Lis and I have been rewatching the Twilight movies this October. Yesterday, we watched New Moon and then Eclipse.

In Eclipse, Edward (Robert Pattinson) and the Cullens have returned to Forks because Edward was just so depressed not being near Bella (Kristen Stewart), and Bella somehow flew all the way to Italy to be with him without getting in very much trouble with her father. Edward has asked Bella to marry him, but Bella is upset that Edward won’t “change me,” and she’s also wondering if maybe she and Jacob (Taylor Lautner) are meant to be more than just friends. The first time I saw this movie, I was Team Edward all the way, but now I see Jacob as being the better choice because he could provide her with a stable and protective home without having to transform her into a supernatural creature beforehand.

While Bella is trying to choose between Edward and Jacob, vampire Victoria Sutherland (Bryce Dallas Howard) is gathering an army of “newborn” vampires to attack the Cullens and kill Bella to get revenge for the death of her lover, James, in the first Twilight film. Alice (Ashley Greene) is having visions of the newborns attacking. The Cullens enter an alliance with the werewolves to keep Bella safe.

There’s a lot going on in this movie. I feel bad for anyone who watched Eclipse as their first Twilight movie because they probably had no idea why Dakota Fanning showing up with her red eyes was such a big moment. Even while Bella is trying to pick between Edward and Jacob and get ready for the big battle, life goes on in Forks. She goes to her high school graduation, where Jessica (Anna Kendrick) is the valedictorian. She’s living both the life of a teenager and being vampire-stalked at the same time. Her father even tries to have “the talk” with her, but it’s not necessary. Edward doesn’t want to turn her into a vampire and he doesn’t want to have sex before marriage. He’s a 104-year-old virgin. That’s how strongly he believes in waiting for someone you love. That’s one of those things that seems sweet the first time you hear it and then obsessive the second time.

I liked Eclipse, even if parts of it seem pretty dumb now. My sister and I both agreed that it was foolish of Bella to ask Edward to make her a vampire before she even knew if they were sexually compatible. Becoming a vampire is an even bigger commitment than going exclusive. But it’s a fantasy. The big battle at the end is exciting and it actually happens instead of just being Alice having a vision. Edward proves that he can fight just as well as Jacob. I still think Jacob would be the better provider.

Tomorrow, we will move on to Breaking Dawn!