What can make you Mother of the Year? A pair of tickets to the premiere of and after party for the movie “Eclipse.” Kelsey had the night of her life last night and I got to share it with her. What an atmosphere to see the movie in! As each of the major stars appeared on the screen, thousands of people screamed. A kiss between Bella and anyone, more screams. Let’s just say, I did my part.
At the after party, the talk everywhere was “Loved “Eclipse,” this one is better than the first two!” Now, regardless of the quality of the movie, that is what everyone would say at the after party, it’s only polite since the producers are plying us with fabulous food and drink while we mill among the celebrities. However, I’m here to tell you that this time it’s true, and here’s why.
These Vampires are Scary
The Twilight saga sugar coats the vampire violence. We hear about the back story of some of the vampires, and it isn’t pretty, but it feels distant because the vampire is telling Bella a story. Rosalie describes how she wrecked vengeance on her fiancee by hunting him down, she tells us that he is petrified, but the reader doesn’t live it. In the flashback scene, we felt his terror. In the book Eclipse we learn about the vampire army in Seattle when Bella hears about deaths from her father, or in conversations with the Cullens, or by overhearing a news broadcast. Meyer tells the reader about the vampire army; the movie (i.e., the screenwriter, Melissa Rosenberg) shows the view how the vampire army is formed and fed.
The opening scene sets a whole new tone. Victoria’s lieutenant, Riley, is attacked leaving a gallery. It wasn’t Dr. Cullen saving Edward or Rosalie to become vegetarian vampires, it was a violent attack and I was watching it through my fingers. There are two scenes of the vampire army attacking ordinary people, like me. These scenes added credibility to Jacob’s assertions that vampires are evil. They supported Edward’s insistence that Bella remain human. They gave the Cullens worthy opponents rather than cardboard ones. The entire story felt fuller.
I’m thrilled Rosenberg is the screenwriter for ‘Breaking Dawn.’
Don’t Worry, the Romance is Still There
While the violence creates a less girly film (one producer noted that this film is easier for teenage boys to enjoy, since the smart ones know that the place to find the cute teenage girls will be at “Eclipse”), there are still several steamy scenes. There is one really hot scene, but as we all know, the kids aren’t married yet, so I didn’t have to cover my daughter’s eyes. During a black carpet (no red carpet for this premiere) interview, the reporter asked Taylor Lautner if he was uncomfortable kissing Kristen Stewart in front of Robert Pattinson? Lautner said it was odd, but he said it with a fairly mischievous smile on his face. For me, I thought it was odd to watch, but I guess that comment shows my Team Edward colors. My daughter was cheering, loudly.
I was expecting a romantic summer movie, and I got one, but I left impressed that this third segment of the saga gave not only told the story, but enlivened it.
Tags: Eclipse after party, Eclipse movie better than book, Eclipse movie review, Eclipse premiere, Eclipse romance, Eclipse vampire army, Twilight saga
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I agree that this movie was much better than the previous two. But I also loved this book most of the 4. I loved that we got to see more of the darker elements, the scarier stuff in this movie. Bella’s view of vampires is so closed in the other movies.
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