Decisions, decisionsBy John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time," "Cinema Classics," and "On the Marquee"
"I know the consequences of the choices you're making." Edward to Isabella
Although more fight action is apparent in the change from the first sequel (New Moon 2009), to the new Eclipse, it is a film in eclipse?the story is so slow as to make you feel drained of blood, Kristen Stewart (Bella) has even fewer expressions than in previous Twilights, Taylor Lautner (Jacob) seems to have gone from a six pack to a four, and Robert Pattinson (Edward) is less James Dean than when he never had a chance to be like him anyway.
In other words, this slow tale of teenage vampires and werewolves in heat has too little heat, but rather is in its own twilight. The close-ups of the brooding teens have proliferated, to the extent that I have memorized Edward's mouth (or lack thereof), Bella's drooping eyes, and Jacob's overly-white teeth. All my memorization occurs because I needed to stay awake during the dullest scenarios since, well, Twilight. Actually I called that one "enjoyably overcooked." This one is underdone.
Eclipse has an increased emphasis on teenage uncertainty: Bella must decide whom she wants to be, human or vampire (a variation of the film's existential subtext), whether or not to marry Edward, and how much she loves Jacob, more specifically, can she love two boys at once.
It's authentic teen dilemma centered on fitting in with the crowd and the opposite sex. To the film's credit, she and Edward postpone sex until after marriage because Edward is "old school" about those matters (as opposed to killing piles of animals each night to sustain his 100 year-old body).
When Edward proclaims to Bella, "Isabella Swan, I promise to love you every moment of forever," I have the feeling it's a warning to me that at least two more sequels are being planned. I guess that's why the vampires and their movies seem to last so long?the undead and the Twilight continue to suck blood out of pop culture.
John DeSando co-hosts WCBE 90.5's It's Movie Time, Cinema Classics, and On the Marquee, which can be heard streaming at http://publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/ppr/index.shtml and on demand at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/arts.artsmain Contact him at JDeSando@Columbus.RR.com