After my complete and utter disappointment with the first Twilight movie, I decided to do 2 things differently in anticipation for New Moon:
- I did not re-read the book so it was fresh in my mind.
- I lowered my expectations.
Preparation is key, people. And you know what? I think it worked…sort of. I will say that I liked this movie much better than the first one, but I still felt like it could have been so much better…
Let’s start with what I liked about it:
- They stayed much truer to the book this time which I was pleased to see. Of course they can’t incorporate everything from the book into the movie, but one of the things I hated about the first Twilight movie is that they added things that never happened in the book. I can see cutting out parts of the book for the sake of not having a 5 hour movie, but don’t cut out the story that I love just to introduce brand new, not in the book, information! I was happy to see they restrained themselves with New Moon. And since they stayed truer to the book, I was able to watch the movie without just taking in what was on screen–I could also think about how it was written in the book and remember how I felt when reading about it, which really enhanced the movie for me.
- The special effects were a huge improvement. I loved the werewolf phasing scenes!
- I thought the chemistry between Edward and Bella was a lot more believable in this movie. (And I totally cried during their break-up scene.)
- Edward’s makeup was better, although I still could have done without the man lipstick.
- Alice’s hair was cuter this time around.
And now for the things I didn’t like:
- Edward’s fart faces. He spends half of his scenes with his nose and face all scrunched up and uncomfortable looking. Doesn’t it look like he’s smelling the nastiest fart? IT DRIVES ME CRAZY!
- I hated, hated, hated how it took the actors 20 minutes to deliver a line. I get that they’re trying to be all dark and twisty and Meredithy, but COME ON. Granted I’m a fast talker, but I don’t know anyone who carries on a conversation that slowly. I was half wondering if they had to wait for someone in the wings to whisper their next lines to them before they could recite them. Let’s speed it up for Eclipse, mmkay?
- Edward’s head floating in the corner of the screen whenever Bella heard his voice. Oh. My. God. If there was ONE THING I could change about this movie, this would be it! I literally cringed when it first happened. Groaned when it happened a second time. And by the third time I was composing a strongly worded email to the director in my head, begging him to please FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS TWILIGHT ask, “Does this seem cheesy??” before adding crap like this to the next movie!
Overall, I really do think it was a big improvement from the first movie and I think I’ll like it even more after seeing it a second time…but I’ll be waiting for the DVD.
Interested in reading more of my Twilight posts? Here they are in order:
Don’t Send Out the Search Party Yet
Life After Twilight
The Only Thing on My Mind Right Now
The Twilight Movie
Bite Me
My Twilight Saga
All Set for New Moon!
I agree, New Moon was much better than Twilight! I will say that maybe my lust for Jacob skewed my vote alittle. Wasnt he like the hottest thing ever!! I mean…age is just a number baby…
My biggest gripes…
Kristen Stewart’s acting reminds me a bit of William Shatner…
“NoEdward.You.Can’t.LEAVE.meeee!”
I left feeling like a perv for thinking dirty shirtless thoughts about Jacob.
Other than that I was not dissapointed!
Well I’m glad you liked it a little bit more than Twilight. I loved it. Every single part of it. Especially the floating Edward head!! I wouldn’t have liked it without seeing him every few minutes, so for me, it worked.
I agree with PP.. naughty thoughts about shirtless Jacob maked me feel like a dirty old lady. And the teenage girls sitting next to me calling me old did not help. Hussies.
Anywho- did you wear the t-shirt?? Did anyone comment on it?
LB
I just posted my review as well last night!
Much better than the first movie, but still just ok. And I was going to slap some teenage bitches in the front who refused to shut up. THe floating head? I 100% agree with you. And “fart faces” is the PERFECT way to describe Edward’s scrunched-up look!
I totally agree. The second movie was definitely an improvement, although the more times I watch the first movie the more I grow to like it, in its own way. But the floating Edward… ick!
How funny – I did a review too! And I totally agree with you – the wolves were AWESOME! I could have had a whole movie with the wolves.
And Kristin Stewart! Ugh, it’s like the director threatened her with death if she injected emotion into any of her lines! Where was the PASSION!
BUT, I will be in line when Eclipse comes out….
I agree! Kristen Stewart was much less annoying in New Moon, but I still don’t like her as Bella. Jacob = WOW! I liked him in the movie much better than the book. Wish RPattz would have worked out a little more. Still Team Edward though
I was witing for this review! I was actually going to shoot you an email saying, “4 days and counting and STILL no New Moon review?!” I won’t brave the theaters to go see it, but there will probably be a theme night party when it comes onto DVD.
