Movie Monday (Breaking Dawn)

Monday, January 02, 2012

Breaking Dawn Part 1

Director: Bill Condon
Main Actors: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Based on the Book: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Rated: PG-13
I Rate this Movie: 4
Date Released: November 18, 2011
The Quileutes close in on expecting parents Edward and Bella, whose unborn child poses a threat to the Wolf Pack and the towns people of Forks. --IMDb
 CONTAINS SPOILERS:


The Twilight films are back in this fourth installment, Breaking Dawn Part 1.  Bella Swan gets ready to marry the man of her dreams, Edward Cullen.  They both agreed that she would not be turned into a vampire until after the honeymoon.  But during the honeymoon, something unexpected happens that causes Edward to become distant and Rosalie to become best friends with Bella.  Meanwhile, Jacob is mourning over losing his best friend to a bloodsucker.  Still he will go to the ends of the earth to save Bella and when she is in danger, he leaves Sam’s wolf pack to keep her safe.  Twilight fans will be eagerly waiting for more in the next installment of Breaking Dawn. 

Besides Harry Potter, this may be the most fan-following I have ever seen.  I love watching movies with hard-core fans that have followed the books and the movies and all the breaking news that led up to a beautiful film such as this one.  Going to a movie, where people audibly sigh, scream, and laugh, is definitely worth seeing no matter what it is about.

When reading Breaking Dawn, one has to wonder how the book will be translated to film.  This is the answer.  Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn is basically written in two parts.  The first part is the marriage of Edward and Bella and the pregnancy of this unexpected baby.  It was not exactly riveting with action like the other books are.  Part 2 is filled with much more action and gave a new perspective to things.  The movie could have put both parts together, though most fans would be unhappy. 

I was wondering how the film makers would create both the honeymoon and birth scenes without going over to the R-rating.  It was on the verge of being R.  There was a lot of sex, to the point it got repetitive.  Stephenie Meyer used the fade-to-black technique in the novel, which is what the movie should have done to some of the scenes, but didn’t.  In the novel, there were as many sex scenes as there were in the film, but it did not seem so repetitive using the technique she had used.  The birth scene was a bit graphic, but nothing too scarring.  In the novel, it was beyond horrific and explicit. 

Billy Burke gets to show some of his skills, playing Charlie, a father who has to learn to let his daughter go.  Taylor Lautner is very talented and, especially in this film, when Jacob is strung emotionally.  It will definitely be interesting when we get to step into his shoes for the next film.  Robert Pattinson was a bit disappointing; he seemed a bit disconnected from most scenes and I couldn’t quite understand what emotion he was trying to convey when it was his turn to shine.  Whoever had control over Bella’s makeup, I congratulate you.  Kirsten Stewart improved most dramatically since Twilight first released.  Still her talent can grow, she was believable in Breaking Dawn Part 1.

I know I was hoping for a bit more scenes that I loved in the book.  Where is Edward asking Jacob to ask Bella to have puppies with him?  (That scene happens, but not in the hilarity that it does in the book.)  Or what about Jacob and Rosalie’s fun banter?  These may have been taken out for time restraints, but one scene that was on screen, was not fully explained.  I had brought my father to the theater to see the movie with me.  My father, having no knowledge of books, will not stop asking about wolves imprinting.  It was not fully explained in the movie.  It seemed like it was thrown into the script when they realized that it was important to the main plot. 

The beginning was a bit slow, but quickly picked up as the story rolled on.  I highly suggest seeing the previous movies right before watching this film.  This movie was very good, overall, and I definitely suggest bringing all you friends to see it.   

*DISCLAIMER: I know I will probably get some comments, saying how the movie was fantastic and how I don’t understand the awesome-ness that is the Twilight series.  (Or something along those lines.)  Please keep those comments to yourself.  I am a huge fan of all things Twilight, just check out my youtube channel for proof.  This review is just my opinion in comparison with the book, Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, and in a movie-buff point-of-view.  

So have you seen Breaking Dawn Part 1, yet?  What did you think of it? 

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