Eclipse Movie Review

Okay – it’s not even midnight yet, and I just got done watching Eclipse.

Safe to say – I’m super jazzed. So this may not end up being the most level-headed review ever written. But what can I say? I’m a fan.

I will, however start out with what I didn’t like about the third installment of the Twilight Saga via film.

The trailer revealed too many of the intense sequences.

The newborn army had little screen time and could have been utilized better.

The director chose to shoot up-close shots of everything, and sometimes I would have liked to see the bigger picture.

Story flow was a little disjointed. I mean, it felt like flipping to the next chapter instead of smoothly going from one scene to the next in a script. But that might be because I anticipated scenes, knowing what would happen next, listening for favorite lines and critiquing how the cast pulled them off. In some cases, I’m sad to say, I was disappointed.

One example: since I’ve recently read the novella The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, I looked forward to seeing the end of the fight between the werewolves/Cullens and the new vampire army because Bree’s point of view was so vivid in my mind. In both the novel Eclipse and the new novella about her, Bree makes a huge impression because of her typical new vampire characteristics and her vocal, torturous desire for Bella’s blood. In the movie, she doesn’t even give Bella a glance. Sure, this is a minor detail, but it plays an important role in Bella’s mind as she progresses in her life heading toward becoming a newborn vampire herself. So I thought a portion of the story’s integrity lacked in that and other similar regards.

Also, although they did a commendable job on the tent scene, they omitted one of my favorite exchanges between Edward and Jacob – “But,” Edward went on, “if I had been able to take your place last night, it would not have made the top ten of the best nights of my life. Dream about that.” That and a few other faves from that scene got crunched into a shorter, summed up conversation that telegraphed the gist, but kept some of the best zingers out. Too bad for those only seeing the movie.

One other irritation – Bella’s soliloquy at the end. Meshed with some of the dialogue from the book, her ad-on speech portrayed this girl-power, self-esteem assertion that seemed totally un-Bella-like to me. Don’t know what that was all about. Hollywood forcing an interpretation just to make sure her reasoning and thought process about marrying Edward didn’t sound too old fashioned or conservative?

But enough complaining.

Of course, I loved Eclipse.

Edward, aside from his acting improving, looked amazing, much more alluring than in either the first two films. His formal proposal rocked. His taunting and battle with Victoria rocked. And the tent scene, despite the beefs I mentioned above, managed to rock also.

I enjoyed the quick flashbacks relaying the past lives of Rosalie and Jasper.

Of course, Charlie always entertains me, and he had a couple of good eye-rolls and quips.

Even though my imagination runs wild when I’m reading a book, especially ones I love as much as the Twilight Saga, I love getting to see them on screen, to see someone else’s interpretation, to watch the characters I’ve grown to love come alive before my eyes. Book-to-movie transition is never perfect, and so dialogue I would choose to include will inevitably be replaced with dialogue the director or screenwriter deems more worthy. Yes, I’m making excuses, but then I was nit-picking earlier. As far as number three in the Saga goes, Eclipse wins. Again, fans will be thrilled. And we’ll all bite at the bit until November 2011 roles around so we can continue the obsession with the first installment of the split-in-two fourth novel, Breaking Dawn.

Bottom line, lovers will love it. Haters will hate it – or the hype around it since they won’t bother seeing it. So it’s win/win.

Thanks for joining me this month for my Twilight Saga-inspired series, How Reading a Vampire Book Taught Me More About Faith. I hope that as you enjoy the Twilight books, you’ll consider the illustrations I’ve drawn and allow your faith to be strengthened in your Perfect Lover, Jesus.

See you Friday!

(click for first chapter: How Reading a Vampire Book Taught Me More About Faith)

(click for first chapter: How Reading a Vampire Book Brought Me Closer to Jesus)