(Way above the legal limit…if you should know.)
I made it. I went to the New Moon premiere last night. I go to a lot of midnight premieres and I always judge the movie based on whether or not there’s any regret the next morning. I can say – beyond a shadow of a doubt – there is NO REGRET. This has been a long and busy and exhausting week. Put aside the fact that I have been fighting some sort of hayfever/cold thing – I’ve also been trying to accomplish a lot of prep before my family comes in town for Thanksgiving and before I leave for a few days. I’m glad I’ve thought enough to write my NaBloPoMo entries in advance or every entry this week would have simply said, “Sneezing. Sick. Can’t Breathe. Tired. The End.” On top of that, We’ve also had soccer games, theater rehearsals, and other relatively normal weekly obligations. I’m torn between being exhausted from sneezing nineteen million times in 12 minutes, sleeping only 3 hours last night, and just the general OH MY GOD MY LIFE IS SO BUSY exhaustion that we all feel this time of year.
Needless to say? I’m a little loopy this morning. I was going to take some cold medicine so I can try to fight the symptoms while I work, but I’m afraid the loopy factor will get out of control then. I may change my mind later but for right now? I’d just like exhaustion to be making my head fuzzy…not medication.
Now – what we’ve all been waiting for – My Non-Spoilery Comments On New Moon
- I love Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black. I mean – I really hoped I’d love him in the role. He worked so hard to keep it and he seems so dedicated to it. But I really loved him. And he and Kristen Steward have great chemistry together. Their scenes just felt so honest.
- The characters of Mike and Jessica were great for the little screen time they had. They really made the most of their few minutes of the spotlight. I loved them.
- I liked the score of Twilight better…sometimes the music distracted me from a scene instead of like in Twilight when it just enhanced it.
- Alice had the most HIDEOUS outfit on during the Italy scenes. All I kept thinking was that if I had grandmother’s still alive? They’d probably be wearing it. And I’m not talking just about the scarf/gloves to hide her from the sun…I’m talking the shirt/smock/dress thing. Man…I hated that.
- Jasper’s hair. I hated that too. I knew I’d hate it because I’ve hated it since the first viewing of the birthday party scene. It’s like they hot-rolled it. And maybe frosted it. I think it reminds me of the 1980s soccer Mom look. He is such a good looking guy in real life..someone in the costume/hair/makeup department must truly hate him.
- The Super Fast special effects were much better this time. Actually…relatively speaking? They were all better. I feel like we’re still short a bit on some of the tricks but overall? Much better.
All in all? I loved it. And I’m going to post my SPOILERY comments after the jump -
My VERY Spoilery Comments on New Moon (Unless you’ve read the book…then this stuff may not be spoilery. I don’t know. To be safe if you’re concerned? Don’t read ahead.)
- In the books I’m completely satisfied with the Bella/Edward love story. I never once wanted her to be with Jacob. I wanted him to be happy, but I wanted her with Edward. But in the movies? Completely differently. I love Bella and Jacob so much after New Moon that I found myself wishing they could change the story. I think that’s a testament to how good of a job Taylor did with the role.
- That said…Rob Pattinson did a great job with Crazy With Grief Edward. I wish they had toned down the purple under his eyes because it looked a little like he had gotten beat up, and not like he was just emotionally worn out. But still…he did great. And that brief bit of joy when he thought he was dead and Bella was there with him in Heaven? He played that small little scene brilliantly.
- I laughed a lot more in this movie than I expected to. There were some legitimately funny exchanges and the Bella/Jacob Who’s Older bit from the books? Played out brilliantly in a shortened version on screen. Very cute.
- I liked some of the things they kept from the books…the little things. Like the sound of the glass clinking in the bowl with Carlisle is cleaning Bella’s injury from the party. She mentions that in the book…listening to that sound. It was a nice tribute to have that klinking open the scene between the two of them. I just wish there hadn’t been weird sexual chemistry in that scene. Peter Facinelli is hot, maybe that’s the problem, but I felt like there was almost some sort of flirting between the two of them in that scene. Kristen Steward was using her Edward Eyes a bit. It was strange.
- Rosalie bugged me much less in this movie. I felt like her angst was forced even in the few minutes she was on screen in Twilight. I felt much better about it this time, although I’m still not 100% I like her in that role.
- Dakota Fanning was kinda disappointing. I really don’t think she played the sweet/lethal combo as well as I had hoped. Maybe because I have such a clear vision of Jane in my head…but I just kept thinking, Dakota Fanning when she was on screen. And she didn’t seem angry enough when she realized her tricks didn’t work on Bella.
That’s all for now. I plan on seeing it again (of course) in the next day or two and then 15 more times after that. I saw Twilight in the theater 7 times and I can already tell I’m going to want to see this one over and over again as well. I’m just a loyal fan to the entire franchise, which may make my opinion worth absolutely nothing to the average movie goer. However, I think this one was easily better than the first and I’m very excited to see it again.
I’m so excited to see this movie….Bummed though because I can’t make until Tuesday….Sounds awesome!!!!
Yay!! I am so excited to see you enjoyed the movie! Your site was the first place I went this morning because you and I usually see eye to eye inn all things twilight/ Harry potter! I am off to see the movie tonight. So excited!
I saw it at midnight last night too and thought it was so freaking good.
I still want Edward and Bella, not Jacob, but I completely agree, their chemistry was great.
My only thing was I wish Edward explained to Bella more why he left, I felt like that was sort of brushed over.
And the elevator scene? Totally made me laugh.
I was waiting to see if you made the midnight premier…I didn’t. I knew I could not stay up. I was anxiously awaiting you’re review, ,because for some reason it is the only one I was going to believe this morning. So thanks for sharing!
