after months of Twilight anticipation, fans of the second installment in the Stephenie Meyer penned Twilight Saga series won't like what many critics have to say about New Moon. Should this be a surprise to anyone? Of course not, New Moon has been ripe for the slaughter from day one of the Twilight over hype. But perhaps the best entertainment value surrounding New Moon in its opening weekend is the many online reviews of New Moon. It's a Twilight Saga feeding frenzy that's so ridiculously over the new moon, none of it really matters.
From the once respectable news wires saying that New Moon director Chris Weitz is helming the Twilight Saga Eclipse (when it was actually David Slade) to other critics beginning their New Moon reviews as if it were a Twilight apology letter to their girlfriend, the reviews of New Moon are a comical but fascinating study in human behavior. That's not to mention the many reviewers of New Moon who are simply playing it safe and not giving their opinion at all or others who are simply writing flimsy three paragraph New Moon reviews to churn out as many New Moon stories as they can.
Then you have the serious reviews of New Moon that all say the same thing: Boring love sequences that drag the film down, flimsy, simple, the comical presence of Robert Pattinson, bad dialogue, lackluster vampire world, and a non active storyline ... but wait, Taylor Lautner is the best. When the Twilight door closes on the opening weekend of New Moon, 75 percent of all New Moon reviews will sound the same. Obviously it's a good barometer of the end result of New Moon, but so many film reviews have more to do with the reviewer than the film itself. Also, there are many behavioral and environmental factors that influence a film review. Are there any Twilight reviewers out there that actually like New Moon but are too afraid to go against the grain? With every film, that very layer lurks underneath the surface, not just New Moon.
So how do you make sense of the critical New Moon craziness now that New Moon has finally hit theaters? Really, you can't. None of it matters when thousands upon thousands of outlets are competing with each other. For every review of New Moon that's legit and accurate, you have 50 that are either knock-offs in a follow the leader Twilight mentality. The more important Twilight question when it comes to the many reviews of New Moon is whether any of them matter. Perhaps between word of mouth and reviews combined, the reviews of New Moon may help to put a damper on the second and third week success of New Moon. However, none will keep Twilight fans from theaters. New Moon will make its money back with breakneck speed.
But an even bigger, more significant Twilight question arises when looking at the box-office success of New Moon as compared to the critical reviews of New Moon. How can such a collectively panned movie, a movie that's been so over hyped for a year that you'd expect New Moon to do Dark Knight box-office numbers, be that bad yet be the most talked about movie of 2009? It's a secret most in the media will never share with Twilight Saga fans.
Good or bad, the bottom line is that New Moon is for passionate Twilight Saga fans only. The New Moon reviews by fans are the only ones that matter most. Still, with thousands of New Moon reviews piling up on the web by the second (at last glance up to 10,000), why would anyone think their review of New Moon matters?
I felt like the movie was rushed which is what happens when summit wants to release the movie too quickly. The acting in the beginning of the film was not the best... but got better towards the end. I did not buy the tension between bella and edward as I did in Twilight.... and I did not enjoy the musical score AT ALL. I was waiting to be emotionally moved in the woods when Edward leaves bella with the music... but the music played like it was an action movie instead. I wish they would have kept aspects of bellas lullaby in this. Overall I enjoyed it, but felt like there were some scenes that they should have reshot but probably didnt have the time. Catherine did a better job catching the emotions between the actors.
rejna
November 21, 2009 - 02:48
Subject: Well done
I enjoyed it very much. It's what fans need and wanted. Very loyal to the book. It gives you the entertainment you need if you have that specific twilight taste.
I also liked your review, because you know what you are talking about no matter what you think of the movie. I am sick of old stuck up movie critics who clearly don't get the idea. Not just for New Moon, it happens all the time. So thanks for the sensible look.
Meghan
November 21, 2009 - 02:43
Subject: New Moon
I saw the marathon event at my movie theater. I saw Twilight first, then of course, New Moon. I knew I would love it. Edward looked different, only because they cleaned up mistakes in the first movie, and improved his look. The eyes of the Vampires were incredible. They were very real looking, this time around they looked like Vampires. I want to see it again, and again, and so on and so on. By the way, I belong to Team Edward!
