TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN Part
1 (REVIEW)
Rated M - 117 mins
Kristen Stewart,
Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Elizabeth Reaser, Anna Kendrick, Ashley Greene,
Michael Sheen
Respect, admiration and trust equal love and
this movie covers all these big issues and more. The previous instalment 'Eclipse'
was, and still is, the best movie of the series so far. Unless you have been living
in a vampire cave or simply not interested in the phenomenon of the young adult
novels by author Stephanie Meyer, my description of proceedings may contain spoilers
to the story.
Team Edward members will be rewarded instantly
with opening scenes concerning a certain wedding within a dream-like tall woods
location. Robert Pattinson as the immortal Edward Cullen smiles as he exclaims
how he's been waiting a century to marry his 18 year old bride. Upon receiving
an invitation, the first reaction of Jacob (Taylor Lautner) is to rip off his
shirt and go wolf running off into the forest in a growling huff. He attends the
ceremony anyway. Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) looks on and the wedding is a hit
among all in attendance. Hooray!
It's then off to Rio for a
blissful honeymoon, complete with a skinny dip and Edward being ever the gentleman
when sleeping with his new bride for the very first time. Bella becomes pregnant
and it's off home to Forks. There are a few quick conversations about immortality
being relevant for survival but Bella turns gaunt and even more pale by the minute,
her body goes progressively skeletal causing concerns for all that love her.
Bloated
and anaemic the changing Bella is not well and after the blood splattered near
fatal birth of baby Renesmee, a chain of events are set in place that lead to
a battle between the Cullen clan and their allies against the fearsome vampire
group the Volturi. It's fangs at ten paces with nasty eyes changing colours and
threats towards each family reaching boiling point. Sacrifice is dealt with in
equal measures alongside betrayal and death but the pace moves so slowly you can
almost hear the time ticking away as scene by scene is basically a page by page
filming from the book.
The soundtrack is laden with bursts
of zippy songs that may wake up those drifting off but the previous films contained
catchier tunes. As with the Harry Potter finale, this instalment is only the beginning
in a series fluctuating or rather tiresome dramatic moments that all lead to a
surprising final scene ending the film on a thrilling high in anticipation for
Part 2 (expected in November 2012). The audience familiar with the books will
devour every moment in gazing delight and remain captive. True fans may be disappointed
if they leave early, all I will say is STAY ON DURING FINAL CREDITS.
The
mostly young cast are a mixture of talent and good looks which is well identified
in the overuse of close-ups of long winded glaring into the camera. Elizabeth
Reaser outshines all around her and still has many amusing moments as Esme Cullen,
while smaller roles played by Kellan Lutz and Dakota Fanning make a significant
impression. Much has been said about the sexual encounter of matrimonial desire
but the dimly lit scene is quite discreet as it should be.
The
dreary tempo of pushing towards Part 2 won't be easy for the initiated, for everyone
else, screams and sighs will be a natural response until fade out.
Shane
A. Bassett
