The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

It’s rare for me to go into a theater with exceptionally high expectations and come out exhilarated. The last movie to do that for me was The Dark Knight. Eclipse did exactly the same thing. This film is not only a vast improvement over the previous installment, it gives me a ray of hope that this series can be respected, not only by the fans, but everyone else. I may be dreaming big here because a lot of people think this series is a joke, but you have to take it as it is – an angsty teen sexual fantasy. Laughable? Yes. An abomination? Definitely not.

I am clearly speaking from a fan’s point of view; I very much enjoyed this movie and this has officially become my favorite of the series…so far. Unlike New Moon, if you are not a fan of the series, I think non-fans will enjoy this. It is much darker and while the pace may be slow at times, it satisfies. Much like what human blood would be for the Cullen family.

This film finds Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) graduating from high school and thinking about the future. Bella wants “the change” to happen, but Edward is, well, pessimistic about that. Jacob (Taylor Lautner) soon finds out that Bella wants to become like Edward, throws a quick tantrum and spends the rest of the movie cracking jokes and being shirtless. Meanwhile, Victoria (a surprisingly good Bryce Dallas Howard) is concocting a plan to eliminate the Cullens by forming an army of new, bloodthirsty vampires.

While the first installments had somewhat ham-fisted acting, the actors dive deeper into the characters making the performances truer, but never become show-boaty. Kristen Stewart gets better with each movie, as does Robert Pattinson. Billy Burke, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed, and Anna Kendrick are standouts – while having little to work with. The rest of the supporting cast is equally good in their roles – feeling more comfortable than the first two installments. The weakest link is Taylor Lautner. He is just not a good actor and his performance is stale, much like it was in New Moon.

The feel of the film was the definite high-point. I love horror movies and this felt like a suspenseful vampire film. Sure, they still sparkle, but you remain uneasy when they are on screen, lurking in the shadows. Taking over direction is David Slade, who also directed 30 Days of Night, a more brutal vampire adaptation. His direction differs from Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight), who gave the first one a gritty, indie-type feel, and Chris Weitz (New Moon), who has an eye for detail and made New Moon an epic endeavor.

I was very satisfied with this installment, having aspects of horror, humor, romance, and drama – mixing well together. The soundtrack fit well, the acting felt more real, and the plot kept you in the film. Even if you are not a fan, I would give the film a chance. You might be surprised.

4.5 stars out of 5

Eclipse Soundtrack

Ah, yes -- the first good thing about my summer so far. With the chaos that our lives entail, it's good to soak in some fresh air. And here in lies the Eclipse soundtrack, which is breathtaking. I have a spot saved in my heart for the Twilight and New Moon soundtracks, but this one, just wow. Every single song is amazing. Even if you are no way a fan of the Twilight series, rest assure, I guarantee you will love this soundtrack. Even if you do not love it at first, give it another chance.

1. Eclipse (All Yours) by Metric - A bouncy, carefree tune by Canadian rockers Metric. Great opener for this album, though this is just the beginning. 4/5

2. Netron Star Collision (Love is Forever) by Muse - The Twilight series' band that has appeared on every soundtrack so far, yet this one is the soundtrack's headlining song much like "Decode" by Paramore was for the Twilight soundtrack. This overly-theatric, Queen-inspired, and heavy song with a dash of disco-esque beats (yes, I said disco) is beyond awesome and screams out of the speakers. 5/5

3. Ours by The Bravery - My favorite song on the album, quite possibly my favorite song of the moment. Everything about this song is incredible. On the surface it just seems as an indie rock tune, but it's so much more than that. I am a fan of The Bravery and this song shot them up on even further on my list of favorite bands. In somewhat of serendipity, alot of my favorite bands appear on the Twilight soundtracks. Paramore being on the Twilight soundrack and the Killers being on the New Moon soundtrack. Now, The Bravery appearing on this one. I think it's in the stars, don't you think? ;) 5/5

4. Heavy in Your Arms by Florence + the Machine - Wow, just wow. The pipes this girl has is amazing. Definitely a song to blast on your stereo if you're feeling depressed or just down - will definitely change that mood once the song ends. Speechless. 4.5/5

5. My Love by Sia - This song is getting alot of praise from critics who have reviewed the album and this song deserves the praise it receives and then some. This haunting piano ballad channels Lykee Li's "Possibility" though not as depressing. 4.5/5

6. Atlas by Fanfarlo - Believe it or not this song seems out of place on the soundtrack. But once I gave it a second listen, I was completely wrong. This song is very folky, but for all the right reasons. Definitely one of the songs you will be playing at a barbecues during the summer - it's almost country-esque, but never sounding like a typical country tune, thank goodness. 4/5

7. Chop and Change by The Black Keys - Definitely Twilight-esque, deserves it's spot on the soundtrack, though it would have been better if Muse would have performed the song. Great tune nonetheless. 4/5

8. Rolling in on a Burning Tire by The Dead Weather - Very bizarre song, but I love it. Can't say too much about this song because it's unlike anything I've heard in a while, if ever. 4.5/5

9. Let's Get Lost by Beck & Bat for Lashes - I love Beck, always have. He's somewhat of a guilty pleasure and I adore Bat for Lashes, though she has been a secret I've kept from people - until now. Very atmospheric and very romantic. Can't get enough. 5/5

10. Jonathan Low by Vampire Weekend - What can I say about this song? It's very well put together and I F-ING LOVE Vampire Weekend. This is definitely a soft listen and quite magical. A great song to drive around and think to. 5/5

11. With You in My Head by UNKLE - Psychedelic pop seems somewhat dated but UNKLE brings it to a whole 'nother level in all the right directions. Great tune, amazing lyrics, and awesome beat. 4/5

12. A Million Miles an Hour by Eastern Conference Champions - Deathcab-inspired tune that flows smoothly through the headphones. One very haunting piece and would like to see more from this band. 4/5

13. Life on Earth by Band of Horses - A very brave song, if you will. I am going to give this song a few more listens because this one feels lost. An awesome song, don't get me wrong, but I'm not totally feeling this one...just yet. 3.5/5

14. What Part of Forever by Cee Lo Green - "What the hell is the guy from Gnarls Barkely doing on this album?" is what I asked when I first read the lineup for the soundtrack. Boy was I surprised when I first heard this soung. Very catchy and since when did Cee Lo sound like The Smiths? I'm very fond of this track and can't wait to listen to it as I type this. 5/5

15. Jacob's Theme by Howard Shore - Haunting, profound, and stellar. I can't wait to see what the rest of the score sounds like and by an amazing composer. 4/5

So, there you have it. If you haven't bought or downloaded this album, I encourage you to do so...right now! It may not change your life, but will definitely give you a better sense of the day.