Film Gecko

Review: The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Jane Boursaw — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:41:34 +0000

Movie: The Twilight Saga: New Moon * Trailer * Official Site * Gecko Links	In Theaters: Nov. 20, 2009
Runtime: 130 minutes	Directed by: Chris Weitz
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some violence and action	Gecko Rating:

I was a little dismayed when I saw that Roger Ebert had given “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” only one star, but I can sort of see where he’s coming from. In terms of overall production, “New Moon” might not be the best movie ever made, but it’s romantic, continues the story beautifully from the first movie (“Twilight”), and sets things up nicely for the third film, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.” It also appeals perfectly to its target audience – young girls and middle-aged moms. For all these reasons, it gets four out of five geckos from me.

More after the jump…

We pick up the story with Bella (Kristen Stewart) celebrating her 18th birthday at the start of her senior year. She’s not really into the whole “presents and cake” thing, but agrees to a birthday party at the Cullen’s house. When she cuts her finger while opening a gift, Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) nearly attacks her. Being a young vampire, he doesn’t have as much control over his bloodthirsty instincts as the others. It all ends well, but the incident makes Edward (Robert Pattinson) realize that over the long haul, his relationship with Bella will never work. So he and his family leave Forks, Washington, leaving Bella to stumble through her senior year alone and depressed.

But she finds comfort with longtime friend Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), who’s suddenly grown buff and strong. To get over her heartbreak with Edward, Bella asks Jacob to help her fix up a couple of motorcycles, so the two can ride together. But Bella has an ulterior motive. She discovers that whenever she’s in danger, Edward appears to her in a vision. Thus, she puts herself in danger quite often, from reckless motorcycle driving to cliff diving to solo ventures into the woods. There are still dangerous creatures lurking out there.

And Jacob is harboring a secret of his own, as he starts hanging with a group of Native American boys who like to wander bare-torso’d through the woods. The audience where I was the movie was so funny, because every time a guy would rip his shirt off or run through the woods half-naked, everyone would ooh and aah. I have to say, Taylor Lautner definitely logged plenty of gym time.

Meanwhile, the Cullens are off somewhere in the world, but Edward, distraught over news he hears about Bella, goes to see the Volturi in Italy. They’re the leaders in the vampire world, tasked with making sure all the vamps adhere to their many laws. When Bella hears about it via Alice (Ashley Greene), she has to take action, much to the chagrin of Jacob.

“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” is romantic, funny and dramatic, but oh, the teen angst. They’re tortured souls! The computer generated effects are beautiful, with gigantic, fearsome wolves who snarl and fight like, well, wild wolves. That bad vampire Victoria makes an appearance, as well, and gets into a violent tussle with the wolves.

The Volturi are a great addition to the saga, and while they don’t have a lot of screen time, they use it well. Dakota Fanning plays Jane, a powerful vampire who can inflict pain with her mind. The leader Aro (Michael Sheen) makes a giddily evil vampire, and he’s flanked by the more silent and stoic Caius (Jamie Campbell Bower) and Marcus (Christopher Heyerdahl).

The Quileute Wolf Pack includes Alex Meraz as Paul, Chaske Spencer as Sam Uley, Bronson Pelletier as Jared, and Kiowa Gordon as Embry Call. They look just fine, don’t they?

I’m sure “New Moon” will be spoofed to the nth degree, and there’s plenty to spoof: longing looks between characters, mannerisms like Bella’s lip-biting, Jacob’s strength, and Edward’s sparkling … just about every character could easily be a “Saturday Night Live” skit. But that’s ok. It means the movie embeds itself into our psyche.

I think maybe Roger Ebert should have seen “New Moon” with some junior high girls (ok, that doesn’t sound right!). But I took my 12-year-old daughter and two of her friends, and just watching their joy at seeing the movie made it all worthwhile. And this mom loved it, too.

Note to Parents: The PG-13 rating is spot-on, but if your younger-than-13 child saw the first “Twilight” movie and was ok with it, they should be fine with this one, though there’s considerably more action. The wolves are quite awesome, snarling and fighting to the max. There’s an intense fight scene involving the Volturi, where one character gets thrown around quite a bit and another is dismembered. Not much is shown, but the effect is there.

Early in the movie, Jasper nearly attacks Bella, leading to a fight between him and Edward. Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre) and Laurent (Edi Gathegi) have separate tussles with the Wolf Pack, who also come after Bella at one point. Bella puts herself in danger, approaching a motorcycle gang, driving a motorcycle recklessly, and nearly drowning in a cliff-diving scene.

There are also plenty of romantic scenes, but nothing much more than kissing and hand-holding. Language is fairly mild, including “bloodsucker,” “dammit,” “what the hell,” and “oh my God.”

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Tom Cruise arrives in Salzburg to film ‘Knight & Day’

Jane Boursaw — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:58:52 +0000

Tom Cruise arrived in Salzburg, Austria today to film “Knight & Day,” an action comedy co-starring Cameron Diaz. They play a fugitive couple on a glamorous (and sometimes deadly) adventure where nothing and no one – even themselves – are what they seem.

These two should make a good couple for an action film, and I’m sure there will be some fun romance in there, too. Hopefully lots of snappy dialogue reminiscent of the old-time spy movies. James Mangold directs the film, due in theaters July 2, 2010.

Cruise looks in tip-top form, doesn’t he?

