Movie Review: 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1'

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner Directed by Bill Condon Rated PG-13

I'm not sure if I'm at an advantage or disadvantage here; The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 is the first film I've seen in the Twilight series. It's easily a cultural phenom that it mostly comprised of diehard teenage fans and those in love with vampires (and yes, the two groups can easily overlap). I'm not trying to belittle either group, but it's clearly films from a series of books that have a specific market, and this theme just don't appeal to me. But, there's plenty being said about these films and books, so curiosity finally got the best of me.

And I can't remember the last time I've seen so much potential wasted on the screen. Story, characters, pacing, cinematography, sound, basically everything having to do with this film could have been so much better than it was.

The story begins just before the wedding of Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella (Kristen Stewart), with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) receiving an invitation and immediately running off. The wedding goes off without a hitch, despite a slight debate about werewolves showing up to a vampire wedding, and Jacob's outburst at Edward and Bella consummating their marriage while Bella is still human. However, while on their honeymoon, Edward and Bella have an interesting surprise; Bella gets pregnant.

Needless to say, this is not only unexpected, but believed to be impossible.

It makes for a potentially interesting plot, but takes a good two hours to tell a story that could be told in half that time, which is this edition in the Twilight film series' downfall. That and it seems like the director took the first take of every scene and said, "Yeah, that's good enough." And the carelessness of the editing was evident; for example, on several of the closeups on Robert Pattinson, you can clearly see the flecks and cakes of the makeup used to give him his nice pale complexion. Just looked so sloppy.

There's a ton of criticism on the acting ability of our leads Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner. After seeing Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1, I can understand where that feeling came from. But something seemed off here; for every two scenes that felt forced and uncomfortable for our principle characters, there was a scene that looked good and natural. So I know it's possible to get a better performance out of these actors than what we see (how good, I'm not sure, but at least better than what we saw). At least I want to believe that.

I do want to mention that the supporting cast, as per what I've heard about the other Twilight films, was excellent.

Part of me really wants to blame director Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters, Dreamgirls) for just how unnecessary half this film was. There were way too many close-ups and lingering looks at the various characters, alone and together, that were just there to take up time. I took a friend with me that was familiar with the Twilight books, and she basically informed me that the two hours that was Breaking Dawn Part 1 could have easily been enough time for the entire book.

Now I know they wanted to make this two parts, so in a way, Mr. Condon's hands were somewhat tied; I get that. The economic factor of trying to get as much money as you can from the franchise, or even saying you want to do the final chapter proper justice, I totally understand. But don't cram unneeded filler that emphasizes the wrong moments and weigh down the film for the sake of doing it. Seriously, long close-in shots of Bella's dress, for example, (down her back, her lower lip, her hand panning up to her chest) was just overkill. And awkward.

However, I have to give props to the special effects team. The way they portrayed Bella's failing health as her baby essentially devoured her from the inside was exceptional and creepy, with how thin and frail they made her. I'm talking Christian Bale in The Machinist skinny, even her face. I was impressed, to the point I was actually believing it wasn't some sort of effect.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, isn't horrible. It had it good parts, and the potential to be so much more. But the fact that so much of the movie wasn't needed made it so much more difficult to get through.

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I took a friend with me that was familiar with the Twilight books, and she basically informed me that the two hours that was Breaking Dawn Part 1 could have easily been enough time for the entire book.