Copyright © Summit Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

It was the biggest midnight opening… ever.  It now holds the record for the third highest grossing film on an opening weekend, just behind summer blockbusters The Dark Knight and Spiderman 3. Anyone who so much as turned on the television during the promotional tour knows that there are obviously people (overwhelming hoards of screaming, obsessive people) who like this movie.  But, despite its passionate fans, who, judging from its success at the box office, make up  a good bit more than 5 percent of the population (and yes, that was an unveiled dig at Roger Ebert’s reaction to the film), this movie can’t seem to get a good review.   The critics hate it almost as much as I hated teaching, although the vast majority of them readily admit they haven’t actually read the book.

I’m not one whose taste is usually consistent with the masses, and I’m generally appalled to see the schlock in the number one box office slot, but if you’re among the minority that hold some sort of strange animosity toward this film or the Twilight Saga in general, you may want to begin preparing your rant now, because I’m giving New Moon what could be its first piece of positive criticism.

Before I go any further, I feel I should first confess that my viewing of The Twilight Saga: New Moon was anything but objective.  Oh yes.  I am among the droves of people who flocked to theaters nationwide for the midnight opening.  I watched interviews with cast members (Ellen, Conan, both Jimmys, and Leno) and surfed the web for new information and trailers prior to the release date.  I devoured all four books in two days’ time.  Hell, I am one of them.  I am not merely a bystander, but part of the phenomenon.

I say all of this unabashedly now, but I was once a skeptic myself.  My coworkers threw Twilight parties with “blood” red velvet cake for dessert, and I rolled my eyes.  Friends coerced me into actually paying money to see the first film during my Christmas vacation.  I made smart ass remarks about Edward’s ridiculous bouffant hair and laughed hysterically when, instead of becoming grotesque and decrepit in the sun, he glistened with what appeared to be perspiration to the sound of my grandmother’s wind chimes.

Copyright © Summit Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

But in the end, I decided I liked the gritty, indie, teenage-cult-classic look Catherine Hardwicke created, and I was drawn to the depth I saw in Kristen Stewart (plus the girl is smokin’ hot!).  A seed had been planted. It couldn’t hurt to just try the books; I’d always had a thing for vampires…

Now, I have read each one twice, and while I’ll be the first to admit they are not necessarily good literature,  I loved them all and have probably never been so consumed by a story and the characters in it.  All of this is to say I had very high expectations going into New Moon, and I was not disappointed.

As I sprinted to the restroom after drinking a bucket of Diet Coke,  I took note of the fact  that I nearly caused myself a kidney infection because I couldn’t tear myself away from the screen, and that in itself is a testament to the film.  That being said, I think one of New Moon’s most impressive accomplishments is the translation from book to screen.  I have never known another movie to be as true to the original material as I found this one to be.  The credit belongs to all departments, but especially to screenwriter Melissa Rosenburg and to the actors themselves, who were able to maintain the complex emotional arcs Stephanie Meyer has written into these characters.

New Moon’s critics have extensively criticized the young actors in this film, pointing specifically to Robert Pattinson’s “brooding” expression or to the way they all seem to spend so much time staring intensely at one another.  I could go into the details of arguing that the excessive brooding, intense staring, and general melodrama are appropriate given that the story is told first person from a teenager’s point of view within the context of first love and that all of the above are also prevalent in the book, but I’ll focus on the strengths of the performances, which, in my humble opinion, were all praise-worthy.

Although I can’t overlook the talent that Michael Sheen brought to the role of Aro, I was most affected by the three leads.  Kristen Stewart is exceptional – her increasing maturity as an actor reflects the ways in which Bella matures from the first film to the second, but I have seen the caliber of acting Kristen brings to other roles as well (Into the Wild, Cake Eaters, Adventureland), so I expected a quality performance from her.

Copyright © Summit Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson are more inexperienced, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from them, but I saw significant growth in both actors (and I’m talking about their craft, not Taylor’s biceps or Rob’s newly-defined abs).  Taylor’s character, Jacob Black,  is much more prominently featured in New Moon than he is in Twilight, but I was pleased to see that Taylor was convincingly able to transform from easy-going and reckless to burdened and hot-tempered.

Of the three, I was probably the most impressed with Robert Pattinson’s performance.  I hope I don’t discredit myself in saying that my assessment has nothing to do with the fact that I find the 23 year old Brit painfully attractive, but in an attempt to salvage my credibility,  I’ll mention I recently saw him in the indie flick How to Be and was contrarily unimpressed.  While all three young actors seemed unfalteringly committed to their roles, Kristen and Rob were surprisingly able to convey emotional subtext from the book with subtle nuances in their expressions.  Watching their faces, I was almost able to photographically visualize Bella’s descriptions on the pages of the book. This is especially true during the breakup scene in the woods and during Bella’s reunion with Edward in Itlay.  The scene that affected me the most, however, was probably the one beside Bella’s truck, just after her birthday party.  Rob’s performance in that scene and the scene in which  he receives what he believes to be confirmation of Bella’s death give us the most telling looks at the nature of Edward’s character in the series, and we see in his tortured face the way he cares for Bella.  There is a prevailing notion among critics that Edward is a bad guy who treats Bella coldly,  and because of this misconception, many of them believe Twilight sends the unhealthy message to teenage girls that it’s desirable to be in a relationship with someone who is emotionally abusive.  But in those moments and a few others, Rob plays the character exactly the way it was written and we see his decision to leave Bella is not abandonment (although she certainly feels abandoned), but rather a selfless attempt to protect her and give her what he sees as a healthier life without him.

Copyright © Summit Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Capturing the heightened emotional state most teenagers (or vampires… or people in general for that matter) experience when they fall in love is what Stephanie Meyer does so well with the Twilight Saga, and Chris Weitz’s film adaptation of New Moon, with its classically romantic color compositions, interprets her book with art and integrity.   While there is some action in it, this is not an action movie.  It’s an unusual love story drawn from classic influences (Stephanie Meyer repeatedly alludes to Romeo and Juliet) and set in the midst of a re-imagined mythological world of vampires and werewolves.  If that sort of thing doesn’t interest you,  you’re not going to like this film.  Duh.

PS- The soundtrack is extraordinary… really.  A melancholy masterpiece.

Noticed anything strange? Yep, right! I didn’t start the headline with “How to dazzle”. Revolution! I felt kind of limited in my endless twi-creativity and couldn’t use the great post titles that sometimes came to my mind. So I talked to Zelda about it yesterday and she goes like “Hey, don’t worry. Doesn’t really matter. If you don’t want to start with HTD, then just don’t!” That’s one thing I like about Zelda, things like that are no big deal for her. Of course I feel a little bit bad now because I screwed the actual concept of our blog. Cause the reason why we chose the name How To Dazzle over all our other ideas was that we thought it funny to start all our post with the words HTD. So to calm my bad conscience I’ll probably start some of my future post with the usual phrase nevertheless. Not today though. Today it’s revolution!

Wondering where I’m going with this headline? Yeah, me too… So let’s figure it out. Here we go! After the New Moon premiere on november 16th I spent weeks a few minutes watching all the red carpet interviews. And of course I didn’t miss out on all the Shaun Robinson Access Hollywood stuff. So just you can get my point better and in case you can’t remember all the details properly, here are some of the interviews again:

Watch as Shaun Robinson gets bitten by Rob and touches his hair… if you can bear it. Cause I’m about to die everytime I watch this. Simply because I’m so damn jealous. I mean, honestly? Rob and this woman got insider jokes? Really?

Watch as Taylor gets waaay embarrassed. There’s proof, he even says it out loud! Yeah, I know I already used this one in another post. So just enjoy it again. All the cut-outs and action figures and sexy abs jokes seem to be a bit too much for poor Taylor. And he’s right. I kind of pity him. This woman stuck the Jacob Black doll into her skirt just to get Taylor to touch her? Hey Shaun, I tell you this because no matter what I write in this post I like your interviews a lot and I don’t want you to end up in jail: He’s seventeen, that’s only legal in Georgia! So keep that in mind next time you do something crazy like… let’s say pulling a stuffed animal wolf out of your Team Taylor panties… Just saying.

Aaahhh, she does it again! Don’t touch his hair, please. I beg you. Not that I wouldn’t do it as well given the chance… The hair thing, yes. But never ever in my whole ife would I get out my Edward blanket in front of Rob. Never. Except if this was part of some crazy fantasy of his, ifyouknowwhatimean…

And to finish it off, the wolfpack. Yeah, get out your super iPhone Jacob Black special edition. Cause you know they will love it. Best part? Seeing the disappointment in her eyes when she can’t all talk them into taking their shirts of immediatly. But hey, this is Shaun Robinson. She doesn’t give up that easily. So enjoy all the hot wolfpack members giving her their best werewolf growl.

Shaun Robinson is able to even put Cathy the Cougar to shame. I bet she waited in front of Taylors house on november 20th, trying to bribe him into finally taking his shirt off for her. I really feel so damn 2nd-hand-embarrassed for her everytime I watch those interviews. Although I got to admit they’re quite funny. But all the cut-outs and the Edward blanket… I’m sure she brought all that stuff from my her house aka the sexy New Moon cast members tribute lair. Yeah, why not. Given the opportunity Zelda and I would steal purchase some of those cut-outs as well. And then take photos of us kissing and embracing them. And then make fun of ourselves for being the fangirls we are…

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Off to call my accomplice Zelda to find out were the nearest cut-out is

Saveyoursoul

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PS: Noticed how I just introduced our official abreviation for the first time? Yeah, HTD. Awesome, isn’t it?

