‘TWILIGHT’
Blood boils during “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” The heat isn’t generated by the creatures of the night on the screen.
It comes from the excited tween and teen girls in the audience.
Taylor Lautner, 17, who plays the werewolf Jacob Black, appears shirtless on the screen and flashes his washboard abs. The actor pretty much steals the PG-13 picture from co-stars Kristen Stewart, 19, and Robert Pattinson, 23, as the stressed mortal Bella Swan and the tortured vampire Edward Cullen, respectively.
At a preview showing of the highly anticipated sequel, hundreds of young ladies in the audience erupted with nervous giggles, appreciative applause and sounds of approval for Lautner. He gained 30 pounds of muscle for the role, and on screen, the teen performer reveals his chest and turns himself into enough cinematic eye candy to fill Hershey Park.
“New Moon,” the second installment in Stephenie Meyer’s wildly popular four-book, fantasy-romance series, is basically a love triangle revolving around Edward, Bella and Jacob. Edward worries that his vampirism will destroy his beloved Bella, and he leaves her to live in Italy, though his spirit sometimes appears to give her advice, strength and chills up her spine.
At home, Bella no longer has Edward to save her from enemies, a task assumed by Jacob. His ability to transform into a snarling werewolf allows him to protect Bella, and though the young woman appreciates his guardian-angel efforts, her heart still longs for the love of her life, Edward.
“New Moon” ranks as a for-fans-only title. It’s hard to imagine anyone not a “Twi”-hard (as devoted fans have been nicknamed) buying the slow pacing, flat dialogue and lackluster visuals.
For the fans, such elements pale in comparison to watching the three attractive young stars on the screen in a non-threatening tale in which the characters long for intimate relations but never act on them. That’s all fine, but director Chris Weitz (“The Golden Compass”) might have improved this glum installment by adding some levity to ease the tension.
Poor Pattinson, who has became an international heartthrob thanks to “Twilight,” drifts through the film with little to do. The handsome actor, who looks frighteningly pale and frail here, remains a background figure while the youthful Lautner enjoys a showcase role.
Like Pattinson, the talented Stewart seems slightly trapped in a part that forces her to deliver lines such as, “Hello, biceps!” (when she first sees Lautner’s abs of steel) and “So, you’re a werewolf!” (also to Lautner).
“New Moon” wrestles with some issues – particularly whether Bella should be bitten so she can spend eternity with Edward – from the original version.
“Twilight Saga” fans will be glad to contemplate the sequel’s themes about life, love, commitment, sex and sacrifice. However, average filmgoers unfamiliar with the series may find this follow-up as welcome as a vampire bite or a werewolf attack.
FILM REVIEW
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon”
Grade: B (for “Twi”-hard fans only)
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner; screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg, based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer; directed by Chris Weitz.
Running Time: 130 minutes.
Parental Guide: PG-13 rating (violence, thematic elements).