To say the Twilight saga is just another popular teen romance would possibly be the biggest understatement of the decade and would be likely to get you ambushed by angry teenage girls.
The best-selling series by Stephenie Meyer not only revives an obsession with vampires and instils unrealistic expectations in young girls, it goes beyond a love story to become a cultural phenomenon. What's more, it has the power to split the female population into opposing sides - Team Edward and Team Jacob.
Regardless of which side they fall of the vampire-werewolf divide, young girls will flock into cinemas this Thursday for New Moon, the second instalment of the four-part story. The hotly anticipated follow-up to Twilight - which grossed more than US$350 million worldwide despite its very humble budget - is set to work another movie miracle thanks to the presence of the hyperventilation-inducing Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.
The movie opens at Bella's (Kristen Stewart) 18th birthday party. A tiny paper cut turns the celebration into the end of the vampire-human love story. In order to protect the clumsy, stubborn girl, vegetarian vampire Edward (Pattinson) decides to desert her. Heartbroken and numb, Bella sleepwalks through her senior year until she discovers she can feel Edward's presence whenever she's in trouble.
Helping her overcome her misery is best friend Jacob Black (Lautner), a member of the Quileute tribe, sworn enemies of the vampires. But just as Bella starts feeling alive again, Jacob's attitude - and physique - changes abruptly. Before Bella can make sense out of the chaotic love-triangle, she is forced to embark a journey to Italy to save her true love.
New Moon is directed by Chris Weitz, who takes over from Catherine Hardwicke who helmed Twilight. Weitz has been widely praised for faithfully adapting works like About A Boy and The Golden Compass. Millions of Twilighters are praying that New Moon will capture the brooding romantic vibe of the story, unlike its mediocre precedent. To stay true to the original, Weitz consulted the author on even the tiniest details.