From my past reviews of Twilight you probably have some idea where this is going. I’ll let you have a spoiler…it didn’t get better. But could it really get worse? Let’s just say I’m glad Robert Pattinson became Batman—its the greatest comeback anyone could have from these films and he did a great job. However, we’re looking at this movie today so check out my thoughts for yourself.

More definitely happens in this movie:

In the first film, we had a teenage girl falling in love with a bipolar vampire boy and they made the decision to be together. That was all there was going on. In the second film, we got the much needed, but not well handled, break up story and a second potential love interest, thus creating a triangle. But honestly, most of the second film was Bella staring out windows thinking of Edward and Jacob wondering why she doesn't love him. Now to the second film!  We get Bella and Edward staring into each other's eyes, kissing and arguing about marriage while Jacob still stands around and wonders why she doesn't love him! 

Exciting stuff right?

But seriously, at least this film has a villain with a goal. Victoria is trying to kill Bella, taking Edward’s mate in vengeance for him killing her’s. And so the vampires have to work with the werewolves to fight Victoria’s army of newborn vampires. All the while, Edward is trying to get Bella to marry him and Bella is trying to get Edward to sleep with her. So they're both basically trying to change each other's minds for things the other doesn't want–still as healthy a relationship as ever. Before I go into all the reasons this movie didn't get better, let me say what I did appreciate in it. 

Rosalie is my favorite character in the Twilight series (and Charlie, but let's face it he doesn’t get a lot of screen time). She’s one of the only 3 Cullens I like (the other two being Esme and Carlisle) and in this film she has the only rational viewpoint in trying to convince Bella she shouldn't be a vampire. Rosalie has a tragic backstory; and, despite living as a vampire, she had no choice in being one and does not wish the same fate for Bella. I appreciate Carlisle and Esme because they seem to be the only Cullens doing something with their lives. Carlisle is a doctor who actually put his immortality to good use by using his life to fight his own blood lust and heal humans in need, he’s also taken it upon himself to help other vampires like his family control their lust for human blood. He and his wife seem like genuinely kind people, even to the werewolves, whereas the other vampires are prejudiced and self-righteous. So, I appreciate some of the time they’re allowed in this film. Now, into where the movie didn’t get better.

The love triangle/romance whatever the heck it is:

I’ve already beaten the dead horse that is the alleged love of Bella and Edward to a pulp, but I’m about to pull out the stick again and whack away because this movie elaborates on it. 

• The film begins once again with Bella trying to make Edward compromise his values, and Edward trying to make Bella accept marriage (something she hates). It occurred to no one to have a mature conversation about how believing different things and having opposite values might mean they’re ill suited (or that Bella isn't ready to be married), but then if I’m waiting for Edward to be mature I’d be as old as he is. So that’s a thing. 

• Moving on to Jacob….he hasn't matured either. Now I don’t take issue with Jacob believing he’s a better fit for Bella, or with him trying to caution her to not allow Edward to make her a vampire. What I take issue with is him enforcing these things on a girl who's clearly saying NO. Jacob does not persist that he’ll be there, he insists that Bella really loves him and she just doesn't know it. He assures that she has feelings for him but she’s denying it. There’s a point where this isn't romantic, it's immature, pushy, and downright obsessive. In the book, it’s much worse because Jacob literally forces Bella to kiss him for an extended paragraph while she’s trying to push him off. In the film, they must have known how this would translate because they made the kiss scene much shorter and Jacob allows Bella to push him off after a couple seconds. Still, if Jacob wants us to root for him he can try to show Bella why he’s a better fit without being possessive and forceful.

Wolverine tries to get Jean interested in him through persistent attention and flirtation, he doesn’t simply grab her by the arms, hold her there and say, “You don’t know what you want! I don’t care what you say but you really love me!” Jacob takes away any free thought Bella has (similar to Edward) and insists he knows best. On the other side of the coin, I don’t like Edward and she doesn't belong with him, but you can’t force her to belong with you Jacob! And if she’s her own worst enemy and wants someone like Edward you can’t help her so step back and walk away. 

And once again, there's the timeless issue of Bella agreeing to the marriage when she doesn't want to, and Edward agreeing to turn her when he thinks it will cost her soul and make him a terrible person. So basically, the right thing be damned because they want to be together and they don’t care if the other one goes to hell. Edward makes it very clear he thinks if Bella becomes a demon it will damn them both but he agrees to it because he really wants her and it’s the only way he can get her. I don’t know in what world this is healthy but it’s not in this one.

The excuse for drama without any character development:

Nothing is really developed in this film. Edward and Bella get engaged but none of the issues I’d address are actually talked about with any real consequences.

• Do we ever do significant research to see if Bella really would lose her soul if she became a vampire? Do we ever thoroughly explain why Edward believes that?

• Does Bella ever address how she’s going to live as an immortal and watch everyone around her die? Is she concerned if she’ll ever be able to have children when married or has she simply accepted she’ll never be able to do that? These are questions Edward should be asking but he’s just concerned with getting her to agree to a wedding and sneaking in bedroom windows.

• Does Jacob mature? Not really.

• Are any of the Cullens concerned with the state of Bella’s soul, her immortality, bloodlust, or are they just happy Edward found a girl?

• Jacob gets crippled, Bella’s going to lie to her father and quit her human life, but it’s a happy ending–I guess–because Bella and Edward are engaged….yay?

This all isn't to say that a troubled relationship can be written as interesting and engaging, but you have to address the obstacles you put in the story and the consequences. No one in Twilight seems to be thinking about anything except staring into each other’s eyes and there’s no mature voice to pose any of the questions I just did. Is Edward not concerned that Bella may be making a hasty choice and feel a twinge of regret down the road if she gives up her mortality and lives with him in a marriage she didn't even want to agree to? There’s a lot of drama in this film but no solutions or actual development. Basically, this film does not resolve a love triangle well and character’s don’t grow from experience or make sensible decisions. If you want to see how that's done well, read my article on romance in Little Women.