*Spoilers below*
I know we normally post book reviews, but I really wanted to share my review of Eclipse. This is the third time that a few of us have hosted a private midnight showing for a Twilight Saga movie. Each year the movies get better and better. I'm going to be completely honest and say I was the biggest doubter for Eclipse. I didn't think the writing or the direction for the movie would be even close to as good as it was.
Eclipse was BRILLIANT! I absolutely loved it. David Slade did such an amazing job at bringing the darker side to the bad vamps to the big screen. Not only that, but Melissa did an amazing job with the writing. Yes, there's always things that don't go in order or things they take out or add to the movie, that aren't exact in the book. There were some things they changed from the book to the movie that I didn't like, but over all I think the movie was great. I think they captured everything that I had hoped for and more.
For me, the onscreen chemistry was amazing. For the first time in the Twilight movie saga, I felt I was actually seeing the characters and not just the actors acting. They all brought the characters to life. They all seemed a lot more comfortable with who they portraying. I saw Bella's struggle with being torn on her decision to be turned. Edward's jealousy is played perfectly and I loved that Jacob's anger at Bella's decision and his strong will to fight for Bella's heart was evident. One character who stole the show was Charlie. His lines were the best! The only problem I have with the actors portrayals, was Bryce Dallas Howard's as Victoria. I've never been a fan when a franchise replaces an actor after the second movie, and this time around was no different. I think Summit's biggest mistake was replacing Rachelle. Victoria wasn't the same for me.
The scenes were great. I really liked that they added scenes from The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. The flash backs for the Quileute Legends, Jasper and Rosalie were amazing. I think that was another reason why David Slade was so perfect for Eclipse. Their scenes are more graphic, and David brought them to life perfectly for the movie. The only scene I wish we got to see more of, was Bella's vision she has in the book when she and Jacob kiss, but despite that, it was good. The tent scene was brilliant. I'm so glad they kept a lot of the same dialogue between Jacob and Edward. The one liners that Edward and Charlie have through out the movie had our theater laughing out loud. The bedroom scene with Edward and Bella (no, not that type of scene), with the engagement was good. I wish they had stayed truer to the book Edward than trying to make him more worldly so to speak. They should have left in why he was so against doing you know what w/ Bella, instead of making it seem like he didn't want to hurt her. Which, that is part of it, but in the book there's so much more to it.
I'm not always a big fan when they make some drastic changes from the book to the movie, but I loved that they made Jessica valedictorian. Her speech was so perfect. Above all, I really liked seeing a lot more interaction with the Cullen Family, and the Wolves. I missed that in the other movies. I give 5 stars to Eclipse. As I said, I was a HUGE doubter, but David proved me wrong, and kudos to him for making such a wonderful movie. Over all Eclipse was awesome. As soon as it ended I wanted to watch it again.