The Twilight Saga: "Eclipse"

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Other

It is lucky for me that out of the 4 books of S. Meyer's "Twilight" series, I happen to have enjoyed "Eclipse" more than the others.

Truth to tell, it was the author's unfinished "Midnight Sun" (as of this time) which I loved most, "New Moon" which just made me sleep (both book and film) and "Breaking Dawn" which just made me shake my head and reach for one of my trusty Tolkien tomes afterwards.

So when I was unable to watch either of the 2 animes in Eiga Sai 2010, I decided on the spot to just try "Eclipse". After all, I knew there was at least going to be more action in it than its predecessor's adaption of the series. Yes, fight-o, blood, gore, and probably some 'off with her head' stuff! Alrighty then.

Those who read books that films are made or based on usually have thorny time sitting through the films, especially if they have a tendency to be semi-purists like me. I vociferously rant (but only internally), how the story line is manipulated to make it fit into whatever the duration of a movie is supposed to be, how actors chosen to bring to life a perfectly good character birthed from the author's creativity and imagination end up on the other side of the world of how the reader envisions them in her mind's eye.

This time, the film wasn't too bad of an adaptation. The previous films have set in me a certain expectation of how a character is now going to be shown on the movies, and it was as I feared. :-)

Edward seemed to be a minor character instead of a major player in the love triangle. Jacob fared better, but then he never got to the level of passion I expected of his character. In the book I didn't like Bella very much at this stage because I felt her to be a teensy bit selfish. But then I think all teenagers at some point or another (or even adults) can be said to be selfish in matters of the heart, so I will be fair and say in the film she turned out more likeable....hmmm...maybe it was the script?

I was a tad resigned when there didn't seem to be any reference to why the third book was actually entitled the way it was. For those who read the books, generally speaking, they could probably be content with the movie. Their minds would automatically fill that part in - but for me it was a pivotal detail especially since I had read how the three major characters developed to that point in the story.

For those who just saw the movie and didn't read the book, they probably wouldn't be also questioning it and would not want to worry their heads anymore on the nuances of certain conversations.

Important scenes like Bella having the power to shield her mind from Jane's power of inflicting mental pain was taken out...I thought this might have at least set the tone for "Breaking Dawn". Charlie was lovable as usual, I thank his character for bringing some honest smiles for those who faithfully (and painfully?) vowed to watch all of the Twilight films.

There was some attempt in bringing out the essence of the third book, but with conflicts here and there, it just was not realistic to expect it to be showcased, but instead dealt with in the best way it could while taking into account the previous film's portrayal of the two first books in the series.

Being a frugal girl, I felt I could have just waited this out on our usual dee-bee-dee here. But then again, a big screen was needed to enjoy all those werewolves (ehem..shapeshifters) in action. Half-clothed hotties...(ehem again) or rather humans who are equally adorable in furry wolfie form! I would say the vampires got "eclipsed" by the big dogs.

Not a big bark of approval from my end, but then again, I should be thankful it saved me from being sad about missing the anime film in the Japanese film festival. Oh, do go on and watch tweenies and my fellow-not-so-tweenies-anymore - only one more film to go and maybe we can drool over Renesmee in the next one...or still just fall back on the wolves...