Studio: Summit Entertainment
Release Date: November 18, 2011
Film Rating: PG-13
Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) discover Bella may be pregnant
Anticipation fills the theatre as we all wait for the movie to start. An endless stream of previews holds us at bay from what we want most—to see the first part to the end of a much loved franchise. The lights dim, the screen fades to black, and Bella’s (Kristen Stewart) voice can be heard as the opening of Breaking Dawn: Part 1 begins.
While all of that may seem very dramatic, I have to admit I am slightly disappointed by the end result. I expected more. More what, I can’t pinpoint except to say, just more. I don’t think I can spoil anything regarding the flick because most people who want to see it have probably read Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga, and you already know what’s going to happen. However, there are differences I could have lived without.
We’re dropped back into the tale as Bella tries out her wedding shoes, then the big day arrives and the long awaited honeymoon. This is essentially the entire movie. I think that’s why I feel a little letdown. But back to the wedding: Bella’s dress is beautiful! The back (the best part in my opinion) is breathtaking and so feminine. I love it and love the way the director reveals it in sections rather than all at once. The entire ceremony is amazing but I have to mention Bella’s march down the aisle with her father, Charlie (Billy Burke). She looks as if she’s being led to her death. (I seriously think special effects are used to erase the person behind her who is obviously pushing her forward.) I mean, the look on her face is one of sheer terror. You’d think she would have portrayed Bella with a nervous excitement rather than scared shitless. But, whatever. I think Burke is a scene stealer and I always find myself wondering why he doesn’t get more screen time. He, as well as Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, are fantastic. I have to give them props for being great leading men.
Speaking of Edward (Pattinson) and Jacob (Lautner), their chemistry with Bella is so different you have to wonder why she’s even chosen to be with Edward. She always seems resigned and nervous with him (though she looooooves him), yet completely comfortable with Jacob. I believe the scenes between Bella and Jacob more than I do the ones with Edward and Bella. I’m inclined to think it has to do with the acting. Stewart seems uncomfortable when on screen with Pattinson. She pulls away from him when Bella should be drawing close to Edward. It takes something away from the film when the two leads who are portraying madly in love characters don’t appear to be madly in love.
(L-R) Esme (Elizabeth Reaser), Irina (Maggie Grace), Kate (Casey LaBow) and Tanya (MyAnna Buring) enjoying the wedding
My chief complaint deals with the effects in the film. Not really the special effects (which were above and beyond amazing) but the makeup, wigs, and general cheesy feel I get when watching certain Twilight films. (As an aside, Twilight is by far the best in the series and cannot be touched. I miss Catherine Hardwicke’s greatness when it comes to these films.) The gold contact lenses are distracting and off putting giving the vamps a creepy mesmerizing gaze; the pallor of the vampires is close to death (pun intended) and leaves them looking more alien than ethereal; and finally the wolf pack’s ability to be fully clothed immediately after morphing (’cause yeah, that’s realistic), which is impossible.
Okay, so we know the vampires eyes are golden when they’ve fed and black when hungry, but the gold is so harsh it makes the actors look freaky. When one of the characters comments on how similar the vampires look to one other, I snorted. It’s blatantly obvious how “other” the vampires look. That needs to be addressed. Then we have the hair colors changing from film to film—Carlisle (Peter Facinelli) and Rosalie (Nikki Reed) are no longer a golden blonde and Emmett’s (Kellan Lutz) hair has gotten darker—as does the quality of wig. These changes may not be important, but the sequence of the films and general notion that vampires don’t change over time, brings to light the glaring inconsistencies. As a fan of the books and films, this bothers me more than you know, and it does take away from my enjoying the movie. In spite of that, I must applaud the makeup/effects department when it comes to Stewart’s transformation to a pregnant Bella. Absolutely fabulous job with making her look sickly and pregnant with a vampire hybrid baby. Bella looks so startlingly emaciated and malnourished that you almost believe Stewart may have lost weight to ensure proper depiction of Bella’s condition.
Jacob (Taylor Lautner) taking off after receiving the dreaded wedding invitation
Some details were left out which should have been featured—Jacob’s time away, Edward and Bella breaking the news to Charlie about the wedding—but other aspects are added to give the film some flare. There had to be at least one action scene because it’s a general rule (I think), and it involves the wolves and Cullens in a standoff. I love the scene because it’s exciting and brings to mind the constant quarrel between the vampires and wolves.
Overall, Breaking Dawn: Part 1 is entertaining—the wedding is something I’ll never forget; the honeymoon scenes are hilarious (people laughed when Edward broke the bed); and the emotions portrayed during Bella’s pregnancy are so heartfelt and genuine. But I think the film could have been better. My recommendation is to wait for the DVD release. I don’t think I wasted my money but I was a bit underwhelmed. With the movie being based on the book (over 700 pages of material) the focus is off. Even homage to the first film with familiar tunes being played during certain scenes didn’t elicit my girlish glee. Hopefully Part 2 will pull it all together and end the series with a bang.
For more information on the film, visit the official movie website http://www.breakingdawn-themovie.com/.
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