RATING: * * 1/2

Eclipse is the third installment from the Twilight franchise. Now the movie has played legend to many youngsters across the globe. So much so that it has got vampires back into fashion all of a sudden making them most appealing and enamoring. But if only that could take the movie through. I feel there is some sort of jinx to third installments. The third ones seem quite eclipsed literally. Think about it, remember what happened to Shrek 3, Die Hard 3, Terminator 3 etc. Eclipse too will meet a similar fate. Though all the young girls will still go and watch it for Pattinson and Taylor Lautner if nothing else, the movie at large will be disappointing.

I have always believed that any movie, even though it is a sequel, should have the ability to stand independently as a watchable, understandable and enjoyable product. That is one privilege the Twilight series doesn’t provide you with. You’ve gotta watch it all and be in sync with the story otherwise don’t even try to pick up threads somewhere in between.

Now let’s talk about the problems with this franchise. One we had enjoyed the first part because we had liked forks, its new world charm, we had enjoyed the novelty of vampire-human romance and we had liked the action. Now we have seen that already twice over, so we need something new to chew on even though it will be with the same characters. So it could either have been sizzling chemistry between Bella and Edward or some kickass vampire action. Alas, we end up seeing Bella and Edward mostly discoursing each other in the most bland and boring manner. They are both equally cold, figuratively and otherwise. And the action only surfaces in short moments.

This movie only happens in small fragments. We love it when they throw us in the middle of action. My favourite scenes include parts where we spot Victoria for the first time and see her hop, skip, jump and run or the part where Jasper trains the werewolves and vampires together or even the part where Jasper and Rosalie reveal how they became vampires. It’s like we are beginning to get our dose of adrenaline and then suddenly we are again left to suffer Bella and Edward’s or Bella and Jakes thanda exchanges.

One of the most peeving parts of the film is when Bella tells Edward she loves Jake too but loves him more. Suddenly our vampire superhero becomes a super loser. Even Victoria’s end is boring. As much as I would like to understand the fact that the movie is adapted from a book, I can’t grant the director lack of creativity and inability to cash creative liberty.