Jacob or Edward? Twilight craze continues with sequel New Moon
Posted by The Skyliner on December 2nd, 2009Jordan Ecarma
Staff Writer
After the phenomenon that was Twilight, the pressure was on for the second installment of the saga. The differences between the first film and sequel, New Moon, make for an interesting lesson in contrasts.
The biggest change from the first film to the second was the shift in directors that occurred. Twilight was directed by Catherine Hardwicke, while New Moon was directed by Chris Weitz. While Hardwicke’s approach was that of an intimate love story, Weitz attempted an epic scope with this film. His methods were to incorporate more action and bring out the fantasy element. And where Hardwicke allowed the story to unfold, Weitz comes across with a more pragmatic telling. The directors’ choices of endings were also very different. Hardwicke gave completeness to Twilight’s ending, while Weitz chose a shocking cliffhanger for the final scene of New Moon.
Another difference in the two films is the absence of Robert Pattinson’s presence in the second. This absence is in perfect keeping with Stephenie Meyer’s book, which mostly depicted Edward Cullen, Pattinson’s character, as a missing piece. Pattinson still manages to impress in this film. His chemistry with Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella Swan, is better than ever. But the biggest component in this film was Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black. Lautner has grown with his character and managed to more than hold his own in this film.
The cast of the Twilight franchise has settled into their characters well, and all were able to reprise their roles in this second film. Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg was also brought back for this installment. Her adaptations of Stephenie Meyer’s work are consistently faithful; there were some minor detours, but overall her translation of Meyer’s vision is accurate. This precision in transmitting Meyer’s story from book to screen is vital. Twilight fans know every nuance of the series, which is probably why many of the lines were verbatim from Meyer’s book.
The elements of Meyer’s story are all intact here, including the Romeo and Juliet theme woven throughout. This film had a moodier feel to it that is also consistent with the dark quality of the book. An important part of the story is the growing friendship and hinted romance between Bella and Jacob.
After Edward leaves Forks presumably for good, Jacob is the only thing that keeps Bella going. He brings her out of her depressed state to something more alive. But his feelings for her are different than hers for him, and Bella is torn between maintaining her desire to be only friends and allowing herself to love him the way he loves her. The lines between the two blur tantalizingly—that is, until Bella hears that Edward mistakenly believes she is dead. She goes to find him in Italy with Alice Cullen, Edward’s adopted sister, leaving Jacob behind. The developing love triangle set up here will be explored more deeply in Eclipse.
While New Moon was consistent with the book and satisfying for fans as a film, it did not have the same flow and sense of unity that characterized Twilight. Weitz’s pacing comes across a touch heavy-handed, making the New Moon experience distinctly different than the more quietly told love story that was Twilight. What Twilight may have lacked in production value, it made up for with a raw, sensitive quality that embodied Meyer’s vision beautifully. New Moon comes across as too polished. But the fans will definitely be too distracted by Jacob to mind.
New Moon is rated PG-13 for some violence and action.
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 11