The Twilight Saga: New Moon

New Moon manages at least to get by with some nifty action sequences. Actually, the film has a couple of top moments, assisted by great cinematography, perfect editing and a great soundtrack – it’s a slicker flick for sure. No one could deny that the first instalment had a great soundtrack, and this one is even better.
Rating: 2.5 starsHoopla Factor: 3.0 stars


What kind of message is being sent to young women here? The film barely stands up to scrutiny, and perhaps isn’t meant to be considered in depth, but as it takes itself so damn seriously it demands the audience does as well. Perhaps the only positive message its audience will receive is the SunSmart concept that it’s okay to be pale.
Rating: 0.5 starsHoopla Factor: 0.0 stars Continue reading The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Twilight

Bella and Edward fight ever-so-hard against their lesser urges, in a less-than-subtle message about youth sex, while girls dress to maximise their cleavage and then are morally outraged when any male dares notice. This world feels more like fantasy than those of many more obviously fantastical films.
Rating: 1.0 starsHoopla Factor: 1.5 stars


Seeing Twilight with a cinema full of lovestruck teenage girls is probably the only way you’ll really ‘get’ a film like this. It’s a long time since I’ve seen a film that induced such vocal appreciation.
Rating: 2.5 starsHoopla Factor: 3.5 stars Continue reading Twilight

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging

The film is passionate in its affirmation of teens and responsibility, but also isn’t afraid to have a little fun. It perhaps goes out of its way to resolve some subplots that would have been better left alone, but that didn’t matter so much when I was grinning like an idiot at the pure fun of it all.
Rating: 4.0 starsHoopla Factor: 4.0 stars Continue reading Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging

Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueburger

Randall does an excellent job of casting Esther as outsider – schoolyard scenes are choreographed to enhance the suggestion of otherness that eventually engulfs her. Militaristic overtones in these scenes maximise the sense that conformity is more important than individuality.
Rating: 3.0 starsHoopla Factor: 3.0 stars Continue reading Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueburger