Films: The Twilight Saga: New Moon

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
Dir. Chris Weitz
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke

Firstly, I'd like all two of my regular readers to appreciate that I saw this film on the very day it was released. I also started to write this blog as soon as I returned from the cinema. However, I'm glad that I left it this long to finally publish this one, which I will explain now.

I followed a trio of giggling teens sporting a selection of Twilight themed t-shirts into the theatre. I took my seat and soon realised I was surrounded by hundreds of these people. The trailers seemed to go on forever as the hysteria built to astronomical levels. Then, the film certification slide appeared and screams filled the room. I mean, actual screams just at the sight of those three little words: The Twilight Saga. It was then that I knew this would be a cinematic experience like none other. Pause to consider for a moment that this film made millions at the box office and reached the number 1 spot even before it was released. Madness.

The throng of hormones screamed, sighed, tutted, cheered and sobbed in unison every time Taylor Lautner or Rob Pattinson came on screen, and even more hysterically when their shirts started to come off. The worst part was, mob mentality got the better of me, and I joined them, even to the applause as the final credits rolled. This was exactly the reason that an instant blog would have been an error. Now, without my vocal comrades around me, in the quiet of my front room, my enthusiasm and love for the movie have worn off. I enjoyed the film, but it fell short in many ways.

Chris Weitz has coped well with the task of bringing the second book in the Twilight Saga to the screen. He had to deal with glistening vampires, a mass mob in Italy, men transforming into werewolves, and he did not have the first film's now iconic leading man 'RPattz' featuring for more than 30 mins together. The CGI used to create the werewolves is quite impressive, as is the vampire's sparkling skin effect. The cinematography is also good, the Seattle landscape once again boasting some beautiful views.

However, I struggled with the performance of Kristin Stewart (could she actually have become more awkward than she was in Twilight?) and the scenes between her and Robert Pattinson are, at times, laboured and cheesy. There is none of that electrifying chemistry that melted my bones throughout Twilight. In fact, Lautner saves the movie. It is not just his glorious body that lights up the screen, but his ease infront of the camera. And he gets to deliver some pretty smashing comic lines. I wish there had be a little more of the film devoted to time spent with the wolf pack as in the book because this would have lightened the tone of a very complicated and emotional story. It comes off as a perfectly irritating portrayal of teen angst and sexual frustration.

With all of that said, it's pretty faithful to the book (read my review of the saga to see why this is my least favourite of them!). New Moon leaves us with a perfectly unsatisfying cliffhanger - unless you have read the books - which of course guarantees a repeat of the insane hysteria next year for part three.

My Rating: *** 3/5 stars
Recommendation: Take it with a pinch of salt. Allow yourself to cringe a little and remember that the best really is yet to come!

TV Spy: Poirot

Quick note to all those fans of Poirot out there:

The ITV crew are currently filming outside my house! There's a beautiful classic car parked up (taking my space but I'll forgive them this one!) and a few characters are rehearsing a scene they are about to film. Rumour has it, Poirot (David Suchet) himself will be on set later today. The episode is set on one spooky Halloween and due to be aired later this year I think.

So, if you know where I live and you're available until 8pm tonight, come on down!

Exciting days!

Please, for the love of Christmas, can it.

Oh British ITV1 viewing public, why are you so silly?

Did Simon Cowell bring it upon himself with the whole ridonculous "Jedward" situation? It was surely a matter of time before some joke act showed The X Factor up as the shallow, ratings-focussed show that it really is.

Lemme 'splain. Last night on the X Factor another good singer was sent packing because the British public (well, the ones who care) opted to keep a pair of talentless twins in the competition. Not cool, Britain. I'm all for ruffling Cowell's feathers, and I'm all for good entertainment. But, when a singing competition is overrun by non-singers purely for the entertainment value, you know it's run it's course. I think it's about time X Factor threw in the towel and dragged itself off to the elephant graveyard with Big Brother. They can take I'm A Celebrity... with them, too, in my opinion.

It's all a bit silly. Jedward. Oh heavens, can you imagine what they will do to a Christmas single? I'm going to have to be sick...

Why not change channels and try watching FlashForward, an entirely ludicrous US drama about an international blackout which allowed humanity to see 6 months into its future. Interesting premise, no? It's a few weeks in, but there's about 20 to go and I'm sure you'll catch up.
Fiver, 9pm, Monday

Books: The Twilight Saga

The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyers; Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn
Okay, I'm feeling sheepish. The bandwagon definately passed me by, it's passengers waving and hollering in a cloud of dust. Twilight simply did not exist for me until a few months ago.

I have just finished reading the final book in the Twilight Saga. I am completely sold.

I could write a review of each separate book, because, like most Twi-fans, I have my favourites. But instead I've decided to give you a brief rundown and then let you go discover them for yourself. Feel free to check back and let me know which book you liked best!

Likened to a modern Romeo and Juliet story, the Twilight saga basically centres around two teenagers who fall in love, despite the fact that one is a human and the other a vampire. Of course, their relationship quickly becomes the catalyst for a lot of tricky situations, including the restoration of several age-old legends, truces and rivalries.

