The Twilight lovers and team are back and doing great by the looks of it. The movie begins where Twilight ended with Kristen Stewart (Bella Swan) and Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen) very much in love. It is Bella’s birthday and she is celebrating it with the Cullens (Edward’s family of vampires) and while unwrapping a gift Bella cuts her hand and seeing blood spill Jackson Rathbone (Jasper Hale) Edward’s brother loses control. Keeping this incident in mind Edward decides it is not safe for Bella to be with him and breaks up with her pretty much early into the film and also does the disappearing act along with his family from Forks, Washington.
This sets the stage for a grieving Bella to cry on the shoulders of her best friend Taylor Lautner (Jacob Black) who while pining for Bella is also having his own issues of turning into a werewolf being a Quileute Native American. Bella spends her days crying for Edward and her nights having nightmares but not much is explained on that front. Into this scenario enter Edi Gathegi (Laurent) and Rachelle Lefevre (Victoria) partners of Cam Gigandet (James) from the prequel Twilight who have some unfinished business with Bella. In the absence of Edward it is up to Jacob to protect Bella from Laurent and Victoria, which he does with aplomb by turning into a huge werewolf as and when required. Things take a turn with the return of Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen) Edward’s sister who drops by to check on Bella. Introduction into the hierarchy of the vampire clan is also given with the introduction of characters like Michael Sheen, Jamie Campbell Bower, Dakota Fanning and a few more who will have further roles to play in the upcoming Twilight franchise sequels starting with 2010’s The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Edward returns back to Bella and Forks, Washington but this leads to further complications with Jacob resenting his return and it is up to Bella to keep the peace between them. This sets the stage nicely for vampires and werewolves to fight over a human girlfriend and also threatens to break the truce between them. Bella is sure one lucky girl! New Moon ends with Edward and Bella back together, Bella and Jacob having to choose sides straining their best friends relationship and Edward consenting to turn Bella into a vampire but all of which leaves things nicely setup for further movies to follow in this popular franchise.
It goes without saying New Moon is a must watch if you are a fan or even following the Twilight franchise and in the event you are not it is recommended you start with Twilight before going on to watch the sequels.