THE TWILIGHT SAGA:
BREAKING DAWN
PART 1
BREAKING DAWN
PART 1
ART--->**1/2
HEART->**1/2
MIND-->*
FUN--->**1/2
HEART->**1/2
MIND-->*
FUN--->**1/2
For the uninitiated, TWILIGHT is at its core a classic love triangle. Bella, a completely average and unexceptional teenage girl is infatuated with mysterious pretty boy Edward. Her friend Jacob has feelings for Bella as well, and hopes their relationship can become a romantic one. Melodramatic tension ensues.
Oh, and Edward is a 100 year old vampire, Jake is a werewolf, and their ancestors have been at war forever. So that's a problem. Both Jake and Edward protect Bella and make personal sacrifices for her. Each family, and each character is shown to be flawed but strong.
Edward and the rest of the Cullen clan fight against their vampiric tendencies and have sworn off attacking humans, feeding only on the blood of animals. These and other choices have put them at odds with The Volturi, the vampire council. Jake and his wolf pack live under a truce,, pledging not to destroy the vampires if the Cullens agree to leave people alone. But now that Bella has decided to let Edward turn her into one of them, the truce is being tested.
Oh, and Edward is a 100 year old vampire, Jake is a werewolf, and their ancestors have been at war forever. So that's a problem. Both Jake and Edward protect Bella and make personal sacrifices for her. Each family, and each character is shown to be flawed but strong.
Edward and the rest of the Cullen clan fight against their vampiric tendencies and have sworn off attacking humans, feeding only on the blood of animals. These and other choices have put them at odds with The Volturi, the vampire council. Jake and his wolf pack live under a truce,, pledging not to destroy the vampires if the Cullens agree to leave people alone. But now that Bella has decided to let Edward turn her into one of them, the truce is being tested.
There is a very good reason I have not written a movie review for any of the entries in the TWILIGHT saga until now. Before BREAKING DAWN, none of the previous segments could accurately be described as a "movie."
You see, elements of a story need to actually move. That's why they call them "motion pictures." They have motion. They don't just sit there. They don't hover and stare. There is a plot, a through-line, motivation... anything other than endless yearning and internalizing. But that's all you get with the first TWILIGHT.
Character development and plot structure also need to culminate in a way that makes sense (if only on an emotional level) or you are left with only fragments and story ideas. That may work fine as a diary, a storyboard, or a bunch of ideas. It might even make a good music video. But it's not a movie. That sums up NEW MOON.
ECLIPSE, the third entry in the series, had potential. But despite a couple decent action sequences and the inklings of complex personal conflicts, it still can't stand on its own. It has a good second half, and it is better than the first two films, but that's not saying much.
(Still, something positive should be said about the TWILIGHT saga so far: it upholds the dignity and sanctity of marriage. Bella wants Edward both emotionally and physically, and even makes advances on him, but Edward backs off, calling himself a "traditional" kind of guy. Bella is torn between him and Jacob, but ultimately gives her heart to Edward and decides to marry him.)
BREAKING DAWN, under the direction of Bill Condon, finally embodies what TWILIGHT hoped to be all along: a female rite-of-passage told through an attractive mix of fantasy and emotion, with an artistic portrayal of the thought-life of its characters. All that passionate internalizing is finally shown on screen, and it works.
Now, as anyone with intellectual honesty would admit, these movies were never about the quality of the performances. The actors are all young and attractive, with the boys frequently removing their shirts for reasons that elude me (and defy logic), but I suppose female viewers will be pleased.
Robert Pattinson's Edward is still stiff as a board, dull and emotionless. But I'm told he's a very pretty man. Kristen Stewart uses her innate nervousness to Bella's advantage this time around. And Tayler Lautner's Jacob evolves into a stronger presence, with his character starting to live by principle instead of just reacting impetuously. That masculinity is somewhat betrayed when his voice cracks, but he's young so I'll cut him some slack.
BREAKING DAWN PART 1 begins on the day before Edward and Bella's wedding, with all the jitters and stress that go along with it. A chilling dream sequence gives Bella pause, but eventually she walks down the aisle and her father gives her away in a wedding scene that is genuinely romantic and lovely. The newlyweds take off on a honeymoon full of cinematic wish-fulfillment.
A great scene follows later where Bella stresses over how to present herself to Edward and consummate their marriage. After sorting through several pieces of lingerie and makeup, she decides to simply come as she is: naked, beautiful, and only for her husband.
That is unique in an age where young women are often portrayed as oversexed harlots. This choice reflects true intimacy, which is sadly missing from our culture today. It also shows that married sex is worth waiting for, as Bella and Edward definitely fulfill and enjoy each other.
