"Eclipse:" Third time's a charm

I went to the midnight show of Eclipse last night (early this morning, rather), and it was well worth my sleepiness at work today. I remember seeing Twilight at midnight in 2008, and it was on in like one theater, and we rolled up at 11:30 and still got a good seat! Those days are long gone. The film was showing in several different theaters all the way to 12:40 and many were sold out.

The third novel of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga has always been one of my favorites - yes, I know there are only four novels, but it still ranks at the top of my list. There's plenty of romance and action, and at the end, Team Edward wins once and for all sealed with a vintage diamond ring.

David Slade did an excellent job directing this film. Melissa Rosenberg's scripts have improved, too. Some very important back stories from the book, such as the Quileute legends and Jasper and Rosalie's previous lives, were incorporated wonderfully. I think that Twilight and New Moon were lacking a lot of the smaller but important details from the books.

The actors have also gotten much better. Robert Pattinson as vampire Edward Cullen is gorgeous and brooding as ever. Kristen Stewart is Bella Swan to a tee. Taylor Lautner is also getting better as werewolf Jacob Black - if only we could get him to reach Jacob's 6'5" he'd be good to go.

There were some great and well-delivered lines in the film, such as when Edward says to Bella about the seemingly always shirtless Jacob, "Doesn't he own a shirt?" Newcomers Bryce Dallas Howard as Victoria and Xavier Samuel as Riley were also quite good. It was nice to see Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) get to say more than a few words so that we could finally see that Southern gentlemanly side of his we'd read about.

Some critics are being hard on this film even though I don't know how they can deny that these movies are continually improving. Since Breaking Dawn will be two films, I think they'll just keep getting better and better. I will be taking a second look at Eclipse this weekend, and I can't wait.

New and improved: Twilight Saga's "New Moon"

I saw the midnight showing of New Moon last night. They added shows every 15 minutes up until 12:45, and they still sold out. I've you ever heard of such - what a phenomenon!

The film was fairly true to the book. Melissa Rosenberg wrote the screenplay again. Director Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass) did an excellent job. It had a completely different look from the Catherine Hardwicke-directed Twilight. Don't get me wrong, I really did like Twilight, but any fool can see that this film had a bigger bankroll.

New Moon is probably my least favorite book in the saga because it's so sad. However, I really enjoyed this film. Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen and Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan really are perfectly cast. I also think that Charlie (Billy Burke), Alice Cullen (Ashley Greene) and Emmett Cullen (Kellan Lutz) are also exactly as I imagined them in the novels.

Here are a few of my favorite things about the film...

-Edward Cullen. No one does tortured yet heartbreakingly gorgeous like Pattinson.

-Bella's birthday scene. I thought this infamous scene (where Edward decides to leave Bella) was very well done. When Jasper tries to kill Bella at her birthday party in the stunning, candlelit Cullen home after she gets a papercut, the drama ensues as Edward defends her.

-Jacob. Hello abs. It was evident that Team Jacob was in the house last night. Every time a shirtless Taylor Lautner graced the big screen there were collective screams. No, he's not quite a pro actor yet, but we sure do appreciate his strenuous workouts.

-Soundtrack and score. I was very in tune to the songs in the film, since the soundtrack has yet to leave my CD player since I bought it. The score by Alexandre Desplat was also beautifully done.

-Volturi scenes. The scenes in Italy with the Volturi are very cool. Michael Sheen was great as Aro - just as I imagined him. Dakota Fanning was good as the pain-inducing Jane too.

-Bella saving Edward in Italy. Having Bella run through a sea of red festival-goers in slow-mo to save Edward from showing his true self in the sun was a great touch.

-Werewolves. I was worried how this whole werewolf thing would pan out. The special effects were incredible - when Jacob changes into a werewolf mid-air to protect Bella from Paul, you just about get chill bumps. There's also a great scene where the wolves fight off the vampire Laurent.

-Time passing. One of the interesting things that Stephenie Meyer did with New Moon, was leaving pages blank with only months after Edward leaves Bella. I wondered how they would do it in the film. Weitz had the camera pan around a heartbroken Bella as the seasons changed outside - very clever, indeed.

Spoiler alert:
-The ending. As you know, Bella wants to become a vampire, and at the very end, Edward gives her an ultimatum. He'll do it if she marries him. Swoon.

Since Eclipse has already wrapped, we don't have long to wait until the next installment - June 30 to be precise.

'New Moon' premieres in L.A.

