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The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)

Time Out rating

Average user rating

63 reviews

Synopsis

You know what to expect by now from the teen vampire saga: brooding, smooching, biting, growling and plenty of adolescent smouldering.

Movie review

From Time Out London

Having cut his fangs on tween revenger ‘Hard Candy’ and inventive bloodsucker ‘30 Days of Night’, could director David Slade kick off a ‘Harry Potter’-like reinvigoration of the ‘Twilight’ series? Well, sort of: ‘Eclipse’ is a step up from the painfully anaemic ‘New Moon’, and it’s clearly the work of a filmmaker keen to put his own stamp on the series. But Slade is constrained at every turn by the sheer, crushing lifelessness of author Stephenie Meyer’s material.

‘Eclipse’ barely advances the story at all: we’re still stuck in the town of Forks, where moody heroine Bella (Kristen Stewart) is forced to choose between undead love-of-her-life Edward (Robert Pattinson) and musclebound werewolf Jacob (Taylor Lautner). There are lots of other characters – silly names are dropped with dizzying regularity – but none of them actually seem to do very much.

Slade directs with flair: his action sequences, though small in scale, have real drive, and a series of surprisingly grim Civil War flashbacks enable him to utilise a different visual palette from the usual drab greens and greys.

But he can’t disguise the massive flaws inherent in the screenplay: the slipshod plotting, whiny, self-serious tone and excruciating abstinence-first subplot. The biggest problem remains the characters: neither Slade nor Stewart are capable of turning manipulative whinger Bella into anything more than a joyless black hole sucking the life from every scene, while the only performer capable of giving her part any spark, Anna Kendrick, is completely sidelined this time around. Strictly for Twihards.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2082: 8-15 July, 2010

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User reviews of this film

Rosalie (Bahahaha) said...

Posted on Aug 19 2010 10:44 Thought this was much better than the 2nd film. I watched twice, once with my girlfriends who are all Twihard fans, and then with my boyfriend (27, and very reluctabnt to go, had to be bribed) He was actually pleasantly surprised and has asked if he can come with me and my girls when the fourth film is released. It has a solid story and is fast-paced. Ignoring the 'love triangle' (there clearly isn't one, Jacob is never going to get Bella, lets be honest) i really enjoyed the new characters, the sometimes scary undertones and the impressive visual imagery. Also want to point out that to those who have invested a lot of time in reading the books and watching the films, the flashbacks of Jasper and Rosalie are really rewarding - it's nice for some of the other characters to have some depth. One last thing - I would never have picked Stewart to play Bella, she distracts me with her constant stammering/pausing/twitching. Having watched interviews with the actress, this is not actually acting, she is like that in reality.

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darcie xxx said...

Posted on Aug 18 2010 21:50 the books are better than the films they got mor deitail in them but the films are equally as amazing no 1 was good no 2 was shit no 3 was amazing !!

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Aug 15 2010 20:34 Twilight 1 good, 2 ok, 3 shit?
Still not with you.
But I sincerely hope the next ones are a revelation.
but then again........so what if they aint!

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Thomas Noctor said...

Posted on Aug 15 2010 16:54 Foe example I'm a Saw fan, 4 was a 1 star film but I love the rest. I liked Twilight 2, thought it was very good, I thought 1 was ok, bit boring, 3 was rushed I think, but I'm curious to see how it ends! I'm open to almost all movies, except chick flix of course! lol

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amy said...

Posted on Aug 15 2010 12:39 so 4star out of 5

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Amy said...

Posted on Aug 15 2010 12:38 awsomeee the last one im sorry but it was sh*t and so was the one before that but this one wassss fabbb still not quite 5 starr xx sorry

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Aug 15 2010 12:04 You sure aint offended me, T.Nocter. Im just curious why a 1 star film would inspire you to want to see more - unless the first two were at LEAST very good, which we can all agree, they wern't. For example, Transformers was ok, No.2 was totally dreadful (*) so, unless Trans 3 attracts 4 & 5 star reviews (i'll eat my hat!) I never would contemplate seeing another in the series. However, Twilight 1,2 & 3 are all acceptably entertaining so, while im not champing at the bit to see the next one, I wont view it with trepidation. If these films were ok then ok then shit, no further viewing required, surly?

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Thomas Noctor said...

Posted on Aug 14 2010 23:24 I apologise if I offended any fans here, I'm sorry, I do like the series it's why I go to the movies! I just didn't like this one, sorry guys!

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-poppyrosee said...

Posted on Aug 14 2010 20:45 why is my name in capitals? all i did was hyphenate thomas noctor.
and its not reaaly a review thomas, its more of your opinion.

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scrumpyjack said...

Posted on Aug 14 2010 16:08 POPPYROSE, YES, Thomas Nocter CAN "slag it off...."
THOMAS NOCTER , why would you want to see the last 2 movies if you have given this a one star? I gave it ** as i find them kinda enjoyable in a one off view way....but ONE star indicates total crap, which this isnt. Relative crap? yes...Total Crap? no. I think if the series is of ANY further interest to you a minimum of 2 star is more apt, if youre honest.

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Thomas Noctor said...

Posted on Aug 13 2010 19:15 Wasn't slagging it, and My films are Vampire Movies actually, mostly horror films so don't tell Me to shut up when all I'm doing is giving My review!

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-poppyrosee said...

Posted on Aug 13 2010 15:07 'thomas noctor' i dont think it was your cup of tea. but does that mean you can slag it off in front of all the fans? No. i imagine one of your fav films is sumthing like transformers, or spiderman. i have nothing against them. just shudup. dont watch them if you dont like them
yes- its THAT simple!

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ashley said...

Posted on Aug 12 2010 18:48 im going to see it today im so ecsited i cant wait twilit films are my fav i love them i cant wait to see it its going to be gr8.i went on holiday for 3 weeks so i havent seen it yet i wanted to come back so i could see it but if you reading this go see it if you have all ready seen it see it agian yoiu neaver know it might be the last one there is.me and my mum r relly big fans we love them we have got all the dvds and we watch them as soon as we get them there the best films ever i cant belive how goo they r can you i just love love love love love them.i cant wait i rather go see it than have a party there so good there the best films ever.there my fav film in the world they should give a awdrd

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Thomas Noctor said...

Posted on Aug 11 2010 00:04 Muse couldn't even save this. Topless teens, a whimpy Vampire, this is aimed at thirteen year old girls. I watched them all now, 2 is good but this is a let down. Would two species really risk their futures for a mortal? Enough said! I'll watch the last two movies just to see the outcome

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carrie said...

Posted on Aug 10 2010 21:36 twilight saga films only one word to put out there MINT thay are the best ever cant wait for number four xx

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