LSMedia or Liverpool student media at liverpoolstudentmedia.com is a brand new website launched by the University of Liverpool's students to promote and support talented Liverpool student's creative written, visual or radio content.

‘New Moon’ follows on from ‘Twilight’, with vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) dating human Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart).  For those that haven’t read the books (and aren’t really bothered about it being spoilt), the film opens with Bella’s 18^th birthday, which she is reluctant to celebrate because she is getting older every day while Edward stays exactly as he is.  She cuts her finger on some wrapping paper at the Cullen’s house, and is almost attacked by Edward’s family when a drop of blood spills onto the floor.  This event causes Edward to rethink his relationship with Bella, and so he and his family decide to leave, with him promising her that she will never see him again.

This, naturally, devastates her and sends her into such a catatonic state that her father Charlie (Billy Burke) decides to send her back to her mother.  She doesn’t want to go and makes more of an effort with people at school, and old friend Jacob Black (a very buffed up Taylor Lautner).  Their friendship develops as they rebuild two motorcycles together as Bella has discovered that she can see Edward, a sort of shadow of him, when she is about to do something dangerous.  However, as their friendship develops it becomes apparent that Jacob has his own secret.  Again, for those that don’t know, it is that he is werewolf, which also just happens to be the natural enemy of the vampires.  Some incidents occur, which result in Bella going to Italy to face the Volturi to save Edward from killing himself, and this in turn leads to a showdown at the end of the film, which sets up the choice that Bella has to make in ‘Eclipse’.

The film is far better than ‘Twilight’ was, and I think that part of that is due to director Chris Weitz (‘The Golden Compass’, ‘About a Boy’).  Melissa Rosenberg has also stayed closer to book with the screenplay than she did for ‘Twilight’, only changing slight details, but the effect is better, and she is signed on to write ‘Eclipse’ as well, although it’s not clear if she’ll be writing the ‘Breaking Dawn’ screenplay as well.  The make-up for the vampires is also better, with them actually being very pale with bright eyes this time.

It has better special effects, better make-up; better acting, better directing...I could go on.  All in all, an excellent film, one that surpasses the first in the series, and is as good as the book.  Roll on next year for ‘Eclipse’!

By Emily Fairclough