A step up from previous titles, but still utterly awful.

Rating: 2/10 (20 March 2011)

Oh how to put into words my stance on the controversial Twilight franchise...first and foremost, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse was a definite step up from its prequels. At least it did not have the feel of a shoe-string budgeted film made by high-schoolers as did the first movie. There was an improvement in film quality, and acting quality even from the most dry of the actors, though I did spend most of this film trying to avoid smothering myself with a nearby pillow. The main points here are: 1-the actors, 2-the screenplay, 3-what to expect.
In this review I will avoid any slamming against the general plot as that was purely the workings of Stephenie Meyer, the author of the books, and should not pertain to the acting and screenplay.
**The actors** The main three actors involved in the inevitable love triangle (Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner) belted out their best acting performances I have ever seen....and they were pitiful. In no way, shape, or form should they be recognized for any talent in acting. I was impressed that Kristen Stewart added another emotion to her list of two: dull, and duller. Robert Pattinson still appeared constipated (though that could be his character wanting to drain Bella), but from observing photographs of him and his other acting jobs, I think that is just his face (how unfortunate). Taylor Lautner strikes me as childish in this movie and barely pulls off a convincing job, though he rises above his costars. The supporting actors (Charlie, the Cullen Family, and even Jessica, Mike, etc.) FAR outshine the three mains. They are the only true redemption here.
**The Screenplay** Stepping outside of the Twilight Franchise and into the world of Harry Potter, it seemed like the only people who could understand every name, line, and character were the people who were intimate with the books and the plot. If I hadn't read the Twilight books a few years ago, everything said would have been lost on me. My sympathies to the poor saps who were drug to the theater by their girlfriends/wives. You were probably very lost. The screenwriters make NO EFFORT to help ignorant viewers understand the plot by having any narration that explains as was done in the first movie. At times, I was even lost myself. Some of the lines in this were funny, such as "Doesn't this guy own a shirt?" (or something to that effect). But, as in the first movies, there was no chemistry between the characters with their lines or any clever dialogue to capture the attention.
**What to expect** Very sad attempts at acting, mainly done by the main trio, wasted acting talents by the supporting characters, foul screenplay and NO CHARACTER CHEMISTRY. Terrible special effects, Kristen Stewart's newest facial expression, holes in the plot, and a slight improvement from the past.
All in all, if you are a fan of the franchise, have a nice life. But here were two hours of my life I will never get back.