The saga continues

Rating: Null/10 (20 December 2009)

A simpler titling of the first two instalment of the Twilight Saga movies could be "Twilight: vampires" and "Twilight: werewolves". But this is not a complete symmetry, as Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) tells Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) at the end of "New Moon" that if she has to make a choice, it will be Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). But I should back up a little.
Picking up from what was left off in "Twilight", this second instalment takes some time in developing Edward the vampire's agonizing internal struggle that culminated in his leaving Bella, making her believe that she'll never see him again. Then it's Bella's turn to agonize over whether to accept Jacob's love, fearing that this would end up in losing a true friend. Director Chris Weitz did take his time with these languid, melancholy establishing sequences.
Things do pick up when, by accepting Jacob's love, Bella soon finds that her nightmare is repeated. Jacob is a werewolf. But at least he cannot turn her into one. Just as this relationship sees some tantalizing possibilities, the vampires return – not Edward (at least not yet), but the bad ones that want to kill Bella. Things do pick up now and the rest should hold your interest to the end, and beyond, obviously – "Eclipse" has been scheduled for 2010 summer release.
The dialogue sounds like something that could have easily been written by a computer program (and not even "AI" grade at that) but don't matter an iota when it comes to the young cast's ability to charm the adolescent (be it calendar-reckoned or at heart) fans. To the rest of the world, there are two bright spots: Martin Sheen as vampire elder Aro and now teenager Dakota Fanning making a brief appearance as cool-as-cucumber vampire Jane, almost like a trailer for her appearance in the next instalment "Eclipse". In fact, that is what this entire movie does – setting up the scene for the human-vampire-werewolf triangle. I recognize this intension don't have much by way of complaint except one: why make it so darn long (well over 2 hours)?