The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

It's dubbed as the "best" book of the series, so does it follow that it’s the best film yet? The cinemas are jam-packed, and you can't even trace the never-ending snake line to the ticket booths. Thank God for reserved tickets.

The third installment The Twilight Saga: Eclipse focuses more on the love triangle between Jacob (Taylor Lautner), Bella (Kristen Stewart), and Edward (Robert Pattinson) or the wolf-human-vampire relations. It's also about a choice to live and be human or die but remain frozen "alive" (if you could call it that) forever. Add to that a vengeful redhead vampire with her army of newborns set to kill Bella to avenge her fallen mate.

Okay, I read all four books in a breeze, and to say that Eclipse is the best is a good call yet still contested. I really don’t want to compare books with film adaptations because they are different mediums with different formulas for success, but the book felt more... heartfelt, filled with more emotion and tension. I think maybe the three leads are lacking in something that I can’t quite put my finger on. Or maybe the franchise is so dependent on the books that they make the films as if it’s the audience’s responsibility to read the books first to fully enjoy the movie experience. It’s a good film only to a point where you get the story and some more. But you need the book to really understand the characters' subtexts and body language.

What may get the guys to give in and watch (if they haven’t jumped the Twilight bandwagon already) is the action. Action sequences are a one-up from the book. They were well executed and may keep you on the edge of your seat, but it will also leave you wanting that the vampires and werewolves show off their superhuman abilities more. A little room for laughter is always welcome with the three leads’ love-hate exchanges and the werewolf-vampire banters. But the most enjoyable performance for me is the scenes with Bella and her dad Charlie (Billy Burke). It makes the film more human, something like an escape if you feel saturated by the supernatural.

A few points though: One... werewolf boys look really yummy-good shirtless, but it was nice to see them with shirts on. Two... why the hell did they change Emmett and Esme's hair color to black? They look so different it's like they're completely new characters! Major boo. Three... I like the old Victoria actor better. She had natural curly red hair and a more "maldita" overall feel. No offense to Bryce Dallas Howard. Four... I love Jessica's graduation speech. Five... it's so refreshing to see a not-stiff Jasper. And lastly... special mention to Dakota Fanning for being the true voice of the antagonist, so much more dreadful than the newborn army.

After all that is said and done, if you're sort of a Twi-hard, a fan, follower, fanatic or whatever, you'll be more than satisfied. If you're not and you think this movie can usher you to becoming one of them, you might be disappointed. Or you can just soak in the romance, the action, and the laughs and enjoy.


The Twilight Saga: Eclipse gets six out of ten, for, at least for me, a way better movie than its predecessor. It gets a zero-point-five more just for being the silly phenomenon that it is. Really.


*photo from allmoviephoto.com



You may also want to check out the other reviews for The Twilight Saga, such as New Moon and Breaking Dawn─Part 1.