Viewed – 11 June 2010  DVD

I liked Twilight.  It may be undeserving of the media and fan frenzy that followed in wake of the books by Stephenie Meyer, but the simple love story between a quiet girl and a cool Vampire was never going to be boring.  Yet that movie lacked a bit of attitude and pace, and well, not a lot happened.  Still with the sequel I went into this expecting many of the themes hinted at in the first installment to finally get some screen time and things to start happening.

Well, again we have the very attractive Kristen Stewart as Bella who is deeply in love with vampire boyfriend Edward (Robert Pattinson), until he suddenly decides to dump her and move away, breaking her heart in the process.  This causes Bella to take solace in the arms of Jacob, who just happens to be part of a Werewolf clan, and as she grows closer to him, his own changes force him to step away as well – sending her over the edge.  Why did Edward leave?  What’s wrong with Jacob?  Yet strangely, for numerous reasons, I couldn’t find myself caring much at all about these characters.  Emotions feel over-acted, Bella’s crying and screaming in her sleep was borderline hilarious, and the amount of times we are er, treated to a shirtless Jacob and a shirtless Edward told me clearly that this is a movie aimed squarely at hormonal teenage girls.

Of course none of this would matter if we got some Vampire, Werewolf action, and although this cranks things up a tad from the first movie, it is all still played so safe that any immediate peril or danger is ultimately lost.  This is the Vampire myth on stabilizers.  Now as far as effects work goes, the Werewolves are fairly well done (for the most part) but the Vampire glowing / shimmering thing and the silly running and jumping still looks rubbish – although a Vampire on Vampire fight towards the end is pretty decent, but it’s a little too late by then.  Robert Pattinson remains an odd looking, bland presence and Kristen Stewart’s nervous, twitchy thing is getting really old – although she was much better in Adventureland.

So to conclude, this follow-up to a likable if plodding and over hyped movie brings little new to the concept and doesn’t build enough on what was originally conceived, and like that movie feels like we are waiting for something to happen.  It’s a trick that gets you thirsty for the next movie, but considering this is a sequel – I was expecting a whole lot more.

Verdict:  2 /5