Film Review: New Director Finds Teeth in ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’

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CHICAGO – Easily the best entry in the franchise, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” finally allows those of us unfamiliar with the books by Stephenie Meyer to understand why the saga of the vampire, the wolf, and the sullen girl in the middle has become an international phenomenon. With actual performances from Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart instead of mere teen melodrama and tight, blockbuster pacing by director David Slade, “Eclipse” stands ashen head and furry shoulders above “Twilight” and “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.0/5.0
Rating: 3.0/5.0

Don’t get me wrong. “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” is too flawed to completely convert those of you turned off by the rising fame of Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, and Kristen Stewart and there’s nothing I can say to the people who own anything that says “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob” that would convince them that these movies still aren’t as good as they should be. However, for the former, it should make the news that “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” has been split into two feature films easier to swallow and I think the latter know that the “Twilight” movies aren’t quite perfect but love them despite their flaws.

StarRead Brian Tallerico’s full review of “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” in our reviews section.

With no recap for ticket buyers who might stumble into the franchise in the third film, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” dives right into its melodramatic tale with Bella Swan (Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Pattinson) discussing their future in a sun-drenched field. She’s still trying to convince her bloodsucking boy toy to turn her into a vampire, which he refuses to do until they get married. Not only is Edward withholding his fangs but we learn that Bella is still a virgin because her pale beau wants to wait on that aspect of their relationship as well. In Meyer’s conservative world, a little heavy petting is equal to be turned into the undead.

On the other side of the most supernatural town in the Pacific Northwest, Jacob (Lautner) is brooding over his lost love and refusing to return her phone calls and requests to still be friends. Bella’s dad (Billy Burke) pressures her into spending some more time with the seemingly better-for-her Jacob and it’s revealed that Jacob not only still loves her but is convinced that she will one day realize her love for him as well.

StarContinuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” review.

‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Bryce Dallas Howard, Xavier Samuel, Peter Facinelli, Elisabeth Reaser, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed, Ashley Greene, and Dakota Fanning. It was written by Melissa Rosenberg from the book by Stephenie Meyer and directed by David Slade. It opens on June 30th, 2010. It is rated PG-13.

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart star in the Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart star in the Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Photo credit: Kimberley French/Summit

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