A New Moon Review

To sum it up in one sentence - I LOVED THIS MOVIE!

But we all know that I'd never let you all get off that easy.  :-) To make it easier on you (and me), I'm doing this in a bullet pointed "WOOHOO" and "BOO" format.

So, without further adieu,
my New Moon review.
(And I promise to try not to rhyme anymore!)

WOOHOO

• The movie had a much bigger budget and it showed.  The special effects were much better (Hello wolves!) and it had less of an indy film feel.
• The caliper of the acting from the ENTIRE cast went up!  I don't know what happened to Kristen Stewart - but you can feel the angst and depression rolling off her for most of the film. This film isn't going to gain any awards (OK... maybe the Teen Choice Awards and are almost promised something from MTV), but Taylor Lautner did AMAZING!
• Taylor Lautner really beefed up.  He convinced me that really could turn into a wolf.
• I really enjoyed how the director decided to show the passage of time in Bella's initial mourning of Edward.  Circling her and seeing out her window each month was really well done.
• Charlie was portrayed well as the caring dad.  In fact he comes off more caring in the movie than the book.
• Seeing Alice write emails to Alice was great.  Again, not true to the book - but I think it was a well thought-out creative decision.
• The make-up!  All the vampires looked much more natural.  Rosalie and Alice looked beautiful, as did Esme.  Emmett was looking good and the little we saw of Edward was fabulousness.
• The Volturi.  I loved them.  They looked to me on screen the way I envisioned them while I was reading the books, just slightly less frail.  I just want to see more of them.
• I LOVED all the time that was spent in Italy.  Fabulous scenery as they drove to try and save Edward.  The parade scene was so rich and red; loved it!  And seeing Bella and Edward reunite made me cry.
• The vote.  The family vote to make Bella a vampire was EXACTLY what I wanted it to be, and Rosalie got to deliver one of my favorite lines from the book.

BOO

• In a word - Jasper.  The makeup on everyone else looked great, but I don't know what in the world was going on with Jasper.  He looked like he rolled out of bed (and we know that these vampires don't sleep) both times we saw him.
• I really wanted to see more of the Volturri.  They are going to be so important in the next two films - I think that a few more minutes could have been spent introducing them.
• The music.  Maybe it will grow on me.  I enjoyed the music from Twilight right away and I'm having a little more trouble connecting with New Moon's music this time around.
• The ending. I admit; I was a little miffed that they ended where they did. There's more to that book!!!!  It cut off my absolute FAVORITE line of the book.  But, honestly, it will make the next movie that much better.

Only seven months, and a week until Eclipse comes out.  But who's counting?  :-) Want to read more New Moon reviews?  Check out ClassyFabSarah's and ThreeAgainstOne's reviews!

Any volunteers to come watch New Moon with me again?!?!  What did you think of the movie?