Anyone else feeling 2nd-hand-embarrassed for Shaun Robinson? Do you like her interviews as well? Wish you had a cast members tribute lair as well? Leave us a comment or send an e-mail!

(videos: YouTube)

The two-week $481 million worldwide gross of “New Moon” has vaulted Summit Entertainment into the big leagues, but it also has created a high-class challenge for toppers Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger.

They will likely have to cut a few big checks if they decided, as rumored, to split Stephenie Meyer’s final “Twilight” novel, “Breaking Dawn,” into two pictures. Sources said Summit has set Melissa Rosenberg — who wrote the first three films — to finish the series, but Summit has to clear several hurdles before Rosenberg learns how many more scripts she’ll write.

One of those hurdles is figuring out whether “New Moon” director Chris Weitz will respond favorably to overtures from the film company and the cast to shoot two more films, back to back.

Summit execs would not comment, but multiple sources said the company wants to go the two-film route, which means reopening negotiations and securing approval from the author. It also means making new deals with a principal cast that is only locked up for four films. If “Breaking Dawn” becomes two pictures, all of the key cast members will get fat raises, and the three principals — Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner — could land paydays in the eight-figure range.

CONTINUE…

To be honest, I have no expectations for New Moon, especially after Twilight. I didn’t think Catherine Hardwicke did a fantastic job. Shoot me if you must but it is my opinion.

While New Moon remains my highly anticipated movie of 2009, I wanted to watch it just as a follow through and to catch the impacts of Dakota Fanning and Michael Sheen. Despite exciting trailers, my hope remains flat on the ground.

Two hours ten minutes later?

I am planning another round of New Moon

Truly Chris Weitz got it spot on! New Moon was clearly made for the fans and despite the ‘I could not care less errors’, it soared. It stayed true to the book. Fighting scenes were smooth. Cinematography and songs sequence was well done. I am still amazed by how Chris continued the saga. It was like reading the book. The way I would have visualised it. I vote him for Breaking Dawn.

The acting improved by miles. Robert Pattinson, as gorgeous as always, just proved he is Edward Cullen material. While the fight scenes put him down, brooding scenes was heart felt. Taylor Lautner is Jacob Black. Period. He is just as warmth and just as fun. Looking forward to see him in Eclipse. Kristen Stewart, with most screen time was the best of the three. Her emotions was believeable. While I didn’t feel her pain (as I only feel for Jacob, yes I’m bias), I thought she executed Bella’s heartache and love for Edward really well. Her concern for Jacob was as painful and her slap on Paul remains one of my favourite scenes. Ashley Greene is perfection as Alice Cullen. When she gets her screen time, she stood out.

Meanwhile I still have Jasper and Rosalie issues. Yeah, I’ll try get over it. Jackson was just okay for except for his hair.  Nikki is a gorgeous miscasted brunette. She plays Rosalie well. I liked her no emotion vote scene but I just don’t see her Rosalie beauty the way it was described in the book. The rest of the Cullens definitely had their presence felt. Nonetheless, the master of presence goes to non other than Dakota Fanning. It was an awesome five minutes with her. She brought Jane to life. Another Volturi worth mentioning is Michael Sheen. Had it been Johnny Depp, he would have stolen the show from everyone. No offence to Michael Sheen as he made a tremendous Aro especially playing around with emotions. The fight scene between Daniel Cudmore’s Felix and Robert Pattinson’s Edward was just as exciting.

The wolves were fun to watch too especially eating muffin scene. I thought it was light hearted. My favourite human is still Chief Swan. Billy Burke definitely pulled it off as daddy in distressed.

In a nutshell, while I have always love vampires (think Louis aka Brad Pitt in Interview With The Vampire), I’m team Jacob all the way for this one and proud of it. Leni, my partner and good friend remains Team Edward and president Robsessed :p

As a fan and an audience, I give New Moon 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you, Chris Weitz for making it for the fans. Your effort is deeply appreciated. Here’s to you returning for Breaking Dawn.

Yesterday we handed out the How To Dazzle Awards for our favorite things in New Moon. So in order to stay honest, today is the day we present you the “Dazzling Raspberry”, our award for things we did not like that much when seeing New Moon for the first time. Because you got to admit there were a few strange details… Doesn’t mean we didn’t like the movie though. We rated it four out of five Heineken bottles, remember? Okay, here we go!

And the award goes to…

1. Worst make-up: Esme. She looked kind of naturally beautiful in Twilight. This time she looked as is a twelve year old had tried to use eyeliner for the first time. Remember when you wanted to have a thin elegant line and it all ended up being too broad and nothing but an awfully thick black blotch? Yep, that’s what Esme’s make-up reminded me of…

2. Most unsexy scene supposed to be sexy: Edward in the red Volturi cloak. I expected it to look mystical, like a wizard’s or one of the elves’, kind of representing power and magic. Instead we got something that looked very much like either a priest’s robe or Liza Minelli’s bathrobe. None of them very sexy to me, sorry!

3. Worst Rosalie bitch moment: “It’s a necklace. Alice picked it out.” Oh, great. Give someone a present, then immediately say you didn’t buy it yourself and are not the least bit interested if she likes it or not. Exactly what Bella needed for her birthday since she hates getting older anyway. Yeah Rosalie, you can even make people feel bad on their birthday, what an awesome gift!

4. Strangest line: Harry Clearwater saying “My Kung Fu is strong”. He knows about the vampires and werewolves and he knows that Bella knows about the vamps but instead of making a subtle hint about that he goes for “My Kung Fu is strong”. Definitely the new spider-monkey!

5. Worst change in comparison to the book: Hardcore romantic Edward being even sappier than in the books. Unbelievable that this was even possible but Melissa Rosenberg made it happen.

6. Worst outfit: Carlisle’s Volturi outfit. Okay, maybe it was once hip to wear velvet, silk and lace as a man but still… I can’t help myself, it somehow looks gay. Sorry Carlisle!

7. Most unnecessary line: Jane saying “pain” before torturing Edward. Did they think the audience would not get what Jane is doing if she didn’t announce it? I mean, they would realize what happens as soon as Edward starts writhing in agony, right?

8. Worst driver: Edward when he’s parking in the school parking lot on Bella’s birthday taking at least three spots with his new charcoal Volvo (Yeah, he even beat Bella hitting her head while trying to ride a motorcycle). Only reason to justify this? Well, it looks like a really cool Volvo TV spot when he get’s out and walks towards Bella. And to be honest, I don’t really mind. Edward could take as many parking spots as he likes as long as he would walk over to me like that… Just saying.

Zelda's favorite sexy poodle wig

9. Worst wig: Actually I voted for Jasper and his new poodle wig here but Zelda is really into his hair, so the jury aka we chose Rosalie instead. Because it looks so damn unnatural and not at all like real hair. And shouldn’t that be the purpose of wigs in movies? To look as if they were the real hair of actors? Not such a huge success here. Fits in nicely with the blond vain bitch cliché though…

10. Worst scene: The kissing scene on Bella’s birthday in front of her truck. Because this is so not sexy. Edward starts groaning and moaning as if in deep pain and looks like he is about to start crying every second. Simply horrible. I felt kind of 2nd-hand-embarrassed for him and I didn’t think that was possible. Honestly, before he would kiss me like that I’d rather not be kissed by Edward at all. Hard to believe, I know. But true nevertheless. In case it ever comes to this Edward, just so that you know, I want a real kiss! You can do better than that! And I can definitely do better than Bella…  Just saying.

Don’t worry Chris, we liked the movie a lot. We just felt as if we had to mention the not so good parts as well so that you believe us we don’t belong to those hardcore fans loving everything twi-related without really thinking about it. In case you feel depressed now (You shouldn’t!) just read what we posted yesterday again! Cause there was some pretty awesome stuff that made us invent the superspecial How To Dazzle Awards just to appreciate your work. Something we didn’t think that necessary for Cathy Hardi butchering directing Twilight…

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Off to buy a supersexy red cloak for Edward in case he shows up

Saveyoursoul

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Anything we missed? What do you think deserved the Dazzling Raspberry? Leave us a comment or send an e-mail!

(images: Polyvore and google)

I like Twilight.

What can I do if the film was specially designed, produced, directed to me (and most girls in the world)?

I like vampires stories, I like forbidden love stories, I think Kirsten Stewart is beautiful and so is Robert Pattinson. Separate, their acting is nothing special (perhaps less than that) but together they are incendiary.

The soundtrack? It’s bloody sexy. It’s my kind of music and perfectly fitted during the film.

It’s a film for girls, and I risk saying it is a good film because it works, because it makes us girls fall onto our knees. The objective of the film was to charm us and so it did!

For fellow film buffs and filmmakers, I’m not saying this is a gem, I’m not saying it’s worth an award, or comparing it to great film masterpieces.

I’m saying only that this film brilliantly achieves what it proposes to.

The secret to this success? Catherine Hardwicke.

I say that because New Moon sucks.

How can you expect the director of American Pie to direct a film for girls?

