NYDNews: Eclipse' doesn't wane; Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner shine

'Twilight' tweens have got nothing on these grown-up fanaticsElizabeth Reaser gets tough with matriarch role in 'Eclipse''Eclipse' stars meet-and-greet avid Twi-hards at L.A. premiereRomance and danger propel the third chapter in Stephenie Meyer?a>??s popular vampire series. With Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson. Director: David Slade (2:04). PG-13: Intense violence, sensuality. At area theaters.

Human or immortal? Werewolf or vampire? Marriage or college? These are the kinds of choices Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) faces in David Slade's fast-paced "Eclipse," the third chapter in Stephenie Meyer's beloved "Twilight" saga.

You, however, have no such dilemmas, because you decided a long time ago whether Bella's tangled love life is of any interest. And there's nothing in Slade's straightforward adaptation that will change your mind. If you adore Meyer's characters already, you'll be thrilled to spend more time with them. If you don't, well, you'd just end up sitting among a bunch of sighing teens (and their moms), wondering what the fuss is about.

As any one of those die-hard fans could tell you, it's all about love: Do the dangers of a potentially eternal romance with undead Edward (Robert Pattinson) outweigh the practical comforts provided by loyal Jacob (Taylor Lautner)? Life with Edward is hard; not only is he a vampire, but he's got to be the moodiest boyfriend in history. Jacob might turn into a werewolf now and then, but he's steady and reliable.

Plus, he loves to take his shirt off. Edward may be Bella's soul mate, but Jacob definitely spends more time at the gym.

Are you swooning yet? Don't scoff; Slade - who imports some of the darkness from his last vamp thriller, "30 Days of Night" - knows just how to reach his audience, alternating suspense and romance in carefully precise degrees. It may not be the subtlest approach, but it is effective.

He and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg also find ways to broaden the series' scope, incorporating slightly more opportunity for the supporting players (including Bryce Dallas Howard and Dakota Fanning as especially vicious vampires).

Most important, Bella and Edward are allowed a wider range of emotions than we've seen before; as a result, Stewart and Pattinson finally appear fully comfortable in their roles (though Lautner once again proves the standout, working hard to make Bella's decision a difficult one).

The truth is, almost everyone planning to see "Eclipse" will know how things end before the opening credits even appear. So Slade and his cast can be proud that they consistently keep us involved anyway.



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