Bella Swan moves to the small, rainy town of Forks, Washington to live with her dad. Life is dull an repetitive until she encounters the Cullen family. It takes little time for Bella, to realise there is something different abouth this family and, as Edward swoops in to save her from a car accident, their lives become unavoidably linked. Bella starts to put together the pieces; stunning beauty, impossible strength and speed, ice-cold skin. A book of Quileute legends hands her the only possible explanation - he is a vampire. Bella is single-minded in her love for Edward, however, and can't begin to imagine life without him. So, despite his craving for her blood, and the scathing looks from his siblings, Edward and Bella stay together.

Lucky for Bella, the Cullens are a family of "vegetarian" vampires, choosing to feed only on the blood of animals rather than humans. While Rosalie takes an almost instant disliking to Bella, the others, Emmet, Jasper and Alice, all seem very welcoming. However, with Bella, a human, knowing about the Cullen's secret, it is hard for them to stay protected for long. Throughout the saga, they have to take on various formidable foes including expert tracker vampires and ancient and powerful vampire royalty, The Volturi.

Throughout the saga, Bella's close friendship with her best friend Jacob is also put to the test, particularly when he begins to turn into a werewolf. You'd think Bella could handle another dose of the fantasy world, but it's complicated. Werewolves happen to be the sworn enemies of the vampires, and will die to protect the people of Forks from the Cullens. Of course, Bella's new 'family' have no intention of hurting any people in Forks, but their regular brushes with the darker side of vampirism even begin to throw a strain on that.

A brief not about book two, New Moon; imagine a 500 page transcript of a teenage hissy fit. It's redeeming feature is the introduction of the werewolves. Read it and move on!

Book three, Eclipse, is my hands down favourite. This is mainly because we get to see a lot more of the Cullen family (I'd join them at the drop of a hat!). The werewolf situation is fully developed and we now have a pack of at least 6 ready to defend the humans. Age-old truces and animosity however become faded and blurred when Jacob's love for Bella and the threat of a coven of vicious and bloodthirsty 'newborn' vampires see the old enemies finally and reluctantly united.

The stories are almost entirely written from Bella's PoV which is just as well, as Edward can read minds and that would make for tricky reading. However, this does occasionally border on clumsy as she dedicates pages to the powerful beauty of Edward Cullen. I can forgive this though as Meyers allows conversations to run just as they would in life, and makes great effort to bulk out the characters and their motivations throughout the series. Because of this, the characters are very 3 dimensional and you become quite easily attached. Which probably explains the insane levels of fan-dom which accompany the books and now film franchise.

It is as simple as this. Mom's love Twilight because it is about abstinence. Girls love Twilight because Edward is basically the most perfect, polite, caring, protective man ever. Boys love Twilight because it is full of action, vampires and werewolves.

Rating: Twilight - ***** 5/5 stars
New Moon **** 4/5 stars
Eclipse ***** 5/5 stars
Breaking Dawn **** 4/5 stars
Other books by the author: The Host
Recommendation: You may need to clear your diary because if you're anything like me, these bookds will have you hooked. Don't do any internet research before reading - there's a lot out there and spoilers will ruin it and make you sad!

Books: The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak


"1939 - Nazi Germany - The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.

"Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.

"Some important information - this novel is narrated by death. It's a small story, about: a girl; an accordionist; some fanatical Germans; a Jewish fist fighter; and quite a lot of thievery.

"Another thing you should know - death will visit the book thief three times."

With a blurb like that, how could you not be interested? I loved this book for all of its quirkiness, originality, comedy and tragedy. It is a truly unique story, written from the point of view of Death. Death sees humans in various colours and he becomes, however reluctantly, engrossed in the life of little Liesel. The story follows Liesel's life as she grows up on Himmel Street, suffering the depression of the war years. She dabbles in a little light thievery with her best friend Rudy, who will not stop asking her for a kiss, but she only finds real joy when she holds a book between her hands.

This story is about the redemptive power of words and books, which allow Liesel to both escape and come to terms with the chaotic and colourful life that surrounds her. Somewhere between beating up a school bully, joining the Hitler Youth and befriending a Jew in her basement, Lisel becomes a young girl empowered by the printed word.

Having Death as a narrator continues to bring something uniquley sombre and matter of fact about the sheer number of human lives lost during the wars. Death's little notes and observations intermittently break up the narrative, allowing you to briefly step away from the difficulties of Liesel's young life. This book is a valuable addition to the Holocaust literature canon as Death, rather than separating the faces of suffering Jews and those men simply fighting for their countries, merely sees colours and lives ending. The Book Thief certainly shows the inhumanity of the Holocaust but instead chooses to focus on the power of relationships, conversations and words to overcome. After all, Death sees death all the time, so our narrator is interested only in the little flashes of humanity that manage to colour the blood red landscape of Nazi Germany.

Rating: ***** 5/5 stars
Recommendation: A must read, particularly if you have an interest in Holocaust literature. Also suitable for teenagers.