THE MOVIE PAGES presents KRISTEN STEWART in THE TWILIGHT SAGA

What Do The Critics Say?

"Despite superb cinematography and special effects, it overstays its welcome and lacks palpable excitement, thrills and suspense. Any real thrills to be found here, however, are far and between and don’t actually help to enliven an otherwise dull, overlong film.Its mediocre performances and dumbed-down screenplay add insult to injury."
Avi Offer NYC MOVIE GURU
"I can’t say that this new film has improved upon the characters or the story because it really hasn’t. I didn't hate this movie... If only we could get rid of Edward and Bella, I think I might actually become a fan. Yes, the first half of this movie is pretty much excruciating. If I weren’t a critic, sitting next to my Twi-hard wife at the screening, I might have actually walked out."
Kevin Carr 7M PICTURES
"Unlike "The Dark Knight", "New Moon" is strictly for die-hard fans. No one else is likely to have the patience to sit through more than two hours of grunge era mumbling and moping from Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson). If they spent more time on the scripts, coaching the actors and finding less distracting hair and makeup, they might earn what they have but don't deserve: the fans' unconditional love."
Gina Carbone SEACOAST NEWSPAPERS
"Vampire movies should suck but not like this. Some will want to drive a wooden stake through my heart. It's a waste of time. Ask anyone who knows me. I don't have a heart. Midway through part two of this soggy saga, Bella and Jacob talk about running away together. Running works. After more than an hour of moping, fretting and sulking: depending on the character; any action is welcome. Fans tell me this is the slowest and least interesting of the four books. No, duh."
Gary Wolcott TRI-CITY HERALD
"Memo to director Chris Weitz and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg: Just because you make a movie about vampires doesn't mean you suck the life out of your story. It probably won't make a jot of difference to all the screaming tweeners lining up to see this movie, but "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" is not wonderful."
Peter Rainer CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

"Like the first film, "New Moon" is a feature made primarily for the target audiences, for the global fans of the series. New Moon is not better than the first film, though dealing with elements of two mythologies (vampires and werewolves) makes the romantic tale more interesting if also more convoluted. Calculated to a fault, "Twilight" proved, if nothing else, that it knows how to reach its most immediate and crucial audiences."
EmanuelLevy EMANUELLEVY.COM
Unfortunately, there is a pronounced lack of chemistry between Stewart and Lautner that does not quite work in New Moon’s favour. Lautner is very adept at whipping his shirt off at a moment's notice, but emoting in a credible fashion is not to be found in his array of talents.
Leigh Paatsch HERALDSUN ONLINE
"The second film is nowhere near as good as the original "Twilight": in fact, it’s a fizzer. I’m tempted to think that the change of director has had a lot to do with it; Catherine Hardwicke brought an intensity, a sense of place, a rather beautiful dark romanticism to the first film none of which is even attempted in the clunky work of director Chris Weitz for the second."
David Stratton ABC AT THE MOVIES
Twilight benefitted immeasurably from the ragged sensibilities of director Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen, The Lords Of Dogtown). On the second film, she has been replaced by Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass), who too readily buys into New Moon's depressive, bum-trip narrative."
Erin Free FILMINK
"I found Bella's voice over narration in which she shares her innermost thoughts in correspondence with Edward's sister Alice irritating, but things get back on track when she heads to Italy to find Edward. Pace is not the only thing that stumbles in this sequel. The screenplay feels padded and the different strands of the storyline do not mesh together seamlessly."
Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE

Who Plays Who?

