by J A Wright

Created on: November 26, 2009   Last Updated: November 27, 2009

Stephenie Meyer really couldn't have known what she was about to unleash on the world when she had the dream which sparked the whole Twilight Saga.
Now in 2009 with the second instalment of the film now released, having secured the biggest box office success in its initial twenty four hours, seconded by the Batman films and with five novels in print and several more film deals to come, Meyer could consider herself a major success.

The second in the Twilight Saga is New Moon, based on the book of the same name and second in the four book story arc. Compared to Catherine Hardwicke the director Chris Weitz had a much easier job in one respect, the Twilight books were a growing concern, the fanaticism was only multiplying and the studio had given him a much larger budget than the predecessor director Catherine Hardwicke. However, the enormous challenge presented to him was following in Hardwicke's footsteps, or rather, not doing so. She, with a smaller budget by far and blessed with less of a fan base had interpreted the novel in her own way, a far more unique manner and it did not receive the acclaim she would have liked. Weisz needed to be sure that his work was loyal to the book and to the fans who would scrutinise every second.

Even in the opening title scene, the iconic image of a new moon and the words are presented well, beginning as we hope the film will go on.
Bella is the emotional teen, Edward is her 'vegetarian' vampire boyfriend and Jacob the American Indian childhood friend. Any one smell a love triangle here?

More of the secondary characters are explored this time, Jacobs friends and a new 'family' within the vampire world, adding further layers to the story arcs and possible outcomes.

Edward is 17 but in real terms 109 and Bella is about to turn 18, usually a good thing in most peoples book but for Bella the moment is a sadness and she grows older then Edward. She worries about being old whilst he remains youthful , following the story of the first film Bella wants to be made immortal.
As the storyline develops Edward leaves Bella, convince this is for the best for her and he goes and mopes around Europe whilst Bella remains in Forks and eventually grows closer to Jacob. He loves her and she loves him but not in the same way because she is still smouldering for Edward.

The film does follow the book closely but it would be near impossible to transfer each word into a visual sense on the screen. The character of Bella, the female centre

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>