Eclipse Movie

[amandajg]

Okay, let's do this.

But first, a little request:
I know most of you are going to see Eclipse. Sooo of course most of you will want to share your thoughts (and I want to hear them! and share mine!)

But to avoid any sort of potential hard feelings, can I just ask one thing on here?

We're all super respectful of each other when discussing Harry Potter, even when we don't agree with each other, so let's try to translate that same sort of attitude over here. If you saw Eclipse and didn't like it, no problem, perfectly understandable. Maybe share some thoughts on why you felt that way, but in the same way that you would explain why you feel that way about an aspect of the HP books/movies. Please, please refrain from being judgmental. Ultimately, these stories are fun and we all know they movie is not Gone with the Wind. You might not be crazy for them, but please be mindful that some of us do want to gush over them. In peace.

annnnd... without further ado, go!

[* amanda]

So yes, I will go first.

I am still digesting the movie quite a bit. I am once again truly impressed by how faithful to the story the filmmakers were. Once again, they left nothing important out and managed to fit in - even if only briefly - all of the scenes from the book that I loved. Imagine if the Harry Potter movies had done this! We'd all be so thrilled.

I also was amazed at how much better the actors were in this film. Let's face it, there was something left to be desired in the acting in the other movies, but this one brought about some amazing performances by the main cast. I've always felt Kirsten Stewart did a good job at being Bella, but she was especially good in this one. In fact, she made the character a bit stronger and edgier than the Bella from the books - just a touch - a change that I actually liked. I felt like what she brought to Bella made it easier to relate to the character. As for Robert/Edward, let's face it. I have never seen Edward in Rob's performance in the previous films. The breathtakingly ethereal, magical quality of the character I read about in the books I never once saw on-screen...until about midway through Eclipse. Suddenly, Rob transformed into an individual that was far more like the Edward I had in mind. I saw his intensity, his emotion, his raw anger and jealousy over Bella and Jacob's relationship and fought with Jacob for Bella's attention, and his intensity as he tried to protect Bella against the impending attack. Finally, I got to see Edward on screen in those scenes. And I loved it. He was beautiful, but very, very flawed, and it played out perfectly in this movie.

Jacob/Taylor...what can I say. The main problem with the movies, even starting with Twilight, is that Taylor Lautner is far more likable as Jacob in the movies than I think book-Jacob was ever meant to be. It's hard to get past his...well, quite frankly, physical appearance, which is appealing to say the least... and his kind nature and intense, wear-my-heart-on-my-sleeves raw emotion. Quite a lot for an 18 year old (!) to pull off by the way. This time, I think Rob FINALLY rose to the occasion and started to battle it out with him over Bella's heart, which helped put movie-Jacob in his place a bit. But there were some scenes where I still just can't get over the fact that I felt Bella should have run off with Jacob. Stop being so enjoyable, movie Jacob!

Secondly, let's talk about the director for a second. I love this director because he took the story SERIOUSLY. He was dead serious about the danger of the vampires, the intensity of the conflict between the Cullens and the wolves, the dark, dark nature of Victoria and her manipulation to create the vampire army. He didn't allow any silliness or goofiness or even cheesy slow-mo struts in the movie. He took the love story seriously, and gave it all the intensity that conflicted young love deserves. I said one thing to my sister-in-law when the movie was over: Can this guy please remake the Twilight movie?!

By the way the soundtrack (songs) were incredible but the instrumental music was not as impressive as the New Moon score.

I LOVED Jasper in this movie. I never really was terribly interested in his character until now... the actor was amazing and did a lovely job telling this gritty, dark character's past and weaving it into the love story he now shares with Alice. And his gentlemanly nature made me SWOON *said in a Southern accent*

Can I just say I love how gentlemanly Carlisle, Jasper, and especially Edward were in this movie? Made me want to be born 100 years ago. I want a gentleman too.

The. scene. in. the. bedroom. between Bella and Edward. I have........ no words. Probably just about the most romantic scene I've seen out of Hollywood in A LONG TIME. I can barely process it and need to see the movie again before I try to put my thoughts into words.

