'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' - movie review

The latest in the 'Twilight' series, 'New Moon' follows a moping Bella who continues to have poor choice in men.

It probably won't make a jot of difference to all the screaming tweeners lining up to see this movie, but "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" is not wonderful. Allusions in this film to Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" abound, but greatness by association has never been less plausible. Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) continues to have poor choice in men, or, to be more exact, men-boys, or the undead, or werewolves – whatever. Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) is looking pastier than ever, which I guess, along with his jutting jaw and bad-boy swagger, is a good thing. Vampirism becomes him. He's not in the movie nearly enough, though. His rival in Bella's affections is the newly buff Jacob "Jake" Black (Taylor Lautner), who is more like an incipient Michelin Man than a nascent werewolf. (With his six-pack abs, Budweiser missed a product-placement bonanza with this guy.) Since "New Moon" is a transitional piece in the Stephenie Meyer "Twilight" franchise, it often bogs down in exposition. Memo to director Chris Weitz and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg: Just because you make a movie about vampires doesn't mean you suck the life out of your story. Grade: C (Rated PG-13 for some violence and action.)