This is what I was afraid of...

Rating: 6/10 (20 November 2009)

I held New Moon to the utmost standard. I had very high hopes for the film and I put my trust into all of the professionals who produced it. Maybe all of this is the reason why I left the midnight show feeling disappointed. I saw Twilight without having any idea what it was about or what kind of affect it would have on me. I simply fell in love! I read all of the books in a matter of weeks, as well as drove through a snowstorm to pick up the third installment, and could not wait until the second movie was produced. However, considering the fact that the entire production seemed rushed, I worried it would not be all that I had hoped for. My nightmare came true...
Don't get me wrong, I am a true fan and will always remain loyal to the Twilight series, whatever the faults. Any other fan of the series, who is willing to look past the character swoon-factor, is also going to leave the theater feeling empty, incomplete, disappointed, etc. For my complaints: New Moon had segments so awkward it was embarrassing. The audience laughed when it was not meant to be funny. Specifically, an incredibly corny scene depicting Bella as a vampire. As another example, when Edward kisses Bella outside her house on her birthday (*cringe*) many people around me perceived Pattinson's display of emotion as a sexual ejaculation.
And don't even get me started on Pattinson's costume design and make-up. What happened to the Edward I fell in love with from Twilight? The breathtakingly beautiful creature who lit up the screen? I know he is supposed to look inconsolable and gutted throughout New Moon but he's lost something that used to make him sparkle (and not in the literal sense).
The break-up scene: when I read the book I was crushed when Edward left Bella. I cried through the entire chapter and even some following. Watching the film, all of the emotions I felt from reading the book were summed up to a mere lump in the throat. I don't know if it was the acting or the writing that spoiled it but I truly believe the music, or lack-thereof, had a real effect. In fact, the music throughout the entire film felt unsuitable. Nothing like it was from Twilight which was a perfect fit and made you feel connected to the dialogue and character emotions. I was unable to connect with anything from the New Moon soundtrack.
Lastly, the relationship between Jacob and Bella. If I hadn't read the book, I would have wondered where their sudden relationship came from. Producers compressed their months of bonding and flirting in Jacob's garage into a ten-minute time lapsing segment. From Twilight, Jacob's feelings toward Bella are implied but in New Moon, there are very few elusions to a romantic relationship until the movie scene.
I was impressed by the CGI and how they animated the wolf phasing. I am glad that it was accurate to the book in that it is a true phase rather than a morphing process which can be depicted as creepy and unpleasant. I also enjoyed the wolf pack, few lines as they had. I was very excited that Michael Sheen from Underworld was casted as a leading member of the Volturi. I felt that he brought a higher standard of acting to the film and made a perfect Aro. It was also a little ironic that after playing a Lycan/werewolf that is now a vampirego figure.
Thank the Lord they let up on the blue/green contrast from Twilight. New Moon also includes reds and yellows which are easy on the eyes. Speaking of eyes, the contacts, both red and gold, were a little overdone in New Moon. I enjoyed the subtle differences between a human and a vampire that were depicted in Twilight.
While I can't change the fact that Edward begins to rub me the wrong way in New Moon, that is due to the source, Stephanie Meyer. Overall, I thought the pace was good and I enjoyed the acting in such an indulging story. However, I feel that Weitz and Co. had so much potential to make the story something to swoon over. Regretfully, the swooning was nothing more than skin deep as the characters and dialogue lacked depth and heart. I am apprehensive to even see Eclipse, but maybe now that my expectations have been lowered, Weitz will be given another chance to make me fall in love again.