Acclaimed Film Critic, Richard Roeper, Applauds "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" In YouTube Exclusive [Spoiler Alert!]

Roeper Calls Third Installment “One of the Most Astonishing Upgrades in Movie Franchise History”

In a YouTube exclusive, renowned film critic and Chicago Sun-Times columnist, Richard Roeper, gives “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” an A- rating. After panning both 'Twilight' and 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Roeper designates the most recent chapter infinitely better.

“The first Twilight movie was mediocre and the second one was just laughable and melodramatic and over the top and ridiculous, so I didn’t have high expectations for this one,” said Roeper. “I have to say, this represents one of the most astonishing upgrades in movie franchise history.”

In his review, Roeper attributes this clear improvement, in part, to director, David Slade, and says all three leads raised their game, most notably, Kristen Stewart who’s character is more involved in this movie’s action.

“I can almost not believe I’m going to say this, but this is one of the better movies of the year,” adds Roeper. “It’s really well done, well directed, well acted, has great camera work and a terrific soundtrack.”

For the full review see today’s YouTube exclusive and for reviews of all the latest movies, visit richardroeper.com or hulu.com.

About Richard Roeper

Richard Roeper is co-host of the Roe Conn Show with Richard Roeper on Citadel-owned WLS-AM. He has been a daily columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times for more than 20 years, during which time his work has won numerous honors, including the National Headliner Award as the best columnist in the country.

Roeper has written eight books. The most recent, titled Bet the House, has just been published. He has also written for Esquire, Maxim, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide and many other national publications.

For eight years, Roeper was the co-host of "Ebert & Roeper." He currently reviews films for Starz, richardroeper.com, YouTube and hulu.com. Roeper is also a regular contributor to the Reelz Channel.

Roeper has appeared as a guest on "The Tonight Show," "Top Chef," "Entourage," "Nightline," "Regis & Kelly," "Oprah," "The Today Show" and numerous other programs.

As a commentator for Fox in Chicago, Roeper won two Midwest Emmys. He has also worked as a film critic for the CBS-2 affiliate in Chicago. Roeper has hosted radio shows on a number of stations in Chicago.

Source: PRWeb

[Ina Noorazan]

Jackson Rathbone describes his ECLIPSE casts

Source: Popstar! Online and YouTube

[Ina Noorazan]

Top ten best small details in 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' [Spoiler Alert!]

Having already broken down some of the best song placements in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse as well as what scenes one might hope for in an Eclipse DVD deleted/extended scene feature, here's a chance to move on to a list of some of the best small details included in the film.

Again, if you haven't seen the movie yet, this might spoil some of the fun for you, so it may be best to hold off on reading it just yet.

1. The graduation party: The way that the film brought forth the Cullens' graduation party was almost exactly as it was described in Eclipse - the bubbly mood of the room, the music, the dancing. The setting for this scene was very nicely and faithfully done. Also, the fact that Jacob shows up with the wolf bracelet - which has become an iconic piece of merchandise in the Twilight fan world since the book's release - during this scene is an important detail that wasn't overlooked.

2. Team Switzerland: While the swishing of stubborn magnets around on the refrigerator might not have made it into the film, "I'm Switzerland" sure did. It's a good thing, too, because the term has become a "Team" representation in and of itself, so there'd be a lot of disappointed "Team Switzerland" fans if the term didn't make the cut.

3. Jacob's note: It was a rather nice surprise to see Jacob's note make an appearance in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. It even looked the same as it did in the book, with the scratch-throughs and ink blots next to the very same words. This was a very eloquent touch - especially since that's the first thing we see of Jacob's frustration in the story.

4. "I punched a werewolf in the face": This line speaks for itself.

5. "Claire de Lune": As a bit of a throwback to Twilight and the feeling of when Edward and Bella made their first entrance into the Cullen house together, Debussy's "Claire de Lune" is playing in the background. This added a sweet nostalgia to the moment and helped to lead into an even sweeter sequence ahead.

