I'm guessing you're reading this right now getting really excited for New Moon to show. Maybe you're lucky enough to have tickets to the midnight screenings. Maybe you've already seen the film. Me, I'm still looking for someone to watch it with, but yes, I am going to watch New Moon, never mind that I'm not really a fan. I feel that this will be a much better movie than Twilight (maybe it's because I now understand what the hype is all about) and many others have confirmed that feeling. Here's why:

The actors are more confident now. Early reviews say that the acting from the cast is much better. I'm guessing it's because they now know more about the characters they play. It also probably helps that they know what the fan base expects of them. Edward should be like this, Bella should be like this, Jacob should be like this. Same goes for the crew: screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg said that she's had more creative freedom knowing how the fans would react.

Everything looks better. I still remember how widely parodied Edward's sparkly face in Twilight was. Well, New Moon director Chris Weitz is more experienced with CGI (The Golden Compass, anyone?) and, with the help of a bigger budget, we get to see better-looking werewolves. In fact, critics have said New Moon's look is very poignant and old-fashioned, which melds nicely with Bella's torn heart.

The new people, well, rock it. The moment I heard Michael Sheen and Dakota Fanning took roles in New Moon, I thought it was the moment the Twilight franchise had made it. Big-name actors doing the Twilight films! I liked these two in the few movies I've seen, and I'm curious to see how they'll do as members of the Volturi. Next year, another big name joins the force, as Bryce Dallas Howard takes over as Victoria. Who's going next, I wonder?

Taylor Lautner! He was, after all, that close to losing the Jacob Black role. While moviegoers may have seen Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in other films, New Moon is arguably the first movie where Taylor shines. We might want to call this the moment he takes the transition from supporting actor to lead, and a sign of good things to come for this young man's career.

Everybody says it's just plain better. Perhaps it's because New Moon really gets to the meat of the Edward-Bella-Jacob triangle, unlike Twilight which more or less established the premise of the series. That said, I've seen lots of praise for Weitz and Rosenberg for giving the movie a spin that actually improved on the original novel. Film adaptations of novels are mostly hit-or-miss, but reviews say this one has the right balance of new and old material. I haven't read the books, but maybe I'll appreciate it when I sit down and watch it, too.





- Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of Summit Entertainment)