Not Terrible, But Definitely Not Good

Rating: 5/10 (11 April 2010)

I'm going to admit, right now, that I have never read any of these books. I did read a passage from New Moon, but that was only so I could find out how Laurent, my favorite character and the best part of Twilight, met his end. I wasn't impressed.
However, I have to say that this film is a vast improvement from the first one. Faster pace, marginally better acting (lets face it, some of the key actors and actresses won't get better), new and more interesting characters. It was just better, and I was actually able to sit down and, very nearly, enjoy. The directing was by far an improvement, and there were some genuinely interesting and even impressive bits of filming in this movie, and it even had some indication of thought and emotion, nowhere near as platonic as the first movie.
Of course, I still have the major peeves that hounded me the first film around: Fairies not vampires and why must they sparkle. Shape-shifters not werewolves. Put a shirt on boys. Kristen Stewart do something! Bella get a life and some character development he's way too old for you. The dialogue needs a serious re-doing. Special effects, while better, need to be improved. Honestly, I just don't think these stories are all that great. They're too much like the fantasy of a very sick 13 year-old-girl. They lack substance. More importantly, they lack that crucial element that is found in the best of fiction; truth. These characters are difficult to feel for, and the stories hard to relate to in the slightest because the emotions just don't seem real. It's too dramatic and too immature. Watching Bella run around trying to get herself killed just for a glimps of Vampire boy, her moping around was, while supposedly keeping with the story, awfully unentertaining. It just didn't stack up to other movies! Boring, laughable, and OBVIOUSLY aimed at the thousands of poor, lonely, misguided young ladies who have slowly and sadly become obsessed with these rather juvenial and lack-luster stories (no offense). Not deserving of any of the hype and fascination it has received.
Now, THE GOOD PARTS: Possibly the soul redeeming quality of this film, I thought, was Michael Sheen. I actually got excited when he came on screen as Aro. Very interesting, very fun, and very seductive. Now that Laurent is gotten rid of, I think that Aro will serve nicely as my reason for watching these films. Seriously, I had to suppress a squeal of delight every time he dominated the screen. I'm tempted to put the movie in and fast-forward to his part, just so I can see it again. He was simply dripping with malice, and had this gleeful little glint in his eye. I was almost jealous of Kristen Stewart, getting to "act" with Michael Sheen playing such a fun role. AMAZING! After him, I have to say that the person playing the Cullen father guy is excellent. He's not a recognizable actor to me, so that's good for the character. Also, I've no idea how close he is to the character in the book, but I don't care. He did an wonderful job in the role and made it very likable, sympathetic, and paternal. Also, the tiny bit that Laurent was on screen was just a amazing as I remember the character in the first film, so that was good too. Also, Taylor Lautner's performance was surprisingly good, besides the fact that I always wanted to give him a jacket. He needs to do a bit of maturing as an actor, but there is DEFINITE potential in that one.
These three actors are the reasons I'm giving this film 5/10. Without them, 3/10 easily, because this film didn't actually have much to it.
Not exactly a film I'd call a must see, no, not at all. Perhaps I'd call it a must-miss, or an avoid-if-possible-but-if-forced-to-see-don't-expect-to-much. Still, if you're going to insist on seeing it, wait until the end or fast forward; that's when Michael Sheen comes on!