Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • July 14, 2010 Newest ‘Twilight’ installation features lots of dialogue by Dennis Seuling “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” is the third installment of the Stephanie Meyer series that combines teenage romance, vampires, werewolves, and vengeance. Glossier and more polished than the first two films, with improved special effects, it is also the wordiest of the lot. To avenge the death of her mate, James, the bloodthirsty Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) is forming an army of newborns -- humans recently bitten by vampires and transformed -- to kill Bella (Kristen Stewart). The “good” vampires form a truce with the werewolves to protect her. Meanwhile, back at the soap opera, Bella is attracted to both vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) and hunky werewolf boy Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Bella’s love for Edward has its consequence: If she agrees to be with him, she will be one of his kind -- a vampire. It comes with the territory. But Jacob, the natural enemy of vampires, has strong feelings for Bella and will not fade conveniently into the background. It seems the pickings are pretty slim in the town of Forks if the romantic options for a gal are either a boyfriend with a coat of fur or one who is undead. This love triangle anchors the movie, but director David Slade often sinks it with Hallmark greeting card photography, lingering close-ups, and endless lovey-dovey chitchat and doeeyed adoration. It’s tough to make a movie filled with two Jacob (Taylor Lautner) and Bella (Kristen Stewart) in ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.’ 2010 K A S S C H AU MEMORIAL SHELL ������������������������� ������������������������������� ������������������������ ����������������������������� Behind the Ridgewood Public Library N. Maple Ave. between Franklin and Linwood Aves. ������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ������������������������������ New wheelchair accessible rest rooms are available. of the signature character types of horror cinema dreary, but “Eclipse” manages to do just that. Slade gears this movie directly to “Twilight” fans, with little concern for the casual viewer who may stumble into the theater and feel trapped in a syrupy romance novel. From the first frame, the uninitiated viewer would feel as though he or she walked in on the middle. There is not enough identification of characters or exposition to get the non-fan up to speed. “Eclipse” uses violence as a draw, yet carefully skirts the edges of explicit violence. Whenever violence occurs, it is shown in split-second shots, in dimly lit settings, or not shown at all. When there is an opportunity for some great action sequences, Slade holds back in order to preserve the film’s PG-13 rating. I’m not a proponent of violence for violence’s sake, but in a movie with battles between vampire factions and werewolves, shouldn’t we see more of the effects of their physical conflict? The one truly effective, frightening scene is at the very beginning when a lone young man is shown walking deserted streets late at night. All is quiet, until something or someone races out of the darkness in a swift attack on the unsuspecting man. There is blood. He has been wounded, but how? A second attack occurs, even more startling than the first. This opening sets up viewers for suspense and scary moments, but they never materialize. As a longtime fan of horror films, I have no problem with movie makers adapting vampire lore to suit their story, but I have always felt that Meyer has ignored far too much of it in her books. She has made her vampires too genteel, too much driven by conscience, too little by bloodlust. They can amble around in daylight, and have no fear of mirrors, garlic, crucifixes, or holy water. Meyer’s vampires are more Abercrombie & Fitch models than supernatural beings. Stewart and Pattinson are two of the least interesting actors in the movie. It amazes me that the “Twilight” series has attracted such a following with these two as the stars. They are both bland and seem outright dopey in their flirtation with real emotion. Their acting is transparent, and their screen chemistry sadly lacking. The real star of the movie is Taylor Lautner, who can act and is believable as he expresses his love and devotion to Bella. His passion seems real and whenever he is on screen, the picture comes alive. Shirtless in many of his scenes, he has the looks of a movie star and commands the screen. It is perplexing that Bella longs for duller-than-dull Edward when she has sexy Jacob practically drooling over her. “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” is better than its two predecessors, though it still distances those who are not intimately familiar with the books. The movie fails to draw in those viewers by being a private party for the fan base. �������� ���������������� � ������������������� Sponsor: Village of Ridgewood ����������������� � ������������������������������ Sponsors: King’s Supermarket, Boiling Springs Savings Bank State Line 375 State Highway 17 North, Mahwah Open 24 Hours, 7 Days Join Us For Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner The Best Got Better! Diner - Restaurant 201-529-3353 ���������������� � ���������������������������������� Sponsor: The Valley Hospital ����������������� � ����������������������������� � ������������������� Sponsors: A.M. 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