Paranormal Pop Passion: 'Eclipse'

Each week paranormal romance author Caden Leigh gives her take on love and sex in both mainstream and supernatural entertainment. The Florida-based scribe of The Silver Septagram, published by Captiva Press, always has an opinion on what's hot - or not.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

After it has made a bundle of money after two weeks in theaters (released June 30), what more is there to be said about Eclipse.  Well in one word, the movie can be summed up as: Teasing. But since my editor won't settle for one word, I'll give you a few more.

When we last left the town of Forks, Wash., in New Moon, Bella (Kristen Stewart ) was “technically” with vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson). She went to Italy and back for her man, so you’d think shapeshifter Jacob (Taylor Lautner) would take the hint, right? Nope, and he’s not entirely to blame. Bella does love him, and in Eclipse, the boundaries of that love are tested.

Meanwhile, bad girl vampire Victoria is bent on revenge for the murder of her mate James. Scheming for months she finally puts her plan into action, and begins stalking her prey in nearby Seattle. Her first victim (or more likely, coerced enlistee) is Riley Biers, a former residence of Forks. Victoria convinces Riley of her love for him and he joins her in plan to create a vampire army to destroy Bella and the Cullens. Unfortunately for the pair, their actions don’t go unnoticed. Both the Cullens and the Volturi have begun to track the vicious murders and rise in missing person reports.

Oddly, neither act on their hunches - which sums up much of the movie. There is a lot of promise of action, but nothing quite moves when you want it to.

Now what are Edward and Bella doing? Living the dream of two love stricken teenagers: dating, planning for their future and debating on how, or if, Edward should turn Bella into the glistening undead. Bella is blissfully unaware of Victoria’s plan for her demise. Jacob decides to tell Bella of all the recent activities that have occurred. And as any smart woman would do, she confronts the man she loves.

This is where her torture begins. Does she stay with the man who thinks she is weak and needs to be protected or go with the one who has never lied to her and has confidence in her strength?

Hot Topic enters sales 'Twilight'

Is Stephenie Meyer's vampire franchise entering its twilight years?  It's too soon to tell, but it would seem so, according to Hot Topic - the faux-goth/punk mall store (for teens who want to rebel at retail prices).

As reported on Friday in The Wall Street Journal, last week Hot Topic a worse-than-expected 13 percent decline in April same-store sales. The figures are "worse than analysts' expectations of a 7.9% decline and following prior-year growth of 3.1%. For months, Hot Topic's results were bolstered by merchandise tied to the popular vampire film Twilight, but sales have slid of late." Moreover, as reported in TheStreet.com, Hot Topic isn't really expecting the release of Eclipse, the third Twilight Saga film installment, to bolster sales that much.

The Hot Topic numbers may be the second part of a trend that began with Lagardère - the parent company of Hachette Book Group (the Twilight Saga publisher) - which showed a 6.5 percent drop in sales from the most recent quarter compared to last year. The reason for the drop, according to Lagardère: "The expected erosion in Stephenie Meyer sales".

As business news Web site BNET astutely notes, "The problem with building a business model based on trends is that a runaway train of success can end in a screeching derailment based on the whims of 14-year-olds" who may be on to the next big thing and less likely to buy up every Twilight-branded product.

Once bitten, thrice tried: The 'Twilight' trailer formula

When I made a comment the other day about the new Eclipse trailer feeling the same as the others from the Twilight Saga film series, I had no clue how right I was.

Well, Moviefone is on top of its game and developed a seven-item checklist for a Twilight trailer that includes:

1) Sweeping shots of the Pacific Northwest
2) Close-up shots of brooding R.Patz and his lady love
3) A truck or two
4) Heart-to-hearts in the forest
5) Piano music
6) Stating the obvious
7) Slow motion

Watch and learn...after the jump

'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' trailer hits

Sigh. More Twilight.  I know it's a movement and all, but can we just take a year off or so between movies, or is Summit Entertainment afraid Stephenie Meyer's twi-hard fanbase will dry up and die off like a puny mortal by then?

The new Eclipse trailer looks to be more of the same (whiny Bella, morose Edward, shirtless Jacob) and not nearly as fresh as this Eclipse or as compelling as this Eclipse.  Still, it is what it is and looks like it's giving fans what they want.

The trailer is embedded below for your enjoyment, then head over to the L.A. Times "24 Frames" blog for a breakdown of it.

'The Eclipse' premieres online

The Eclipse, the Irish ghost story we mentioned last month, has premiered on Amazon video on demand, and it's a compelling flick worth the rental fee, and at the Irish Film and TV Awards, it picked up awards for Best Irish Film, Best Script (Conor McPherson and Billy Roche), and Best Supporting Actor (Aidan Quinn).

If you want to see if it's your cup of Irish Breakfast, watch the trailer below and check out the exclusive clip over at io9.

New trailer for the other 'Eclipse' movie

Sorry Twi-hards, but there are more things obscured by heaven and earth than just your Eclipse philosophies (apologies to Shakespeare). Instead, there's a different Eclipse flick out there.

While this Irish film does deal with issues of love, loss and romantic rivalry in a gloomy seaside town, it has nary a werewolf, vampire or mopey Forks, Wash., resident in sight.

Instead, The Eclipse is about a single father (Ciarán Hinds) who believes he's either being haunted by his dead wife or about to go stark raving. When he becomes close with a visiting female author (Iben Hjejle) who specializes in ghost stories, he shares his experiences and the two work together to understand the ghostly encounters. Unfortunately, the author is also caught up in her own difficult relationship with a living, and married, American writer (Aidan Quinn).

The film, which premieres March 26, looks like a compelling, adult entry of paranormal pop culture. It has also recently been nominated for eight categories, including best feature and director, for the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA).

(trailer embedded for your enjoyment)

'Twilight', the reality show? And official 'Eclipse' image

Last week, MTV.com reported a casting call went out on the Forks Forum in the Washington state town where the Twilight Saga is based.  Well, it turns out a reality-TV show is in the works for the small town, reports The Wrap.

Producer Zig Gauthier (a name destined for a James Bond villain) tells the entertainment site the show is intended to examine life in the town and inspect the Twi-hard fascination with Stephenie Meyer's books and movie franchise. Sadly, he adds the show will not be staking out "real" vampires or werewolves.