Movie Review: The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
A disappointing bore
Photo: Summit Entertainment
Assuming the audience has nothing better to do, The Twilight Saga: New Moon struggles to tell its tiny tale over the course of two hours and ten minutes as a world inhabited by vampires, werewolves and who knows what else is pushed to the side in an effort to watch as a girl is prepared to throw her life away following her vampire lover's departure. To think they could get this film this wrong after the halfhearted first installment is something of an achievement.
The cast includes Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Jackson Rathbone, Dakota Fanning, Chaske Spencer, Bronson Pelletier, Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon, Tyson Houseman, Jamie Campbell-Bower, Michael Sheen, Cameron Bright, Graham Greene, Daniel Cudmore, Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, Billy Burke, Edi Gathegi and Justin Chon. For more information on this film including pictures, trailers and a detailed synopsis choose from the following menu.
Review
"The Twilight Saga: New Moon" is a Summit Entertainment release, directed by Chris Weitz and is rated PG-13 for some violence and action. The running time is 2 hours 10 minutes.
The decision results in Bella turning her attention toward Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), the mysterious Native American boy with the overnight buff physique and habit of stripping down to his jean shorts and running off into the forest with his boys. This, of course, is due to the fact he's a vampire-hating werewolf, but these are just minor details in the life of Bella and passed off as everyday occurrences. She's cool with weird stuff as one of the other werewolves says.
These two previous paragraphs take up approximately the first 90 minutes of New Moon — along with briefly reintroducing a couple of loose ends from the first film to add to the running time — before things can shift to Italy, and finally get interesting for 15 minutes or so. No joke.
I'm sorry to say this, but New Moon is a bore. The characters don't seem interested in what's going on and director Chris Weitz seems intent on making sure the audience feels the same way. When Bella isn't screaming in her sleep (over and over again, night after night) we are privileged enough to stare as she sits in a chair and does nothing as the months pass by. Months! And it feels like it.
If looked at as an exercise in patience, New Moon is a gem, but otherwise you are going to be nodding off fairly early. The presumed "love story" gets so bogged down in redundancy and storytelling miscues we never once care for any part of it, especially considering it is all so telegraphed there is hardly a mystery as to how it will all come to an end.
This isn't to say New Moon hasn't improved at all where Twilight failed. The action is a vast improvement. There's an impressive forest chase sequence that brings back Rachelle Lefevre as the vampire Victoria, and the moments in Italy where we are introduced to the vampire coven known as the Volturi are easily the film's stand out sequences. However, if you noticed the likes of Dakota Fanning and Michael Sheen as part of the cast don't expect too much as Fanning gets about five words in and Sheen, while impressive as Volturi leader Aro, isn't given nearly enough time to shine.
The effects are improved, but the same stunted performances by the disinterested Stewart, the waxy bore that is Pattinson and the amateurish turn by Lautner are all still present. Even Billy Burke playing Bella's father, the lone standout from the first film, is turned into a stiff. The life was sucked out of New Moon either by the lack of story or by the inability of Weitz to tap into any kind of real energy. However, to be fair, the story is so weak it didn't stand much of a chance and certainly not for more than two hours.
Fans of Stephenie Meyer's best-selling teen-vampire franchise were tolerant of the first film, and some may have legitimately enjoyed it, but I can't help but wonder how long they can remain interested if the filmed adaptations continue to disappoint.
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Eeeeewwwww! Ouch!
Well at least, based on what I have read in this review, the movie stays faithful to the book…What does that tell you?
Its Clear he dont like the book, and it seem the movie stay close to the book… so what he expect….. his review about the movie content is like a short resume from the book, is Bella suffer for her love, atraction to jacob and his world and the adventure in Italy….. so i liked the book and i think i would like the movie too….
As expected this movie had to be crap!!
I've never seen the movies or read the books, so I don't care too much about this, but… I just thought your line "fans… were tolerant of the first film".
No, I think not. I think they were raving mad for the first film, and this will be no exception, so long as Lautner kisses Stewart at some point.
That's how the Twilight books are:
3/4 soppy romantic stuff
1/4 action
You talk about Kristen Stewart sitting in a chair for what seems like months because she's so depressed. If she actually had something to be depressed about (losing your first boyfriend definitely doesn't count), then I wouldn't mind if the camera stayed on her for a 2-minute take. I love sad, slow shit. But Twilight isn't sad. It's ridiculous.