But don't forget, this is a vampire story, so Bella's pregnancy and birth are mingled with unsettling images of blood and darkness that might just make you avoid your soda and popcorn. It's pretty gnarly, so prepare yourself. There is also a healthy debate over what it is, a fetus or a baby. Of course, it could also be a demon, which tends to complicate things.
The CGI work showing Bella's pregnant yet degenerative body is impressive and almost too real. She looks like a walking skeleton (though I'm sure she would still be considered fat by Hollywood standards ;-) Less well done is the obvious digital work on the baby, but you can't win them all.
The interplay among the wolves materializes well, with conflicts over alpha male dominance and lines of allegiance being drawn. The only elements in PART 1 that seemed stagey and unnecessary have to do with the Volturi, but that's just setting up for the next and final entry in the saga.
Both BREAKING DAWN films share the benefit of having the same director, so there is reason to hope that the series will end on a high note. It just took a long time to get there. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 is:
RECOMMENDED (definitely NOT for little kids)
You see, elements of a story need to actually move. That's why they call them "motion pictures." They have motion. They don't just sit there. They don't hover and stare. There is a plot, a through-line, motivation... anything other than endless yearning and internalizing. But that's all you get with the first TWILIGHT.
Character development and plot structure also need to culminate in a way that makes sense (if only on an emotional level) or you are left with only fragments and story ideas. That may work fine as a diary, a storyboard, or a bunch of ideas. It might even make a good music video. But it's not a movie. That sums up NEW MOON.
ECLIPSE, the third entry in the series, had potential. But despite a couple decent action sequences and the inklings of complex personal conflicts, it still can't stand on its own. It has a good second half, and it is better than the first two films, but that's not saying much.
(Still, something positive should be said about the TWILIGHT saga so far: it upholds the dignity and sanctity of marriage. Bella wants Edward both emotionally and physically, and even makes advances on him, but Edward backs off, calling himself a "traditional" kind of guy. Bella is torn between him and Jacob, but ultimately gives her heart to Edward and decides to marry him.)
BREAKING DAWN, under the direction of Bill Condon, finally embodies what TWILIGHT hoped to be all along: a female rite-of-passage told through an attractive mix of fantasy and emotion, with an artistic portrayal of the thought-life of its characters. All that passionate internalizing is finally shown on screen, and it works.
Now, as anyone with intellectual honesty would admit, these movies were never about the quality of the performances. The actors are all young and attractive, with the boys frequently removing their shirts for reasons that elude me (and defy logic), but I suppose female viewers will be pleased.
Robert Pattinson's Edward is still stiff as a board, dull and emotionless. But I'm told he's a very pretty man. Kristen Stewart uses her innate nervousness to Bella's advantage this time around. And Tayler Lautner's Jacob evolves into a stronger presence, with his character starting to live by principle instead of just reacting impetuously. That masculinity is somewhat betrayed when his voice cracks, but he's young so I'll cut him some slack.
BREAKING DAWN PART 1 begins on the day before Edward and Bella's wedding, with all the jitters and stress that go along with it. A chilling dream sequence gives Bella pause, but eventually she walks down the aisle and her father gives her away in a wedding scene that is genuinely romantic and lovely. The newlyweds take off on a honeymoon full of cinematic wish-fulfillment.
A great scene follows later where Bella stresses over how to present herself to Edward and consummate their marriage. After sorting through several pieces of lingerie and makeup, she decides to simply come as she is: naked, beautiful, and only for her husband.
That is unique in an age where young women are often portrayed as oversexed harlots. This choice reflects true intimacy, which is sadly missing from our culture today. It also shows that married sex is worth waiting for, as Bella and Edward definitely fulfill and enjoy each other.
But don't forget, this is a vampire story, so Bella's pregnancy and birth are mingled with unsettling images of blood and darkness that might just make you avoid your soda and popcorn. It's pretty gnarly, so prepare yourself. There is also a healthy debate over what it is, a fetus or a baby. Of course, it could also be a demon, which tends to complicate things.
The CGI work showing Bella's pregnant yet degenerative body is impressive and almost too real. She looks like a walking skeleton (though I'm sure she would still be considered fat by Hollywood standards ;-) Less well done is the obvious digital work on the baby, but you can't win them all.
The interplay among the wolves materializes well, with conflicts over alpha male dominance and lines of allegiance being drawn. The only elements in PART 1 that seemed stagey and unnecessary have to do with the Volturi, but that's just setting up for the next and final entry in the saga.
Both BREAKING DAWN films share the benefit of having the same director, so there is reason to hope that the series will end on a high note. It just took a long time to get there. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 1 is:
RECOMMENDED (definitely NOT for little kids)
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