University of Missouri’s “Twilight: New Moon” screening brings fans together for a night of nostalgia
As part of their movie series, the Campus Activities Programming Board brought “Twilight: New Moon” to the big screen at The Shack on Saturday, March 7. As a true “Twilight” fan, I was stoked to see fellow enthusiasts there to enjoy the film, indulge in Twilight-themed snacks and participate in trivia.
Campus Activities decided to show the film since many students grew up with the “Twilight” saga, making it a nostalgic experience. Watching “New Moon” with friends was a fun way to relive those middle school or high school days and laugh about how seriously people took the love triangle between Bella Swan, Edward Cullen and Jacob Black.
College life can be intense, and sometimes you just need a movie that doesn’t require a lot of brainpower but is still entertaining. “New Moon” fits the bill with its mix of supernatural drama, romance and action, perfect for unwinding after a long week of studying.
Out of “The Twilight Saga”, I have to say “New Moon” is one of my favorites. With that said, every movie in the saga is immensely flawed and nowhere near perfect. Critics nitpick and tear the films to shreds, but “New Moon” is a huge step up from the first film. Overall, the score and acting are bigger and better.
At its core, “New Moon” is a story about heartbreak, self-discovery and the complexities of love. After Edward abruptly leaves Bella, believing that his existence as a vampire puts her life in danger, she is left in a deep emotional void.
What follows is Bella’s struggle to recover from the loss of her soulmate, finding solace in her friendship with Jacob, who is slowly revealed to be more than just a human companion.
The performances all around are some of the best in the series. Robert Pattinson continues to make the audience swoon in his role as the brooding Edward. Yet, one of the more underrated performances was Billy Burke as Charlie Swan, Bella’s dad.
Charlie pops in and out of the movie and steals the show every time. He’s delightfully awkward as a father trying to heal his daughter from a painful breakup. As with the first film, the audience gets a glimpse of his emotions, but they shine through when he pulls Bella into his arms as he comforts her from her nightmares.
I say this with my full chest and plead for those to hear me out when I say that Kristen Stewart as Bella is an eyesore. She can only be quirky and stutter while moving her hair so many times before it gets annoying. However, with that said, her performance in “New Moon” is stunning.
One of my favorite scenes in the film is when Bella is sitting in the same position in her room after Edward leaves. The camera pans in a circle as the months go by, but she stays in the same spot, showing that her life stopped after Edward left. Let’s be honest, she’s real for that.
Jokes aside, it’s a powerful scene. It says everything it needs to say, without saying anything. The score of the film pulls the emotions out of the characters. With songs like “Rosyln” by Bon Iver and St. Vincent and “Possibility” by Lykke Li, it’s hard not to feel like you lost your love.
Although “New Moon” is a beautiful film, with beauty comes pain. I’m talking about Taylor Lautner as Jacob. Aside from being way too clingy, he says the line, “Bella, where the hell have you been, loca?” and that right there confirmed me being Team Edward after my first viewing of the film at six years old.
While “New Moon” definitely has its share of cringe-worthy lines and moments that might make people roll their eyes, I still think it’s a solid movie overall. The emotional depth, the themes of love and loss and the tension between the characters make it compelling. Despite the awkward dialogue at times, the movie captures the intensity of the story and moves the plot forward.
The Campus Activities Programming Board has more screenings lined up for the semester, including “Teen Beach Movie” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” These screenings offer college students a chance to relive the movies they grew up with, igniting a sense of nostalgia and excitement that brings them together.
Edited by Alyssa Royston | aroyston@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Emma Harper and Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com
Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com