Prue
November 21, 2009 - 01:22
Subject:
Finally some people who mostly know what they are talking about! I have seen it twice now anf enjoyed it more second time cause I was not looking for things and picking. I agree Edward looks weird in NW but, for you have read the book he look like what Bella descrides. So I agree old Edward is hotter but he looks as he should. Love it love it love it.
tanya
November 21, 2009 - 01:19
Subject:
LOVED IT!!!!Read all the books and I have to say I was very impressed with how different this movie was made in comparison to Twilight.The whole mood was different ,it had some humour and the acting was by far much better than the first movie ,thought it was awesome .I plan on seeing it again!!!!
LorLor
November 21, 2009 - 00:15
Subject: Jacob
How has no one mentioned how HOT Taylor Lautner aka Jacob was?? Seriously! I'm normally all about Team Edward, but this movie converted temporarily to Team Jacob! Broke my heart how she dissed him! So sad! Thought it was great.
nessie
November 21, 2009 - 00:12
Subject:
I love how she was writing the letters to Edward. very creative. The new director is awesome and he captured all the important scenes. The movie was absolutely breathtaking. I am definitely looking forward to seeing it again tomorrow. Loved it, far best book-to-movie I've ever seen. better, far better than twilight. :]
K
November 21, 2009 - 00:01
Subject:
I enjoyed the movie but felt it was too rushed. Ive read the book so of course im a bit bias, the book was much better. Maybe because it left so much more to be imagined. All in all it was an excellent movie and im anxious to see Eclipse :-)
Reply to K
Alana
November 21, 2009 - 06:23
Subject: New Moon!!
I have to agree here also!
I did enjoy the movie but felt that the scenes kind of didn't flow from one to the next that well?!!
The acting was great,better than Twilight and the CGI effects where amazing!!
I also felt that the film did not portray jake and Bella's friendship as well as it could off?!!......All my own opinions,i'm sure others would completely disagree...lol.
I will go and pay to watch it again as i'm sure 2nd time around i will enjoy it more!!
Looking forward to 'Eclipse'...woohoo only 7 months to go,i felt to me this was the better book and hope the film lives upto that as i do think new moon stayed very very close to the book,just some slight flowing problems but all in all great work
xx
Tina
November 20, 2009 - 23:46
Subject: New Moon
I just went and seen new moon this evening, and was very pleased with all aspects of the film. They were able to keep true to the book, which most films are not able to, keeping the action and display the emotional side of Bella and Edward as to the audience being able to feel their separation. I cannot wait to see Eclipse in June!!
kelly
November 20, 2009 - 23:43
Subject: new moon
i loved it. and for some strange reason i find edward very sexy but was frustrated of the ending, but then i haven't read the books, which i am off to buy tomorrow. Overall I loved it.
Reply to kelly
K
November 21, 2009 - 00:02
Subject: Re: new moon
Definitely read the books! :-)
mike
November 20, 2009 - 23:33
Subject: how the movie ended
it ended with that gay vampire dude asking that ugly to marry him....it sucked
sara
November 20, 2009 - 23:28
Subject: New Moon
Well it was good better than twilight but edward was so ugly he looks like a monster like wtf happened to him. alice was amazing. i loved the wolf pack and the voltori but edward(robert) was horrible he didnt even look at bella hes a bad actor .
Reply to sara
cieline
December 05, 2009 - 08:44
Subject: Re: New Moon
yeah! I agree. Edward looked soooo freakin ugly. Im watching Twilight right now and I keep thinking of how ugly he was in New Moon. He looked like so old, tired and....ugh just ugly. Jacob was soooo hot WOW. I liked Edward more in Twilight. I felt like New Moon was too fast. There were so many jumps. Its like it was like this then suddenly it changes, i dont get it anymore even though i read the book.
Thought it was great.
but was frustrated of the ending, but then i haven't read the books, which i am off to buy tomorrow. Overall I loved it.