Chris Weitz Responds To Negative 'New Moon' Reviews

What do you do after traipsing around the world for two weeks promoting a film, especially one that soared to a $285 million worldwide opening weekend? One might assume that you take a long, long nap. Not New Moon director Chris Weitz, who sat down for one more interview to discuss his fears about the release and his reaction to negative reviews.

"Nothing surprises me in terms of reviews," Weitz told Entertainment Weekly. "Having been a reviewer myself, there are only two ways to spin this story. You can either be the one guy who says this is a great movie, or more likely, take a more jaundiced view of the whole thing. And given the media blitz that has accompanied New Moon, it's rather unsurprising. I do wish there was more appreciation for cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe. I think he's a genius, and I think he made something beautiful."

Given the enormous pressure involved with taking on a wildly popular franchise and the intense media attention focused on his stars, Weitz hoped he wouldn't disappoint studio Summit Entertainment. "If one could imagine their biggest fears, it would be complete rejection of the movie by the fans," he said. "What I've realized over the last week is I won't necessarily get good reviews for this movie. Having swallowed that, this was made for the fans, and if you don't get it, then you don't get it."

So is Weitz ever going to take that much-needed nap? Let's hope so. "I'm at the point of physical collapse," he confessed.

After resting up, could we see Weitz step back into the director's chair for Breaking Dawn, the yet-unannounced final installment - or possibly installments - in the Twilight series? Even if Weitz claimed that he was only a "glorified conductor" in this latest vampire saga production? The answer to directing is yes, but the answer to another globe-trotting press tour is a vigorous "Hell, no!"

"I'd do it for Stephenie [Meyer], Rob [Pattinson], Taylor [Lautner] and Kristen [Stewart]," he said. "I feel a great deal of gratitude for those people. But I don't think I could do another press tour like we did. I just think I would die."