THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON

CAROLINE: The much anticipated follow-up to “Twilight” is finally in theaters as of midnight last night. Let’s talk “New Moon.”

RYAN: I really didn’t like “Twilight” the movie that much, especially since I’d read the book which was much better. But with “New Moon,” I didn’t read the book and wound up really liking the movie. I thought it was ten times the movie “Twilight” was.

CAROLINE: Well, let’s keep it real – neither of them is a good movie. They’re pretty terrible albeit still entertaining. But I was so much more entertained by “Twilight.” I loved the forbidden love story and all the teen angst and longing stares in the cafeteria. “New Moon” movie didn’t speak to me on that level.

RYAN: I actually connected to the story in this movie more, what with the love triangle and all. Plus, Taylor Lautner is so hot. I can’t even.

CAROLINE: Honey, he’s 17. You need to settle down. But he did look great shirtless, I’ll give you that.

RYAN: When he finally got his haircut, I was like, “Sweet Jesus, what are they trying to do to me?” I either swooned out loud or in my head.

CAROLINE: Several girls at the screening screamed at that moment. His acting was only slightly less atrocious than that of Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. The first forty minutes of the movie are almost unwatchable.

RYAN: I liked the movie throughout, but Kristen and Rob are both wooden and emotionless. They operate solely on angst. Kristen looks so pretty as Bella though. Her hair, wardrobe and make-up are so great in this movie.

CAROLINE: She’s very cute, and Robert P. is hot. I think they did a good job toning down the white vampire make-up in this movie. Though his brother still looks like a freak.

RYAN: The make-up, cinematography and special effects are much improved in this movie. The fight scenes were fantastic. Chris Weitz is just a really good director, even if he can’t get performances out of his actors.

CAROLINE: I can’t really agree there. It looks like it had a bigger budget than “Twilight,” and the werewolf C.G.I. is really cool, but the first half of the movie stinks. The script is terrible, the acting is beyond amateurish and I just couldn’t get into it. It picks up in the second half, but is still not a well made movie.

RYAN: I thought it was totally well made. The editing, the soundtrack and the costumes were all great. I was into it from beginning to end. I must have enjoyed this a lot more than you.

CAROLINE: I enjoyed parts of it, but I couldn’t help but think without all the hype surrounding this cast, this movie would have been just another piece of crap. It’s the Twi-Hards who will make this movie a success. Let’s be honest, no bad review is going to keep the fans away.

RYAN: I also want to mention Michael Sheen and Dakota Fanning. They have pretty small parts, and Michael Sheen is always brilliant, but Dakota really surprised me. It’s a serious role for her and I was impressed.

CAROLINE: She’s fine, but she’s only in it for about three minutes. I was expecting more after all the buzz. But the scene she’s in is very good.

— BOTTOM LINE —

RYAN: I’m a convert. This movie could possibly turn me into a Twi-Hard. I’m curious to read the rest of the books now since I liked the movie so much. It’s just a really good movie, and I’m impressed.

CAROLINE: I think you’re in the minority there. It’s an entertaining enough movie, but hard to not laugh at it. I liked some parts, but others were just plain awful. Nonetheless, it’s tracking to make at least $80 million this weekend.

RYAN: Now I’m really looking forward to the next one, which comes out next June. Can’t wait!

— RATING —