The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

OK, David Slade is a fairly good director and he pulls the saga up in terms of execution, atmosphere and visuals, but there’s nothing he can do about the contents. Bella is a total antihero, or rather, an antihero posing as a hero. She doesn’t do anything, doesn’t want to do anything, everyone can be ripped apart around her and she just stares blankly. The fact that some young girls may take her as a model is a lot sadder and more dangerous than a boy taking Edward as a model. (29/08/2010)

Probably the darkest (however, I'm still cautious about using that word in the case of Twilight – in short, with a grain of salt) and most action-packed installment of the entire series, but one that still suffers from the same ills that run through the saga – whether it's the emo-gay-metro Ed or the occasionally more-than-awkward dialogue or behavior of the characters (Bella clearly leads the way in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse) Unlike the two previous ones, I was also quite looking forward to the third installment, because I've really liked David Slade's work so far, so I was secretly hoping for a meat scene ala 30 Days of Night)) The result is that THIS is, in my opinion, material so "heavy" and impossible to grasp in a reasonable or tasteful way that anyone would break teeth on it, being limited by a script that doesn't really give rise to any real directorial exhibition. And if I were to overthink it a lot, I could say that at times there was an attempt at a sort of psychology of the characters (specifically the Cullen vampires and their pasts) that didn't bother me that much. Out of the entire series, this for me is the most bearable instalment so far, and the one that pisses me off the least. (14/09/2010)

Another unnecessary episode that deals with the same old thing: the same naive and stupid romance, exploiting the current stupidity and silly trend of stupid people. Rather, it's more about immaturity, and there’s plenty of it. And yet, if the series was taken seriously even for a moment, it wouldn't be so bad. Visually, it is a very attractive thing; thematically, however, it's a complete mess. Unfortunately, the “new age romance style” has to be there, even if the devil rides a werewolf and then everything goes downhill. (13/01/2013)

A step forward and at the same time a light stepping in place. David Slade can best tame a problematic script as a director and thanks to excellent flashbacks or gripping action, he knows how to build up anticipation for the finale. However, he also suffers from being committed to a certain part. In terms of plot progression, Eclipse suffers. There is no crucial decision made or any action taken that would fundamentally change the situation. There is only one big battle, which is lucky to have attractive fighters on both sides. Although the third installment loses something by not having its solid face (Twilight is a cold opening, New Moon is an intimate melodrama), and in the very end it feels like a nostalgic episode with battles in the mountains, it works great in this form. Even when Bella's decision-making and doubts sometimes get on my nerves. But I have never spit on the Twilight saga and it seems that I won't in the future either. So, we'll see each other at Breaking Dawn. (30/11/2011)

Content (?) identical (and I suppose we could say that, as far as possible under the limited circumstances, the tension is rising), but this is probably the best Twilight format so far. Slade manages to smuggle some action and even a little atmosphere into the movie (here and there) making this saga considerably more bearable. Maybe it’s a shame that he wasted his talent on something like this, but at least he earned some money and the studio may be willing to release more cash for a future project of his. Everybody will be happy. I’m warmer than you. (20/11/2010)