Kristen Stewart
Robert Pattinson
Taylor Lautner
Billy Burke
Anna Kendrick
Michael Welch
Justin Chon
Christian Serratos
Peter Facinelli
Elizabeth Reaser
Kellan Lutz
Ashley Greene
Michael Sheen
Dakota Fanning
Rachelle Lefevre
Curtis Caravaggio

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Bella Swan
Edward Cullen
Jacob Black
Charlie Swan
Jessica
Mike
Eric
Angela
Dr Carlisle Cullen
Esme Cullen
Emmett Cullen
Alice Cullen
Aro
Jane
Victoria
Rogue Vampire

The Inside Story "Twilight", the first film based on Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling Twilight book series, was released in November 2008 to an eagerly awaiting audience. It was an instant success, no small feat for a project that was being carefully scrutinized by the novels’ millions of dedicated fans who were anxious to see how their heroes and heroines were depicted. The film adaptation of the unlikely romance between a sensitive high school girl and a more than a century-old vampire brought in over $US seventy million on its opening weekend, eventually grossing $US384,997,808 worldwide. The success paved the way for the movie version of the next installment in the bestselling series, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon". Wyck Godfrey, producer for both films, was adamant that The Twilight Saga: New Moon be not merely another sequel. Like the book that inspired it, the film takes Bella Swan and Edward Cullen’s fledging relationship to a more intense and dangerous level, and reveals a conflict that will haunt Bella as the story continues: the age-old rivalry between the Quileute tribe and the vampires, played out between Bella’s best friend, Jacob Black, and her love, Edward. "The challenge was to not simply repeat what the first movie delivered," says Godfrey ("When a Stranger Calls"). "As the story progresses, the world opens up. We have to evolve the characters and deliver the new world visually. We're digging deeper into Bella’s life as her world expands. She’s discovering new things about the people of Forks, primarily the Quileutes and Jacob. The discovery that Jacob and his buddies turn into wolves is a big one. Bella realizes she is living in what seems to be a fantasy world where vampires and werewolves are real. Just when she has made a friend who makes her feel alive again after Edward has disappeared, she finds out he’s different too. And since the only reason these werewolves exist is because of the existence of vampires, Jacob wouldn’t exist as a werewolf if not for Edward. That’s the primary conflict between Jacob and Edward, and Bella is caught in between as a human." Director Chris Weitz’s success at adapting books for the screen, including "About a Boy" and "The Golden Compass", made him an obvious choice for this project, says Godfrey. “Chris has a history of helming fantasy films with complex effects as well as intimate character studies, and he works well with young actors. But it is his appreciation of Stephenie Meyer’s books and characters that made him the perfect director for "The Twilight Saga: New Moon". "It was vital for us to really honor Stephenie’s creation and the fans that love the Twilight series," Godfrey notes. "What we didn’t want to do was take her books and try to reinvent them. Chris fell in love with the books and he knew how to bring the story to life and keep it rooted in reality. That was essential. Even though these are fantasy creatures, the story feels like our world all the time." Although Weitz was initially unfamiliar with the novels, he quickly became a fan. "I read the books," he revealed. "Then I went to see the first film with an audience, and I was so jazzed by the extraordinarily deep emotional reaction I saw. When I watch a film, I look for an overwhelming sense of being immersed in a universe, and this was a chance to do that. It’s a bit different from what I’ve done before, but it also draws on some of my experience." Weitz realized his foremost responsibility was to be faithful to the books. "I worked very, very hard at making sure things were just right in that sense," says Weitz who also produced the 'American Pie' trilogy . "The first film was such a phenomenon. The books were such a phenomenon."

