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MOVIE REVIEW: Twilight’s ‘New Moon’ muddles through

By Jennifer Iverson

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Robert Pattinson portrays Edward Cullen, left, and Kristen Stewart portrays Bella Swan in a scene from “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” //Associated Press/Summit Entertainment

1 out of 4 stars

he Twilight Saga: New Moon” is the cinematic continuation of Stephanie Meyer’s wildly popular book series. This time around a new director Chris Weitz muddles through returning screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg’s sluggish script at a more than deadly pace.

Employing a fresh-faced (albeit angst-ridden cast of young performers) doesn’t help to move along the painfully slow plotline or leave much hope for the future installments of this series.

Having escaped near death from a gang of vicious vampires, Bella (Kristen Stewart) starts her senior year of high school with her “true love” and protector, Edward (Robert Pattinson) by her side. Worried about getting older (since Edward doesn’t age) Bella holds little interest in acknowledging her birthday but the Cullen Clan ignores her wishes and throws her a party anyway.

During the festivities, Bella incurs a small paper cut and when her finger begins to bleed, Edward must fend off the bloodthirsty impulses of his vampire family. Convinced he can’t protect Bella from harm Edward makes a sudden decision to flee Forks, Wash., and find a new home. Clearly lying, he tells Bella that he doesn’t love her and leaves her in a flurry of teenage devastation.

After months of depression and nightmares, Bella finally ventures back to school and reconnects with her childhood friend Jacob (Taylor Lautner). As in the first film Jacob continues to pine away for Bella and despite her efforts to discourage his romantic interests, the two become very close friends.

Eventually Bella discovers that Jacob is in fact a werewolf (vampire killer) armed with the intent to keep their hometown a vampire-free zone. When news of Edward’s real reason for leaving Bella is revealed she skips her curfew and takes a frantic flight to Rome in order to save the love of her life.

With dreadful dialogue and drawn-out moments of silence, Stewart and Pattinson have managed to master the art of the never-ending, heavy-hearted gaze and that appears to be what director Weitz considers his “money shot,” which the merchandising of the franchise via posters and t-shirts would also tend to confirm.

Pulling in $258 million worldwide proves that the diehard fans of Meyer’s books and the first film “Twilight” will help to make this substandard film a monster hit at the box office.