Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part Two
(B- or 2.5/4 stars)
The Twilight Saga comes to an end with 'Breaking Dawn: Part 2', based on the 2nd half of the last book in Stephenie Meyer's bestselling series. At the end of Part 1, Bella (Kristen Stewart) had a ROUGH time delivering her & Edward's (Robert Pattinson) daughter and, right after the birth, Edward changes Bella into a vampire to save her. This film opens with Bella seeing the world through new eyes. Her senses are heightened, & she discovers all kinds of wonders. "I was made to be a vampire," she says, as she exercises her new skills. She is no longer the vulnerable, moody girl of the other 4 films; now she's strong, fast & resourceful. While hunting, she shows great self-control when she picks up the scent of a rock climber & averts her carniverous interest elsewhere {poor mountain lion}.
Bella's new vampire family, led by Carlisle & Esme Cullen (Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser), delights in her change(s). Her sister-in-law Alice (Ashley Greene) has stocked her closet with new clothes. Rosalie (Nikki Reed) has been taking care of her baby, Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy) while she adjusts to her new vampire powers. And challenged to an arm-wrestling match by her buff bro-in-law Emmett (Kellan Lutz), Bella shocks everyone by overpowering him.
After Jacob (Taylor Lautner), Bella's werewolf shape-shifting best friend, tells her father Charlie (Billy Burke) that she is "back", she has to learn how to act like a human to hide her new identity from him; any human knowledge of her will be targeted by the malevolent vampire authorities, the Volturi. Jacob, meanwhile, has "imprinted" on Renesmee as his soul-mate & is extremely protective of her. This temporary happy coexistence of the vampires, werewolves, & humans is threatened, however, when Alice - who has the gift of foresight - announces that the Volturi are coming for them. Jane (Dakota Fanning) & Aro (a deliciously over-the-top Michael Sheen), the tyrannical head of the group, are told that the Cullens have broken the vampire law by creating an immortal child.
Renesmee is gifted with the ability to share her memories with others through telepathy, & an assortment of vampires from around the world gather to stand with the Cullens to testify to the Volturi that she is, indeed, half-vampire, half-mortal ... born without being bitten. Still, fearing that a battle will be inevitable, they all hone their vampire skills -- giving electric shocks, blinding, etc. And Bella discovers that her gift is to throw out a protective energy "shield" around her loved ones. Everything culminates for the rousing, and ... surprising climactic battle. It's jam-packed with surprises & visceral moments. I liked this 'pseudo'-battle because it gave fans everything they could have hoped for without actually damaging the plentitude of protagonists we've come to know over the course of 5 movies.
For most Twilight fans, this film will be critic-proof. In other words, whether critics love or hate it, those reviews will not affect the fans, AT ALL. That said, I'd like to think that I have a good eye for quality. For me, 'Breaking Dawn: Part 2' is not stellar, but neither is it awful. One of the problems it has is some pacing issues. I found the 1st 20 min. or so to be too-lighthearted, tonally off, & slightly annoying (especially with the CGI baby). Another problem - as always - is the horrid dialogue. But what fan cares about any of that when all 3 of the leads take their shirts off at various points throughout the film {haha}.
'Breaking Dawn: Part 2' (directed again by Bill Condon) leaves its diehard fans satisfied to have journeyed with Bella & Edward through these 5 movies. B&E have demonstrated for their fans a youthful, universal yearning that gives way to romantic & passionate love. They have shown how to build a unique, intimate relationship btwn. a man & a woman from 2 different worlds. They have also shown the value of family bonds & deep friendships when challenges arise. And Bella has shown us that: beginning as an insecure loner, she matures into a determined young vampi--, um, woman. And so, the Twilights are over. Bye bye sparkling vampires.
Bella's new vampire family, led by Carlisle & Esme Cullen (Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser), delights in her change(s). Her sister-in-law Alice (Ashley Greene) has stocked her closet with new clothes. Rosalie (Nikki Reed) has been taking care of her baby, Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy) while she adjusts to her new vampire powers. And challenged to an arm-wrestling match by her buff bro-in-law Emmett (Kellan Lutz), Bella shocks everyone by overpowering him.
After Jacob (Taylor Lautner), Bella's werewolf shape-shifting best friend, tells her father Charlie (Billy Burke) that she is "back", she has to learn how to act like a human to hide her new identity from him; any human knowledge of her will be targeted by the malevolent vampire authorities, the Volturi. Jacob, meanwhile, has "imprinted" on Renesmee as his soul-mate & is extremely protective of her. This temporary happy coexistence of the vampires, werewolves, & humans is threatened, however, when Alice - who has the gift of foresight - announces that the Volturi are coming for them. Jane (Dakota Fanning) & Aro (a deliciously over-the-top Michael Sheen), the tyrannical head of the group, are told that the Cullens have broken the vampire law by creating an immortal child.
Renesmee is gifted with the ability to share her memories with others through telepathy, & an assortment of vampires from around the world gather to stand with the Cullens to testify to the Volturi that she is, indeed, half-vampire, half-mortal ... born without being bitten. Still, fearing that a battle will be inevitable, they all hone their vampire skills -- giving electric shocks, blinding, etc. And Bella discovers that her gift is to throw out a protective energy "shield" around her loved ones. Everything culminates for the rousing, and ... surprising climactic battle. It's jam-packed with surprises & visceral moments. I liked this 'pseudo'-battle because it gave fans everything they could have hoped for without actually damaging the plentitude of protagonists we've come to know over the course of 5 movies.
For most Twilight fans, this film will be critic-proof. In other words, whether critics love or hate it, those reviews will not affect the fans, AT ALL. That said, I'd like to think that I have a good eye for quality. For me, 'Breaking Dawn: Part 2' is not stellar, but neither is it awful. One of the problems it has is some pacing issues. I found the 1st 20 min. or so to be too-lighthearted, tonally off, & slightly annoying (especially with the CGI baby). Another problem - as always - is the horrid dialogue. But what fan cares about any of that when all 3 of the leads take their shirts off at various points throughout the film {haha}.
'Breaking Dawn: Part 2' (directed again by Bill Condon) leaves its diehard fans satisfied to have journeyed with Bella & Edward through these 5 movies. B&E have demonstrated for their fans a youthful, universal yearning that gives way to romantic & passionate love. They have shown how to build a unique, intimate relationship btwn. a man & a woman from 2 different worlds. They have also shown the value of family bonds & deep friendships when challenges arise. And Bella has shown us that: beginning as an insecure loner, she matures into a determined young vampi--, um, woman. And so, the Twilights are over. Bye bye sparkling vampires.