Basically, with "New Moon" as with "Twilight," I'm looking for something to laugh at. Is there lots of ridiculous things going on that I can laugh at, as I was able to with the first movie and with the books? I hope so.
good lord. Super harsh, bbut i don think this one will be world's better than the first
no really i didn't see that coming "not" … your missing alot of entertainment news 47 ronin gets a director whats the deal you only report your favs are something….
First of all.. If you are going to review something get it right. The Cullen’s didn’t leave because the townspeople were becoming suspicious of their age. They didn’t need to leave at all. They did so, for Edward’s benefit as he felt he was doing more harm than good in Bella’s life.
Obviously no one has ever loved you nor have you loved anyone in return or you would understand that her world stopping is not only pivotal to the story, it is real life. Her unbreakable love for him is what allows her in the end, to give up everything to be with him forever.
Often times, when movies are made based on books, be it comic or fiction, the director and cast do their best to cater to the movies built-in fan base. That is what has been done with the Twilight franchise. If you don’t like it, don’t go see it. Your cross expression, sour tone, and inability to feel true happiness will not be missed.
I loved Twilight, I definitely have to check this one out!
@Christy Trujillo:
*facepalm*. I won't even try to explain all the things wrong with your attack on Brad. Just because he has a different opinion than you doesn't mean that he's dumb or that his opinion is automatically wrong.
Anyway, back to the review. Yeah, I'm actually wearing my New Moon shirt as I write this. I can't wait to see how horrendous this movie will be (won't be waiting for too long: got tix for the midnight showing). From what I can tell, just like the book that it's based on, it's melodramatic, plodding and ridiculous. The exact reasons why I loved the first film as an unintentional comedy.
Brad you're review speaks to me, it tells me that i was right all along, from every gay poster i've had to endure on my way to college in the morning to hearing my retarded class mates get excited about their trip to a midnight screening.
Still feel a D+ was too good for it tho….
@Christy Trujillo: Nobody here cares what he got wrong the series is retarded and Brad's review just backs that up perfectly.
Couple of radio DJ's talked about the movie, they liked it AND agreed it was too long and boring most of the time. These are people who actually likes the movie.
I knew it! Add Weitz to this story and you're bound to get something stupid and boring out of it.
Thats what you get for reviewing crap movies like this. Sometime the fan hype just isn't worth it.
Finally, the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen cultural war is over. Now comes the Twilight Saga: New Moon cultural war. I'm probably going to fall into the same pattern with this one. I just don't get why it's so popular and people want to defend it. I haven't seen New Moon, and thankfully, my wife is going with friends of hers so I don't have to go. I saw Twilight and during the whole time I kept thinking, "This is it? This is a cultural phenomenon, it's so Meh." (a word created by the Simpsons, now there is a cultural phenomenon) I know, I'm an adult heterosexual male, so it's not made for me. But it's so pedestrian. Nothing new. Not like Star Wars or Harry Potter or anything else. The leads are painfully dull. Nothing really happens, and it may be because for the vampires to fit in they choose to go to high school? Um, high school is known as being a place where its hard to fit in. Jesus, I've already written a lot on a movie I haven't seen. Sorry.
@Christy Trujillo: No offense, but um, if this is what you think love really is, I don't think that you've experienced real love either.
couldnt agree with you more brad..i couldnt believe my watch when i saw that 1 and a half hour had already passed and we still hadnt come past the 'setting up for the story' mode..definately boring and easily 100x longer than it should have been..Having said that the final 30 minutes are quite good,and the whole Volturi thing could have been way more interesting if the film hadnt focused so much on Bella and Jacob..and it was better than the first film but in the end its really poor for a worldwide phenomenon
I don't get Twilight. Is the romanticism a reaction by girls of having to pay their own tab? When I started reading this review, I was sure Brad was going to say he took a
girl so he could see how she reacted to it, because I don't think Brad get's it either. Can really bad movies have successful five part series? Is Brad saying the next movie will tank?
the twilight book series are made for drama lovers, those books are not good for movie versions, end of the history, i mean…c'mon! two hours of a girl crying and attempting suicide 'cause that way she can see the love of her life? DRAMA, this movie sucks
@Vince: So you know its going to be terrible yet you are wearing a New Moon t-shirt and supporting the film at a midnight screening? I mean I have no problem with you being a fan so no need to feel so insecure about it,
@Sebastian:
That is actually 100% correct. Not about the movie sucking but that they probably never should have been made into movies. Some books just don't translate well. :(
And I never said Brad wasn't smart. On the contrary, I think he is very intelligent and I enjoy is writing style.