6. Leg hitch: Yes, yes. The leg hitch made it into the movie. That was something a lot of people were extremely vehement about, and there was no let-down on that front. This may not even qualify as a "small detail" given the importance of it to fans.

7. Apple: David Slade admitted to changing a few things about the sets in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, but one thing that he didn't fail to bring back in from The Twilight Saga: New Moon was the apple in Charlie's kitchen window. It was a nice sliver of continuity.

8. "He moves, you move": The exchange between Renee and Bella was incredibly important to the story in Eclipse, and Renee's observations about Bella and Edward here were put well enough in the book. So, it was nice to see the book phrase make it to the film in this moment.

9. "Bulletproof": This is another quote from the book that was well placed in the film. It was contemporary and humorous enough for the ending moment in the film, and it was a lovely touch that this was how Bella closed out the engagement conversation with Edward.

10. Rosalie's theatrics: The Rosalie backstory was, altogether, spectacular in the film. Still, a shining bit of it came in the span of a split-second when the red-eyed Rosalie breaks into Royce's room in her wedding gown. "Theatrical?" Yes, but appropriately so!


Thank you Twilight Examiner

[Ina Noorazan]

Top five best-placed 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' soundtrack songs [Spoiler Alert!]

So far, the Twilight series' films have been blessed with great soundtracks which have been, in at least a few major instances, utilized well in the movies. For instance, with Twilight, there couldn't have been better pieces than Muse's "Supermassive Black Hole," Blue Foundation's "Eyes on Fire," or Robert Pattinson's "Let Me Sign" for the scenes which they accompanied. Similarly, with The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Thom Yorke's "Hearing Damage" was irreplaceable, and Lykke Li's "Possibility" framed the moment quite well.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse's use of the soundtrack, too, had some brilliant moments - some which even merited a change of heart about the songs themselves - and here are my top five:

5. Sia - "My Love": This song accompanied the . . . well . . . steamiest scene in the film - one which has been notoriously referred to as the "leg hitch" sequence. What better to showcase the angst-ridden romance of Bella and Edward than a song completely comprised of longing?

4. The Dead Weather - "Rolling in on a Burning Tire": Riley and Victoria were an interesting couple to watch on-screen. Their dark, twisted relationship matched up well with The Dead Weather's deep melody here, and the song really helped to supplement the lack of tenderness from at least one party's perspective in the exchange.

3. The Black Keys - "Chop and Change": This song was the very first one used in the film, accompanying the watery studio logo and introduction to Eclipse. It set the tone of the first scene quite nicely as we find Riley exiting the bar and meeting his fate on the streets of Seattle. It was a nice beat to compliment the mood of the moment.

2. Unkle - "With You in My Head (feat. The Black Ghosts)": Alone, this song might seem a bit strange in the context of the soundtrack, but matched up with its relevant sequence (the Cullens' fight training scene), it is perfect. The facial expressions of the Cullens in these moments align masterfully with the music, and it also serves as a great tempo lift from some of the more somber surrounding scenes in the film.

1. METRIC - "Eclipse (All Yours)"/Howard Shore - "Wedding Plans": Perhaps something else would've worked here, I don't know. I do know that when the melody of Howard Shore's song here synced up with Bella and Edward's discussion of the future and eachother in the meadow, it seemed as if it was the only song that could ever feel right at that moment. The fact that it carried into METRIC's song in the credits to end Eclipse on such a high note only strengthened that perception. Having such a sweet and lyrically appropriate song placed in the end was crucial to walking out of Eclipse with a huge smile, a desire to see the film again, and high anticipation for what is to come next with The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.


Source: Twilight Examiner

[Ina Noorazan]

Top ten things to hope for in 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' DVD's deleted or extended scenes [Spoiler Alert!]

If you haven't seen The Twilight Saga: Eclipse yet, do be warned that this is a spoiler-ridden post and you may want to save it for later.

