Yaaaaaaaawwwwn...

Rating: 3/10 (6 July 2010)

I have seen all three of these, and no, I did not read the books. I have seen movies in the past where I have read the book, and I have learned that they both must be taken upon their own merits.
I found the first twilight movie interesting. It held my attention with mystery and impending danger. Yo were trying to figure out what the Cullen's were about, and if Bella would get in over her head to the point of her life being in danger. The father was also an important figure in both the first and second movie.
The second movie was more action packed, the plot moved along quicker, and introducing Jacob as a viable interest to Bella and rival to the Cullens held my interest. Overall an unpredictable and intriguing movie.
The third movie enters as predictable, slow moving, and much more a movie about Bella, who comes across even more as a child than the first two, not being able to make up her mind. Her wishy-washy-ness is tiring (what happened to strong-willed Bella?), and the actions of the other two is highly predictable. You can see what's going to happen throughout this movie way before it happens. I found myself looking at my watch several times. Decisions for all the Cullens and all the wolf pack are made off the cuff by Edward and Jacob; without even consulting the others. It's as if the other members of the clan and pack are filler, with virtually no input or providing any tension as they did in the other two movies in the series. They just follow whatever Edward and Jacob decide at the spur of the moment, even if they're not present. And Bella's father is also now just a wimp. He doesn't even need to be present in the plot. He contributes nothing. It's a movie (soap) about Jacob, Bella, and Edward, with all the rest of the cast acting as cardboard fillers.
If you really want to see what happens in the third chapter of this saga, save your money and rent it. It has about as much big screen appeal as a slow-moving soap opera.