[Getty Images]

Last night was the premiere of New Moon in L.A., the second film (and novel) in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga. Tons of people were live tweeting from the event, so that was fun to watch. Twi-hards (like me) are getting excited for the film's release on Friday.

Robert Pattinson looked gorgeous in a simple black Gucci suit. Taylor Lautner wore a navy suit with a skinny tie - I'm digging that retro look. Kristen Stewart channeled her inner princess in a lovely strapless Oscar de la Renta gown with a bit of an edge. Robsten kept their distance from each other on the red carpet though.

Jackson Rathbone in a classic tux and tie, Ashley Greene in a red Prabal Gurung cut-out dress and Kellan Lutz sans tie posed together on the red carpet. Elizabeth Reaser in a Hervé Léger dress and a dark-haired Peter Facinelli (aka Esme and Carlisle Cullen) posed together. Nikki Reed in Burberry, Dakota Fanning in Valentino, Michael Sheen, Anna Kendrick and the rest of the film's stars also hit the red carpet.

A lot of people have mentioned the absence of A-list celebs at this premiere. Duh, who in their right mind would want to compete with the stars of this movie? They wouldn't stand a chance! After the premiere, the stars hit up the after-party. Check out Popsugar.com for more event pics!

Robert Pattinson does Vanity Fair

[VF.com/Bruce Weber]

Robert Pattinson is featured on December's cover of Vanity Fair. Bruce Weber has posted the first of four slideshows of outtakes featuring Rob doing various things from reading to eating to looking stressed out. I love the corn/lobster one and the piano and beach. Swoon! That man sure can work a camera.

Evgenia Peretz interviewed Rob in a piece entitled "Twilight's Hot Gleaming." She compares his fame to Leonardo DiCaprio circa Titanic proportions. I definitely agree on that. He talks about being cast for Twilight, not being cut out for a franchise, and his self-consciousness (awww, God bless him).

He talks about his relationship with co-star Kristen Stewart here...

Pattinson, for his part, says of Stewart: “She’s influenced how I’ve done all the Twilight stuff. It’s quite nice to have someone who is genuinely indifferent to the whole spectacle of everything.” For the record, however, Pattinson says the rumors of a love affair are false: “It doesn’t make any difference what you say [to the tabloids]. I’ve literally been across the country [from Kristen], and it’s like ‘Oh, they were on secret dates!’ It’s like ‘Where? I can’t get out of my hotel room!’ ” Stewart is even more emphatic: “It’s so retarded,” she says. “We’re characters in this comic book.”

Check out the slideshow here, and read the feature here. The issue hits stands on tomorrow, November 4. Also, New Moon is in theaters on November 20.

Death Cab for Cutie's New Moon video

Death Cab for Cutie's video for "Meet Me On The Equinox" from New Moon was released. I don't love the song, but I do love the video. I might like the song more once I see its placement in the film. Team Jacob might be mad though since it doesn't give much love to Taylor Lautner.

I'm sure there will be a lot of naysayers wondering why their favorite bands have "sold out" to become part of the Twilight phenomenon. Quite honestly, any band would be a fool not to simply for the exposure they would gain. The Twilight soundtrack was incredible whether you liked the movie or not, and I have a feeling New Moon will surpass it.

It's going to be an amazing album. It's set to be released on October 20. Amazon has it for pre-order for $9.99. The movie, of course, is out on November 20. Here's the list of tracks...

1. Meet Me On the Equinox, Death Cab for Cutie
2. Friends, Band of Skulls
3. Hearing Damage, Thom Yorke
4. Possibility, Lykke Li
5. A White Demon Love Song, The Killers
6. Satellite Heart, Anya Marina
7. I Belong To You (New Moon Remix), Muse
8. Rosyln, Bon Iver & St. Vincent
9. Done All Wrong, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
10. Monsters, Hurricane Bells
11. The Violet Hour, Sea Wolf
12. Shooting the Moon, OK Go
13. Slow Life, Grizzly Bear (with Victoria Legrand)
14. No Sound But the Wind, Editors
15. New Moon (The Meadow), Alexandre Desplat

Bon Iver and St. Vincent...OMG! Their sound will be perfect for the film. I'm wondering if they got Black Rebel Motorcycle Club since they didn't get Kings of Leon. Either way, it's going to be incredible!

New "New Moon" posters

[Summit Entertainment]

Three brand new New Moon posters have been released. I must say that I love them. Goodness, in the first one Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella (Kristen Stewart) are holding on tightly. The Cullen clan is lurking in the background. The slightly scary face that Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) cracks me up.

