It gets better but mostly because Pattinson is graciously absent

Rating: 7/10 (15 January 2012)

After the drivel that was Twilight, I forced myself to continue to the next instalment and thank goodness it was actually better. The biggest change between this and Twilight is the action is ramped up and the special effects are so much better (though some of the CGI was just barely passable.) I honestly think that the thing that made New Moon better than the first was that this sequel focuses more on Bella and Jacob and Edward is practically gone the entire film and what a relief that is. His creepy obsessive love was never entertaining and the chemistry is far better between Stewart and Lautner than her and Pattinson.
Once again despite what many fans and reviewers say I don't mind Kristen Stewart in this role. I don't think the role is anything great to sink her teeth into but I think her depression of Edward leaving and her performance is decent and watchable and shows a lot of emotion. It is immature and childish but so is the entire series so that means she fits it perfectly. Taylor Lautner gets to stop up his starring role and he does okay. He's definitely better than Pattinson's performance. He still overacts and his melodramatics are annoying but he still does okay and has better chemistry with Stewart. Ashley Greene comes through in a stronger and better role than most as Alice Cullen. Robert Pattinson returns in the exact same fashion as the last film...horrible. He over acts, his melodramatics are 500 times that is necessary, and I insist he was instructed to just act terrible.
Director Chris Weitz takes over for directing and there is no doubt he is a much better director than Hardwicke was from the original. I think he does try and tone down the campy feel from the original but that train has already been set in motion. But more action and more scenery and even a trip to Italy to visit the Vampires makes this superior to the original and actually worth looking at. Unfortunately you have to sit through the crap that was Twilight to follow into this one. 7/10