And yes, I think the love that Bella feels for Edward is real and can be translated into real life because it's not just about her.. it's about him as well. It's how HE treats HER that makes her love him. And.. don't we all deserve that. (Happily married for 8 years, BTW)
I am quite used to getting attacked for my love for Twilight and I am willing to defend it every time.
@Christy Trujillo: Demonstrating your love for Twilight by defending it is quite different from what you say above. Using the old line "if you don't like it, don't see it" on Brad, a movie critic, is petty. Linking his critique of the character development to a loveless life is petty, childish, and laughable.
@Christy Trujillo: A number of black and white movies I have seen (older), attempt to show an internal struggle of a character. It's just harder to do in film, an action based medium. Compare and contrast Bing Crosby's The Preachers Wife, with it's internal struggles, to the newer version whichi focuses more on a property developer.
But I agree with Dan that your writing style is a bit off putting. For instance, couldn't you have said "I agree" instead of "That is actually 100% correct"?
But no biggie, I'm actually just checking to see if my new gravatar/avatar is working.
I'm starting to wonder if this movie may be in trouble. I mean if this movie is still a hit by everyone hates it, Eclipse, while still a profit, may have less box office to speak of and may kill any attempt at Breaking Dawn.
People say it's so faithful to the book…I don't remember, on any page, having the werewolves walk around with their shirts off the whole time. I'm not one to form an opinion about a movie I haven't seen, but I have a huge feeling that even a huge fan of the book may not be so accepting of this movie.
Truthfully, I wished they would've replaced Taylor Lautner. He doesn't even remotely look the part (nothing like what the book described), and nor does Robert Pattinson. Kristen Stewart may seem off but she's pretty much exactly like Bella should be and look. Those guys though; they may be good actors but they were terribly miscast.
One day they'll remake this series, and like the old Batman movies, people will try to pretend like they never happened.
Why don't they just make a movie off of Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy so everyone who actually doesn't like Twilight can love those movies instead?
And are they ever going to get the Maximum Ride movie out? A motion-capture movie designed to be targeted at both kids and adults with a big budget could easily hit 500 million worldwide, if not more.
ok, seriously. the first book was decent, but the rest suck. before the first movie came out, i was pretty excited because i was a fan of twilight. while the hype was a little annoying, i thought i would give it a chance. as soon as the movie was over, i thought how glad i was that people were going to stop obsessinq over this stupid franchise because theyd see how dumb it really was. i was wrong. this has only made stupid people make themselves believe something is great when its not. overall, people who saw twilight at midnight were suckers. anybody who gos to see new moon at all is just plain stupid. dont waste your time or money.
@Seiko: You seem to be up on things, and somehow I previosly got the impression you're from Japan. I can no longer find the information on when Hannah Montana: The Movie is set to be released in Japan. I think it's in the spring. Do you have any information on it?
@Seiko:
I like Mr. Lautner. Pattinson I don't care much for, but Taylor Lautner's actually a good Jacob I feel.
Regardless of whether or not this one sucks, or the next movie bombs, I'll bet good money that "Breaking Dawn" will be made into a movie. They honestly can't stop the film franchise here. This'll be like the Saw series, in that even if the WOM is horrendous & the box office prospects die off after the first couple of films, the budgets on these movies are so low, and the merchandising profits are so high that they're pretty much printing money by releasing these things.
@John Debono:
I never said I was insecure with my ironic love of Twilight.
Here's my philosophy: I like watching movies.
I LOVE watching bad movies.
Catch my drift?
@Vince: How much is the budget for New Moon? If the review is true, then I'll just wait for the DVD.
It seems that the story line (being the book) is what Brad doesn't like, and many of you agree. Which is totally fine, this kind of story isn't for eveyone. But I also think that as a movie, even if they had oscar winning perfomrances, you still would give the movie a bad review. I personally think they did an amazing job bringing the book to life. Especially compared to Twilight it is 100 times better. The cinematography, score, make-up/wordobe, CGI, acting, and screenwrite were all way better than the first movie. But even without the first movie to compare it to if you liked the books you will not be disappointed with the movie.