In a close second was the amazing, intense tent scene between Jacob and Edward. It was better than I'd ever hoped to dream (such a key moment in the books...and they nailed it in the movie, something I didn't believe could happen.)

Again still processing this movie, but I'm pretty sure I have more to say.

To sum it up, as a standalone movie, yeah yeah, it's no Gone With the Wind, or whatever. As a movie to go with the Twilight series, a series which you all know means (against all logic) so much to me, this one is 11/10.

[Fins]

Well, I saw the movie this afternoon and, of course being a guy- not the target audience, I have quite a different view. I don't mind 'chick flicks, as this certainly is, as long as I can get some sort of attachment to the protagonist- in this case Bella. Its her plight (choice) that you have to buy into and the main reason that women have an easier time relating to these movies. Not having read the books, I just have the movies to go on for the character development. In movie 1, I could do that. Not at all in movie 2 (in that movie, I couldn't wait to get out of the theater). In this movie, I could buy into Bella's conflict enough to give this movie a 7/10- best of the series.

LIKES: I thought the development and flow of the story was better than the other movies. You saw enough of the efforts to build up the army, Alice's visions of the future, the teamwork between the wolves and the vamps, coordinating the fighting and hiding Bella, and the ultimate battle. Of course this is the action part of the movies. For Bella's part, it was harder to pick out the 'best' parts. The talk between Jacob and Edward was well done. They both seemed to find some common ground and mutual respect, even if only a little bit. It wasn't always this confrontational "pick me, pick me" dialogue. I also liked the Cullens. I have pretty much in all the movies. And whats not to like about Alice We need to see more of her! I liked the flashbacks to their history... gave them more depth.

DISLIKES: the screen play during the 'romantic' parts was dreadful... very choppy dialogue in many parts. I'm not convinced of Bella's attraction to Jacob. I'm sure they did a better job in the books developing their relationship but I never thought that Bella's relationship developed beyond friendship and that the attraction between the two was one sided- Jacob toward Bella. So from that standpoint, I can't buy into 'the choice'. She loves Edward, always have, always will, and any guy with his shirt off, no matter how buff, won't change that. I also, didn't get the storyline with the Voltaire- the Italian Vampire leaders, not the French author. You could have removed their whole storyline and it wouldn't have changed the movie. No doubt they left them in for the next movie. Also, did they kill the kid at the end, the one that the Cullens granted asylum???

Anyway, this is from a guy's perspective. Overall, the best of the lot and a decent and entertaining movie... but it aint no Harry!

[* amanda]

It's interesting to hear the perspective of those of you who have not read the books. I am surprised you keep going back, Fins, there must be something about the series that is motivating you, even if it is just Ashley Greene aka Alice...

And by the way, I actually do know a couple of guys who truly like the series (books and movies). And they're straight. So I think it can appeal to everyone. But yes, it does by and large appeal to women.

Back to your comments though... I thought it was interesting that you thought this was the best of the series. I felt the film started out a tad slow and clunky but then about 1/4 the way through and onwards was clearly my favourite of the movies as well. Somehow the director managed to appeal to both those of us who are in love with the books and those of us who are reluctant viewers of the movies. Which was really to do the unthinkable.

The development and flow of the story in this movie was indeed excellent. By the way, Alice is a more prominent character in the books than she is in these films. That's one of the few things the movies weren't too faithful on. She is much closer to Bella than she appears in the movies.

I love the romantic parts. I like the awkwardness of "young love" and I thought the tension between Edward and Jacob in the movie was played phenomenally. This was by far the most romantic of the lot. But it does feed into so many fantasies that many women may or may not have...like having two extremely attractive, hormonal young gentlemen passionately fight over you...

Fins you are clearly Team Edward and a lot of die-hard Twilight fans will agree with you re: the choice thing.

But I do believe (and perhaps I get a better sense of this having read the books) Bella really fell in love with Jacob too. He may have been the "better" choice for her lifestyle as a human. But as you said, it always had to ultimately be Edward for her.

