Critics Slam New Moon
New Moon pales in comparison to Twilight, according to the critics.
Chicago Sun-Times’ Roger Ebert says “the characters in this movie should be arrested for loitering with intent to moan. Never have teenagers been in greater need of a jump-start. Granted some of them are more than 100 years old, but still: their charisma is by Madame Tussaud.”
Ty Burr of The Boston Globe remarks: “Sorry, girls: The thrill is gone.” He says that “where the first film’s director, Catherine Hardwicke, plugged into [author Stephenie] Meyer’s vision of supernatural teenage lust with abandon, Chris Weitz is stuck with a sequel that’s a morning-after mope-fest.”
Burr also says that the film favors werewolf Jacob (Taylor Lautner) than vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson).
“When he’s onscreen, Pattinson’s Edward is all emo posturing under a trembling bouffant – the actor suddenly seems to be embarrassed to be here,” says Burr. “Lautner’s performance, by contrast, has the warmth of an actual human.”
But Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times says Lautner and Kristen Stewart (who plays Bella) have no heat: “The connection between these two is so self-evidently non-romantic that it turns out not to be much of a diversion.”
USA Today’s Claudia Puig agrees, saying the the Bella-Edward romance is a bore and that “the pace picks up” once Jacob and his pals turn into werewolves. She gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars.
Variety writes that ladies hoping to gaze at Pattinson the big screen ” may be disappointed by Pattinson’s reduced presence” in the sequel, “as his Edward appears predominantly in mumbling visions until a cliffhanger that brazenly sets up the next episode.”
Despite some harsh reviews, the film is still expected to earn more than $85 million during its first weekend (it has run up the biggest advance sales of any film in history). It opens in 4,024 locations, beginning with 3,500 performances at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
I’m only going to work until about 11 today…then I’m going to see New Moon. 
It’s like a holiday for me. I know the movie isn’t going to be great, but doesn’t mean I’m not going to drop everything and go see it!
November 20th, 2009 at 7:41 am
I disagree completely. I think that New Moon was 10x better than Twilight. Not the best movie of all time by any means but still entertaining to watch.
November 20th, 2009 at 8:23 am
I totally disagree with the critics! New Moon was WAYYYYYYY better than Twilight, I LOVE New Moon everything went smooth and the cast was great, I don’t know what the critics were thinking, but I am going to be seeing this movie again and again.
November 20th, 2009 at 8:59 am
New Moon was a much better film than Twilight was! I think the critics need to learn to separate the movies from each other and realize that they are similar to the books and recognizing the fact that New Moon (the movie) also happens in New Moon (the book). You can’t compare what happens in New Moon to Twilight because it’s a different story and it’s a different book. You’re not going to have the same things happen again. This “morning-after mope fest” that Chris Weitz so accurately captures in New Moon is about absolute hearbreak, so of course it’s not going to have the same lust/passion as the first film. It’s a different story and of course it will therefore favour the Jacob aspect – New Moon is about the development of their relationship after Edward leaves. And Pattinson’s reduced presence is a moot point. Fans of the novels are going to totally agree with Weitz’s portrayal of the story. I say well done! Definitely my favourite movie of the two!
November 20th, 2009 at 9:15 am
It has always been for me that I love the movies that don’t rate well with critics. And on the flip side, I hate the movies that they love. So, I guess I am happy that they don’t like it. Jess is right, New Moon (the book) is very different from Twilight (the book). It has a totally different vibe. I can’t wait to see the movie and will regardless of what anyone says. Movies are never the same or as good as the books anyway.
November 20th, 2009 at 10:40 am
I went to the midnight screening last night and I think the critics are wrong, the audience that was in our theater loved it! I loved it! I thought all the actors did a great job and I am looking forward to Eclipse! I struggled last night whether to be Team Jacob or Team Edward. I did see a t-shirt last night that said both Teams, and after New Moon I am defintely leaning towards both now!
I will defintely go see this movie a few more times! I never listen to the stupid critics anyway, I always go see a movie if I think I might be interested!
November 20th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I loved New Moon. Chris Weitz is my new hero. It was a top of the line film with good flow, cinematography, character development, killer CGIs and an awesome soundtrack with good placement of the songs in the film. Critics are just that. This isn’t a film that is out to grab an Oscar for god’s sake! It was still wonderful, well directed and beautiful nonetheless. Leaps and bounds better than Twilight! New Moon gets a 10 from me!
November 21st, 2009 at 12:45 am
I totally agree with Jess! The one thing that bugs me about the movies though, is that the vampires are supposed to be stunning and frankly a lot of the time they’re not. What on earth were they doing with Jaspers hair in new moon! And the whole movie i was struggling against my anti Jacob because of all the shirtless scenes, then when Edwards shirtless scene came on, it looked like he was dirty, hairy and had salami in place of his nipples!!
November 21st, 2009 at 9:31 am
Of course they think it’s a mopey movie that favors Jacob over Edward – THAT IS BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS IN THE BOOK! The critics can talk all they want, but they don’t know the base of the story, which is the book, and that makes them uncredible. If they want to make a fair comparison, like the comparison that true fans who’ve read the books make, they should read it. And then they’ll shut up.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I’ve the books and watched the movie last night.
It was totally AWESOME! I thought they did a great job following the story as much as possible.
If you’ve read the books you won’t be disappointed in the movie. I wish I could see it again…NOW….LOL!
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:17 am
You guys are obviously fans. Therefore you completely lack objectivity on this one.
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
they should have photo-shopped those werewolf guys so it wouldn’t look like they have man-boobs