The Saga Pokes Along

Rating: 5/10 (22 March 2010)

For lovers of THE TWILIGHT SERIES the second installment NEW MOON should satisfy. It apparently follows the Stephenie Meyer novel fairly well and certainly has more to look at than the first installment. For lovers of teeny bopper films, vampire and werewolf legends, and sappy highsschool romance this installment will provide many pleasures. For the rest of us it is passable entertainment.
Chris Weitz succeeds in making the impossible story lines move seamlessly, and while the majority of Melissa Rosenberg's script sounds like highschool lunchtime chatter, the story of Bella (Kristin Stewart) falling in love with Edward the vampire (Robert Pattinson)only to be deserted and then protected by the apparently normal American Indian Jacob (the very buff and studly Taylor Lautner) who turns out to be a werewolf....it goes on and on until there is finally a confrontation between vampires and vampires and vampires and werewolves that provides a semblance of an ending. Part three is coming soon.
The scenery in Washington State is nice and the musical score is pretty. The acting is bland as is the chemistry between Bella and Edward and Bella and Jacob. But then this film is not meant to be challenging - just entertaining. And it is.
Grady Harp