New Moon: A Darker and More Thrilling Chapter of the Twilight Saga

Dunia Film - New Moon: A Darker and More Thrilling Chapter of the Twilight Saga. Read our review of New Moon, the second installment of the Twilight Saga, starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner.

New Moon is the sequel to Twilight, the blockbuster adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's bestselling vampire romance novel.

New Moon: A Darker and More Thrilling Chapter of the Twilight Saga

The film follows the tumultuous relationship between Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), a human teenager, and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), a vampire who has sworn off human blood.

After a near-fatal accident, Edward decides to leave Bella for her own safety, plunging her into a deep depression. She finds solace in her friendship with Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), a Native American boy who has a secret of his own: he is a werewolf, an ancient enemy of vampires.

As Bella is drawn into the world of werewolves, she must also contend with the return of Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre), a vengeful vampire who wants to kill her.

And when Edward hears a false rumor of Bella's death, he travels to Italy to provoke the Volturi, the most powerful vampire coven in the world, into ending his life. Can Bella save Edward from his suicidal mission, and choose between her two supernatural suitors?

Plot Summary

Bella's 18th birthday

The film begins with Bella's 18th birthday, which she reluctantly celebrates with the Cullen family at their secluded mansion. However, the party turns sour when Bella gets a paper cut and Jasper (Jackson Rathbone), one of Edward's adoptive brothers, loses control and tries to attack her.

Edward manages to stop him, but realizes that he is putting Bella in danger by staying with her. He decides to break up with her and leave Forks, Washington, with his family, telling her that he doesn't love her anymore and that she should forget him.

Bella is heartbroken and falls into a state of depression, isolating herself from her friends and family. She also starts to have nightmares and hallucinations of Edward, who appears to warn her whenever she is in danger.

Friendship with Jacob

Bella's only comfort is her friendship with Jacob, who helps her fix up an old motorcycle and teaches her how to ride it. She discovers that Jacob and his friends are part of a tribe of werewolves, who protect the area from vampires.

She also learns that they are hunting Victoria, who is still after her for killing her mate, James, in the first film. Bella becomes close to Jacob, who develops romantic feelings for her, but she still misses Edward and feels guilty for leading Jacob on. She also engages in reckless activities, such as cliff diving, to trigger Edward's voice in her head.

Edward is living a nomadic life

Meanwhile, Edward is living a nomadic life, tormented by his love for Bella and his guilt for leaving her. He believes that she is better off without him, and that he is unworthy of her. He also thinks that she is dead, after Alice (Ashley Greene), his adoptive sister who can see the future, has a vision of Bella jumping off a cliff.

He decides to end his misery by exposing himself as a vampire in Volterra, Italy, where the Volturi reside. The Volturi are the oldest and most powerful vampire coven, who enforce the laws of the vampire world and punish those who break them.

One of their rules is to keep the existence of vampires a secret from humans, and anyone who violates it faces death. Edward plans to reveal himself during a festival, when the streets are crowded with people, hoping that the Volturi will kill him.

Alice, however, sees Edward's plan and rushes to Forks to find Bella. She arrives just in time to save her from drowning, after she jumps off a cliff to escape Victoria.

She tells Bella that Edward is going to kill himself, and that they have to stop him. They fly to Italy, where they manage to reach Edward before he exposes himself. However, they are taken to the Volturi's lair, where they meet Aro (Michael Sheen), the leader of the coven, who is intrigued by Bella's ability to resist his mind-reading power.

He also reveals that he knows that Bella is aware of the vampire world, and that she must either be turned into a vampire or killed. He lets them go, on the condition that Edward will turn Bella into a vampire soon, or else he will send his guards to finish the job.

Return to Forks

Bella, Edward, and Alice return to Forks, where Edward apologizes to Bella and asks her to take him back. He tells her that he lied when he said he didn't love her, and that he only left to protect her.

He also says that he will never leave her again, and that he will do anything to make her happy, even if it means letting her go.

Bella forgives him, and tells him that she wants to be with him forever, and that she wants him to turn her into a vampire. Edward agrees, but only if she marries him first. He proposes to her, and she hesitates, unsure of what to say.

The film ends with a shot of Victoria, who is still alive and plotting her revenge, watching them from afar.

Review

New Moon is a darker and more thrilling chapter of the Twilight Saga, that explores the consequences of forbidden love and the choices that come with it.

The film improves on its predecessor in many aspects, such as the acting, the visual effects, the action sequences, and the soundtrack.

The film also introduces new characters and settings, such as the werewolves and the Volturi, that add more depth and complexity to the story.

Strongest point

Twilight Saga strongest point is the chemistry between the three leads, who portray the emotional turmoil of their characters with conviction and intensity.

Kristen Stewart delivers a nuanced performance as Bella, who struggles with her feelings for Edward and Jacob, and her desire to become a vampire. Robert Pattinson captures the brooding and tortured soul of Edward, who sacrifices his happiness for Bella's safety.

Taylor Lautner transforms from a shy and sweet boy to a confident and muscular werewolf, who competes with Edward for Bella's heart.

The film also features some memorable supporting roles, such as Michael Sheen as the charismatic and sinister Aro, and Dakota Fanning as the sadistic and powerful Jane, one of the Volturi's enforcers.

Weakest point

Twilight Saga weakest point is its slow pace, especially in the first half, where not much happens except for Bella's depression and Edward's absence.

The film also suffers from some plot holes and inconsistencies, such as the lack of explanation for Alice's vision of Bella's death, and the ease with which Bella and Edward escape the Volturi.

The film also relies too much on the voice-over narration of Bella, which sometimes feels redundant and intrusive. The film also fails to address some of the problematic aspects of the story, such as the abusive and codependent nature of Bella and Edward's relationship, and the objectification and sexualization of Jacob's body.

Overall, New Moon is a satisfying and entertaining sequel that will appeal to fans of the Twilight Saga, and to anyone who enjoys a good romance with a supernatural twist. The film sets the stage for the next installment, Eclipse, which promises to be even more exciting and dramatic.