Wow, really with reference to Bella/Edward in the books? I wished from the get go that Bella and Jacob were going to be together and it drove me nuts that she always wanted Edward. It totally bummed me out and drove me batty all at one time – I think Edward seems like an annoying overbearing boyfriend!? Issue much!?
Also maybe because I think that boy that plays Jacob is a little hottie and every time I read the book I would think of him from the 1st movie and I was rooting for him!? I was like dude if I had my choice between hottie Jacob and eh Edward I would totally choose Jacob (from the movie)!!
I totally agree with all of your non-spoilery and spoilery points. I loved Jacob in the books and is on Team Jacob but the way that dynamic was brought to life on screen was more heartbreaking to watch than reading the book. You really felt that emotion there and when he said “for me” my friend and I were DYING. My friend is a HUGE Team Edward fan and she even started “crossing over.”
I thought the overall look and feel of the movie was 10x better than Twilight. The lighting was better and the things that made the first one campy and almost laughable, the pale faces, Rosalie and some of the movements seemed much more refined and enjoyable to watch. If Chris Weitz was to go back and redo Twilight, I would totally give it another try. The effects were really well done too.
Agree that Jacob was really a great character in this one and I was sad when he was downsized for the Italy part. And yes, Alice’s clothes were AWFUL and I was disappointed with Dakota Fanning too. I have to say, I really loved the last shot of the movie too, even as a Team Jacob fan because it was clever and definitely made you wanting more.
People in my theater were also very animated, when Jacob took his shirt off (the first of many wonderful times), people went nuts and you could see them sympathizing with him as time went on. When Edward was shirtless, not a peep. Ouch.
Overall, I liked this a lot more and I would go back and see it again. Now I’m struggling to stay awake at work today because I went to a 12:45 a.m. show and got 3 hours of sleep. Double ouch.
Okay I’ve babbled on enough
I just get excited to talk about New Moon.
I found this gluten free snack. My daughter made it, I tasted it, and it’s yummy. She’s used craisins, and you can use whatever fruit you like. (Cagey’s Mom).
Gluten-Free Snack Mix Recipe
This crunchy, on-the-go snack makes a great treat at any time of day. Kids will love the sweet cinnamon flavor and the chance to eat with their hands.—Healthy Cooking Test Kitchen
* 20 Servings
* Prep: 15 min. Bake: 10 min. + cooling
Ingredients
* 8 cups popped popcorn
* 2 cups Koala Crisp cereal
* 1 package (5 ounces) dried cherries
* 1/3 cup butter, cubed
* 1/3 cup honey
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
* In a large ungreased roasting pan, combine the popcorn, cereal and cherries. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Add honey and cinnamon; cook and stir until heated through. Pour over popcorn mixture and toss to coat.
* Bake at 325° for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Cool completely. Store in airtight containers. Yield: 10 cups.
Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup equals 110 calories, 5 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 8 mg cholesterol, 89 mg sodium, 16 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 1 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat.
agree! agree! agree! except i missed the bella/carlisle chemistry, and i am anxious to watch again and pay attention for that. i had so much fun! i love you! i hope you feel better!
oh and i have to add two more things, i think! haha! i LOVED edward shirtless. LOVED. the “v”……. YUM. and i was a little disappointed w/ the wolves. i think it’s just that i’d set my expectations too high…
For a book that I disliked so much, I really, really loved the movie. Loved it better than Twilight, even. I’m like you….really loved Bella/Jacob in the movie, and I felt SO bad for him.
I plan on seeing it many more times as well
can you believe that i 100% agree with you on every single point of your reviews??? you said it perfectly…all of it!
and let me say again…TAYLOR LAUTNER WAS PERFECT AS JACOB!
I totally agree with you too! I thought the movie was so much better than Twilight. They really seemed to follow the story. Totally Team Edward, but Jacob was awesome. Loved it!
I’m watchin tomorrow night!
There was weird chemistry between Bella and Carlisle in that scene! I’m so glad I’m not the only one who thought so. I agree with all of your points, particularly Jasper’s hair. How can they make such an attractive guy look so goofy?
Overall though, loved the movie.
I pretty much agree with every single one of your thoughts here. And I love that you saw Twilight 7 times.. I saw it 3 times in theaters, and it would have been far more, but I’d exhausted all of my willing movie-going companions. I wish I knew any true fans around here… it’s kind of depressing going with fair weather fans. I might go by myself a few times this go round.
I agree completely!!
Although maybe not with the humor thing… I’m still on the fence about it. The one-liners were cute and all, but I kinda felt like it wasn’t true to the book…. the book was dark, and sad, and a little boring… and then the whole theater was cracking up… but other than that… I can’t wait to see it again… when I’m less midnight-exhausted.
Loved it. Will see it again. Am still totally Team Edward. Just can’t get past the fact the Jacob/Taylor is 17 in real life.
I Loved the movie – at midnight as well. I agree on Jaspers hair – I hated it, and I also really wanted to see Jacob and Bella together at the end of New Moon after the movie. I was so sad for him. The only part in the movie that really bothered me, persay, was the part after she cliff dove, and you see Victoria (Who looked a LOT like aieral (I butchered the spelling, sorry. =( ), wtf), then she just disappears. I want to see it again. But I don’t know if I want to spend more money on movie tickets, because it’s EXPENSIVE here, ugh. I loved everything about it, though. When’s Eclipse coming out? Why isn’t it out yet?! =D
Secha, Eclipse comes out June 30, 2010!! Now the question is will they make Breaking Dawn?
Loved the movie!
I totally agree with the Edward/Jacob thing. I LOVE Edward, am completely Team Edward as far as the books go. Then I saw Jacob onscreen. Not only his body, but his awesome smile and personality. SWOON. Am still completely Team Edward, but I totally feel like I’m cheating on Edward somehow by having such a crush on Jacob!