Chattanooga Pulse

Not so long ago in a state not very far away (Utah), a woman by the name of Stephanie Meyer wrote a series of books about modern-day vampires.  In case you’ve been completely out-of-touch with the cultural zeitgeist for the past several years, the “Twilight” books have sold millions of copies and have already been turned into one very successful film.

Think of the “Twilight” saga as the Lord Of The Rings for teenage girls, who have been the single largest demographic for both the books and the first film.  The sequel, New Moon, does not neglect that core audience.  In fact, it speaks directly to the fair-haired female youth of America in ways that almost no other film has done since James Cameron combined a teen romance into the disaster epic of Titanic a decade ago.

If you are a fan, you will find great satisfaction in the new film.  It is well acted, tightly directed, and delivers all the elements that make the series work: brooding vampires, a tortured love story, and the requisite moody sets to appeal to the lovelorn high school set.  If you are not a fan, though, you might to check out one of the other new releases this weekend (such as the surprisingly satisfying The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock).

At the very least, you won’t have to suffer through endless high-pitched squeals of joy from the teenage throats meeting every appearance by the cast.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Bill Burke
Director: Chris Weitz
Rating: PG-13