The Volturi were very minimal in Eclipse and you're probably going to hate the climax of Breaking Dawn (sorry, spoiler...but not really...don't get your hopes up is all I'm saying.) Anyways, the whole bit with the Volturi in Eclipse was important for 2 reasons: 1) they knew about the vampire army in Seattle, but they didn't quash it because they kind of wouldn't have minded seeing the Cullen clan - a threat to them because this is the first clan, other than themselves, who have ever co-habitated peacefully together as most Vampires are nomads or live in very small groups - and 2) to drive home the point that Bella needs to become a vampire otherwise there's going to be hell to pay from the Volturi. It keeps that threat fresh for them to appear in Eclipse. So it was needed for the overall story arc in the series. And finally, yes they did kill Bree because they wanted to make an example of her. Even though she was a newborn and was never taught the 'rules' of life as a vampire by Riley, the Volturi "don't give second chances." Also an important point to set up Breaking Dawn.

And no it aint Harry but who said it was?

[Richard]

So, my thoughts on Eclipse. Overall, I thought it was definitely better than the New Moon.I really liked the first movie, hated the second, and this one is in-between I guess. What I liked the most was the action-part. The build-up to the climax starts very early in the movie, with shots of the vampires in Seattle. And there is the chase of Victoria by the Cullens and the werewolves, with Emmet crossing the water or something (I actually liked that scene). The battle at the end was good as well, though I didn't know it was that easy to kill vampires.

The other big part of the movie is of course the love triangle, and this just don't work for me. I simply can't understand that Bella wants to give up her life and become a vampire just because of Edward. This whole movie gives so many arguments why she shouldn't do that, yet she doesn't listen and wants to do it anyway. I'm not sure if that is because of her being a 'rebel teenager' or because she, apparently, is so in love with Edward. And then there's the other guy. 'Doesn't he own a shirt?' Indeed... I was annoyed that even the girl I was with (who is older than me) went swooning. Very, very annoying. And then there was the tent seen and Jacob's quote 'I'm hotter than you' (or something). Who on Earth writes this dialog? How in love is Bella with Jacob anyway? It's really unclear to me how she feels about any of the guys.

Amanda, you said you liked the bedroom scene? Really? I thought this was a bizarre and weird scene. Even the die-hard Twilight fangirls sitting behind me were snorting when Edward refused to have sex with Bella. Bella wants to have sex before marriage and become a vampire before marriage, Edward is old-fashioned and wants neither. Just weird. Another question: what exactly is imprinting? I didn't get that either?

Like Kevin, I also like the Cullens, and I enjoyed the back-story of the different family members. Rosalie made a good point to Bella (still not understanding why she wants to be a vampire). I was reminded of Kill Bill a bit, the bloody bride. What I didn't quite understand was how Jasper changed so much. He was also rather silent and weird in the previous movies, now he's all comfortable hanging around with Bella and even when there is a party at the Cullen's place. No paper-cuts I presume?

I might sound overly negative, but I'm not. If this movie would suck as much as New Moon, I would not go to the next one. I liked Eclipse, so I'll go to 4 as well. Even though it looks like the threat has gone, as the bad vampires are all gone. The only remaining 'enemies' are the volturi. What a weird bunch are they... Can't believe they killed that girl. That was like the end of New Moon, when they murdered an entire tour group. Hope the Cullens will kill them.

Oh, before I end, I do think that the Cullens / the werewolves won the battle fairly easy, without much casualties (except Jacob, but that was sort of predictable). Was that because they were 'newly borns'. Fighting the volturi will probably cause some deaths.

[* amanda]

It's always...interesting when you guys share your thoughts about Twilight. Anyways, not that I don't appreciate/enjoy it...but it's an adventure.

Yes, Virginia, Girls really do swoon over majorly attractive guys. This is something you should accept going into Eclipse where 90% of the audience will be female, teenage female at that.

Secondly, you don't need to act so annoyed by it, no one on here is going to judge you for being in a movie with swooning girls Even my fiance who is manly and macho (despite proactively wanting to watch the Twilight movies) has come to terms with the Twilight series and has decided he doesn't mind girls swooning over Jacob (Edward may be a different story) because how often do you see a male lead these days who is so masculine and isn't like some androgynous hipster who gets walked all over by beyotchy women? Not often. (That's another story. But let's just say my fiance can't stand men who don't stand on their two feet. and Hollywood is full of them these days. he likes the old fashioned rough and tumble cowboy image he sees in Jacob. to each his own...at least I can swoon over Jacob in peace.)

