Better than you think!

Rating: 10/10 (21 November 2009)

I watched the movie with a friend of mine who has never read the books; she watched the last half of twilight and didn't like it much. Basically, she didn't know much about the series at all. So from her enthused reaction to the movie, I knew I wasn't being bias because I'm a fan. The chemistry between Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart was much better than I was expecting-beating out what we saw between Pattinson and Stewart in the previous movie. The acting was not God-awful but could have been better, and I have to admit that I had a few "I could have said that line better than that" moments. However, even the acting is a big step up from the last one. Especially from Stewart who had me cringing at her deliveries in Twilight-I was embarrassed for her. Lautner however steals the show. Pattinson I think does well but was not given much to work with. His character requires that sort of constantly in melancholy, internal battle, unrequited love embodiment, and I think he does that well. The effects were very impressive. Chris Weitz does an amazing job. He exceeded all my high expectations, which is definitely saying a lot. The story is heartbreaking, and yet light humor throughout keeps the viewer's heart from being completely crushed to a pulp; this statement maybe more true for the female viewer-ship though. I loved it. Everyone who was in the theater with me loved it (though I wish they would have kept it to themselves while watching). If you have an open-mind for fantasy, and not a complete cynic then you should love it too. It stays true to the book for those who were upset over changes in twilight. 9/10