In some aspects I like Robert Pattinson as Edward, and in others I don’t. I find often times he looks like a young Gene Wilder (the orginal Willy Wonka) with that floppy hair.
Personally, I’m team Jasper. But I also love Alice too, so it seems to fit. š
You crack me up! I do agree with you. I went to see the movie with friends and they were gushing about it. There were things I liked and things I didn’t like so much. Like Bella screaming in her sleep…that was a little creepy.
Man lipstick…ha, ha, ha!
I totally agree with everything!! Waaay better movie than twilight! Much truer to the book – and I am on Team Jacob so I loved it all together
Edward has that horrible scrunchy “fart smelling” face b/c his senses are all hightened and being around bella is supposed to be unbearable for him- Plus when he’s around jacob the wolves smell horrid to them. So he’s constantly surrounded by all kinds of smells that make him scrunch his nose. i thought it was actually a good way for the movie to correctly reference the book.
100% with you on the floating Edward thing….wayyyy too cheesy. And I am crying here laughing about the fart face..haha
I liked it better than the first too. My issue is with Kristen Stewart though, she NEVER smiles and it drives me crazy!
I haven’t seen it yet, but thanks for the heads up about Edwards head popping in. Can you say awkward?!
I did the same thing you did…I tried to distance myself from the book before the movie. I was so utterly disappointed with the first movie that I was so worried about this.
I have a feeling the next two movies are going to have a little more action since that is when it seemed to happen in the books. And who knows…now that they made some money off this movie maybe they will have a bigger budget for the 3rd.
BTW that movie comes out June 30th!
Thanks for the recap, D! We are going to see it tonight, so I won’t get my hopes up. Have a GREAT Thanksgiving!!
Okay…so I’m dying to know…are you team Edward(minus his fart faces), or team Jacob (try to put aside that if you say team Jacob, you may feel a little…o….pedophile…for checking out a half nekid 17 year old boy for a second) That’s okay, ‘cuz I had to remind myself of that, too. And now that I’ve disclosed my affection for muscle…I’m curious to know…who are YOU batting for?
@Angela–I was actually thinking that might be why they did the Edward floating head bits. Hmmm…
@LizzieBeth–Oh yes, I did wear the T-shirt! I forgot to mention that! I heard a lot of talk about it as we all waited in this long line to get into the movie. At one point I had to go to the bathroom, so I walked the length of the line to the bathroom and heard lots of whispers and giggles about my shirt. Then on my way back from the bathroom to my spot in line I heard a lot of “Here she comes!” and camera flashes going off, so I think people were trying to sneaks pics of it, lol!
@Amber–I love the look of Robert Pattinson as Edward in pictures/still shots, he just doesn’t do a whole lot for me on the big screen. I don’t know what it is…
@Windy City Kelley’s–YES! That drives me crazy, too! Like that one scene where Bella was waiting for Edward in the school parking lot and he gets out of his Volvo and is walking toward her…she looks like she’s about to crack a smile, but then fights it and keeps her serious face. COME ON! Act like you’re happy to see your man, dammit!
@Heather–Yeah, I think the movies are going to get better each time. And I’ll be marking June 30th on my calendar, woohoo!
@Em–Hope you like it! Enjoy your Nerds and Milk Duds! š
@Danielle–Oh I’m Team Edward all the way, baby!!
I LOVED the movie, but agree with you on a lot of the points… especially the man lipstick lol it also drove me crazy!
The only other big ol negative that I can’t believe you didn’t mention… the running scene- during Alice’s vision for the future with Edward and Bella. The entire theater giggled during that part because it was the epitome of CHEESE! The clothing, the slow motion running, the goofy expressions… ugh, I wish they had shown what is described in the book instead!
D- yes, that is the reason they used the floating head Edward. The director Chris Weitz said that they wanted to inject more Edward in the film than was in the book to satisfy the Team Edward peeps (like me!) So yep, it worked!
Kristen Stewart is the perfect “Bella” .. All around the casting was perfect, everyone had so much so much angst that they fit the story perfectly
D–just went to go see the movie with Ang & kids, Ap. and son and Lex and I–must say–Lex totally blushed when Jacob took his shirt off to wipe the blood from Bella’s face–totally made me LOL!! I liked the movie–already promised Lex that we’d see the next one June 30th!! I was leary to go to the movie after hearing about the floating Ed head but–it was tollerable, knowing that at any moment I may be able to see the oh, so cute Jacob!! I’d give it a 4 out of 5 stars, and totally agree about the new hair cut–like it much better in this movie.
You’re hilarious. Fart faces! haha Totally agree.
I’m glad I fell upon your blog today, it’s great.