Writer: Lorraine Tan

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Watch this if you liked: "Twilight", "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"

After Catherine Hardwicke ("Twilight") and Chris Weitz's ("New Moon") adaptation of the story, fans would see the continuation of the heated saga in "Eclipse" through the eyes of new director David Slade ("Hard Candy"), in which turns out to be much more favourable and edgier than previous two films.

Red-head vampire Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard, replacing Rachelle Lefevre) this time prominently goes fourth to avenge her lost love James (who was killed in "Twilight") together with an army of "newborns" (newly-turned vampires) against the Cullen family, with an aim to hurt Edward's (Robert Pattinson) sweetheart Bella (Kristen Stewart). Soon as the plot reaches out to Alice Cullen (Ashley Greene) through a vision, a plan to obliterate the new blood army and Victoria takes place, forming an uneasy union between the Cullens and Jacob's (Taylor Lautner) tribe of werewolf shape-shifters.

With regards to the anticipated threesome romance, Jacob's never ending affection and Edward's possessive love towards Bella was composed in such an amusing way that will be able to please fans and generate laughter within audiences at the ridiculous situations. This time finally, body-baring third wheeler Jacob gets a hot kiss he long desired from Bella after taking ages trying to convince her that she loves him. For those who do not understand Bella, she might come off as a two-timing teen, but she's just confused between two good looking men (can't blame her) and fans seem to love the dynamic love triangle and drama that envelopes it. Be prepared for plenty of smooching in "Eclipse" and Jacob's ripped torso as he easily sweeps Bella off her feet to a safer place. However, this reviewer sometime wishes that he should just keep his shirt on as he is topless 80% of the time!

The educational bit within this movie is also interesting as best friend Jessica (Anna Kendrick) delivers a brilliant graduation speech about how we shouldn't rush in our decisions and to make as much mistakes as possible in order to know what we truly want in future. As Bella impatiently desires to lose her mortality and virginity to the bloodsucking boy, the people around her occasionally resounds the message to take things slow and to think twice, thrice, and quadrice at the situation!

The special effects are considerably well improved, ranging from the vampire's ability to sparkle in the sunlight to the impressive climactic battle between CG werewolves and live-action characters. The background setting of the film has also progressed, moving further away from school grounds to a much more scenic view of forests, mountains and vast fields of flowers.

Overall, the actors' performances were not too shabby as they've been with the characters for a while now. Dominating "Best Film" at the MTV Movie Awards for two years in a row, this vampire romance flick franchise will have fans supporting it no matter what, given its strong fan base and will continue until the upcoming two-part "Breaking Dawn" finale.

Cinema Online, 03 July 2010