The first two movies in the Twilight saga have a lot in common. Both do a good job utilizing the setting to convey elements of the story, both have realistic depictions of teenage behavior, and both have great scores and soundtracks. Many fans agree that Twilight and New Moon are the best installments in the series for these reasons.
When watching these two films, it's clear that directors Catherine Harwicke and Chris Weitz had an appreciation for the source material and an eye for details. The thought and care put into each film by those who worked on them makes it difficult to decide which is better, as they're both great for different reasons. In the end, it comes down to personal preference and what resonates more with a viewer.
Twilight: The Depiction Of The Pacific Northwest
Stephenie Meyer chose Forks, Washington as the setting for her story about vampires because of how little sun the town sees each year. When we first see Bella Swan in Twilight, she's leaving her home in Phoenix, Arizona to go live with her dad in Forks. The warm tones and open sky of Phoenix are juxtaposed with the cooler tones of the Pacific Northwest, smartly accentuated by a cool blue hue that gives the setting an extra feel of the supernatural. Catherine Hardwicke's appreciation for the beauty of the PNW is ever-present, as the camera sweeps over endless green treetops and lingers on damp green undergrowth.
New Moon: Jacob
New Moon is where Jacob Black really gets his chance to shine. When Edward abandons Bella, she eventually starts hanging out with Jacob. Jacob is sweet, friendly, and exactly what Bella needs. Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart's chemistry in the movie makes their friendship feel natural and believable. The screen time Edward and Jacob had in Twilight is reversed in New Moon, so fans of Jacob's character will probably prefer this second installment in the franchise.
Twilight: The Atmosphere
A combination of many elements and an extreme attention to detail give the first Twilight film its own distinct feel. The movie feels at once realistic and surreal. Most movies that take place in high school feature students who seem to speak in perfectly timed, snappy dialogue. It's entertaining, but never feels real. In Twilight, characters speak like real people, with high schoolers who stammer through awkward interactions and maintain an earnestness typically unique to young people. Then come the Cullens, who, with their strange eyes and perfectly styled hair, stand out amongst the normal students.
It's this combination that made Stephenie Meyer's books resonate with so many; the idea that any seemingly ordinary place could be hiding something frightening and magical. The soundtrack and score help create the atmosphere, with songs that imbue each scene with the feelings Hardwicke and Meyer are trying to communicate.
New Moon: The Music
The fact that New Moon has an edge over Twilight's score and soundtrack is in no way a knock on the latter. Twilight has a great soundtrack and a really memorable score ('Bella's Lullaby' is especially gorgeous). But New Moon sets out from the beginning with a feel that's at once in line with what was established in the first film while feeling like something all it's own. The score is lovely and melancholy, matching the tone of the story being told. The soundtrack is still full of alternative and indie artists, but feels more cohesive overall. Songs by Bon Iver and St. Vincent, Thom Yorke, The Killers, and Death Cab for Cutie, (all written for New Moon) work as great songs both in and out of the context of the film.
Twilight: Attention To Detail
While the movie couldn't be a scene-by-scene adaptation of the novel, Twilight succeeds as an adaptation due to the strength of the characterization of even the most minor characters. For example: in the novel, an emphasis is placed on Bella's clumsiness, which emphasizes how "out of step" she always feels. The film doesn't have to say anything about this, but instead shows Bella stumbling and slipping as a part of her character. Even the Cullens, who, other than Edward, the film doesn't give much time to, feel well-represented from the book due to little touches in facial expressions and the way certain characters walk across a room.
New Moon: The Visuals
Fans of the book probably wondered how the film would portray Bella's lost months, which Meyer illustrated by printing months on otherwise blank pages. The film does something really cool with this concept, by showing the seasons change outside of Bella's window as she sits and stares. Bella seeing Edward underwater as she's drowning could have looked really silly, but the creative team pulled off a shot that was quite heartbreaking and beautiful. Since this movie is about Bella and Jacob rather than Bella and Edward, the cool blue tones are gone in favor of warm greens and browns. This lasts until Bella and Alice race to Italy to save Edward, where the colors are almost violently bright. These are a few examples of really cool visual touches that make New Moon stand out.
Twilight: The Romance
Beginnings are always special. Twilight is known as the one where Bella and Edward fall in love. If this first book and movie hadn't worked, the series might not have been what it is today. From the start, the way Bella and Edward were written and performed sold fans on the central romance. Many can relate to the all-consuming feeling of first love, something the film and the movie capitalize on. But there's a strangeness to the central relationship that's intriguing and sets it apart. Bella shows no reservations about learning her crush is a vampire, and Edward is at once alluring and sort of bizarre.
New Moon: The Depiction Of Mental Health Issues
Edward leaving Bella is played as a traumatic experience for Bella. Not only is she heartbroken, but she's blindsided, lied to, and loses her best friend in the process. She slips into a depression that lasts for months, and displays signs of PTSD such as social withdrawal, risk-seeking, and night terrors. Though adults often write off feelings young women have as silly or overly dramatic, these experiences are as valid as anything else, and it's refreshing to see the gravity of Bella's feelings portrayed here.
Twilight: The Baseball Scene
Vampires play baseball during a thunderstorm while Supermassive Black Hole plays. What else is there to say. (The prom scene probably deserves it's own section as well, but for very different reasons.)
New Moon: The Villains
After the Cullens killed her boyfriend in Twilight, Victoria is on the hunt for revenge and wants to kill Bella. She first sends Laurent to scope things out in Forks, and the friendly demeanor with which he explains to Bella that he plans to kill her is already more menacing than anything James did in Twilight. Victoria proves to be a greater foe than her former partner, with a knack for evasion that makes her difficult to catch. Finally, there are the Volturi. Michael Sheen and Dakota Fanning stand out as Aro and Jane, sadistic vampires who are all the more threatening for their calm, refined appearance.