The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

In “Eclipse,” the third chapter of the immensely popular “Twilight Saga,” audiences become transfixed with an intoxicating romance that is easily the best installment of the series so far. Following those events that proceeded in the previous film installment “New Moon,” “Eclipse” finds Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson), a vampire, continuing to develop their love for one another even more but, still living in the gloom of Jacob (Taylor Lauter), a werewolf, who is also deeply in love with Bella. Things become more problematic however after a series of gruesome murders in Seattle trace back to vampires, ultimately setting the balance between vampires and werewolves into more turmoil, especially considering the vampires causing the murders have set their sights on Bella.

Directed by David Slade, director of 2005’s “Hard Candy” and the film adaptation of “30 Days of Night” has crafted quite a stunning screen rendering that is also very successful in showcasing the succession of the series plot and what audiences will expect from the fourth film “Breaking Dawn.” Following the conclusion of “Eclipse” I honestly can admit to eagerly anticipating the next installment but I think what makes this series so thrilling but, also intriguing is its great sense of intrigue. This is a much layered world full of danger and romance as observed by the love triangle sub-plot dealing with Bella, Edward and Jacob. Sure many audiences would just go on and say that “Eclipse” is just another chick flick with vampires but, honestly it is much more as observed with the David Slade installment.

With this film audiences see a romantic account that’s profoundly structured by some great action sequences, which haven’t been that present in the other “Twilight” films. “Eclipse,” which in my opinion pedestals itself as the climax installment of the series has a great deal of conflict that is relatively thrilling for new and old audiences of the series. Furthermore one aspect that helps is by showing the ever growing conflict between Edward and Jacob who equally strive for the love of Bella. Their intense conflict grows and grows with every new film ultimately setting up for what could be one of the more engaging vampire/werewolf showdowns in cinema history.

Adapted for the big- screen once again by Melissa Rosenberg, who adapted the “Twilight” and “New Moon,” has given the film quite a feature with a great balance of internal/external chaos but, also plot progression. This internal and external chaos is greatly efficient thanks to the films performances, most notably Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson who have both grown considerably in talent and wisdom since the first “Twilight” film. This film is truly gripping and will unquestionably have audiences enthralled from the films first frame all the way to its last. Unlike the second film “New Moon,” which I will admit was rather slow, “Eclipse” never lets up on the action and even that of the illicit romance that was began “Twilight,” continued in “New Moon” and lives on with “Eclipse.”