So where was I? Oh yes, I just came back from my 2nd viewing during which I swooned all the way. I have been blessed by well-behaved, non-commenting audiences this time around which is awesome. Obnoxious audience members who think they're too cool for school really hurt my viewings of NM and Twi. This has been nice. And to those of you *coughshapphirearabellacough* who are lurking and not posting, yes, the 2nd viewing is awesome. If not better than the first. I plan on going for round 3 very soon.

As in all movies, they definitely can't explain everything the books can, so it's interesting to know what pieces need to be filled.

When Jacob said, I'm hotter than you, remember Edward can't keep Bella warm as he is as cold as stone and Jacob meanwhile runs a body temperature of 109.8 (give or take...). It wasn't funny, it was a literal comment, of course.

Secondly, I could write a novel on why and how Bella loves both Jacob and Edward but I need to save that for another post very very soon.

Thirdly, the bedroom was utterly romantic. Sometimes less is more with women. And chivalry...well I dunno how they make them in Holland but here on this side of the ocean girls like a little old fashioned courting. It's hot. So while rejection when you want to have sex is uncomfortable, indeed, and I think Kirsten Stewart showed this, when it's followed up with a spiel about courting and drinking lemonade with porch swings and a giant engagement ring with swelling music and comments about loving you every day of forever... I mean, that's enough to make up for it.

(Not to say I wouldn't have been a bit...different...than Bella around Jacob, I don't think I'd have the patience, in real life, for someone like Edward;)

wow did I just say that???

*clears throat nervously* anyways...

Speaking of which, imprinting was also better explained in the books and should have been explained in New Moon movie, actually. Basically, it's a phenomenon that happens to the wolves. After they phase, any of the guys can have it happen... they see a girl and feel totally, irrevocably attached to them. Sometimes it's a platonic attachment until the attachment grows into love *clears throat...shifts nervously...* and other times it's pure "love at first sight" only thousands of times more powerful. They can only think of the girl they imprinted on and they only want to do everything to make that girl happy. In the books, more of the guys have imprinted than we've seen in the movies, so it's a bit clearer.

Finally, vampires are easy to kill if you are a vampire. Secondly, it's easy to kill newborns if you are as skilled and as mature as the Cullens because the newborns are rash and impulsive and untrained.

Think I've got everything. um....Sapphi? Arabella? Anyone want to help me here? I'm feeling like some major gushing and swooning...

[Fins]

Amanda... swoon away. I find it highly comical. However, I think fair is fair. Why weren't the women werewolves shirtless as well??? Perhaps some of the men in the audience would have joined you in the swooning

[crs]

Hiya folks.
Amanda, you pretty much summed it up for me. I just sat through it twice and love, love loved it. My one difference--still totally Camp Edward. Rob just gets better and better. Taylor...is sweet.
THIS is the way books should be brought to screen. You only upset people when you use the title but change the content. we LIKED the book--that's why we go to the movie!
It's so nice to have your expectations met every now and then. Not crazy about the soundtrack. Some of the songs on the CD are just plain annoying, and the Jacob's Theme is like beginning piano music. ZZZZZZ. They should have called on Desplat again.
I am still a bit flummoxed about the books being classified YA. I made the mistake of trying another vampire YA series and it was ANNOYINGLY YA. This is just a beautiful, classic romance.

[crs]

Kevin, they didn't have females with their shirts off because, in our society, that would be considered NAUGHTY! Not to mention, it would become a whole different movie genre. Perhaps you haven't noticed, but men and women are anatomically different, shirt-wise..

[Richard]

Oh boy, where to start?

Jul 3, 2010 16:23:47 GMT -5 * amanda said:

Yes, Virginia, Girls really do swoon over majorly attractive guys. This is something you should accept going into Eclipse where 90% of the audience will be female, teenage female at that.