The next poster is of the muscular wolf pack with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) out front. There was another photo of a shirtless wolf pack sans Jacob floating around.

The third new poster is of the Italian vampire royals, the Volturi - Aro (Michael Sheen), Jane (Dakota Fanning), Caius (Jamie Campbell Bower), Marcus (Christopher Heyerdahl) and Alec (Cameron Bright).

The movie is in theaters on November 20. I already got my ticket to the midnight showing on Fandango.com!

"Breaking Dawn" movie: parts I and II?

[VF.com]

My favorite gossip columnist of The Awful Truth, Ted Casablanca, on eonline.com has reported that Melissa Rosenberg is confirmed to write the screenplay for the fourth film in the Twilight Saga. However, it is still unclear at Summit whether or not Breaking Dawn will be one film or two. It looks like all of the cast is a go for the film though - thank goodness!

reaking Dawn is one of my favorite books of the series. It's definitely the most risque of the books. Edward and Bella get married and go on their honeymoon. She later finds out that she's pregnant. The baby is destroying her since it's part vampire. In order to survive after the baby is born, she must be changed to a vampire to survive. Another interesting twist is that part of the book is also in Jacob's perspective.

I'm all for a part I and II of this movie. It's such a lengthy book at over 700 pages. I think it would do a disservice to fans to leave out any important details. I can't wait to see what Summit decides to do. The way they're cranking out these films, we won't have to wait very long to find out.

Best and worst dressed at VMAs

[MTV.com/Getty Images]

Last night's VMAs hosted by British crazy Russell Brand weren't short on drama or dramatic fashions. The big themes of the night were the touching Michael Jackson tribute starring Janet Jackson and Madonna, Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech and the cast of New Moon with the amazing new trailer.

MTV Awards shows have always been a place where celebs take fashion risks and as usual some went too far (cough*Lady Gaga). Twilight's Ashley Greene served as the fashion correspondent on the red carpet.

Best dressed
-Taylor Swift. The classy award-winner arrived in a horse-drawn carriage in this gorgeous KaufmanFranco gown. I also love the simple up-do.

-Taylor Lautner. Twilight's Jacob Black looked handsome as he presented an award in a dapper grey Calvin Klein suit. His co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart skipped out on the red carpet but joined him in presenting the new trailer

-Madonna. She wore a chic and appropriate all-black ensemble and L'Wren Scott coat as she gave tribute to the King of Pop.

-Pink/Shakira. Unfortunately these two pop stars arrived in the same studded leather Balmain minidress. Lucky for them, it's a fab dress, and they both looked different in it. Pink paired hers with black pumps, while Shakira wore trendy thigh-high boots.

Worst dressed

-Lady Gaga. Oh, where to begin. Every outfit that this daring pop star wore kind of scared me. She somehow managed to hide part of her face in each by a lion mane/eskimo look, a face mask/neck brace (above in Jean Paul Gaultier), a red lace crown and even fake blood.

-Jennifer Lopez. I did not like Lopez's pink Louis Vuitton getup. The velvety looking top part looked out of place. It clashed with her Christian Louboutin lace shoes too. Her permanent holier-than-thou expression doesn't add much to the outfit either.

-Whitney Port. The City star missed the mark in a Christopher Kane skirt and bustier top. I also didn't like it with the ankle boots.

-Kanye West/Amber Rose. These two definitely win the worst dressed couple award. Kanye wore sloppy-looking acid washed jeans and a half-tucked black shiny shirt. His accessory of choice was a bottle of Hennessey. His girlfriend or muse or whatever wore a frightening tight snakeskin jumper.

New Moon soundtrack cover and song released

[StephenieMeyer.com]

Author Stephenie Meyer's site has revealed the New Moon soundtrack cover artwork and one of the songs that will be on the album! Indie group Death Cab for Cutie wrote the song "Meet Me on the Equinox" for the movie. How cool is that? Atlantic Records released this quote from the band...

We are very excited to be a part of this amazing series of novels set in our own backyard. It just seemed a perfect synergy that a band from the Northwest would create a song for a series of novels set in the Northwest. We wrote 'Meet Me On the Equinox' to reflect the celestial themes and motifs that run throughout the Twilight series and we wanted to capture that desperate feeling of endings and beginnings that so strongly affect the main characters. This song marks the first attempt that Death Cab for Cutie has ever made at contributing new, unreleased material for a film and we are proud to be a part of the Twilight legacy.
— Nick Harmer/Death Cab for Cutie

I love Death Cab for Cutie, so I'm sure the song is beautiful. This soundtrack has a lot to live up to after the amazing Twilight soundtrack. I've heard whispers that two of my faves, Bon Iver and Kings of Leon, may appear on the album.

