Episode 58: “Eclipse” Movie Review

1. Wray Said,

   I really laughed when you guys started your podcast by saying the first reaction after seeing the movie was relief! Me too! Loved the opening scene with Riley. Loved that the voice-over was shown to be Bella READING the poem in the meadow. There were so many little touches to love! For me the attention to small details was the best thing about this movie.
   I was worried about the male-orientation of what I had seen in the previews and the posters with Riley front and center, and while it still annoys me, it works in the larger context of the film. Riley is at the beginning part of Victoria’s larger plan of revenge so the make him a Forks local – someone who knew the area. His picture is everywhere serving as a constant reminder that there’s this shadowy menace out there with unknown intentions. Having Victoria appear and get chased by the Cullens and wolves further muddies the waters, because it looks like there are two separate things happening. I thought, particularly in the book, that Victoria comes across as pretty brilliant. She’s got this well thought out plan that takes everyone forever to figure out AND she’s even figured out a way to get rid of the newborns in the process – she clearly knows about the wolves, but tells nothing to the newborns to prepare them. This is done well enough in the movie, but I still hate the change of actor! Hate it! Just a side note, Eclipse does, in fact, describe Jasper having to cull the numbers of newborns. You might remember the pages that describe him and Peter having to take them aside and kill them one by one until Peter resists killing Charlotte and Jasper feels sympathy for them, etc.
   I liked the backstories too, but I agree that Rosalie’s was the least interesting on film. It WAS supposed to be the ’30’s. I actually think her entrance into the room to get Royce could have been scarier. It always seemed to be one of those great revenge “ghost” stories that I read in my childhood and similar to the more recent Corpse Bride. The Quileute campfire story was simply a shorter version of the book one, but I missed Billy showing the pouch of ash around his neck as a reminder of the Cold Ones and how they had learned to destroy them. It gave me chills when I read it. Shannon, you are right, the Cullens are not solely to blame, but the presence of vampires at all means there has to be wolves. You may remember that the Cullens have only been in Forks for two years at the start of Twilight and that’s around the time Sam transforms. Although the Quileutes have a treaty with the Cullens, they never really trust them completely. The pack gets bigger, though, due to the presence of so many more vampires including Victoria, Laurent, and then all the newborns.
   As far as the mishap at the end of the battle with Leah and Jacob, I have always thought this was simply there to comment on how the pack works – as a team. And when one member is deliberately trying to sabotage the team for personal reasons, someone can get hurt. Maybe this would be less objectionable if the person were Paul or even Jacob, but either way, I do like how it resolves in Breaking Dawn (one of the few…) with Jacob really understanding Leah, seeing himself in her, and his pack having a different way of doing things than Sam.
   Last of all, although I liked Bella’s speech at the end, it wasn’t necessary. I have always seen Bella as someone who was seeking her own “family” as we all do growing up. Readers may want to think that it’s all about Edward, but from the beginning it has been just as much about Alice (in particular), Emmett, Carlisle and Esme, Jasper and finally Rosalie. As early as Twilight when James is chasing them, you see clearly that she feels she belongs with them as much as Edward. Then in Eclipse,her choice is really about a human life with her parents, Jacob and his extended family, and how that would all fit together so easily vs what she would have to give up to be a Cullen. It’ s not until Breaking Dawn that she realizes (as do the other Cullens) that she was “born to be” one of them. Her internal monologue is similar to the external one at the end of Eclipse.

2. Shannon the Movie Moxie Said,

   There were a lot of small touches and moments to enjoy in the film – Some I didn’t pick up the first time (especially the apple in the kitchen window… but that was mostly because it was a stained glass apple, lol). I love how they continued to incorporate those touches into the film.

   Ah! TY for the reminder on Jasper’s backstory and he’s previous newborn .. ah… disposal. I remember that now about how the other guy didn’t want to go it. It’s interesting how many times the idea of “I never thought of doing something a different way” comes up throughout the books – except with Bella of course, she’s a strictly outside the box for keeps girl!

   Yep, Rosalie’s story is in the 30’s I just really strongly remember money being an issue, but it was also kind of ‘hidden’ from here which could explain some of the choices there. Just wasn’t as I pictured it – but in a way, totally ok as it’s not a back story I’m particularly fond of, hehe.

   I finally ‘get’ what you are saying about the pack! OMG that took long enough to sink it… wow. Crazy. Finally get that -TY Wray!

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