Secondly, you don't need to act so annoyed by it, no one on here is going to judge you for being in a movie with swooning girls Even my fiance who is manly and macho (despite proactively wanting to watch the Twilight movies) has come to terms with the Twilight series and has decided he doesn't mind girls swooning over Jacob (Edward may be a different story) because how often do you see a male lead these days who is so masculine and isn't like some androgynous hipster who gets walked all over by beyotchy women? Not often. (That's another story. But let's just say my fiance can't stand men who don't stand on their two feet. and Hollywood is full of them these days. he likes the old fashioned rough and tumble cowboy image he sees in Jacob. to each his own...at least I can swoon over Jacob in peace.)

The annoyance has nothing to do with anyone judging me for seeing the movie. I was expecting nothing less after seeing New Moon in its first week. But even though one expects it, it remains annoying (and confusing as well), that’s an emotion I can’t stop, can I?

I go to movies a lot. I’ve watched many of them with many different audiences. It has never happened, for instance during Transformers, that guys in the theatre get all loud when Megan Fox appears in little clothing. Sure, guys get a big grin on their face, but nothing near the swooning.

I wholeheartedly agree with you about the ‘androgynous hipsters’ though. Idiots…

Jul 3, 2010 17:45:38 GMT -5 Fins said:

Amanda... swoon away. I find it highly comical. However, I think fair is fair. Why weren't the women werewolves shirtless as well??? Perhaps some of the men in the audience would have joined you in the swooning

LOL! Did the women transform into wolves as well? I never noticed that.

Jul 3, 2010 16:23:47 GMT -5 * amanda said:

When Jacob said, I'm hotter than you, remember Edward can't keep Bella warm as he is as cold as stone and Jacob meanwhile runs a body temperature of 109.8 (give or take...). It wasn't funny, it was a literal comment, of course.

Of course I knew Edward is cold as stone, I was just surprised that such a cheesy / childish line could actually make it in this movie.

Jul 3, 2010 16:23:47 GMT -5 * amanda said:

Thirdly, the bedroom was utterly romantic. Sometimes less is more with women. And chivalry...well I dunno how they make them in Holland but here on this side of the ocean girls like a little old fashioned courting. It's hot. So while rejection when you want to have sex is uncomfortable, indeed, and I think Kirsten Stewart showed this, when it's followed up with a spiel about courting and drinking lemonade with porch swings and a giant engagement ring with swelling music and comments about loving you every day of forever... I mean, that's enough to make up for it.

Well, believe me, I’m a bit old-fashioned myself. I just thought the scene was really weird, and was surprised you liked it so much.

Jul 3, 2010 16:23:47 GMT -5 * amanda said:

(Not to say I wouldn't have been a bit...different...than Bella around Jacob, I don't think I'd have the patience, in real life, for someone like Edward;)

wow did I just say that???

Yes you did.


Is it just me or does this whole discussion come down to the difference between men and women? I think we just have to accept these differences and get on with our lives. I gave my opinion, that’s all, but overall I thought this movie wasn’t bad and would give it a ‘passing grade’.

Finally, Amanda, thanks for explaining the imprinting and the newborn killings!

[Fins]

Venus and Mars people. We will never understand these things. We can like or dislike anything, doesn't make it right or wrong, just opinion from our own perspective. This is why I gave my guys point of view before I state anything. Women will definitely have a much different perspective... and that is alright. Of course, the world would be a much better place if everyone thought like me .

[Fins]

Jimmy Kimmel live is on now and has the cast of Eclipse.

[amandajg]

Does /sarcasm translate across the ocean? Just wondering.

For the record, I love you all.

Richard, I was being a little sarcastic in my post. Sorry, I know sarcasm doesn't translate too well into text. The line "I am hotter than you" was a little cheesy. I'll give you that.

But what would Twilight be without a little cheeseola scripting? I for one was pretty impressed that this was a mostly cheese-free Twilight movie.

So I enjoyed round three tonight. I know, it's getting embarrassing. But in my defense I went because my sister in law wanted to go again and didn't want to go alone, and it was a hot night and air conditioning and stuff...yeahhhh, you're not buying it.