Alright, so we know that David Slade's revealed at least one deleted scene we should expect to see on an Eclipse DVD, but there are a few other moments that one might hope for on such a feature.

The one we know is coming is the Angela and Bella "jealousy" sequence - where the two discuss Edward's feelings about Bella's friendship with Jacob over graduation announcements.

So, putting that one aside, here are ten other moments one might hope to see:

1. "I felt hope": The Twilight Saga: Eclipse does a nice job of bringing in Jasper's backstory, for sure. And the chemistry between Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) and Alice (Ashley Greene) is very palatable in both the ending of that story and the fight training sequence. However, a significant quote that Jasper says about finding Alice in Eclipse the book didn't make the film cut . . . "I felt hope." It's certainly forgiveable - especially since we weren't shirked on the Jasper Whitlock Hale "ma'am"-ness - but it'd be nice to see a fuller account of the Jasper and Alice tale, especially the part where Edward describes their first visit to the Cullen household.

2. Quil and Claire: It's borderline creepy to some (perhaps outsiders particularly), sure, but it is necessary to make the Renesmee/Jacob dynamic in Breaking Dawn make any sense. In The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, no mention is made of Quil and his two-year-old imprintee, and something about the situation needs to be elucidated to segue into what comes next in the imprinting world. Otherwise, it'd have to be squeezed into The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, and we'll be far too busy in Isle Esme for that.

3. "Close the window": One significant change that The Twilight Saga: Eclipse made to the story of Eclipse is to remove the kidnapping sequence. Yes, Edward's behavior in these moments is undesirable and it probably was better to shorten it to just the moment where Edward dismembers her car for the sake of film continuity. Still, one line that was removed from this moment was the one in which Edward tells Bella to shut her window if she doesn't want him to come in due to his behavior. This was important because it showed Edward's remorse but also illustrated Bella's understanding when she ends up opening it as wide as it could go. It'd be nice to see this on-screen - unlikely as it may be. Edward isn't all sunshine and roses in Eclipse, and we need to believe Bella when she says that she "know[s] who he is" to Jacob's "he isn't perfect" near the end.

4. Emmett face smash: A few days ago, we learned that at least one portion of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse's battle sequence was pared down to appease the MPAA and maintain a PG-13 rating: an Emmett face smash that David Slade described as "the face kind of breaks off into pieces of crystal that shatter." That's something I'd like to see for sure . . . even if it meant buying an unrated DVD.

5. Jacob and Bella post-punch: The cut from Bella punching Jacob in the face and hurting her hand to the front yard of Charlie's house was rather quick in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. I rather enjoyed it in the book when Bella gets fierce with the smug Jacob and calls him a dog. Of course, in the film, Edward is a bit more frantic in his threats than he was in the book, so that eliminates the possibility for some of the best zingers in this portion of the story, but there still could've been more in between these two moments. If there was, it'd be good to see on DVD.

6. Alice and Bella: Bottom line: there just hasn't been enough Alice and Bella. Their scenes together are fleeting moments in the films, including Eclipse. As noted before, the kidnapping scene is gone from The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and most of the time Alice is in a scene in these movies, it's as part of the Cullen brood and not as an individual with Bella. There's not been that discussion of fashion or wedding plans or vampire speed party preparation like we got to see in the books. Alice is probably one of the top five most loved characters in the Twilight Saga, and she deserves some personality screen time. I'd like to see some more Alice and Bella chatting it up like the best friends they are supposed to be.

7. "I kissed Jacob": The fact that Bella kisses Jacob in Eclipse is paramount. While The Twilight Saga: Eclipse does handle it nicely, the film could've stood to see more discussion of that moment (particularly the fact that it's a bit of a game between Edward and Jacob).