@Christy Trujillo:
Sorry. I'd love to be on your side Christy. But I just can't. You talk about how he wrote the review in a sour tone and whatnot, but good lord. Look at what you wrote. And in your next post you say you're defending the Twilight Saga? There is a VAST difference between attacking and defending. Maybe if you had written something that wasn't a blatantly defensive, near comically angry then we would all take you seriously. But right now, you just come across as some rabid, psychotic, blind fan. If you don't like his review, don't read it. He doesn't force you to come to his site.
Otherwise, I ADORED the movie. I love the books, and I walked into this movie expecting a huge pile of garbage. I was expecting something like the crap attempt that Twilight was. But honestly, this was a VAST improvement. I was SO happy walking out of the theater. I think anyone that likes the books will enjoy the movie. But obviously, I completely respect your opinion on the movie. Or I wouldn't have read your review. :]
Oh dear!
I have not seen the film yet, I will watch it when it hits SKY, I know I will not love it, I will however give it a chance.
A critic can only speak for themselves, not you or I, Brad can hate or love what he likes, but! Once the critic publicly shares an opinion they should expect to have their own review / opinion also reviewed, rated and torn apart by the very people they are trying to influence.
So by calling it a disappointment, you're saying that you had expectations that weren't rock bottom?
@bgun:
The first film was made for a modest $37 million & grossed over $300 million worldwide. This one's estimated at $50-60 million, which is fairly cheap for a big-budget production that's pretty much set to make over $200 million in the U.S. alone.
I also think that if you're slightly interested in this movie, you should probably go see it. Don't wait for the DVD. The experience of watching the movie in fellow company will make the movie better.
Needless to say, I saw the film at midnight earlier today and…it was not very good. Not ironically good or just "good" good.
But I'll talk more about that in another thread.
@Ty:
Yeah, the sad part.. and I can admit it.. is that I am a 'rabid, psychotic, blind fan.' Twilight changed my life SO much, that when I read the opening of the review and saw that Brad (whom I'm sure is a wonderful person but I still say is not the target audience for the movie) didn't even have the facts straight… well, how can you properly review something that you don't even pay attention to enough to grasp what's actually going on?
I feel very strongly about the books. Not about the movies. They are wonderful for a fan. And that's who they were made for. Fans of the books. Not movie buffs looking for a good movie.
Sorry if I offended anyone.. I have actually never posted something like this before.
I saw the movie last night and it sucked. I completely agree with the author of this article. I would recommend waiting until in comes out on DVD.
If you like a movie, you like it. If you don't, then you don't like it. Who cares about critics, reviews. PEOPLE! Shut the hell up! It's just a movie. Can't you find something better to talk about then something like this?
I'm not a fan of Twilight, and I liked the movies. They ENTERTAINED me. I studied film in the heart of LA and discovered: TO EACH HIS OWN.
Brad, or whatever your name is.
NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR OPINION. Not every movie has to be oscar worthy to be good. SO SHUT UP. Get A REAL JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!
I quess when it comes right down to it, that people care even less about reviews from anyone (cirtics or not) for the Twilight series than they do opinions about Transformers.
And why would anyone? How can you not love a movie with the best special effects of all time with robots fighting and hysterical jokes, with Megan Fox being hot and lots and lots of explosions and destruction?
*Sorry, I am not from Japan. But if I was, then I would say that the Astro Boy movie was a huge insult to my intelligence. That's the best thing they can make out of a great anime like Astro Boy (though I like the 80's and 2003 versions better). And Dragonball Evolution was better than G.I. Joe; at least you could tell you were watching a Dragonball movie.
@PR: You are so odd.
Obviously, there are people that care about what critics say. We're all here. If people didn't care about what critics said, then being a critic would not be a real job. But, as it is, there is demand for critics (signposting for preferences, gathering and filtering information/news), so it pays 'real' money, and is therefore a real job. "To Each His Own" isn't mutually exclusive with discussion, but you speak as though it is. Film school in the heart of LA is nice, but perhaps invest in an economics course or a philosophy course, and then read your statement again.
Id had sooo much potential they should have left out some details and elaborated on others like jacobs and bellas realationship that movie was crap and i wanted it to be sooo good aww big dissapointment twilght was wayyy better it was more pure and romantic new moon was toatally not
Thanks for the reply Seiko.
@Brad I'm reading on Deadline Hollywood that New Moon is getting a CinemaScore of A- People interested in this film like it after they've seen it.
I believe most people who go to see blockbusters have made up their minds to see the movies before critics even get involved, and changing someones already made decision is extremely difficult. I would like to thank Brad for his perspective from a male who hasn't read the Twilight books. We have that in common. Luckily, I can just smile and nod when people discuss twilight since it's not my job to give my opinion. What impresses me about Twilight is not the book or the movies, but the ardent fan following. I don't get it, but it is impressive!
