Why couldn’t they have let David Slade direct all of these films, since after watching this he is obviously the most competent director yet? Really this is hands down the best film in the series so far. It really seems like Slade gets it, and Melissa Rosenberg’s screenplay seems more on the mark. The first film was decent, and well cast (for the most part), but this is so much better done, and would have brought more people in if it was this well done. Not my favorite story in the series, but as I have said this film is in almost all ways better than it’s predecessors. It has gorgeous cinematography, great editing, excellent effects (the vampire running is finally done right), and great action. Now that is not to say that all is perfect. First off is the replacement of Victoria, originally played by Rachelle Lefevre and here replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard, who is just too sweet looking, and plays the part that way as well. Not enough ferocious menace, which Lefevre had so well. The studio made a huge mistake not allowing her to come back! And the second major mistake is the music, both the score and the soundtrack. Howard Shores score does not fit the film at all, nor does it fit within the series as a whole. It is too much, and not fitting at all. And the soundtrack while it has a couple of good tracks cannot touch the first or even the second soundtrack. Still that being said, the rest is pretty damn good, and well worth checking out. And I love that at the Arclight theaters they have the Cullens costumes, though the mannequins don’t seem to be the correct heights, but that is a minor complaint. Go check this out, especially if you are a fan of the series at all. And it is fun to see with an audience, because it is a laugh to hear the girls all drooling over Taylor Lautner!

A twenty something named Riley Biers (Xavier Samuel) is attacked and turned into a vampire by the vengeful vampire Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) in Seattle, not too far from Forks. In Forks Isabella “Bella” Swan (Kristen Stewart) discusses becoming a vampire with her lover, the vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). He does not want her to become a vampire as he worries for her immortal soul, but she is dead set on it. He tells her he will turn her, but only if she will marry him first, but she is dead set against marriage, not believing in it after her parent’s failed marriage, and also thinking of what people will think if she gets married so young (she is 19), but Edward is from another era, and wants to do things right. Edward get’s Bella’s father Charlie Swan (Billy Burke) to agree to let him and Bella go to Florida to visit her mother Renee (Sarah Clarke), and Bella willingly goes since if she is to become a vampire soon, this will be the last time she sees her mother ever. Returning to school, Bella’s best friend, the werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) shows up to confront Edward about Emmet Cullen (Kellan Lutz) crossing the border into Quillete territory while hunting Victoria, which Edward had not told Bella about. Bella leaves with Jacob on his motorcycle, as he has been unwilling to talk to her since Edward returned. Eventually Jacob confesses his love to Bella, and tries to force a kiss on her, but she wants none of it, and sprains her hand punching him. He loves her, but will hate her if she become a vampire, and if she does it will permanently break the treaty. At the Cullen’s high school graduation party, which Jake shows up at (even after kissing Bella) Alice Cullen (Ashley Green) has a vision of a newborn vampire army, led by Riley, coming to get Bella in Forks. Jacob overhears, and agrees to fight with the vampires against their mutual enemy, even though Bella does not want the werewolves to help, as she sees them as vulnerable compared to the vampires.

REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS…

Jasper Hale (Jackson Rathbone) has experience with newborns, and begins training. He tells Bella of his past, where he was a young confederate Major during the civil war, who was turned by a Vampire named Maria (Catalina Sandino Moreno) who used him for years to change and train newborn armies for southern vampire battles, and then to kill them when the newborns got older, and lost their newborn strength. It was a horrible existence and his body is covered in scars, but it was all he knew until he found Alice, or really she was waiting for him.

Riley sneaks into town, and steals a shirt of Bella’s to use to drive his crazed newborn army that are killing so many people in Seattle, into blood lust when they find her.

Bella eventually agrees to marry Edward, and takes his ring, but doesn’t initially wear it (I know it is how Stephanie Meyer described it, but damn if it is not ugly).

The Volutri arrive in Seattle, as it is their self appointed job to take care of vampires breaking the rules, but Jane (Dakota Fanning) allows it to happen, as they want to take out the threat of the Cullens to their rule.

After training to fight the super strong newborn vampires, they set a plan. Bella will go and hide in a tent far away, and she convinces Edward to stay with her to stay with her, so they can be together. She is taken there by Jacob, as his smell masks her scent, but she almost freezes that night as it is so cold, and Edward cannot warm her, so Jacob gets to hold her for the night, and keep her warm and alive.

Jacob and Edward talk, almost friendly that night. Edward admits he knows he might not be best for her, but will not leave until she asks him too, especially after what happened last time he left.

In the morning Edward talks to Bella about their engagement knowing that Jacob will hear. He goes into a rage and wants to die in battle, but Bella calls to him and asks him to kiss her, as exactly as he said, she does love him, even if she loves Edward more. Jacob goes, but promises to return, and the youngest of the werewolves Seth Clearwater (Boo Boo Stewart) arrives to allow Edward to communicate with the wolves and see the battle through their psychic connection.

The battle goes very well for the most part, with the Cullens taking the newborn Bree Tanner(Jodelle Ferland) without a fight, and killing the rest, except Victoria and Riley are not there.

Victoria realized something was wrong, and traced Edward’s scent, and the two attack to get Bella. Edward tried to show Riley that she does not love him, but is using him, but he doesn’t care, but he is taken out by Seth, and Edward just manages to kill Victoria.

Edward, Bell and Seth just get to the site of the battle before the Volturi arrice, and Jacob is badly hurt by one newborn. The werewolves leave as the Volturi arrive.

Jane orders the death of Bree, who the Cullens want to protect, and Bree is killed. They also say their will be trouble over Bella still being human, but she tells them the date has been set.

Bella goes to see Jake, who is being worked on by Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli). He has had to re-break all the breaks which healed too fast. Jake is glad that Bella realizes she loves him, but now realizes it will never be enough, and he asks her to stay away so all the breaks can heal at once.

Bella tells Edward she agrees to everything, to get married, make love, and then become a vampire, and then they go to tell Charlie about the engagement.

••••

So much better than the other films, easily the best film in the series. And I am kind of scared of Bill Condon directing the final film (or two films as it is being broken up into much like Harry Potter) and after this I think they should just let David Slade continue on and finish the series! They had better keep the films this good now!