8. Bella and Jacob, old and gray: Leading off of point number seven, there should've also been a flashforward sequence between Bella and Jacob. In the book, when Bella kisses Jacob, she sees the possibility that he offers her. She can see the potential for children, grandchildren, and a normal, healthy future with Jacob flash before her very eyes, and it is particularly important in relation to the words Rosalie says about her own life's fate. My hope is that this was filmed and will be included in the DVD.

9. Bella meets Bree: This was another significant moment in the book that didn't get attention in the film. In the book, Bella meets Bree as a ravenous, screeching newborn who badly wants to bite her. It's a glimpse into what she might be able to expect in her own not-too-distant future. In the film, however, Bree is rather quiet and tame - in fact, she's unrestrained altogether. It'd be nice to see the ravenous version of Bree in the deleted scenes.

10. "Don't watch": One of the most interesting things about The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella was that it added a secondary layer of meaning to Edward's final words in the story - "Don't watch." In Eclipse, it seemed that Edward was speaking to Bella, but in Bree Tanner we learn that he's probably speaking to both Bella and Bree. Of course, in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the portion with Edward and Jane exchanging cryptic words (the meaning of which we also learned in Bree Tanner) was included, so it would've fit neatly into the story for "Don't watch" to make the script, but it didn't. Perhaps the scene will be extended for the DVD.


Article by Twilight Examiner {Amanda Bell}

[Ina Noorazan]

'Eclipse' Director David Slade Reveals Kristen Stewart's Deleted Scenes

Last November, "New Moon" director Chris Weitz told us that the DVD release of the second film in the "Twilight" franchise would deliver 20 minutes of deleted footage for hungry fans. But when the disc dropped in March, no such scenes were included on virtually any available version.

Weitz eventually copped to the mistake, but "Twilight" fans might remain wary about promises of deleted scenes for the DVD of "Eclipse." So approach director David Slade's statements with both the usual enthusiasm and abundant caution, because he's promised MTV News that the DVD will definitely contain deleted scenes — and at least two will feature Kristen Stewart's Bella Swan.

"There's a lovely scene between Angela and Bella where they're just two girls getting along and they're just talking about girl stuff, about jealousy," said Slade of the two high school friends. "Bella's so completely and utterly wrapped up in all of this stuff — that Angela has no idea about — [and Bella] is blind to the basic human stuff in front of her. It's a lovely scene, and I'm sure it will be on the DVD. It just stopped the film dead. The film had a pace and it just stopped dead."

Indeed, there is very little in "Eclipse" of Bella in her high school setting: one or two scenes in the cafeteria, a brief graduation scene, and not much else. Rather, the movie focuses on the Bella-Edward-Jacob love triangle and the growing threat Victoria and her army of newborn vampires pose to the community. With a film that runs just over two hours, a director is simply forced to make tough choices.

"It was one of those things we ended up reluctantly removing, but it will be there for later, for prosperity," Slade said of the scene.

Aside from Bella and Angela's conversation, Slade admitted that not much was left on the cutting-room floor. "There's not much fat," he said.

But there is a touching scene between Bella and her father that fans can get excited to see. "We did this one scene of Charlie just telling Bella how proud he is of her, which was wonderful and really touching," Slade said. "But again, it just kind of stopped you."


Source: MTV News

[Ina Noorazan]

Metric 'Eclipse' (All Yours) Music Video

"Eclipse (All Yours)"

METRIC MySpace Music Videos


Source: MySpace

[Ina Noorazan]

ECLIPSE smashes midnight box office records : the round-up

'Eclipse' howls past midnight record with $30M

"The Twilight Saga" has rung up another record midnight hour.

"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" took in more than $30 million from midnight screenings Wednesday, according to distributor Summit Entertainment.

That surpassed the previous midnight record of $26.3 million set on opening day last November by its predecessor, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."

Summit was still counting the numbers and was not expected to have a final overnight number until Thursday. But Summit reported the figure was likely to come in significantly higher than $30 million.

The huge start for "Eclipse" puts the latest chapter in the vampire-romance series on track for one of the biggest opening days ever.