@Kaela Marti: Try to be happy. Reading a book before seeing the movie almost always turns out badly. Since the Twilight series is based on books, this puts the studio in a precarious position. I'm sure they did the best they could, trying to please the most people they could.
If you like a movie, you like it. If you don't, then you don't like it. Who cares about critics, reviews.
D+ is a pretty good grade, Brad's review reads like he thought the movie was F material
@Jojo:
that the book also sucks?
@steve:
Radio DJs know about films?.. guess that's why they're in radio then…
Radio DJs say what their producers tell them to say, and the producers want to be on the side of the people making lots of monies right?… you do the maths…
Brad here is writing what he wants to say and he's attatched to a specific website based around the film industry and has clearly seen many films in his life… so I think Brad's more capible of writing what the film is like rather than what his boss tells him to say.
Okay, I just saw NEW MOON last night. I really liked it. I am a big TWILIGHT fan and have read and loved the books. I know that it would've been ideal to be able to recreate the book page for page onto the screen. I'll admit that there was lot from the books that I wished could be in the movie. I also know we'd have a seven or eight hour movie costing almost as much as AVATAR. That said, once again, I really liked this movie.
I liked the overall tone of the film, it had a warmth to it that came from the set design, the locations, and the characters.
I liked seeing Jacob's home come to life in the film: the garage, his beat up VW, and the whole feel of him and Bella working on the bikes.
I liked the chase sequence when Charlies's hunting party was after the wolves and the wolves were after Victoria and Victoria was after the hunting party. I liked the way it was edited with that amazing music that I believe was from the Thom Yorke song "Hearing Damage".
I liked how they got in one of my personal favorite moments from the book where we see Victoria off in the ocean after Jacob rescues Bella.
I liked how they managed to put in the bit between Jacob and Bella about who is oldest in relative terms.
I liked seeing the yellow Porsche that Alice "borrowed".
I liked seeing the Volturi. Michael Sheen did an amazing job as Aro. Ironic that the first time I saw Michael Sheen was when he played the ruler of the Lycans in UNDERWORLD.
I liked the fight in the Volturi chamber, though much more sensational than the book, I'm glad the film makers took advantage of the visual opportunities of the medium.
Yeah, I really liked this movie. I think I'll go see it again.
I must reiterate my statement:
People do care to HEAR what critics say. But it may go so far as to encourage seeing a movie that is supposed to be so bad. Or to dislike someone when you find it to be extremely awesome like Transformers 2 (yes I have an undying love for this movie; best movie released since Pirates 2, before that was Titanic ((not a chick flick; Kate Winslet is too overly gorgeous and Leonardo Dicaprio is too good of an actor to not be a drama filled DISASTER flick)) obviously!).
Humor galore (you are one unimaginable bastard) obviously meant that movie has it's scary moments but was not to be taken too seriously, and look; most popular movie of all time.
@Seiko:
No clue what I was trying to really get at here, sorry.
Really, people want to read and know others opinion on something. I believe more people used to listen to reviews more and say "I'm not seeing that because everyone says it sucked." But now, when they see visuals (like an a transformer changing form or causing destruction), they have a very hard time listening to others.
When they see massive amounts of clips, so much internet talk, etc, they somehow are encouraged to have more individuality and form their own opinion on their own.
Does that make sense? I hope it does, but it's just my opinion…
Well, i think it is one of the best adaptations i've seen, definitely better than twilight. And if you think it was almost torture to watch Bella for 2 minutes as she does nothing, the book would definitely be complete torture, it's way boring at the beginning. Maybe it's beacuse after twilight i had VERY low expectations, or maybe it was because Jacob was semi-naked a lot of the time (and i didn't even like Jacob, before this movie), but i liked it, i believe it was a great improvement considering the first, twilight had an awful acting, it was a terrible casting, horrible photography, and none direction, not to mention the make-up, i mean, my make-up on halloween was way better that that. In New Moon, i think it's a much better direction, so the acting is also better, the photography didn't look as if the camera was broken, they got contacts that actually looked the color it's supposed to, and the make up doesn't look as if they got the faces of the cast on a bucket of white paint. Of course, they can't really do anything about the casting now, but if they act a little better it's an improvement.
Anyway, i'll go watch it again, i did enjoy it :)~