"My first job," Weitz explained, "was to respect the love that the fans of the books have for the book, and the love they transferred to the movie. There was no need to completely remake the world. We go different places this time, but we still retain respect for the fans." The director consulted the author regularly, even on minor issues, according to Meyer. "He was interested in the smallest things, like can this person wear shoes?" Meyer says. "He checked on all the details. He wanted to make it like the book, and he was very, very cool about that." Having the author available was invaluable to Weitz. "With Lord of the Rings, no one could ask Tolkien what he originally had in mind," he said. "I could email Stephenie and ask practical questions like, 'Do Jasper’s powers actually work on Bella?' as well as larger metaphysical questions. It allowed me to make sure that at all points that we were keeping consistent with the books." Meyer appreciates Weitz’s diligence, saying, "He really listens. He’s very quiet and at the same time it’s very clear what he’s looking for. I felt my material was in good hands with him." For Meyer, writing "New Moon" was a completely different experience from writing the earlier book. "It was probably the most difficult book I’ve ever written because for the first time, I knew for sure people were going to be reading what I wrote. When I wrote "Twilight", it was just for me. All of a sudden, I felt like people were looking over my shoulders. I had a lot of stage fright." And why was that? "New Moon was such a different book and it wasn’t what the fans were expecting necessarily. The first book was about true love. The natural consequence of that, especially when you’re that young, is that you’re going to have your heart broken, and the more you love someone, the harder that’s going to be." Also central to the story is the friendship that develops between Bella and Jacob Black, a werewolf and natural enemy of the vampires. "The stakes are higher," says Weitz. "Now it’s not just Bella’s existence that’s in danger, but Edward’s existence as well. In terms of the story’s world, we get a look at new areas and corners of the mythology, and as the mythology expands, so does the movie. Sure, we’re telling a story about vampires and werewolves and the supernatural. But beyond that it deals with these very basic human feelings of love, longing, need, loss, attachment and friendship." "Twilight" made international superstars out of its young leads: Kristen Jaymes Stewart ("Panic Room" & "Catch That Kid"), who plays Bella Swan, the innocent mortal at the tale’s heart, and Robert Pattinson ("Vanity Fair" & "The Summer House"), who plays Edward, Twilight’s seductive and conflicted vampire heartthrob. Now, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" positions Taylor Lautner (Eliot Murtaugh in "Cheaper by the Dozen 2") to join them as he reprises his role as Jacob Black, who has literally become an unstoppable force of nature. Chris Weitz came to the project in the unusual situation of knowing who his leading actors would be. "I usually get quite aggressive about casting. In this case, I had the good fortune of inheriting this great group of actors that Catherine Hardwicke cast in the first place. The chance to work with them was one of the most exciting parts of the experience." Were all of the cast members in place when Weitz sat down in the director’s chair? "There are a few new characters who are on screen for a relatively short time but have incredible impact and punch, and lead into the mythology of the rest of the series," says Weitz. "I always try to get just the right people no matter what size the role is." At the beginning of filming, Weitz did something he’d never done before: He distributed a twenty page pamphlet outlining his ideas for the film and the characters. "I called it an orientation guide," he said. And what did the 'guide' contain?

"The information I gave them was meant to acquaint them with the settings and the style of the movie, so that they knew as much as possible beforehand. That gave us the freedom to improvise on the day. I never want to lock young actors and creative people into decisions that I’ve made, but I like to give them as much to go on as possible." Weitz’s level of preparation won big points with Stewart. "Chris has very organized thoughts and he’s really collaborative," the dual 2009 Teen Choice Award winner says. "It was good to know he was as committed to the project as we are, not just jumping on the next big thing." 2009 triple MTV Movie Award winner Robert Pattinson, was also impressed by the director’s grasp of the world of Twilight. "Twilight had a happy ending," says Pattinson ("How to Be"). "Bella and Edward were together and they'd vanquished their enemies. In "The Twilight Saga: New Moon", reality sets in. They are dealing with the progression of their relationship and commitment to each other, as well as the very real threats coming out of it." "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" signals the rise of Jacob Black, a character that plays a more peripheral role in the first film. Jacob is a member of the Quileute tribe, the traditional people of Forks, Washington. A childhood friend of Bella’s, Jacob was not initially meant to be as integral to the story as he became, according to Meyer. "Jacob came out of nowhere. He wasn’t supposed to exist in the way that he does, but his personality was so there and so strong. I could see how he would shape the events of the book." "Jacob’s been going through a transformation," Lautner says. "You’ll see a different physicality in Jacob’s character. And as he becomes different physically, he changes emotionally. I enjoyed doing the majority of my own stunts and those are some of my favorite moments in the film." Lautner (who was 17 during principal photography) played sports all through school and even competed in 'extreme martial arts'. He says his athleticism not only allowed him to accomplish his stunts, it also informed the mannerisms and progression of the character. This film marks the first appearance of the Volturi, the closest the vampire world has to royalty and a major force in the future of the saga. Centuries old and unimaginably powerful, they serve as lawmakers and enforcers for the community. The leader of the group is Aro, played by Michael Sheen ("The Queen"). While all the Volturi are formidable, perhaps the most fearsome is Jane, a sweet-faced, innocent-looking vampire who can: and does; inflict pain merely by willing it. She is played by three time Young Artist Award winner (2002, '06 & '09) Dakota Fanning who revealed: "I was a really big fan of the books, I read all four of them in about a week, so it was thrilling to be asked to be a part of the film." Based on Stephenie Meyer’s #1 New York Times best-selling series (more than fifty two weeks and counting), with over five and a half million books in print, Twilight is a cultural phenomenon with a dedicated fan base that now, eagerly awaits the release of the third movie. Around the world there are more than one hundred fan sites devoted to Twilight, and it has been selected as the New York Times Editor’s Choice, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, Amazon’s Best Book of the Decade so far, Teen People’s Hot List Pick, The American Library Association’s Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults and Top Ten Books for Reluctant Readers, and has been translated into more than twenty languages. Now the hearts of fans are looking to 2010 when the next film, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" will continue the tale of the two lovers. Synopsis

