Rated: PG-13

Release Date: 06/30/2010

Production Company: Summit Entertainment

Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Hayden Christensen
Bryce Dallas Howard, Dakota Fanning,
Billy Burke and Xavier Samuel.

Director: David Slade. Producers: Karen Rosenfelt, Bill Bannerman, Wyck Godfrey and Greg Mooradian. Executive Producers: Marty Bowen and Mark Morgan. Screenwriters: Melissa Rosenberg (Screenplay) and Stephanie Meyer (Novel). Cinematographer: Javier Aguirresarobe.

By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs

So, whose team are you on? Team Jacob, or team Edward? If you don't have any idea what I'm referring to, then you're probably one of the few people on the planet not familiar with the "Twilight" movie series, or that "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," the third installment in this werewolves versus vampires drama--based on the Stephenie Meyer's novels--is kind of a really big deal.

"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," is as any "Twi-hard" fan will tell you, perhaps the most anticipated movie of the series. Mainly because "Eclipse" has much more action than its predecessors and the love triangle between the film's virtuous heroine Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and the hot and cold-blooded guys in pursuit of her affections; man-wolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) is more pronounced this time around.

Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg has even flavored the script with biting humor. The storyline in the film is more flushed out as are the characters. We learn even more about Bella and her best friend Jessica (Anna Kendrick, "Up in The Air") as they contemplate their life after graduating from high school. Bella develops an even closer relationship with her police chief dad, (Billy Burke) and also spends some quality time with her mother.

But Bella has much more to contend with than just choosing lovers. There are forces at hand, notably the red-headed vampire Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard), who has been working overtime throughout Forks, Wash. to round up new vampires--Newbies--who are young, vicious and if human would possess amazing strength.

Victoria is out to kill Bella for murdering her boyfriend James. Jacob and Edward join forces and agree to protect Bella at whatever cost. This sets up the huge, climatic fight scene between the werewolves and vampires. The CG in "Eclipse" is much better than in the two previous movies. The wolves, though gigantic, move better and look much more real and menacing.

David Slade whose work includes the 2007 fun and gory vampire flick, "30 Days of Night" which starred Josh Hartnett, takes over the directing reigns from "New Moon's" Chris Weitz. Slade does a solid job pacing "Eclipse" and its action sequences.

But during the screening I attended, romance seemed to trump all action. It was the hotter than hot Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson that tween girls howled and went crazy for every time these guys were on screen to embrace, kiss or utter something romantic to Kristen Stewart.

And when "Twi-hards" all over the country wait in line for hours, even days to catch late night screenings of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," you know this is all kind of a really big deal.