Eclipses New Moon

Rating: 7/10 (4 July 2010)

I enjoyed Twilight. New Moon, was not thrilled with and still is not a movie I have seen more than once in the theater and on DVD. I think it was the morose, depressing feel of the movie. That is how the book is, but still, the music, score and soundtrack, and performances/chemistry just seemed off. That is all corrected with Eclipse.
Performances are the best of the series. Stewart and Pattinson have a natural ease to their relationship now that was great to see. Stuart in particular has come a long way. Her constant eye fluttering when she tries to emote is all but gone and she has ditched the continual stop and go delivery that even my 9 year old daughter noticed and grew tired of in the previous films. Still on the relationship front, Stewart and Lautner's chemistry is MUCH improved over New Moon. I never bought into their relationship in New Moon, here, I sense more of a bond between them. All of this is can be created to the actor's finally getting into the groove with their characters, as well as being more seasoned. Also, director Slade should be credited. Who knew that the guy who brought us scary as hell vamps could turn around and take a story that is polar opposite and improve upon the previous two entries. Charlie is back with a lot more to say and that is welcome return to the first film.
The story is much more gripping this go around, it is not focused on just Bella mourning her relationship with Edward. We get more information about the Cullen family. We get much more time between Bella and Charlie, we also get more with Jacob's family/tribe. It is a more full story than we have had in any of the entries thus far. We still only get a brief glimpse of the Volturi, wish we had more. The most enjoyable is the continual questioning if immortality is a gift or curse. We are given arguments on both side, though mostly on the curse side. This is something that has set this story apart from other vampire incarnations. Immortality is seen as all wonderful, but is it really? That is the question here. One element of the story that is actually expanded on is Edward's virtue of waiting until he and Bella are married to "consumate" their relationship. There is a scene where this is explained and it is something today's young women should take heed of; if their relationship is true, then it doesn't have to include having sex, but that be kept for the right time and that makes it much more special. Hoaky perhaps in today's world, but a welcome stance for a series to take. A relationship's power/truth is not measured by the physical side, but the actual love and respect between the guy/girl.
The Cullen family is a lot more involved and for me that made this film a lot more enjoyable. Jasper in particular, who we hadn't heard much from gets a lot more to do and say here. I have mentioned this before, but the FULL story we get here is what makes Eclipse a lot more enjoyable and really sets up the final book's two-part movie venture.
Special effects continue to improve. They are still not up there with some of the best FX I have seen, but compared to the first film, they are light years ahead.
There was an element of humor in the script I was surprised by and again, a welcome. These moments came during times of banter between characters that came as very natural. It made them more real to me. In all of our relationships we get to a sense of full ease and can say most anything and that is where these characters are.
All in all, Eclipse has made me excited about the movie series again and now I am anxious to see it completed with Breaking Dawn.