What was that scene of Edward and Bella running in the woods? The guy thinks his audience are 9 year olds? They look like fairy tale when we are talking about vampires! Vampires are devilish sexy not heavenly angels!

What was he thinking? That a shirtless Taylor Lautner would be enough?

Catherine Hardwicke created the perfect atmosphere in Twilight. Bella is this awkward, beautiful and ‘weird’ girl. Edward is not just the most handsome boy in the school, he is a vampire!!! He is mysterious, he is sexy even when doesn’t want to and irresistible when does.

Chris Weitz thought that he was once again directing a film only about teenagers in high school. Catherine Hardwicke saw above that! She saw the potential of the novel, she got spot on what would make girls all over the world go crazy for another vampire story.

A yellow anorak on a character that is going through depression? So many close-ups that made me wonder if there were only giant heads in this film.

Soundtrack was good, but didn’t save the film, specially because you could tell it was not trying to create a mood, it was there just keep the Twilight winning formula.

I could go on and on, but my English is not good enough to keep going.

Teadsid seda, et Videviku filmimise ajal, kui Bella vaatab Culleneid ja Edward kaob, siis noor mees musta värvi riietes jookseb Jessica ja Bella tagant mööda. Keegi ei tea kes ta on, isegi mitte direktor Catherine Hardwicke.

After seeing the movie Zelda and I found so many things that fascinated us in New Moon. It’s always the little things that make a film special for me. So in honor to our favorite parts in Chris Weitz’ awesome adaptation, we now proudly present the 1st How To Dazzle Awards, handed out by an unbelievably dazzling jury consisting of… well,uhm, Zelda and me!

And the award goes to…

1. Best make-up: Rob’s airbrushed on abs in the Volterra scene. And just in case that one doesn’t count because it’s not really what anyone woud call make-up, we pick Dakota Fanning’s Jane make-up. Simply because it looked awesome and kind of creepy at the same time.

2. Best intentionally funny moment: Emmett grinning and saying “Dating an older girl, hot!” and Edward’s face when he realizes the joke, hilarious. Lucky Bella didn’t hear that. She would have totally freaked out, cause you know, age’s a touchy subject for her…

3. Best song: Lykke Li – Possibility because it’s so melancholy beautiful and fits the scene where the months pass for Bella so well. Just in case you don’t remember it properly, enjoy it again here:

4. Best line: Jacob talking Quileute to Bella right before the phone rings. I cannot write the line down here cause to be honest I have no idea how to spell it, sorry! Nevertheless the jury (Zelda and I) found this so heartwrenching and cute. Jake, if she doesn’t want you, you can talk Quileute to me anytime you want, ifyouknowwhatimsaying….

5. Best CGI Wolf: The one where Jacob transforms mid-air to save Bella from Paul. I mean, how cool is that?

Taylor Lautner sporting best abs AND best outfit...

6. Best outfit: Jorts, definitely jorts! Basically because they’re not really an outfit at all. Major win! Show us what you got, guys!

7. Best special effect: Edward sparkling in the sun, just because he looks absolutely dazzling there. This is how it is done, Cathy Hardwicke! Chris really beat your ass there! Thanks a lot for finally making Edward shimmer as if he consisted of diamonds, this is how it’s supposed to be. Cause you all know what’s said about diamonds and girls, right?

8. Best abs: Taylor Lautner as Jacob. I have no idea what they did with him in between Twilight and New Moon but damn he looks ripped! Those abs are beyond a six-pack. They even got a tribute scene of their own aka Jacob standing half-naked on the street stopping Edward’s car with his abs. Awesome!

Rachelle Lefevre aka the most dazzling redhead in the whole wide world

9. Best hair: Rachelle Lefevre as Victoria, no one can compete with this! Wish I had her hair… instead I’m stuck with stupid long brown Bella hair… maybe a bit more beautiful than Bella’s (perhaps a result of not wearing a stupid hairband all the time like a seven year old girl…) but still no comparison to Rachelle’s. I’m not only gonna miss her in Eclipse but her hair as well, I guess…

10. Best scene: The one where you see the months pass for Bella. Because it’s simply perfect! I cannot imagine this one any better. The sad song, Bella looking horrible sitting on her chair, staring out the window completely motionless and most of all, the names of the months. I so wanted to see them on screen, and I got them.
This might be the actual reason why I want to marry Chris Weitz… or at least name my first child in honor to him…

So this were our personal winners. At lest the ones we noticed while watching New Moon for the first time. Wanna see us handing out the Dazzling Raspberry for the not so amazing parts? Because we will! Not today though. Today we simply enjoy Chris Weitz’ brilliant work some more…

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Off to dye my hair to make it look like Rachelle’s (as if that would ever work…)

Saveyoursoul

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What were your favorite parts? Which things did you not like that much? Any categories we forgot to mention? Leave us a comment or e-mail us!

Como estudante de jornalismo, apoio a liberdade de imprensa e com a propagação de blogs na internet, todos podem falar o que quer e acho isso um peso e duas medidas. Mas não concordo com muito do que foi dito nesta matéria.

Eu não vi ainda o filme, mas duvido muito que Kristen Stewart esteja tão mal assim no filme. Ela não é uma garota tão conhecida e com tanta bagagem como Dakota Fanning, por exemplo.  Mas dizer que a garota é inexpressiva, pra mim, é demais.

A coisa mais natural do mundo é um livro, ou uma coleção deles, fazer o maior sucesso e quando ganha uma adaptação para o cinema não ser tão bom, mas fazer sucesso na sétima arte por causa dos fãs dos livros… pra mim já é demais. “A Bússola de Ouro”, primeiro livro da coleção Fronteiras do Universo de Philip Pullman é uma obra fantástica. A coleção foi publicada no início dos anos 90 e só em 2007 ganhou uma adaptação para o cinema do primeiro livro, e quado vi me decepcionei.  Mas me decepcionei por uma série de fatores, não por atuação de um ou outro ator, até porque o elenco do filme é muito bom.

Todo mundo que viu “Lua Nova” me disse que o filme é muito melhor que “Crepúsculo” em termos de técnica, efeitos visuais, efeitos especiais, maquiagem dos atores etc. Será mesmo que é tão ruim quanto essa jornalista descreve? Não sei não… Vou assistir e conferir…

Como diz Noblat:  “Médico acha que é Deus e jornalista tem certeza”. Como aluna da faculdade de comunicação da Universidade Federal da Bahia, digo que ele está certíssimo, pois na faculdade em que estudo há muitos pseudointelectuais que se acham o suprassumo da sabedoria. Prefiro os humildes e que escrevem o que realmente pensam, não somente utilizar o seu papel de formador de opinião para criticar e esculhambar alguma coisa… Quando se é crítico de cinema, de literatura ou crítico cultural como um todo, deve-se ter cuidado com o que se diz e realmente com o que se vai criticar. Principalmente quando se é algo voltado para o público infanto-juvenil. Nem sempre eles encaram e entendem as argumentações como os adultos…

Pronto! Falei! Posso até ser criticada por isso. Mas aqui é um espaço democrático. Não recebo sempre elogios. E as críticas construitivas são sempre muito bem vidas.

Matéria publicada no Caderno 2 do jornal A Tarde, na página 3, no dia 21 de novembro de 2009.

Lua Nova desperta a esperada euforia nos fãs, mas decepciona

Maria Santossa

Gritinhos histéricos, suspiros e sessão lotada marcaram a estreia de “Lua Nova”, segundo filme da saga “Crepúsculo”, em Salvador, na madrugada de ontem. Os fanáticos teens (sobretudo garotas), aparentemente alheios ao quanto o filme deixa a desejar, se derreteram toda vez que Edward (Robert Pattison) surgiu, tirou a camisa ou se declarou a Bella (Kristen Stewart).

Escrita pela dona de casa norte-americana Stephenie Meyer, a serie de quatro livros sobre o amor de uma humana por um vampiro – ambos adolescentes (quer dizer, ele tem 17 há 109 anos) – virou best-seller, com mais de 80 milhões de livros vendidos desde 2005. Nesta segunda parte da história, um incidente na casa dos Cullens leva Edward a terminar o relacionamento e a abandonar Bella, que encontra forças na amizade (ou seria no amor?) de Jacob.

Ao lado de Taylor Lautner (Jacob), a atriz Kristen Stewart (Bella) fica ainda mais inexpressiva

Surpresa

O personagem de Taylor Lautner, inclusive, ganhou – literalmente – corpo na trama. Criticado pela falta de carisma após o primeiro filme (“Crepúsculo”, 2008), ele é a surpresa do elenco principal. Perto dele, Stewart ficou ainda mais inexpressiva. As sobrancelhas semicerradas, os olhos fixos no chão e a boca entreaberta acompanharam a garota em diversas cenas. Como a trama está mais arrastada, os atores receberam um foco dramático. Azar deste foco pousar justamente em atuações medíocres e sorte do enredo, que, de tão envolvente, não desanda.

Orçado em US$ 50 milhões, “Lua Nova” deve ser sucesso de bilheteria mais por causa dos inúmeros fãs da série do que pela qualidade técnica. Nem mesmo a substituição da diretora Catherine Hardwicke por Chris Weitz (de “A Bússola de Ouro”) injetou apuro e sofisticação.

A maquiagem amadora e os efeitos nada especiais melhoraram, mas não tanto. O brilho da pela vampiresca ao sol está mais verossímil e a fotografia foi mais bem cuidada; a transformação de garotos em lobos gigantes, no entanto, é risível.

Há quem diga que o interesse no pretenso romance (na vida real) de Kristen e Pattison e o polêmico posicionamento do Vaticano, que considerou o longa “um desvio moral”, possa atrair o público a ponto de o filme bater os mais de US$ 383 milhões arrecadados no longa anterior. Os mais críticos e espertos, no entanto, devem se preparar e esperar menos de “Eclipse”, o terceiro longa da série, previsto para junho do ano que vem.

]]> http://universoliterario.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/descabeladamente-romantico/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:57:20 +0000 Melissa Rocha http://universoliterario.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/descabeladamente-romantico/

Matéria publicada na revista Veja do dia 18 de novembro de 2009.

Descabeladamente romântico

“Lua Nova”, o segundo filme da saga “Crepúsculo”, quer atrair agora também os garotos, com lobisomens superpoderosos e cenas de ação. Mas, para manter fiéis as meninas que a-do-ram a série, reforça ainda mais o drama de amor adolescente entre o vampiro cavalheiresco Edward e a adolescente casta Bella.

Jarônimo Teixeira, de Los Angeles

Corações partidos: Bella (Kristen) desesperada com a perda de seu vampiro, é socorrida pelo lobisomem Jacob (Lautner): tentativas de suicídio e muitos peitorais nus, apesar do frio

Como tantos adolescentes do ensino médio, os enamorados Edward (Robert Pattison) e Bella (Kristen Stewart) estão mais interessados no seu ti-ti-ti íntimo do que naquilo que os professores tentam ensinar. O professor de literatura, irritado com a desatenção de Edward, pede que ele reproduza a fala de Romeu, de Shakespeare, pouco antes do suicídio – e Edward o surpreende. Conhece o trecho de cor e o recita com sentimento: “A morte, que sugou o mel do teu hálito, não teve poder contra tua beleza”. “Foi esquisito fazer aquela cena”, disse o ator inglês Robert Pattison, de 23 anos, a VEJA. “Toda a sala, cheia de extras, olhava para mim. Errei e tive de recomeçar várias vezes”. Dificilmente essa será a sequência mais lembrava de “Lua Nova” (The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Estados Unidos, 2009), a continuação de “Crepúsculo”, que estreia no país na próxima sexta-feira. As garotas – público primordial dos filmes baseados nos best-sellers de Stephenie Meyer – vão suspirar diante do inefável Pattison. Um novo imã para seus olhares é o pedaçudo Taylor Lautner (que interpreta o lobisomem Jacob), exibindo seus peitorais malhados. No esforço de incrementar o apelo para os rapazes, há mais sequências de ação e muita computação gráfica. A citação de “Romeu e Julieta”, porém, dá o tom do filme, em tudo fiel ao espírito do livro original. Stephenie Meyer, mórmon praticante, dispensa o ardor sexual do jovem casal criado por Shakespeare – mas, nos quatro romances que já venderam mais de 80 milhões de exemplares ao redor do mundo, não tem pudor de retratar, com as tintas mais encarnadas, o drama desesperado que é o amor adolescente.

Dirigido por Catherine Hardwicke, “Crepúsculo”, o primeiro filme, trazia o início do amor entre o vampiro Edward, virtualmente imortal, dotado de força e velocidade sobre-humanas e capaz de ler mentes, e a humana Bella, uma desajeitada garota que se muda do ensolarado Arizona para o frio estado de Washington (as locações não são lá: no primeiro filme, foram no Oregon; em “Lua Nova”, em Vancouver, no Canadá). Com o orçamento relativamente modesto de 40 milhões de dólares, o filme teve bilheteria mundial de 350 milhões de dólares e projetou Kristen e Pattison como o casal mais queridinho do cinema (sim, eles namoraram fora das telas, mas agora estão aparentemente dando um tempo). “Lua Nova” é sobre rompimento e dor. No seu aniversário de 18 anos (a atriz tem 19), Bella começa a se angustiar com o fato de que está envelhecendo, enquanto seu namorado, que tem 108 anos, estacionou na aparência de 17. Edward, cioso dos perigos que a companhia dos vampiros traz à amada, acaba se afastando de Bella, na tentativa de protegê-la. Ele tem sede do sangue de Bella, mas contém-se: não quer transformá-la no monstro que ele mesmo julga ser. Essa abstinência tem sido interpretada como uma pregação da contenção sexual para os jovens, muito de acordo com o ideário religioso da autora. A menina entra em desespero, até encontrar consolo na companhia do lobão Jacob.

Edward – quase um deus, mas acessível para a prosaica Bella – inflama a imaginação das fãs. Depois de “Crepúsculo”, fotos de Pattison ganharam as paredes dos quartos de adolescentes e pré-adolescentes de todo o mundo. “Nunca imaginei algo assim. No meu tempo de escola, eu não era nem de longe o garoto mais desejado da classe”, diz o encabulado ator de cabelos desgrenhados, enquanto seus dedos de unhas um tanto sujas atarraxam e desatarraxam ansiosamente a tampa de uma garrafa de água mineral.

Com Edward ausente em grande parte da história, tudo indica que chegou a hora de Taylor Lautner, 17 anos. Sua participação no primeiro filme era pouco mais do que uma ponta. Em “Lua Nova”, o papel cresceu – e Lautner também: ameaçado de ser substituído, o ator franzino malhou e engoliu meses de dieta proteica. “Eu tinha de comer a cada duas horas. Não era agradável”, diz ele. Seu torso esculpido tornou-se um recurso dramático primordial para o novo filme. “Era meio esquisito trabalhar o tempo todo sem camisa no frio de Vancouver, onde todo mundo anda encasacado”, diz o ator. Lautner está namorando a cantora country Taylor Swift (mais um casal dos sonhos…), que recentemente lhe mandou um recadinho carinhoso no monólogo de abertura do programa cômico Saturday Night Life (para em seguida estrelar uma hilária paródia de “Crepúsculo”, com Frankensteins no lugar de vampiros).

Nas entrevistas que o elenco concedeu em Los Angeles, todos se fecharam ferreamente contra “perguntas pessoais”. “Kristen é uma ótima atriz”, diz Pattison quando lhe perguntam sobre a química que os dois demonstram na tela. Dá-se como certo que a situação entre ambos é o inverso daquela representada no filme: teria sido Kristen a responsável pelo fim do namoro. Na entrevista, a atriz filosofou sobre a tristeza mortal de Bella ao ser abandonada pelo namorado hematófago: “A dor de Bella ao perder Edward, embora metaforicamente represente algo muito real, é colocada em um mundo com o qual não temos como nos relacionar. Eu acho que a história se sustenta sem os aspectos míticos, tem uma dinâmica sólida entre os personagens, mas… Eu me perdi totalmente. O que você perguntou mesmo?”

Os aspectos míticos e a dinâmica dos personagens são o de menos: o enredo é descabeladamente romântico. O torturado Edward dá o fora em Bella e, ato contínuo, Bella perde-se, alucinada, na floresta, até desabar entre as árvores. Edward, exilado em um Rio de Janeiro de fancaria, recebe a notícia equívoca de que alguém morreu, logo conclui que foi Bella – e parte para tentar o suicídio (muito difícil de conseguir entre os vampiros). Até os lobisomens são hipertrofiados: no lugar da criatura tradicional, meio canina, meio humana, são lobos enormes – do tamanho de um cavalo. Tudo isso é um tanto indigesto para o público maduro. Mas “Lua Nova” deve abocanhar a bilheteria com dentões enormes – de vampiro ou lobisomem, agora tanto faz.

Apavorante ou pavoroso?

Europeus – E, portanto, malvados

Os vampiros imaginados por Stephenie Meyer são diferentes daqueles consagrados em clássicos como “Drácula”, de Bram Stoker. Expostos ao sol, não viram cinza, mas brilham. Não são necessariamente maus – podem escolher o caminho do bem, como fizeram Edward e sua família. Em “Lua Nova”, porém, surgem personagens mais clássicos: nas ruas sinuosas de Volterra, na região italiana da Toscana (substituída, nas locações, pela cidade próxima de Montepulciano), vive o clã dos Volturi, a realeza do mundo doa vampiros. Fazem parte desse núcleo dos dois atores mais experientes do elenco: o galês Michael Sheen, 40 anos, que interpretou o primeiro ministro britânico Tony Blair em três produções, e a americana Dakota Fanning, que, apesar dos tenros 15 anos, acumula uma filmografia respeitabilíssima. Os Volturi representam a visão mais tradicional desses monstros: europeus, aristocráticos, sofisticados e muito perversos. Mas, com suas perucas compridas e o figurino cheio de fru-frus, o bando resulta mais pavoroso do que apavorante. Sheen tem uma filha de 10 anos que, leitora apaixonada de Stephenie Meyer, exultou ao saber que o pai iria trabalhar em “Lua Nova”. Dakota, que cursa o ensino médio, faz parte do público típico dos livros. “Li todos os quatro livros em uma semana. E depois fiquei triste por ter acabado tão rápido”, diz, com seu sorriso ainda infantil, de dentes pequenos. É o seu primeiro papel de vilã – ela interpreta Jane, uma vampira que tem o poder de, apenas com o olhar, submeter suas vítimas a uma dor excruciante. Seus grandes olhos claros aparecem ocultos por lentes de contato, de um vermelho bizarro. “Dakota fica assustadora com as lentes vermelhar. Já eu fico parecendo um coelho”, afirma Sheen, com seu humor britanicamente autoderrisório.

As you all know by now, Mama Soul joined us on wednesday when Zelda and I went to the New Moon premiere. I promised a whole post about all the awesome stuff she said, so here we go!
A few days previous to the big event she watched a special about the Twilight-fans in between her nightly work (No, she’s not a prostitute, she’s a nurse). That was when she saw for the first time that there were Teams -Team Edward, Team Jacob, Team Switzerland- and that many people were wearing their Team-shirts to the screenings.

Mama Soul's dream-shirt

So that was probably when she decided she wanted to have a Team-shirt as well. But she kind of didn’t really get why there were different Teams or what they stood for. She just picked her favorite Twilight movie character and decided she wanted to be on his Team. In the end she did not wear a special shirt to the premiere, but guess whose Team she chose? Mama Soul, one and only official member of Team Charlie! Yep, that’s right! Why not, Charlie’s great, isn’t he? Okay, now follow the comments she made while watching the movie for the first time.

The cliff diving scene. Bella sees Victoria, tries to swim away from her, hits her head and gets unconscious.
Mama Soul: “Uh, that was so obvious, she’s just so clumsy.”

Alice racing through Volterra aka Montepulciano. Mama Soul’s a huge Italy fan and has been there so often I lost count three years ago.
So when you see the city from above she smiles happily and says: “Hey, there in that corner is that cute little store where we once bought that great cheese!”
Uhm, yes mum, that was totally what I was thinking about too…

Edward taking off his shirt and walking out of the shadow.
Mama Soul raises her eyebrows saying: “Well, we’ve already seen that one better. I thought he was supposed to have abs…”

The scene where you see Bella and Edward running through the woods together in their Anne of the green Gables outfits.
Mama Soul: “Oh, this looks like that Brothers Grimm story, Hansel and Gretel getting lost in the woods!”

On the way home in the car: “It was kind of obvious that that Indian guy would transform into a wolf. I already knew this would happen after I saw the first movie.”
Honestly? How did she come to that conclusion after seeing Cathy Hardi’s film only once, not reading any of the books and not even having seen any trailer in order to not spoil her the surprise? And then she starts the following conversation:

Mama Soul: “But Jacob looks awesome, not the face so much, but his body, man he is buff!”
We: “Yes, and he’s only seventeen!”
Me muttering under my breath: “But legal in Georgia.”
Mama Soul: “Yeah, in the movie… but he’s older in real life!”
Zelda and me together: “No, in real life! He only turns eight-teen in february.”
Muttering under our breath: “Wow, embarrassing that we know that… not that we’re counting or something…”

Yummy! The fantabulous after-movie-meal we enjoyed in Mama Soul's kitchen... featuring our Twilight tribute accessories

She laughed throughout the cinema scene with Mike and Jake sitting awkwardly in their seats watching that super-stupid action movie. She laughed about each single dog-joke because hey, Mama Soul just loves dogs. Guess she would love to have Jacob as her son-in-law… just saying. Okay, and to be honest, she made the “OMG it’s so cheesy I think I must throw up” gesture. But only four times. That’s not often considering that the movie was kind of cheesy in some parts.

Wanna know what Mama Soul predicted as the ending of the Twilight saga? I’ll tell you in a few days. It’s probably the funniest thing anyone ever said to me about the whole Twilight business, so don’t miss it! Zelda laughed her ass off  when I told her and I want to do this great quote justice. Therefor I will feature this one in a special post. Sorry! But hey, it’s worth the wait, promise!

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Off to Mama Soul’s kitchen to enjoy more delicious desserts

Saveyoursoul

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Do you know anyone as down with the kids as Mama Soul? Then leave us a comment or e-mail us!

(images: google, but mostly me)

Hello Firends,

Here I give you information about owsome movies  TWILIGHT and second part
Twilight Saga: New Moon’.

Second Part Twilight New Moon

In all, New Moon is certainly a step up from Twilight.  The film highlights personal sacrifice in the name of love and that is something that is very noble and pure.  This feature won’t win over any new fans but it should keep the legions of fans who read the books happy.  But if you seek an adrenaline rush and delight in seeing vampires duke it out with werewolves then you’re better off watching Underworld.  Those who desire a more traditional vampire better start with 1931’s Dracula starring Bela Lugosi.  And there’s a more convincing, much more pure love story between a female vampire and a male human in the Norwegian import Let the Right One In.  But New Moon contains a strong enough love triangle that’s not overly corny or cheesy – it’s authentic and sincere.

Download this movie

Enjoy the movie…

Keep in touch

Matéria publicada no Caderno 2 do jornal O Estado de São Paulo no dia 14 de novembro de 2009, na página D4

O sanguessuga adota a moral da classe média

O jovem Edward, que só fica nas preliminares, é uma vergonha para ancestrais libidinosos como Drácula

Antonio Gonçalves Filho

O vampiro Edward da série criada por Stephenie Meyer está condenado à eternidade, como, aliás, todos os seres dessa espécie, mas ainda carrega nas costas outra condenação, a de pertencer à classe média e arrastar pela noite eterna todos os preconceitos de sua categoria social. Assim, não admira que a atividade sexual desse sanguessuga se resuma às preliminares mais longas de todos os tempos, como bem reconheceu a própria diretora de “Crepúsculo”, Catherine Hardwicke. Não causa espanto, igualmente, que o torturado Edward e sua namorada candidata à vampira, Bella, sejam ídolos da moçada habituada mais a “ficar” do que a estabelecer vínculos. Relações duradouras quase sempre não ultrapassam o plano da idealização. Melhor ter um vampiro apaixonado por toda a eternidade do que um sanguessuga sem poderes extraordinários fisgado numa rave.

As meninas são loucas por Edward. Enlouquecem mesmo os pais para comprar os livros da série (as quatro edições da série já venderam 2,2 milhões de livros só no Brasil e 77 milhões no mundo todo). Mandam cartas e mensagens eletrônicas para conselheiros amorosos, perguntam o que fazer para chamar a atenção do vampiro e, histéricas, soltam gritos quando casal Robert Pattison e Kristen Stewart, na versão cinematográfica de “Crepúsculo”, pula de árvore em árvore simulando um jogo sexual nas alturas – existe algo mais fálico que um eucalipto? No entanto, sexo que é bom, não rola.

Os vampiros de outras épocas – e isso inclui o conde Drácula de Bram Stoker – eram criaturas extremamente libidinosas, que seduziam suas vítimas com uma boa mordida no pescoço para em seguida atacar outras partes na região sul do corpo. Vampiros, no tempo de Stoker, isto é, no século 19, podiam representar tanto a virilidade do homem europeu do Leste, temida pela moral vitoriana, como o signo da promiscuidade, definida tanto pela arquitetura do castelo de Drácula, em forma de genitália feminina, como por sua tirania, capaz de tornar escravos sociais todos os que estavam abaixo da posição hierárquica de conde. Desse jogo sadomasoquista não escapavam sequer as bestas da floresta, chupadas violentamente na falta de sangue melhor. Esse foi o tempo de Bram Stoker.

De Ann Rice em diante, os vampiros, criaturas com poderes sobrenaturais, perderam parte de seu encanto natural, sucumbiram ao ideal classe média do conforto. Edward, por exemplo, não dorme em caixão, não tem problemas com alho, não odeia água benta, suas presas não são retráteis e ele já freqüentou tantos anos o colegial que seus pais perderam a conta de quanto gastaram na maldita escola onde conheceu Bella, a frágil.

Desnecessário dizer que Edward jamais cruzou com Nosferatu de Werner Herzog, o eterno angustiado condenado à eternidade. Se a noite de Nosferatu foi povoada de desejos ocultos, fazendo-o perder o controle, a de Edward é um romântico cenário com promessas de amor eterno. O predador foi domesticado pela classe média. E hoje vive na coleira.

Zelda and I made it! We finally saw New Moon! Yesterday we went to the premiere here with a couple of friends and Mama Soul. We saw some people wearing Twilight-shirts, a couple of Twimoms and even a Twidad. I didn’t even know they exist until yesterday… And a lot of girls wearing plaid. Coincidence? A subtle tribute to Rob? Who knows? (I do!) Our premiere outfit? A blue blouse just like book-Bella, Ray Bans like Edward and the original Bella-bracelet from Italy (Great story concerning that one, I’ll tell you soon in another post!). So today we’re gonna present you our New Moon review part 1. Part 2 will follow soon… and include a lot more details cause we’re gonna see the movie about 23 more times before writing that. Just in case you haven’t seen the film yet (You better got a good excuse for that!) and want to have the real surprise when watching it for the first time: SPOILER ALARM! Starting now and ending at the end of this post. So here we go:

Taylor Lautner sometimes wears a shirt in New Moon...

First of all, down with Cathy the Cougar! Chris Weitz, do you want to marry me? What an enormous improvement in comparison to Twilight! I’m not going as far as to say it was the perfect movie, but honestly Chris, you’re so down with the kids! Or rather the Twilight-fans. Or Zelda and me. This is how vampires should look when they sparkle! Like diamonds and not that ringing and tinkling in the woods crap. Two minutes into the movie and I already love Charlie so much. How sweet when he almost started to sing, or when he came to look after Bella when she was screaming in her bed. We even got the names of the months after Edward left. Something I had really been hoping for!

... but most of the time doesn't, because he shouldn't!

And the e-mails for Alice idea to show how Bella feels, what an incredibly clever move of you, Chris! And I loved that Harry Clearwater, the king of homemade fish-fry, died as a hero trying to protect Charlie from Victoria. And oh how Rachelle looked awesome with her flaming red hair. Zelda totally liked the cliff diving scene. When Bella first sees Victoria under water and then there’s Edward beside her… epic! And the funny stuff, like the cinema scene or the “You like older women, huh?”. Not exactly as funny as the spider-monkey line but still… And Jasper and Emmett were so much… uhm, cooler, cuter? Whatever, better anyway!

Ok, there were a few things that were kind of strange and I think we got to mention them as well in order to try and stay honest. Sometimes it was a bit too cheesy. Cheesier than the books. I even felt kind of 2nd-hand-embarrassed for Edward being so hardcore romantic. I noticed that Edward’s abs seem to have looked a lot better on the pics from the set we saw a few months ago. In the actual Volterra scene, they were barely visible. So what happened there? I mean, isn’t Edward supposed to have at least a six-pack? Jacob even got an eight-pack, so in comparison to that… sorry to say Rob, but Taylor wins this one!

Caius Malfoy and his Volturi friends

Did anyone else think Marcus and Caius looked like Denethor, Faramir’s dad from Lord of the Rings, and  Draco Malfoy’s older brother? Did the Volturi fight scene between Edward and Demetri remind you of the Gandalf vs. Saruman battle in the LOTR?

And there’s another thing. Not your fault Chris, this is just how Stephenie Meyer wrote Bella and the reason why this girl sometimes annoys the crap out of me in the books: Who do you think you are, Bella “don’t hurt him, kill me instead” Swan? Why should the Volturi treat Edward’s life against yours? You’re nothing but a weak clumsy girl, okay? Sorry to say, but deal with it!

All in all, we got everything we wanted… Well, almost. Taylor Lautner wore a shirt in at least three scenes. BIG FAIL! Sorry Chris… But don’t worry, Zelda and I enjoyed the movie a lot. We’re probably going to watch it over and over again for the next few weeks… Only because of important blog journalism of course so that we can present you a more detailed review soon. Wanna know what Mama Soul said about New Moon? She made so many great hilarious comments that she will get her own post this week. Don’t miss it! There’s no better way to watch this film than sitting in between her and Zelda. We’ve got enough stuff to write about for at least four weeks, so keep coming back to check what else we got in store for you!

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Off to call Zelda and ask her when we’re going to the cinema again

Saveyoursoul

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PS: We rate New Moon 4 out of 5 Heineken bottles

How did you like New Moon? Do you wanna marry Chris Weitz as well? Because I do… Which scenes were your favorites? Could the movie live up to your expectations? Any details or thoughts you want to share? Leave a comment or write an e-mail!

(images: google and me)

Diretor evita comparações e diz que ‘Lua nova’ é um novo filme

Segunda parte da saga ‘Crepúsculo’ estreia na Espanha na quarta (18).
Chris Weitz e elenco falam sobre os novos caminhos da trama.

12/11/09 – 15h52 – Atualizado em 13/11/09 – 11h38

“Lua Nova” é uma obra com seus próprios desafios que não deve ser percebido “como uma simples sequência, é um novo filme”, disse nesta quinta-feira (12), em Madri, Chris Weitz, diretor da segunda adaptação cinematográfica da saga ”Crepúsculo”, que estreia na próxima quarta-feira (18) na Espanha a escalada mundial.

O cineasta aterrissou em Madri, junto com os atores Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart e Taylor Lautner, para promover a segunda etapa deste “Romeo e Julieta” em versão vampiresca, cuja primeira parte, “Crepúsculo”, arrecadou mais de US$ 350 milhões no mundo todo.

“Estou tranquilo, o êxito da primeira parte assegura a resposta do público e, além disso, contei com um elenco de atores maravilhosos”, afirmou Weitz, que em “Lua nova” substituiu na direção Catherine Hardwicke, encarregada do primeiro filme.

Vampiros

Centro das atenções dos olhares femininos, Robert Pattinson considera que Edward, o vampiro que interpreta na ficção, tem “um lado obscuro muito bem trabalhado”. “Tive tempo para refletir sobre meu papel e, além disso, Edward aparece menos em ‘Lua nova’”, explicou.

Taylor Lautner, outro dos bonitões da saga, afirmou que seu personagem, o homem-lobo Jacob, “mudou muito com relação à primeira fase”. “Por sorte, Chris Weitz me ajudou para assimilar essa nova interpretação”, explicou o ator de 17 anos.

A atriz Kristen Stewart dá vida na tela a Bela, uma jovem estudante que não só está apaixonada de Edward, mas também é íntima amiga de Jacob.

“‘Lua nova’ é meu livro favorito da série, e estava muito nervosa antes de começar a rodar”, confessou a atriz.

O segundo filme da saga se caracteriza pelo enfrentamento, cada vez mais radicalizado, entre os vampiros de Edward e os lobisomens de Jacob, enquanto Bela mantém o equilíbrio para não optar por nenhum dos dois grupos.

Polêmica

O excessivo respeito à castidade foi uma das notas mais polêmicas da saga “Crepúsculo”, cuja responsável, a escritora Stéphanie Meyer, defende a opção de chegar virgem ao casamento.

“Entendo que na Espanha, um país tão liberal, a defesa da moralidade possa chocar tanto”, opinou Weitz.

O diretor considera “um pouco cínica”, no entanto, a visão da sociedade atual, que “encoraja os jovens a manter relações desde cedo”.

Kristen Stewart tomou o bastão para expor a questão de uma forma “muito doce” que o vampiro Edward queira “defender sua virgindade”, já que “procede de uma época distinta e tem outros valores”.

Robert Pattinson tratou de racionalizar a simpatia que despertam os personagens de Edward e Jacob: “é habitual sentir pena dos maus, pelo psicopata, até ele te levar para o quarto”, brincou antes de assinalar que a “visão” de Edward é “distinta da do público”.

Retomando o discurso de seu companheiro de cena, Taylor Lautner afirmou que não contempla os personagens simplesmente do vampiro e do homem-lobo.

“Acho que as pessoas passam o mesmo: se identifica com o que sentimos, e não com o que somos”.

Enquanto os protagonistas do filme respondiam às perguntas da imprensa em um hotel no centro de Madri, centenas de adolescentes faziam fila no Palácio de Vistalegre, onde está previsto para esta tarde um encontro dos fãs de “Crepúsculo”.

“Tudo explodiu de repente e, no início, eu estava muito bem, mas meu ego não é tão grande assim e chegou um momento em que fiquei nervoso”, confessou Robert Pattinson, que fez tratamento psicológico para se libertar da pressão. “Repito muitas vezes que os admiradores não querem a mim, mas a Edward”.

http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Cinema/0,,MUL1376759-7086,00-DIRETOR+EVITA+COMPARACOES+E+DIZ+QUE+LUA+NOVA+E+UM+NOVO+FILME.html

‘A cada filme, quase tenho um ataque de pânico’, diz estrela de ‘Crepúsculo’

Kristen Stewart e Taylor Lautner falaram ao G1 sobre ‘Lua nova’.
O longa, segundo da franquia, estreia nos cinemas em 20 de novembro.

03/11/09 – 08h52 – Atualizado em 04/11/09 – 08h49

Kristen Stewart e Robert Pattinson: ‘Bella e Edward são almas gêmeas’, diz a atriz (Foto: Divulgação)

Edward ou Jacob?

Lautner – Jacob e Edward são caras totalmente opostos. É uma questão de direita ou esquerda.

Kristen – É com Jacob que ela deveria estar. Na teoria, ele é absolutamente perfeito para ela. Ela não tem que pensar tanto quando está com ele, ela se diverte, ela é ela mesma. Todo aquele sentimento de insegurança desaparece completamente. Mas infelizmente as meninas não tomam as melhores decisões por elas mesmas. E há algo em Edward… Bem, eles são almas gêmeas. E se você acredita em destino, Jacob não tem que ficar com Bella, ele tem que ser seu melhor amigo, que é justamente o que ele é. Você tem que amar alguém, não procurar apenas conforto.

Fenômeno vampiresco

Kristen – É uma moda, é um assunto interessante. Ele levanta tantas questões: como seria viver para sempre? Existe algo após a vida? Acho que é popular e está na moda atualmente, então as pessoas estão tentando ganhar em cima disso. Mas ao mesmo tempo estou feliz que isso esteja acontecendo, porque é muito interessante. E pelo menos uma vez algo que tornou popular vale a pena.

http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Cinema/0,,MUL1364244-7086,00-A+CADA+FILME+QUASE+TENHO+UM+ATAQUE+DE+PANICO+DIZ+ESTRELA+DE+CREPUSCULO.html

Atores vão a São Paulo para promover a sequência de “Crepúsculo” e mostram-se espantados com o tamanho da cidade

Matéria publicada no Caderno 2 do jornal A Tarde no dia 3 de novembro de 2009, na página 3.

Astros de “Lua Nova” levam pequena multidão enlouquecida a hotel onde deram coletiva.

Lucas Cunha

São Paulo

Dois minutos para fotos, 30 para entrevistas: Kristen Stewart e Taylor Lautner, estrelas da série vampiresca, são dois jovens simpáticos que parecem estar assustados, mas gostam da fama.

Em uma manhã ensolarada em pleno feriadão de finados, anteontem, centenas de fãs se aglomeraram em frente ao Hotel Grand Hyatt, em São Paulo, para ver os atores Kristen Stewart, 19, e Taylor Lautner, 17, astros da série vampiresca teen “Crepúsculo”, em rápida passagem pelo Brasil para divulgação do novo filme da série, “Lua Nova”, que chega aos cinemas no dia 20 de novembro.

Os presentes, em esmagadora maioria meninas de 12 a 20 anos, não dava trégua para os seguranças e até para os jornalistas que entravam para o local da coletiva. Histéricas, elas imploravam para mandar lembranças aos ídolos ou mesmo para ter qualquer registro físico da passagem do casal pelo Brasil (até a sacola da distribuidora do filme era solicitada).

Simpáticos

Tudo era extremamente cronometrado: dois minutos para fotos com os atores, mais 30 minutos para a coletiva, na qual estava proibida qualquer pergunta que não fosse relacionada a “Lua Nova”, sob risco de o jornalista que não seguisse as regras ser expulso da sala.

De perto Stewart e Lauter são dois jovens simpáticos, que parecem estar assustados, mas, ao mesmo tempo, desfrutam da fama que a série “Crepúsculo” tem lhes proporcionado.

A dupla não escondeu ter pouco conhecimento sobre o Brasil. Mostrou surpresa por SP ser “tão grande”.

Stewart, por ser mais velha e mais experiente como atriz (participou, dentre outros, de “Na Natureza Selvagem”, de Sean Penn) é mais segura e direta nas respostas do que o parceiro Lautner.

É ela quem define melhor as principais diferenças entre a produção de “Crepúsculo” e “Lua Nova”: “O primeiro não era um filme tão esperado, era um trabalho de uma escala menor. A diretora (Catherine Hardwicke, que tem sua carreira mais ligada ao cinema independente) coincidia com a qualidade que o tom daquele filme pedia”.

Com o salto de uma média para uma superprodução, para os padrões hollywoodianos, houve troca na direção, com a entrada de Chris Weiss, responsável por adaptações de sucessos da literatura mais ligada ao público jovem, com “Um Grande Garoto” e “A Bússola de Ouro”.

Só com sua chegada que Lautner foi confirmado no papel de Jacob. O novo preferido das capas de revistas do público teen feminino tinha participado de quatro cenas de “Crepúsculo”, e não estava garantido novamente com a grande expectativa criada para a sequência “Lua Nova” e o crescimento de seu personagem.

“Disseram que havia uma briga pelo papel. Mas, como estávamos esperando a definição do novo diretor, me concentrei no que podia controlar”, diz.

Logo após o fim das filmagens de “Crepúsculo”, mesmo sem ter certeza da sua participação, Lautner começou um intenso treinamento para aumentar o vigor físico, já que seu personagem é um forte lobisomem, o que faz o filme usar e abusar de cenas com o rapaz sem camisa.

Lautner ganhou 14 quilos, a maioria massa muscular, dos treinamentos até o início das filmagens de “Lua Nova”. “Isso mostra que estava determinado a ganhar o papel”, diz Stewart, dando força ao colega de filme.

Triângulo amoroso permeia a trama do novo filme, que chega à tela dia 20

Apesar de conter mais cenas de ação, com a entrada de Lautner e sua trupe de lobisomens, inimigos mortais dos vampiros, é no triângulo amoroso com a dupla Stewart – Lautner, e o galã do primeiro, Robert Pattison, que a trama se desenvolve.

No livro, Edward (personagem de Pattison, que não esteve no Brasil) aparece pouco. Sua presença é mais uma imagem presente para Bella (Stewart) quando a mocinha permanece em risco.

“Quando Bella tem a sensação de medo, é a voz do Edward que a tranqüiliza. Mas fica melhor, do ponto de vista visual, sua aparição. Não é só para colocar mais o Robert em cena para atrair mais público, apesar que sabemos que isso acontece”, diz Stewart.

“É também uma boa maneira de fazer o triângulo amoroso. Se você não fosse lembrado da imagem do Edward a todo momento, isso ficaria mais fraco”, completa Lautner.

Ringrazziamo la nostra amica Eva, non che collaboratrice del sito, per averci dato la possibilita di pubblicare queste sue foto della “Conferenza Stampa del Festival del Cinema di Roma 2008“. Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart e Catherine Hardwicke durante la promozione di Twilight. Sempre grazie a Eva, presto, avremo la possibilità di mostrarvi altre foto del Festival del Cinema di quest’anno con Jamie, Charlie, Cam e Melissa. Continuate a  seguirci.

It’s now a known fact that teenage girls drooling over vampire hunks have the ability to smash box office records.  Disturbing?  Yes.  Surprising?  Not so much.  More after the jump.

$142,839,137 later, the second chapter in the much hyped Twilight series managed to blow previous opening weekend box office records made by juggernauts such as Spider-Man and the ever lackluster Pirates Of The Caribbean:  At World’s End out of the water, both of which managed to pull in $400,000,000+ by the end of their theatrical run.    Axed Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke’s head must be rolling right about now seeing as how the first Twilight only managed to pull in about $70,000,000 it’s opening weekend last November.

It just goes to show that the combination of Robert Pattinson’s good looks, Kristin Stewart’s horrendous acting and Dakota Fanning dressed up like a teenage girl at an Evanescence show circa 2003 is truly box office gold.

When I was watching Twilight for the first time, something really caught my eye: Yeah, Rob did, of course^^ But that’s actually not what I’m aiming at right now. No, what I want to talk about today is something else (also because we really talked loads about Rob lately, and we can’t risk the possibility of all this attention getting to his head, you know!!). I wanted to slaughter Cathy’s work some more go on about the really awful so-called “special-effects” in Twilight! Because they just pop up in regular intervals all the time and kind of make the whole thing more funny than it’s actually supposed to be. I mean, it’s such a good story, and then – well, along comes Cathy, and it just gets…. ridiculous!! But at least that means we can hope for some better effects in New Moon, put our trust in Chris Weitz. So, in honor to the premiere of New Moon, and Soul and me being stuck here having to wait 5 more days to see it, here a selection of our favourite “Awful Special Effects in Twilight” – and therefore, what we hope not to see again in New Moon!! Here we go:

1. First to be mentioned, the all time favourite: The “Glittering-in-the-Sun”-Effect!! It goes like this: Dramatic music, Edward in the woods, looking hot like ever, the atmosphere tense and spooky…and then Edward steps into the sunlight, we all know something meaningful is going to happen now, and then….

Edward sparkling in the sun!! Very attractive, and especially manly.

Well – he turns around, and you hear bells in the background!!Yap, bells. I mean, I can’t blame any guy who watches this and says “Gosh, that’s kind of gay!!”. Because it is. And what’s even worse – I noticed that most people who haven’t read the book before don’t even get the point of this scene! So I had to explain a couple of times that Edward is actually supposed to glitter in the sun, and not to “ring in the woods” or whatever^^

2. Edward’s “Take-Off-Scene”: The one in which Edward is running in the woods, carrying Bella on his back, and then suddenly – takes off!! Well, I know he’s strong and fast and stuff, but can he also fly now? Or I mean, what else is that supposed to be? He’s running, and running, and running…. and then he just leaves the ground, and even keeps moving his legs!! Aaaah, it’s so ridiculous!! Even Edward can’t look good (or at least not as good as usual^^) when he’s hanging around in the air paddling with his legs^^

3. In this context, the famous “Hold-on-tight-Spider-Monkey”-Scene: Honestly, “Spider-Monkey”!! Purlease!! That moment kind of destroyed my perfect picture of Edward (well at least for like 3 seconds), he just can’t say something that stupid!! Well no one should, actually, but especially not Edward^^ Or imagine, what else is he going to call Bella if they should (finally) ever end up in bed? His little Butterfly-Koala? Or his dear Bumblebee-Pony? Better not think about it^^ But what you should do: Look up “Spidermonkey” on urbandictionary, article no. 3….

4. The “Bella-as-Amateur-Model”-Scene. Where Bella steps into biology-class, and sees Edward for the first time!

Bella trying to look like a model...

So is it just me, or isn’t it just a bit to much: Bella walking in slow-motion, turning around graciously to face Edward (come on I thought she was supposed to be clumsy!!) and on top of it all, it just happens that there’s a ventilator in the background, blowing her hair enticingly around her face….!! I know, the scene’s supposed to show how Bella’s scent is being blown to Edward’s direction, and it’s very important for the plot, and blablabla, but actually it looks a lot more like some 12-year-old’s try to look like the woman on her mum’s latest issue of the Cosmopolitan.

