Twilight: Eclipse reviews round-up
The Twilight franchise earns its best reviews to date, ahead of the return of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart to US cinemas this weekend…
Those who haven’t yet warmed to the cinematic adventures of Twilight may want to take a seat for a moment. For ahead of the film’s release in the US at the end of this week (we have to wait until 9th July in the UK), the first reviews for the film have been coming through. And, for the first time in its history, Twilight appears to be earning the praise of film critics.
Appreciating that Twilight movies are pretty much review-proof at the best of times, it’s nonetheless some turnaround for the franchise to be on the receiving end of quite so much praise. Certainly it seems that the decision to let David Slade (30 Days Of Night, Hard Candy) direct the film was a good one, and much of the praise is being aimed in his direction. Not coming out quite so well are the pairing of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, yet nonetheless, the general consensus seems to be that this is by distance the best Twilight movie to date.
Our own review will follow at the end of the week, but in the meantime, here’s what people are saying…
“It took three films, but “The Twilight Saga” finally nails just the right tone in “Eclipse,” a film that neatly balances the teenage operatic passions from Stephenie Meyer’s novels with the movies’ supernatural trappings.
Where the first film leaned heavily on camp and the second faltered through caution and slickness, “Eclipse” moves confidently into the heart of the matter — a love triangle that causes a young woman to realize choices lead to consequences that cannot be reversed.”
“But it’s a breezy two hours – too chatty and too long – sure to please the fans and less likely the non-converted. Whoever finishes off this saga, they’d be wise to go to follow Slade’s road map. He has an idea of where that sweet spot is.”
“In short, the film’s arsenal of action and emotion makes “Eclipse” the best “Twilight” movie yet.”
“The pleasant surprise this time around is that the result finally feels more like the blockbuster this top-earning franchise deserves.”
Next up for the saga? It’s two films of Twilight: Breaking Dawn, with Bill Condon directing. David Slade may just have set a high standard to aim for…
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Editor, author, writer, broadcaster, Costner fanatic. Now runs Film Stories Magazine.