"New Moon" also holds that record, taking in $72.7 million in its first day.

The new midnight record is even more impressive considering "Eclipse" managed it in the middle of the week. "New Moon" opened on Friday, typically a busier day at theaters.

Fans lined up Tuesday hours ahead of the first midnight show times for "Eclipse," which continues the story of brooding teen Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and her love triangle with vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner).

With the Fourth of July weekend ahead, "Eclipse" is positioned for a colossal first five days. The record five-day haul for a movie opening on Wednesday is $200 million for last year's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."

Source: Yahoo! News


'Eclipse' Breaks Midnight Box Office Records

Summit's "Eclipse" scored massive figures Tuesday night, with more than $30 million at some 4,000 engagements, enough to become the all-time highest-grossing pic for midnight runs.

The franchise's third outing, which surpassed "Twilight" predecessor "New Moon" ($26.3 million) for the late-night crown, will expand to 4,416 U.S. locations today. Large-screen exhib Imax posted north of $1 million from 192 engagements, a record-setting take for the company.

Some 12 territories, including Brazil and Mexico, also screened "Eclipse" during midnight showings. Most markets will continue the film's international rollout today, with additional bows July 1. Pic will launch day-and-date in 42 overseas markets.

Pic's midnight take, which includes 3 a.m. Wednesday screenings from some circuits, reps a sizeable start Stateside over the Fourth of July weekend as its core aud of young femmes mostly are on summer vacation. "Eclipse" will go against the frame's other wide release Paramount's "The Last Airbender," which is expected to best serve males aged 25 and under.

Article by Andrew Stewart at Variety


'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' breaks box office records with midnight grosses

Twilight fever is showing no sign of abatement with the film’s third installment. In fact, fans of the series seem even more juiced up than usual. The film grossed in excess of $30 million from its midnight shows Tuesday in over 4,000 theaters across North America.

This estimate surpasses the previous midnight record holder, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, which earned $26.3 million last November, and now holds the new industry record as largest midnight gross ever. The film — starring Kristen Stewart, Rob Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner — has received the largest North American release ever, bowing in 4,408 theaters on Wednesday. Twenty-nine additional theaters will be added by Friday for a total of 4,437.

Eclipse marks the first Twilight film to receive a summer opening, a decision that seems to be playing out incredibly well for Summit Entertainment. Stay tuned over the weekend as we report the complete results.

Article by Nicole Sperling at EW.com


'Eclipse' Sets Box-Office Record For Midnight Screenings

In knowing the fervor and devotion of "Twilight" fans, it should come as no surprise that ticket sales for "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" have broken the record for highest-grossing midnight screenings — previously held by "New Moon."

According to the film's distributor, Summit Entertainment, "Eclipse" took in more than $30 million from midnight screenings on Wednesday (June 30), with final box-office numbers to be determined once the studio finishes its final count. The previous record for midnight showings is $26.3 million, set on the opening day for "New Moon" last November.

"Eclipse" will have to break $72.7 million to beat its predecessor in the all-time opening-day-gross category, but given the strong numbers Wednesday, and the fact that "Moon" opened on a Friday, not midweek, it is fair to say the third chapter in the hugely popular film franchise is on track to rake in serious dough throughout its opening weekend.

"Eclipse" ranks as the widest domestic release in history, opening in 4,416 theaters in North America, beating the record set earlier this year by "Iron Man 2." Four-thousand of those theaters held midnight screenings. Several theater chains also reportedly had 3 a.m. screenings to meet public demand. IMAX was expected to hold 3 a.m. screenings in 120 of its theaters.

In addition to being on par to break the "New Moon" opening-day and midnight-screening records, "Eclipse" has a shot at besting the record for a movie opening over the Fourth of July weekend. That record is currently at $200 million, set by last year's "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."

Article by Kara Warner at MTV News

[Ina Noorazan]