The soundtrack will be released on Oct. 13 and in stores on Oct. 20. Amazon has it up for pre-order right now for $9.99.

InStyle.com: Designers sketch Twilight Bella's wedding dress!

[InStyle.com]

In Style asked some of their favorite designers to sketch Bella Swan's wedding dress for the upcoming film Eclipse. As all good Twilight fans know, Edward Cullen and Bella get engaged (after much reluctance on Bella's part) in the third novel. Alice Cullen picks out her dress for a classic 1918 wedding to match the antique engagement ring that belonged to Edward's mother. Author Stephenie Meyer describes her dress as looking like Anne of Green Gables.

I like Lela Rose's and Erin Fetherston's designs the best. The creamy ivory color of Rose's design (top) and the lace on the high-neck and train are gorgeous. Fetherston also went with a high neck. The strong shoulders are what I would envision being in style in 1918. The embellished two-tiers are also lovely.

I can't wait to see what they pick, and if they will actually choose to show the gown in Eclipse as they do in the book. Perhaps they'll decide to wait until their actual wedding in Breaking Dawn to unveil it?

Check out the rest of the designs here including Max Azria, Zac Posen, Christian Siriano and more.

Robsten out of the closet at a Kings of Leon show?

[INF]

Uh oh, Summit is going to have a conniption. Twilight stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart were spotted at a Kings of Leon show in Canada getting cozy. They were also possibly photographed kissing. Pattinson and Stewart have been mum on their relationship. Rob recently even went so far as to say that he's single to OK! Magazine. C'mon, the jig is up!

The rest of the Eclipse cast was also at the show. What good taste in music they have! My question is, why aren't they up dancing? Who can sit still at a KOL show?

New Moon calendar at Borders

I got my New Moon 2010 calendar from Borders. It sells for $16.99. Get it before it sells out (like the Twilight calendar did last year)! This 12" x 12" wall calendar features 13 shots of Edward, Bella and the rest of the cast. Unlike the Twilight calendar, these photos are more like head shots rather than scenes from the film.

Borders is also selling a 12"x 6" vertical calendar for $14.99. Now through Saturday, August 16, at Borders.com, if you buy two calendars with your Borders Rewards Card, you get one free. So buy one for your fellow Twihard friends.

Teen Choice Awards

[Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic]

[WireImage]

Twilight dominated the Teen Choice Awards last night with a whopping 11 awards including drama actor and actress, romance, movie drama, liplock and soundtrack. Robert Pattinson also took home a surfboard-shaped award for Male Hottie. Duh!

My favorite outfit was Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester's black-and-white striped Louis Vuitton dress which she paired with red Brian Atwood pumps. Other well-dressed ladies included Cameron Diaz in a grey Alexander McQueen dress, Vanessa Hudgens in a purple Dior minidress and Hayden Panettiere in a light pink ruched Zac Posen dress.

Vests and plaid shirts ruled for the gentlemen. Taylor Lautner, Jackson Rathbone, Chace Crawford and Kellan Lutz were all looking f-i-n-e in vests. Robert Pattinson and Zac Efron went casual in plaid button-ups with jeans. The Jonas Brothers also looked dapper in their signature suits with slim-fitting pants.

Worst dressed goes to Miley Cyrus in a too-short mini and way too many accessories and GG's Ed Westwick. I'm not sure what the usually well-dressed Ed was thinking when he wore that James Dean tee, rolled-up jeans with loafers and no socks, but it wasn't cute! I'm also on the fence about Kristen Stewart's spiky Rock & Republic dress. I guess it fits her new Joan Jett persona.

Rumor has it that there was some Twilight love action going on. Rob and Kristen supposedly spent the night together, and Chace Crawford was seen kissing Ashley Greene (aka Alice Cullen) in a cab this morning in L.A. Ooolala!

Rachelle Lefevre replaced in Eclipse

[MTV.com]

[Getty Images]

Rachelle Lefevre has been replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard in the third film of the Twilight Saga, Eclipse, for the role of Victoria. Summit Entertainment's decision to recast the role is shocking to both fans and Lefevre. The redheaded Canadian actress played the evil vampire Victoria, who wants to kill Bella for revenge, in both Twilight and New Moon.

Summit claims that she was replaced because of a scheduling conflict. Another film that Lefevre was working on, Barney's Version, was set to begin filming for two weeks in Europe on the same day as Eclipse production began. Lefevre had this to say, "Never did I fathom I would lose the role over a 10-day overlap."

Howard's last film was Terminator Salvation, but she is perhaps most famous for her roles in The Village and Spiderman 3. Howard, also a redhead, is the daughter of well-known actor/director Ron Howard (DaVinci Code and Frost/Nixon).

Fans are really upset about Summit's decision to replace Lefevre. I don't think it's a good idea to change the cast midway through the saga. My only complaint with Lefevre in Twilight was that her hair wasn't quite as fiery red as it was described in the book.

After having just read Eclipse again, I think either actress is a good match for the role of Victoria. Her role is pretty big in this book, but if you've read the books you know that she will obviously not be in the next film Breaking Dawn. Yesterday Lefevre tweeted, "I am so touched by all your responses and feel incredibly blessed to have fans like you. From the bottom of my heart: THANK YOU."

New Moon trailer

Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner gave the world the first look at the New Moon trailer on the MTV Movie Awards. It gave me chills!

The almost two-minutes trailer opens with Edward and Bella on her birthday. What's up with Kristen's weird eyebrow movement? Then at the Cullen's house she's nearly attacked by Jasper after getting a paper cut.

We then see Edward leaving Bella. James's and Victoria's friend and fellow vampire Laurent is about to attack Bella then it cuts to a shirtless Jacob (umm, somebody's been working out!). He comes to her rescue and turns into a wolf mid-air. I'd been wondering how the wolves would look.

From what I can tell, the movie definitely has a different look from Twilight. It's most likely due to the new director, Chris Weitz, who has more of a special effects background with films like The Golden Compass. Catherine Hardwicke also shot Twilight in a distinct blue lighting, and this didn't have that look at all. I can't wait to see what Weitz does with one of Stephenie Meyer's beloved novels. C'mon November 20!

Shirtless Rob and a Kiss

[Socialite Life/Splash News]

Holy gorgeousness! New Moon is currently filming the Volturi scenes in Montepulciano, Italy, and these amazing photos were just released. This is the scene where Edward (Robert Pattinson) thinks something has happened to Bella (Kristen Stewart), so he's going to show his true glittery vampire self in the sunlight to anger the Volturi to cause his own death.

Rob is looking HOT! These photos make it even harder to wait until November 20.

New Moon poster leaked!

The alleged official New Moon poster has been leaked. The Washington Times posted it a few days earlier than Summit Entertainment had planned on releasing it. Thank you Washington Times!

I absolutely love the poster. I like how they positioned them with Edward in the front, Jacob in the middle and Bella in the back. All Twilight fans know that Edward always comes first, but Jacob does give Bella a run for her money - especially in New Moon!

Michael Sheen as Aro in New Moon

I am thrilled about New Moon director Chris Weitz's choice of Michael Sheen as Aro. Sheen was incredible in The Queen as Tony Blair and Frost/Nixon as David Frost. I think he'll be perfect in the role as the domineering undead leader of the Volturi.

I'm excited to see how Sheen will play the character since we're used to seeing him in more subdued roles. He does have that mischevious smile that will suit the manipulative Aro to a tee.

Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg has also said that she's pulling for Channing Tatum as Riley in Eclipse. Is she working on the Eclipse screenplay already? Riley is the new-born vampire who helps Victoria in her big fight at the end of the novel. He's somewhat of a tragic character because he thinks Victoria loves him, but she's only using him. Rob and Channing in one movie? Too delish!

New Moon art revealed

[MTV]

MTV revealed the artwork for New Moon. Loves it! I really like that font; it was used for Twilight too. The font is similar to what was used for Stephanie Meyer's books as well.

How exciting that the movie will be out one year after Twilight hit theaters. New Moon is supposed to start filming on March 23.

Alec in New Moon?

So it appears that Dakota Fanning is definitely in as Jane in New Moon. Now director Chris Weitz has to find Jane's brother Alec as well as the rest of the Volturi. The actors pictured are from a people.com poll: Tom Felton, Lucas Grabeel, Freddie Highmore and Gaspard Ulliel.

My vote is for Lucas. According to Meyer's description of Alec compared to Jane, "his hair was darker, and his lips were not as full, but he was just as lovely." I think Lucas fits this, plus he is similar in looks to Dakota too. He was in High School the Musical and Milk.