The Twilight Saga: Eclipse *** (2010, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Bryce Dallas Howard, Xavier Samuel, Jack Huston) – Classic Movie Review 782

Here’s Eclipse, the 2010 Part Three of The Twilight Saga, following Twilight (2008) and The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009).

So now Bella (Kristen Stewart) loves the vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) – but the werewolf Jacob (Taylor Lautner) keeps turning up with his shirt off (gasp!) to confuse her dreadfully. The love triangle climaxes with a surprisingly effective three-in-a-tent scene in which the boys discuss their manly feelings over Bella’s sleeping body.

With a screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg that gives them space to develop their beloved characters, the appealing stars are more relaxed and confident this time, gamely tackling Stephenie Meyer’s drippy dialogue. However, all the chit-chat often slows things down to a snail’s pace just when some feisty action’s needed.

British director David Slade (30 Days of Night [2007]) brings on both the horror and a doomily romantic atmosphere as the complicated Twilight saga builds to its exciting Part Three ending standoff, when the wolves take on Bella’s arch-enemy, the evil vampire Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard), and her sidekick Riley (Xavier Samuel).

The occasional flashes of humour are very welcome – Edward snarls ‘doesn’t he own a shirt?’ and Jacob growls ‘after all, I am hotter than you’ – and the flashbacks are well handled, while the lavish production and costly-looking CGI effects give the movie a gorgeous plush surface.

Lads and non-converts may say this is soppy and slow moving a lot of the time, but the fans will find it a sequel to savour.

Silent Hill’s Jodelle Ferland is cast as the newly turned vampire Bree Tanner and other new cast members include Jack Huston as Royce King II, Catalina Sandino Moreno as Maria, Julia Jones as Leah Clearwater, and Boo Boo Stewart as Seth Clearwater.

Bryce Dallas Howard took over the role of Victoria from Rachelle Lefevre, who said she was stunned and greatly saddened by the decision. Howard rejected the role in Twilight (2008) as too small.