The sizzling chemistry continues into the sequel

Rating: 9/10 (20 January 2010)

Twilight the series so far seems to have the same effect as Marmite. You either love it or you hate it. Absolutely its the type of movie that will draw ridicule from 'serious' film buffs who would instantaneously judge themselves 'above' this type of movie even before seeing it at the cinema (where of course it will always live up to their expectations of being awful) and alternatively draw plenty of fans who would love it based purely on the fact that you get to see hot fit male bodies of the perfect age to attract hormonal teenage girls.
I want to state at this point, I don't claim to be a serious movie buff (Though I do enjoy films regularly) and I'm also not a hormonal teenage girl!
Its also important for you to understand that a majority of reviews and judgements of this film are from people whose expectations of the film are massively prejudiced by reading the books. I haven't read the books and I don't intend to. I'm not here to judge the relevance of this movie compared to its book counterpart and I think its a major issue that many reviewers of this film are mentioning the book in reviews when this is a movie web site and the existence of a corresponding book should not have any impact of someones judgement of the film.
I also think many reviewers have been influenced by their experiences in the cinema at the time of viewing. Having to watch it with large groups of loud young girls is hardly the fault of the movie itself and cannot be included in the review. I've seen this film on a number of occasions all late night adult showings and at no point was there any issue with 'youngsters' in the audience.
This movie is a continuation of an ongoing love story. That's what these films are...Love stories. Acted with unbelievable chemistry these stories are of forbidden love, love unrequited and the difficulties of loving 'across' differing 'groups'. The main protagonists have a chemistry that I believe is unsurpassed in any modern day movie I've seen. The passion when they make eye contact is so intense and sensual and the pain they are experiencing with the difficulties of their situation is brilliantly expressed with their obviously conflicting emotions.
This sequel takes the films up a notch with the introduction of the 'opposing' clan and that heightens the tension whilst also introducing the character that must deal with their love being rejected and the pain and angst regarding that rejection.
To look at these movies as vampire action movies is folly, this is modern day Romeo and Juliet with a twist. Yes, the movies do appeal to youngsters but they also appeal to any adult capable of looking back at a time when their emotions were in flux and they responded to the way they 'felt' as opposed to doing what they know they 'should'....a time when they could look at someone and that look could be so intense, so deep, so lustful. Perhaps only the young are capable of that expression of emotion in which case these films certainly give you a route back to that youth.
I would seriously see both this and its predecessor with an open mind. Watch it in comfort at home when teenage girls wont prejudice you to think it immature. Watch it without expectation and enjoy the complexities of the relationships that most of us can only dream about.