Story: Bella Swan's romance with high-school vampire Edward Cullen suffers a temporary break when her boy friend chooses to distance himself from the vulnerable maiden. Enter Jacob, the were-wolf hunk who protects her from the non-vegetarian vampires, thirsting for her blood.
Movie review: Some lucky girl, this Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart)! On the one hand, she manages to find the wildest boyfriends for sure: If it isn't the ashen-white and absolutely ravishing vampire, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), baring his fangs for her, it's the eight-pack were-wolf, Jacob (Taylor Lautner) feverishly grinding his teeth or wolfishly blinking his eyes for her. And on the other, she manages to stay away from all the banal humans who can't even handle the adrenalin rush of an in-your-face action film. More importantly, humans hardly make ideal boyfriends in an age when it's easy to end up as Tiger(s) in the Wood(s).
But hey! That's a bitter truth our Bella won't have to taste. For, on one side, there's immortal romance being handed over to her on the 17-till-I-die vampire's eclectic platter and on the other side, there's naughty hottie Jake throwing her an invitation to join the pack (of wolves) and pledging ever-after, in his own wet dog way. Hence, the eternal, almost hysterical allure of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series -- now movies -- which are creating box office storms despite eliciting such a cold response from the western critics. But we desis aren't so snooty, are we. Also, don't we understand this bhoot-pret mumbo-jumbo more than anyone in the world. It's kind of in-built in our DNA, ever since the first Indian grand mum told the first Indian bedtime story to her grand kid. Hence, our applause and understanding of the Twilight Saga that is currently sweeping the world.
Part Two, in the four-book series, takes off somewhat sluggishly after part one (Twilight). Bella and Edward walk down the wet and sunless forests of Forks, not knowing whether to push their romance forward or let it linger gently. Not until Cullen decides to walk away from her life in order to protect her from the blood lusting bat people. And before Bella can say `Bakwas!', he's gone...Enter old friend Jacob, the American-Indian, who has been sending her special glances since long. Only, Bella never bothered till now. But now that her heart's broken, nightmares plague her and she desperately needs a friend, the depressed high-schooler picks up a broken bike from a scrap yard and asks Jacob to mend it for her. Predictably, the mend-my-bike sessions get mushy, but it doesn't take long before Bella realises this one's different too. There actually aren't any normal men around her anymore. Isn't anyone sane and normal? she exclaims!
And, it's here the film actually picks up. Watch an eminently watchable Jacob metamorphose into a were-wolf, hunt down the killer vampires, fight back rival wolves, attack rival vampires (Cullen) or simply obey Bella when she orders him `Doggy, heel!' (Of course, not literally!) Also, since Edward is away most of the screen time, Jake has a field day displaying his wares and walking away with the teen hysteria. Can't actually blame Bella when she longingly steals glances at him after her ashen boyfriend returns or tells him it's good to feel his warmth. Vampires are cold, no.
The film is as cheesy and as entertaining as part one, even though it has a new director (Chris Weitz directed the visually splendid The Golden Compass). And yes, it does put you into counting mode. You begin counting days before part three (Eclipse) makes its presence felt. Also, watch out for the dad-daughter bond. It's getting better and warmer.