Since I've gushed enough about Jacob, I will go back to Edward for a second. I tend to take him for what he is in the movies because no Edward on screen will ever quite match the Edward I had crafted in my mind when reading the books. But I have to give Robert Pattinson a round of applause for his work in Eclipse. He emanated the complexity of Edward's jealousy, anger, passion, love, intensity, protectiveness, and happiness that we saw the Edward in the books go through. On top of it all, I really felt that the previous movies had been successful in making a very attractive man (Rob) look totally ugly in most of Twilight and New Moon. All of the sudden, in Eclipse, we suddenly see a very handsome guy. I don't know if it's the makeup or wardrobe or what happened but thank you to the crew on Eclipse for letting Rob be his attractive, handsome self in this movie rather than transform Edward into pancake makeup and tweed jacket man. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I felt the chemistry between him and Bella in some of the key scenes in the movie, whereas in the others I had a hard time buying into it. (Probably some behind-the-scenes stuff helping in that?) Rob and Taylor also nailed the tent scene, a key scene in the series.

[Richard]

Jul 4, 2010 23:57:08 GMT -5 @amandajg said:

Does /sarcasm translate across the ocean? Just wondering.

Apparently not.

Jul 4, 2010 23:57:08 GMT -5 @amandajg said:

So I enjoyed round three tonight. I know, it's getting embarrassing. But in my defense I went because my sister in law wanted to go again and didn't want to go alone, and it was a hot night and air conditioning and stuff...yeahhhh, you're not buying it.

No, I'm not , but you shouldn't be embarrassed. I saw HBP 6 times in its first week. Did my friends made fun of that? Definitely, but I really couldn't care less! From time to time, my nerd side just takes over I guess... You'll notice that during PCAPE.

Richard

[Fins]

They had the whole cast of Eclipse on the Jimmy Kimmel show last night. Was interesting to see the actors reaction to all the screaming. Pattinson is definitely uncomfortable with it, Stewart is indifferent, and Lautner relishes in it... at least that is the way it seemed to me. One of the funniest moments was during the audience questions. The first one was from a girl that asked Lautner if his abs were real and if he would show them to the audience. He started blushing and studdering, clearly trying to find a way out of this situation. The audience, mostly girls and women, were screaming. Kimmel then said "If this was some 18 year old girl you were asking to show her abs and screaming at her, it would just be creepy!' NEXT QUESTION!

[blackngold]

AAAHHHHH, I had a whole post written and stopped to look up snowfall in Washington and lost it. So for now, two snow facts - the latest snowfall in Denver (I know, nowhere near Washington) is June 12, 1947. The Washington ski resort that I looked up closes in April each year. A major snowstorm in late June/early July would be highly unusual. Just saying.

[blackngold]

Amanda, that blue lettering in your first post was too hard on the eyes so I just skipped it. It's not anything important is it?

I kid, I kid.

[blackngold]

So, my wife, daughter and I are waiting in line at the local multiplex. In front of us are three teenagery boys acting all teenagery. Imagine my surprise when they proceeded us into the Eclipse showing. Ah the plight of the unattached male who wants to see a so called chick flick.

I liked this movie a lot. Much more than the first two. I like this series best when the story concentrates on the love story/triangle. The vampire parts seem forced into the story to apply external pressure on Bella and Edwards happiness.

I have only read Twilight which I liked overall. Mostly I liked Bella's growing attraction to Edward and the mystery of his true nature. I have never liked the thing with James at the end. Why does James go after Bella? Just because. To add dramatic tension. It's not really explained well in the book or the movie. I don't think the vampires could have remained hidden if they were always so uncontrolled around their human prey. Certainly the other guy was willing to move on. Victoria probably would have if James had.

I don't remember the second movie very well. Mainly, it was Bella's mooning about Edward and her thrill seeking. And the growing relationship between her and Jacob. Again, the vampire part with the Vulturi at the end didn't do much for me.

Eclipse pays off all the build up from the first two movies. First, the vampire threat is more readily understandable. Victoria wants revenge for the killing of her mate. There was all the tension build up and resolution of the love triangle. Great action sequences. In many ways, the story could end here with a "and they lived happily ever after". The love triangle has been resolved. Bella chose Edward. They will get married and he will turn her. The external threat (leaving out the Vulturi) to their happiness has been dealt with. The werewolves and the Cullens have developed a new level of appreciation for each other and their treaty. They even let Dr. Cullen onto tribal lands to treat Jacob.