More after the jump…

Images: Bauer-Griffin

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Cute Baby Alert! Seraphina with mom Jennifer Garner

Jane Boursaw — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:31:44 +0000

Little Seraphina Affleck is such a cutie-pie. Here she is with mom Jennifer Garner, picking sister Violet up from school in Santa Monica, California.

Garner is surely one of the hardest working actresses right now. She has lots of projects lined up in the next couple of years, including “Valentine’s Day,” the ensemble romantic comedy due in theaters Feb. 12, 2010. The movie also stars Taylor Lautner, Anne Hathaway, Julia Roberts, Taylor Swift, and Ashton Kutcher.

Image: INF

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New TV Spot for ‘Daybreakers’ – Yes, another vampire movie

Jane Boursaw — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:21:41 +0000

Starting to get some buzz about “Daybreakers” – yes, another vampire movie! Well, that’s fine with me. I love vampire movies.

This one stars Ethan Hawke as Edward Dalton, a researcher in the year 2019 investigating an unknown plague that’s transformed the world’s population into vampires. As the human population nears extinction, vampires must capture and farm every remaining human, or find a blood substitute before time runs out.

However, a covert group of vampires makes a remarkable discovery, one which has the power to save the human race.

“Daybreakers” hits theaters on Jan. 8, 2010 and also stars Willem Dafoe, Isabel Lucas, and Sam Neill. No rating yet, but I’m guessing R or possibly PG-13. Watch the trailer here, and check out the new TV spot.

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Robert Pattinson in ‘Remember Me’ Trailer

Jane Boursaw — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:40:05 +0000

Here’s some Robert Pattinson news that’s NOT related to “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” No sparkling vampires in the trailer for “Remember Me,” in which Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin star as two lovers dealing with respective family tragedies.

Directed by Allen Coulter, the Summit Entertainment film also stars Pierce Brosnan and Chris Cooper, and is set for a March 12, 2010 release date.

Remember Me in HD

Trailer Park | MySpace Video

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‘New Moon’ Fever Overseas!

Jane Boursaw — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:47:46 +0000

Summit’s “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” isn’t scheduled to hit U.S. theaters until midnight tonight, but it’s already scoring high – way high – with theaters around the globe. Here’s how the numbers shake out as of this afternoon:

Australia: 466 screens, $1.6 million
France: 751 theaters, $4.26 million
Italy: 625 screens, $2.7 million
Spain: 652 screens, $2.2 million

Most of the shows are sold out in my neck of the woods (Traverse City, Michigan), including ALL seven of the midnight showings.

Got your tickets yet?

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Salt Poster: Angelina’s got the stare down pat

Jane Boursaw — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:58:00 +0000

Here’s the post for “Salt,” director Philip Noyce’s spy thriller due in theaters July 23, 2010.

Angelina Jolie stars as CIA officer Evelyn Salt, who swore an oath to duty, honor and loyalty – a loyalty that’s seriously tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. So she goes on the run, using all those CIA skills and experience as a covert operative to elude capture.

What do you think of the poster? She’s got the steely stare down pat, doesn’t she? Oh, those lips!

Image: Sony Pictures Entertainment

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Taylor Lautner: Chris Weitz was always supportive

Jane Boursaw — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:44:31 +0000

Before it was confirmed that Taylor Lautner would return as Jacob Black in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” there were some dark times at the end of 2008. But he says he tried to focus on things he could control, rather than being sucked into the black hole of what was going on.

"Chris [Weitz] was always extremely supportive and I was glad to have him behind me," Lautner says. He is such a cutie! And I’m like some lovelorn Twi-hard teeny-bopper!

“New Moon” hits theaters in three days. Have you got your tickets? I do!

MTV Shows

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Gone With the Wind celebrates 70th anniversary

Jane Boursaw — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:23:36 +0000

I wasn’t around when “Gone With the Wind” was released in 1939, but thankfully, I had an opportunity to see it on the big screen, as our downtown theater — the State Theatre in Traverse City, Michigan — played it when I was in high school. That same theater is playing it again to celebrate the film’s 70th anniversary.

On Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, Warner Home Video staged their own Flash Mob, as 70 couples in period costumes celebrated the film’s anniversary by dancing “The World’s Largest Virginia Reel” in the historic Marietta Georgia Town Square.

And get this. Four original cast members were there: Ann Rutherford (”Carreen O’Hara”), Mickey Kuhn (”Beau Wilkes” at age 7), Patrick Curtis (”Baby Beau Wilkes”) and Greg Geise (infant “Bonnie Blue Butler” & infant “Beau Wilkes”), along with Gina Miller who was an extra.

Robert Osborne, Turner Classic Movies’ primetime host, was also present. “Gone With the Wind” will air on TCM on Dec. 15, the actual anniversary of the film’s original premiere in Atlanta. Check out this cake – it’s Tara!

Images: Warner Home Video

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Megan Fox talks to NYT Magazine about changing her image

Jane Boursaw — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:57:39 +0000

There’s a new interview with Megan Fox in the New York Times Magazine, in which she talks about changing her image.

Ok, here’s a little tip, Megan. If you want to change your image, you might consider a photo shoot in something other than your underwear. And I’m not talking nude either. How about a nice classy shoot a la Old Hollywood?

Catch Megan Fox next as Leila in “Jonah Hex,” due in theaters June 18, 2010.

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