My 'New Moon' balloon deflated...

After months of viewing trailers, spoilers, photo's, interviews and Youtube fan video's, I went into the 12:01 a.m. showing of New Moon with extremely high expectations.  Unfortunately, it didn't take long for the disappointment to set in. (egads! I said it!)


I'll start with Edward because, well, it's Edward.  I think his hair was way too flat, skin way too white, lips way too red and eyes way too orange.  Insignificant I know, but annoying just the same. Also, being that Edward's appearance in New Moon was limited, I felt a couple of the scenes he was in were rushed. (i.e.)  his reaction after speaking to Jacob and being told Charlie was making funeral arrangements.  That was the first physical scene he was in after he left Bella and felt that more time should've been spent on his anguish. (Crushing the cell phone in his hand just didn't work for me).  He's strong, I get it.  But what about his heart? I was expecting him to drop to the floor in agonizing devastation. I also thought his visit to the Volturri in his request for death, again rushed.  Where's was the dialogue as in the book? Two pivotal scenes, glossed over and brief.


I give it to Catherine Hardwick.  Her version of twilight may have not followed the book as did New Moon, nor the effects as spectacular as New Moon, but she captured and brought out the chemistry between Robert and Kristen.  In New Moon, I felt Chris Weitz failed to do that.  At times it  felt like Robert was reading lines from the script and found myself asking, "Does Edward even like Bella?". During most of the break up scene, he briefly looked into Bella's eyes.  Whereas Twilight, his eyes hardly left hers. That stare...gone.  (Still insignificant to many, but vital to the characters just the same).


There was no heart stopping moment between Edward and Bella (except the birthday kiss the night before the break up).  I felt the reunion scene at the clock tower fell short.  Where was all the footage of them wrapped in eachother's arms kissing that made it's way to the internet or youtube? That was another scene I felt was rushed.  The dialogue between Edward and Bella was limited and again, brief. That was a key scene that should've followed the book exactly.  Although the fight scene effects of Edward getting his ass kicked was worth the watch,  where was the intensity between Edward and Bella? 


Kristen Stewart, on the other hand, I thought did extremely well.  After watching her portray Bella in Twilight (most scenes her just shaking her head as if in disgust)  I never thought she would be able to pull off Bella's sorrow.  But she did.  Her scenes with Jacob had heart, chemistry.  Which, by the way, I felt Taylor Lautner owned the movie.  It was his and he ran with it.  Kudos to Taylor!


I also want to know what drugs Make-up/Wardrobe was on.  In "Twilight" all the vampires were gorgeous.  In "New Moon" I felt as if they were dressed much older than what they were.  Ex.  what the fuck was that garb Carlisle was dressed in for vote scene?  Ridiculous, but not as ridiculous as that poodle wig Jasper was sporting.  Seriously, didn't anyone from production say, "Hey wait a minute, he looks ridiculous"?


Ok so some may say I'm nit-picking.  So be it.  Like I said, I went in with high expectations.  I also didn't truly appreciate the job Catherine Hardwick did with Twilight until I saw "New Moon".  Would I want Chris Weitz back as director for "Breaking Dawn"?  At this point my thoughts are Summit would have to hire an extremely talented director to bring that mess to the big screen.  Do I think Melissa Rosenberg has the writing skills to make the transitition from book to the big screen and be successful? NO. And that's not dissing Melissa.  I think she tied "New Moon" together nicely.  She stayed true to Stephenie Meyers dialogue and I attribute that to the success of "New Moon." But I've said it before,  I think Breaking Dawn was ridiculously bizarre and I just think a script of that magnitude would not be best served written by her.


I will give credit where credit is due.  Although I think Chris Weitz fell short on capturing the chemistry between Robert and Kristen, he did a great job with the special effects.  If anyone really gives a shit, I give New Moon 3 stars and that's because I love the saga regardless!