Edward, concerned for Bella's safety decides to leave her behind in an effort to protect her. As the heartbroken Bella sleepwalks through her senior high year, numb and alone, she discovers she can summon Edward’s image whenever she puts herself in jeopardy. Her desire to be with him at any cost leads her to take greater and greater risks, including a new taste for high-speed motorcycle jaunts. With the help of her childhood friend and Quileute tribe member Jacob Black, Bella restores a weather-beaten motorbike for her adventures. Bella’s frozen heart is gradually thawed by her budding relationship with Jacob, who has a secret of his own as Bella discovers while wandering alone in a meadow. Suddenly she finds herself face to face with a deadly attacker. It's only the intervention of a pack of extraordinarily large wolves that saves her from a grisly fate. It's clear: Bella is in grave danger.

The Verdict First up let me make it quite clear that I can see how many young fans will 'love' "The Twilight Saga: New Moon". There's plenty of spunky guys looking like junior Chippendales ready for their next 'Ladies Night Only' performance; then there's the intensity of the 'will they or won't they' that developes between Bella and Jacob; the familiar anguish when Edward 'dumps' Bella, and of course her frantic journey to save her true love, from 'topping' himself. How exciting it all is! So, is the latest 'Twilight' any good? Well it is if you're wearing rose coloured glasses. And can I make another point here? I thoroughly enjoyed the first film. I think Dorothy Arzner Prize winning director Catherine Hardwicke, who by the way, picked up the 2009 Young Hollywood Award for "Twilight" did a fantastic job on the first installment. But "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" left me cold, bored and extremely disappointed. Like many I'm wondering why Hardwicke got the flick for Weitz, who directed and most probably put a stake throught the heart of "The Golden Compass" franchise. Imagine if you hadn't seen "Twilight" and to make it worse, you hadn't read the books. You'd be hammering on the boxoffice counter demanding your money back. How bad is the sequel? This bad! It's the worse film I've seen this year. Geez, it makes "Daddy Day Camp" look like a winner. If you're a glutten for punishment, by all means listen to the hype, but don't say you weren't warned. If you're tossing up whether to take a chance on "The Twilight Saga: New Moon": don't! Wait for the DVD and rent it. This sequel is best left to the fans. 1 1/2 STARS." The Production Team

Director
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Original Music
Cinematography
Film Editor
Casting
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Set Decoration
Costume Design

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Chris Weitz
Melissa Rosenberg
the Stephenie Meyer novel "New Moon"
Wyck Godfrey
Alexandre Desplat
Javier Aguirresarobe
Peter Lambert
Sean Cossey/Rene Haynes/Joseph Middleton
David Brisbin
Catherine Ircha
Lesley Beale
Tish Monaghan