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Written by Gregg Shapiro
Jul 14, 2010
Taylor Lautner in a scene from “Eclipse” – Photo: Courtesy
“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”
(Summit Entertainment)
Still obsessed with brooding vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson), graduating high school senior Bella (a slightly less sullen Kristen Stewart), accepts her true love’s marriage proposal in exchange for his promise to “change” (read: “kill”) her so that they can be together eternally. In other words, Mormon author Stephenie Meyer thinks it’s fine for teenagers to marry vampires, but LGBT folks should be deprived of the same expression of love and commitment.
It’s probably an easy shot to take, but the third installment of the vampires, wolves and humans of Forks, Wash., eclipses its predecessors. It’s got plenty of skin, courtesy of stud (wolf) cub Taylor Lautner (who does most of his acting with his abs and pecs) as Jacob. It’s got a fair amount of special effects, although the wolves’ pelts are wearing thin. There’s an increase in the Native American folklore aspect. The scary factor is also ratcheted up with the lingering presence of the ruthless Jane (Dakota Fanning) and her creepy crew, as well as bent-on-revenge Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard), her boy Riley (Xavier Samuel) and his army of ruthless newborn vamps.
Additionally, this installation of the saga gets points for cranking up the humor. You will most likely find yourself laughing out loud on several occasions, and that appears to what screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg intended. For not taking itself too seriously and doing it in a respectable couple of hours, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” is recommended viewing.
“The Girl Who Played With Fire”
(Music Box Films)
After surviving the multitude of traumas inflicted upon her in the riveting “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” bisexual self-defense expert, electronics wiz and computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) is back for more. Still out to clear her sullied name, Lisbeth finds herself in even deeper trouble.
Without giving away too many key plot points, let me say that everything short of the meaning of life is explained in this nail-biter of a sequel. The “fire” of the title takes center-stage when Lisbeth comes face-to-face with her abusive and despicable father Alexander Zalachenko (Georgi Staykov), a.k.a Zala. Before that occurs, she is blamed for the brutal murder of journalist Dag (Hans Christian Thulin) and his writer girlfriend, who are investigating a human trafficking ring.
While on the lam, Lisbeth keeps tabs on her nemesis Bjurmann (Peter Andersson), as well as her part-time lover, journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist). She even finds time to bed her girlfriend Miriam (Yasmine Garbi ) and provide her with a nice place to crash. This girl who played with fire is like a hunted animal with multiple lives. It’s impossible not to cheer for her as she takes down a variety of ruthless villains. This is definitely one of the hottest movies of the summer.
