The Twilight Saga: New Moon

This shallow sequel adapted from Stephenie Meyer's bestselling series about a teenager's infatuation with vampires and werewolves has shattered box-office records, a reminder that ardent fans will not be deterred by mediocrity. As Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) begins her senior year in high school and celebrates her 18th birthday, she's miserable. In love with a sensitive vampire, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), who's fated to look like a 17-year-old forever, she's tortured by the nightmare question: Will he still adore her when she looks like grandma? Worse yet, Edward and his clan (Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Kellan Lutz, Jackson Rathbone) are leaving the town of Forks and the soggy state of Washington, plunging Bella into a gothy, self-obsessed funk—until she renews her friendship with beefed-up Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), a member of the mysterious Quileute tribe. But shirtless Jacob's got a secret: he's become a werewolf. “I have never met anyone more prone to life-threatening idiocy,” observes Bella's best friend and Edward's sister, Alice (Ashley Greene), a statement that astutely sums up the plot, which includes an ominous encounter with a bloodthirsty Italian vampire hierarchy, headed by Michael Sheen, with Dakota Fanning as an acolyte. Since Edward is largely absent in this segment of the Romeo and Juliet-like saga, screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg and director Chris Weitz give ruby-lipped heartthrob Pattinson additional screen time as a vision in Bella's mind. Optional, except for devoted Twi-hards. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Chris Weitz and editor Peter Lambert, a six-part behind-the-scenes documentary (66 min.), exclusive band rehearsal footage with soundtrack performers Muse (2 min.), and music videos for “Meet Me On the Equinox” by Death Cab for Cutie, “Satellite Heart” by Anya Marina, and “Spotlight” by Mutemath. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing sequel.] (S. Granger)