Movie review: Twilight Eclipse **

Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Anna Kendrick

Director: David Slade

Rated: R

Showing: Speciality Cinema week of Friday, July 16 - Friday and Saturday 1/4/7/10pm; Sunday 1/4/7pm; Monday and Tuesday 2:30/6:15/9:15pm

Runtime: 124 minutes

Romance/fantasy

The long awaited third chapter in the hugely popular Twilight series, based on the hit books by Stephanie Meyer.

And it’s more of the same, focusing once again on the love triangle between human Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) and the war between vamps and wolves.

The new element is malicious vampire Victoria, who has created an army of the living dead and is seeking revenge on Bella and Edward because the latter killed her lover James.

As before, there is little in the way of plot — the movie focuses on the characters — but overall this is the best chapter so far.

The main problem with Twilight is the cast — the acting is the scariest thing in this horror-lite fantasy.

Kristen Stewart has two expressions — a vacant stare when she is supposed to be intense and a frown for distress — while her monotone voice dully plods through the corny dialogue.

Little Miss Moody having two guys fighting over her is less believable than the notion vampires exist.

As for ‘hunk’ Robert Pattinson, he is meant to be burning with passion for Stewart but displays as much warmth as an Eskimo with frostbite, while Taylor Lautner’s acting skills seem to extend to taking his shirt off as often as possible.

Fans of the first two — mostly young teenagers — will love it and those who didn’t shouldn’t bother as this is no better.

If you want a great love story, watch Casablanca. If you want a great vampire movie, watch From Dusk ‘Til Dawn. If you want a teen- friendly version of both watch Buffy. Twilight’s vamps suck in comparison.

Watch if you liked: Twilight: New Moon.

For more information about film times, call 292-2135.