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3 Stars

The third film in the ‘Twilight’ series is a marked improvement over the first two entries. Sporting a glossier look and much better special effects; this is the ‘blockbuster’ film that ‘New Moon’ purported to be. The action is fairly brief until the climactic battle sequence. Instead Director David Slade focuses on the love triangle that is the heart of the series and this installment in particular.

The three leads have never been better, with Lautner a standout. After all of the media frenzy, Lautner has finally delivered a performance that clearly shows this kid has ‘movie star’ qualities. A welcomed addition to the cast is Bryce Dallas Howard the steely red-head out for revenge against the entire Cullan Clan. Forcing Jacob and Edward to form an uneasy alliance, in the hopes of protecting Bella.

While this all sounds operatic, that has always been the series’ weak point. However this time, writer Melissa Rossenberg has infused the script with a knowing wink at the obvious. As when Edward voices the audiences thoughts by asking Bella, “Does he ever wear a shirt?”, in regards to Jacob’s constant state of semi undress. Die hard fans will eat this up regardless, so props to Summit Entertainment for striving to make the series sleeker and bringing in serious filmmakers to add gravitas to the proceedings.

Director: David Slade
Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner,