Twilight fans still have a few months to go before Eclipse hits theaters this Summer, but they'll flock to the stores in a few weeks to pick up copies of New Moon on DVD on March 21. There are a few editions featuring all kinds of bonus features, and I was lucky enough to chat with director Chris Weitz on everything from his favorite scene, to Rob and Kristen's relationship, to what he wishes had ended up on the cutting room floor.
- There are lots of different editions of the New Moon DVD. Which bonus features are you particularly excited about? I'm excited that my voice will finally be heard! For me, the fun thing was doing the commentary with Peter Lambert, my editor, because it kind of re-created the atmosphere in the cutting room. Peter's a really funny guy, and we were able to delve into not only the behind-the-scenes moments, but to explain why certain things were shot or cut together in certain ways. So that, for me, was the most fun.
- When you go back and watch it again, are there things you'd like to change if you could? I would like to never have shot Rob and Kristen running through the forest and Kristen's just turned into a vampire. Because everybody always laughs and it makes me feel terrible. [Laughs] I would have shot it a different way so it wouldn't get that response. But otherwise, I'm very happy with things.
- You must get lots of questions abut Rob and Kristen. Do you laugh it off or are you totally sick of hearing about it? I'm somewhat clueless — when you're the director, you're kind of like the school principal. Nobody really tells you anything. You really have no idea what's going on. I'm the last person who would know about this kinda stuff. I'm sure you could get more from reading the paper.
To see what Chris had to say about Breaking Dawn and his favorite scenes in New Moon, just read more.
- What was your favorite scene to shoot in New Moon? I'm very fond of the memories that a lot of the scenes invoke in me. My favorite scene is probably somewhere between the very last scene, and the cliffhanger that it's left on, and the scenes in Italy. Just the experience shooting those scenes was so magnificent. We were in this beautiful hillside town in Tuscany, and going home to fresh-made pasta every night, and surrounded by thousands of fans of the series while we were shooting it. I know I'll never experience anything like that ever again.
- We still don't know who will be directing Breaking Dawn, but what's your take on the rumors that it will likely be two movies, possibly in 3D? 3D seems to be the new thing that everything has to be. I think the good thing about 3D is that it can lend tremendous depth to a picture, and really make it extraordinarily lush, visually. And also that it gets people to go out to the theater. Film directors want people to see things in the theater, on the big screen, at least the first time. So that's a good thing. As for the book being broken up into two films, I think it's a good idea. There's so much material in the final book that I think it's warranted.
- How would you direct Breaking Dawn? Very carefully, because I think that you want to deliver the fans a faithful version of the book that they love. Yes, there's a lot of extraordinary goings-on. So it'll have to be done carefully.
- How do you think the movie franchise has been affected by using different directors? I think it's good for it, because I think there's a tremendous amount of coherence thanks to a very strong cast, who care about getting their characters right. And I think that the fans' interested will be un-dimmed, and I think it's interesting to see the different visual approaches, different stylistic versions, different choices that different filmmakers take.
- Are you excited to see Eclipse, or will you inevitably be thinking about how you would have done it differently? I'm really excited to see it. I'm very excited to see it. I'm sure he's done a really great job. I think that he's, amongst other things, a much better action director than I am. So I'm really keen to see the action sequences. I think that there are a lot of things that I would have been very daunted by the prospect of shooting, which he will have taken in stride. I'm excited to see it whenever I can.
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Ahahahahaha. That's my favorite scene in the movie!
1Yeah, I totally cringed whenever they showed that scene. I think her with super red eyes for the first time, or something like that, would have been much cooler, but oh well.
2im totally confused about his last comment... did they chose a director for breaking dawn already or did he just get that confused with eclipse?
3I think they meant Eclipse, not Breaking Dawn in that last line.
4I'm really sad and disappointed to read that Chris was happy with the final cut of the New Moon. He cut and rushed the Edward/Bella reunion scenes beyond belief. Just when things would start to get emotional between the two, he allowed them to be interrupted by someone. The bedroom scene was just terrible...I hated the fact none of the key dialogue from the book was included like Edward's "Before you Bella...my life was like an endless night..." speech. It is such a beloved part of the book and he totally ignored it. In fact, he totally ignored so much of their discussion in bed after returning from Italy. It seemed more like Edward had gone out hunting for a day longer than he intended and then came home to apologize to Bella for not coming home the night before. It felt like the reunion scenes were added as an after thought and I found it very painful to watch it. My friends and I saw the film once and never saw it again and we're not buying the dvd because we'll never watch it. Catherine H. may have had her faults but at least she understood what the fans wanted and knew adding the beloved parts of the books was vital. I trusted Chris to the max because he promised early on that the Edward/Bella fans would not be disappointed with the movie...I feel betrayed.
5sorry dude no matter what you do , people are going to laugh at these movies.
6you know - i'm actually happy about how he's answered these questions - i didn't know if i liked him but maybe i do. honestly i might be one of the few people that think that NM wasn't the better movie (i actually don't know if i enjoyed it very much even though i'm a MAJOR TWI FAN) but i'm warming to him so i'll give him the benefit of the doubt. i can't wait to see the DVD though since i know that there's a Lot that we'll get to see that wasn't in theaters.
7ilanac - i am the same... I preferred Twilight. But New Moon was also my least fav book, so that might have some bearing on it?!
8I don't feel betrayed about NM, i think it was closer to the book than twilight was. it wasn't perfect, of course, but i really like it. you're great Chris!
9I loved Twilight and thought New Moon was alright - not as great as Twilight was. I've seen Twilight maybe 10 or 11 times. I'll buy the New Moon expanded DVD with bonuses because I must have all five movies in my collection. I've read the books three times each and still enjoy them.
10Why doesn't Katherine Hardwicke direct Breaking Dawn? She had the relationship b/w Bella and Edward down pat. Her vision was the best. She understood what the viewer wanted.
I agree, I think that Catherine Hardwicke should direct Breaking Dawn. I loved Twilight more then New Moon. I too was dissapointed like in the scenes were Bella was having her nightmares, when I saw it the theatre a lot of people laughed cause it just happened so random. You basically need to read the book to know what is happening. You weren't sure if she was crying or if she was having nightmares.
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