The bedroom scene. All I can say is that I think that there are very few men who would have acted like Edward did. And the men who could have stopped themselves most likely would not have let themselves get into that situation. Face it, Bella has made her intentions clear even before that point. No good can come from sitting down on that bed with your girlfriend/intended.

The sex talk scene between Charlie and Bella. I guess it appealed to me because that could be me in a few years. I do think the male perspective in that conversation could be more than the typical overprotective father routine.

The tent scene was the highlight of the movie despite my aforementioned weather issue. Personally, I liked the "hotter than you" line. Perhaps, it is my love of puns. In a game of teenage one upmanship, I could see that being said. The heart to heart talk between the two rivals was exceptionally well done. This is a scene unlike any other in a male/male/female love triangle (more on that in another post). The two rivals express their feelings in a way that you understand why each feels that they are the right one for Bella.

The Vulturi once again feel out of place in the movie. As you say, I am sure this is more explicit in the books where the author has more time to set things up. In the movie, they just seem capricious and cruel. Has anyone read the Bree Tanner book yet?

So to sum up, this is a movie that I would watch again (when it comes to TV or DVD). Twilight I watch (my wife is addicted and Showtime is feeding it), but not the ending. New Moon not so much.

[blackngold]

I'd have to say that the love triangle in Twilight is different than most other books of that genre. Typically, the story pits Mr. Right vs. Mr. Seems Right But Who Reveals His True Base Nature Before the Happy Ending. Stories of this genre include Sense and Sensibility, Bridget Jones' Diary, the Wedding Crashers, and The Wedding Singer. Really, that list could just about go on forever. The reason for this is that those plotlines are readily resolved to the satisfaction of all.

Twilight is different. Here Bella has two viable suitors and must choose one and break the heart of the other. I couldn't come up with many examples of this. The best I could do was Sleepless in Seattle where the jilted suitor's major fault seemed to be a bit of nebbishness but otherwise seemed to be a decent person. Oh one more, forget tthe title but it starred Ben Stiller, Ed Norton and the woman from Dharma and Greg whose name escapes my age enfeebled brain. I think they were childhood friends. Ed Norton became a priest and Stiller a rabbi. Just when Norton is ready to chuck the priesthood and confess his love to Dharma she tells him that she is converting to Judaism and marrying Stiller. I am sure there are other examples.

Once again, the vampire thing interferes with the story. This is how Meyers solves her love triangle problem. Since she is not willing to have Jacob be flawed in some unacceptable way, she needs another way to close off that path. In choosing Edward, Bella is making an irrevocable choice. There is no turning back from becoming a vampire. In this, Bella is definitely thinking more clearly than Edward. As her reverie in the meadow from New Moon shows, there is not a future for a human/vampire long term relationship. For humans, the concept of love is eternal. Leaving behind the mythic (or perhaps not), the human notion of love is until death do us part (divorce rate not withstanding). The idea being that you and your love (and loved ones) will reunite in Heaven and spend eternity together. The only way for Bella and Edward to spend eternity together is for her to become a vampire.

Edwards main objection to turning Bella is that he doesn't want to risk condemning her soul to his existence. I think he even makes that argument that he and other vampires do not have or lose their souls/humanity. The on line definition of soulless that I found was "Lacking sensitivity or the capacity for deep feeling." The Cullens don't fit that definition. They have formed loving relationships. They control their blood lust out of respect for humans. They may be atypical, but even Victoria and James formed an attachment that was potent enough to enrage her when James was killed. A soulless being would not be interested in revenge. Failing that, Jasper's tale shows that it is possible to lose your soul as a vampire and regain it.

[blackngold]

I do have one major complaint. Didn't someone say that they were showing the HP trailer with Eclipse? I was sitting thru a bunch of trailers thinking, "Ok, it's the next one." Then the movie comes right in with no warning and I'm thinking "Wait, is this another trailer?" And then "Crap, I think this is the movie."

I admit it may have colored my thinking of Eclipse for the first bit or so.