5. And of course, the “My-Friend-the-Cactus”-Scene: Bella stepping out of Charlie’s car in Forks for the very first time, carrying her little cactus!! It’s actually not a special effect, yeah, but it’s a ridiculous scene that couldn’t be left out here^^

"Bella's Cactus", the new It-Accessory - Get one, NOW!!

And again, of course it’s got a deep meaning for the plot and is supposed to be symbolic for Bella’s former life in Arizona, but aaah….It’s a cactus!! And she carries it!! Like it was her new DKNY It-Bag, or the totally hip accessory everyone needs to have now…. And then, Soul even told me lately that there were apparently rumours about another cactus-scene being planned to appear in New Moon, in which Bella is actually talking to the cactus!! Well, sure. I mean, after Edward left… why not take the cactus instead?^^

So,  we’re excited about what we’re going to see in New Moon, and let’s hope for the best!!

a

Off to send a little prayer in hope to safe me from another Spidermonkey-experience

ZeldaTheTwilightPrincess

a

So did anyone else notice the multiple awful special-effects in Twilight? What else did you notice? Which one was your favourite? Or did you possibly like the Spidemonkey scene, and imagine yourself with Edward calling you this ever since…? Hmm well if you do, I think I don’t really want to know…. but maybe Soul wants to, she’ll laugh her head off, so tell me, anyway!! Go for it and leave a comment!!

(images: google)

  Източник  

Превел от английски: Jacob_team

Коя е любимата ти сцена в “Новолуние”?

 Стефени Майер: Наистина не мога да избера само една. Харесвам толкова много неща. Първият разговор на Бела и Едуард на паркинга…монолога на Джесика… сцените в гаража на Джейкъб…първият път, когато Бела вижда глутницата!! Джейкъб в стаята на Бела (благодаря на Крис!)…момента под водата…това, което виждаме, докато слушаме невероятната песен на Thom Yorke … всичко в Италия…и бих могла да продължа да изреждам. Всичко е толкова хубаво.

Ще имаш ли някакви изяви в “Новолуние”?

 Стефени Майер: Не. Чувствах се твърде неловко и при първия филм и все още трябва да покривам очите си по време на тази част от филма. Този път реших,че не искам да правя нещо подобно, а и така и не стана на въпрос, така че проблемът въобще не се появи.

Какво мислиш за избирането на Робърт Патинсън да  играе Едуард, т.е. изглежда ли така, както очакваше, че Едуард би трябвало да изглежда и предава ли емоциите по правилния начин?

 Стефени Майер: Първоначално, когато Джилиан (продуцента) ми се обади и каза : „Ами, избрахме това момче, Робърт Патинсън. Потърси го в Гугъл и ми кажи какво мислиш”, мнението ми бе, че Роб ще направи добра версия на Едуард физически. Разбира се, не е този Едуард, който виждам в главата си, но е добър и интересен портрет. Докато го гледах в „Хари Потър” и проверявах снимките му онлайн, си мислех, че в лицето му има нещо неземно. Ако вампирите наистина съществуваха, това е лицето, което би те накарало да се замислиш, нали? Така че бях доволна от избора на Катрин Хардуик, защото така и така нямаше да намерим някой, който прилича на този от мозъка ми.

Продължих със същото мнение известно време. Срещнах се с Роб няколко пъти и бях впечатлена от това, колко много размисъл е вложил в образа (въпреки, че все още не сме напълно на едно мнение за това кой от нас разбира по-добре емоционалното състояние на Едуард—Роб твърди, че Едуард е по-депресиран, отколкото аз си мисля, че е) и с нетърпение очаквах да видя каква ще е неговата версия на Едуард. Няколко седмици след това, когат заминах за Портланд, за да наблюдавам снимачния процес и когато Катрин даде знак да започне заснемането на сцената и Роб влезе в образ, ми падна ченето.

Достатъчно е да кажа, че той наистина улови ролята. Той не играе версия на Едуард, той играе Едуард. Все още има значителна разлика между Едуард на Роб и Едуард в главата ми, но има моменти, в които са невероятно еднакви. Все още не съм сигурна как успява, но се радвам, че го прави. Що се отнася до емоциите, мисля, че се справя чудесно.

Разбира се, голяма част от заслугата за това е и на Кристен. Тя допринася по невероятно успешен начин за другата половина от тръпката между Бела и Едуард. Била съм на снимачните площадки на три филма дотук и все още се благодаря на късмета си, че се съгласих на този франчайз.

Ще има ли филм „Зазоряване”? Ако не си сигурна за това, би ли искала да има?

 Стефени Майер: В момента водим разговори по въпроса. Бих искала да видя „Зазоряване” като филм, стига да може да бъде направен добре. При нея е малко по-сложно, отколкото при  другите.

Докато  пишеше книгите, имаше ли колебание дали Бела ще избере Едуард или Джейкъб, или винаги си знаела, че тя най-накрая ще избере Едуард?

 Стефени Майер: Написах „Новолуние” и „Затъмнение” след като бях написала „Forever Dаwn”, което е горе-долу грубата чернова на „Зазоряване”. Така че винаги съм знаела, че съдбата на Бела е с Едуард и докато връзката й с Джейкъб еволюираше и се задълбочаваше в средните книги, понякога бе болезнено да пиша за това. Дори да знаех, че краят за Джейкъб ще бъд щастлив, ми бе много трудно да го подложа на цялата любовна мъка. Не знам какво щеше да се случи, ако Бела не бе скочила от скалата в онзи ден, но винаги знаех, че това е възможен сценарий, който не беше правилен.

Да кажем, че Бела отива в колеж. С каква професия си я представяш по-нататък?

 Стефени Майер: Винаги съм си представяла, че някой ден Бела ще преподава.Тя наистина се  възхищава на Рене за част от нейната личност – Рене може да е малко смахната, но тя е чудесен учител и децата я обичат – и аз виждах как любовта към книгите води Бела в тази посока. Тя би преподавала на по-възрастни ученици- в гимназия или колеж. Може би все още би могла- във вечерно училище.

От кой отбор е Стефани – тийм Джейкъб или тийм Едуард?

 Стефени Майер: Аз съм от отбор „Не е нужно да избирате, щом става въпрос за роман”.

Bella (Kristen Stewart) turns to her friend Jacob (Taylor Lautner) for comfort after Edward (Robert Pattinson) leaves in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” Photo courtesy of MCT Campus.

By Alexa Milan

3.5/5 stars

I have never seen a pop culture phenomenon as polarizing as “Twilight,” and based on the reviews for the second installment in the series, “New Moon” is no exception. Personally, I enjoy the “Twilight” books. Yes, they’re poorly written. Yes, they’re extremely cheesy. But to me they are fun, escapist entertainment. That’s what “New Moon” sets out to be, and director Chris Weitz’s adaptation actually succeeds more than the book.

In “New Moon,” human high school student Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) are just as in love as in the first installment. But when Edward’s brother Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) almost attacks Bella, a guilt-ridden Edward fears being with him is too dangerous for Bella. Determined to keep her safe, Edward leaves town, where a broken-hearted Bella feels the sting of losing her first love.

Completely numb for months, Bella finally starts to heal when she grows closer to her friend Jacob (Taylor Lautner), who quickly makes it clear he’s interested in more than just friendship with her. But just when Bella is getting used to supernatural beings not being in her life, Jacob discovers the legends that his Quileute tribe is descended from wolves are actually true (spoiler alert unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months) – Jacob is a werewolf, sworn to protect the tribe’s land from vampires.

The change in Jacob sets in when Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre), one of the nomadic vampires from the first film, returns to Forks, Wash., in search of Bella, who she’s determined to kill. Bella has to adjust to her friend’s new-found identity, avoid crossing paths with Victoria and try to forget the Cullens, who re-enter her life in a dramatic way.

From a filmmaking standpoint, “New Moon” improves on “Twilight” in every way, largely thanks to Weitz’s direction. Catherine Hardwicke’s directing in the first film was uneven and the story very disjointed. The script borderlined on over-the-top cheesy even for “Twilight” fans, and the acting was wooden for the most part.

But with Weitz in the director’s chair, the story is much more cohesive and the directing is solid. Gone are Hardwicke’s unnecessary extra shots and the first film’s odd blue tint. The book’s trademark teen angst is still present, but screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg inserts enough extra humor to counterbalance it. The story moves at a slow and steady pace, but that’s the way the books are set up.

Though the dialogue is still a bit cheesy, the actors seem much more comfortable in their roles this time around. The two standouts in the film are the hilarious Billy Burke, who plays Bella’s dad Charlie and also stole the show in the first film, and the always wonderful Michael Sheen, who plays the creepy leader who enforces the vampire laws.

The special effects are also a huge step above those of the first film. While they’re nowhere close to the quality of the effects of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” for example, they suit the film’s needs. I was satisfied with the werewolf transformations, and the other effects look much less fake than in the first film.

Alexandre Desplat’s score is a little odd at times but is solid overall, and the rest of the film’s soundtrack is strong, featuring bands like Death Cab for Cutie, The Killers, OK Go and Muse.

In a nutshell, “Twilight” fans should find “New Moon” to be a huge improvement from the first film, while people who hate “Twilight” will probably hate this movie too. If you’re one of the few people not on either extreme who was indifferent to the first film, I’d suggest giving “New Moon” a shot. Fans will be satisfied while the haters will continue to hate.