As a longtime admirer and dedicated follower of the Twilight saga, I must admit that Breaking Dawn – Part One left me somewhat divided. On one hand, I found myself appreciating the film’s creative choices such as the use of popular music and the heartfelt wedding speeches, which provided a refreshing change from the usual cinematic fare.
Every Tuesday in August 2024, you’ll find a weekly review series titled “Twilight Tuesdays” by Lisa Laman. In these reviews, she’ll be diving into and analyzing the three Twilight films she hasn’t watched before: Eclipse and both parts of Breaking Dawn. This week, we move on to the first half of the franchise’s conclusion…
The final chapter of Twilight unfolds with musings on mortality, as Bella Swan (played by Kristen Stewart) ponders aloud that “childhood is not from birth to a certain age…childhood is the realm where no one dies.” This implies that our youth carries an unyielding innocence, which we may never outgrow entirely. This aspect of reality, much like death and the eventual end of relationships, is inescapable. It could be seen as a deep philosophical observation or simply profound-looking words for a late-night Tumblr post. Perhaps it’s a bit of both.
It’s possible to find deeper significances in the initial narration, but regrettably, the rest of the movie, “The Twilight Saga – Breaking Dawn: Part One”, doesn’t offer much complexity or intrigue to support multiple perspectives. Instead, it appears stagnant, and the cynicism of the overall “Twilight” series is clearly visible. The playful elements, such as the baseball sequence, that were occasionally present in earlier films are absent. In their place, decisions have been made that instead provoke severe disappointment.
In the movie “Breaking Dawn: Part One”, Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) are getting married. Contrary to what I had imagined, based on ads and trailers, they don’t tie the knot in some grand, foreign location. Instead, they exchange their vows right in the backyard of the Cullens’ house. This was quite surprising as I had thought their wedding would take place somewhere else.
After the grand finale of the event, Bella and Edward share their first intimate moment, leading to a surprising pregnancy for Bella. Her baby grows at an astonishing pace, and giving birth to a vampire child could potentially be fatal for her! This unexpected turn of events enrages Jacob (played by Taylor Lautner) and his werewolf pack, especially since a half-vampire half-human offspring would pose a significant threat. The leader of the wolfpack, Sam (Chaske Spencer), is determined to eliminate the newborn, along with its mother, as soon as possible. Amidst all this tumult, one question kept popping up in my mind: why does Breaking Dawn – Part One downplay Bella Swan’s storyline?
The Twilight saga appears to serve as a fantasy for teenage girls, centering around a common girl who captivates not only an ordinary boy but also a handsome, immortal vampire named Edward. This series emphasizes “Bella is just like you!” and the best scene of the movie showcases Bella preparing herself before spending the night with Edward. She trims her legs, takes deep breaths, and encourages herself in front of the mirror, revealing her vulnerability. This moment struck me as surprisingly heartfelt. It’s important to remember that amidst supernatural creatures like CG werewolves and vampires, this story revolves around a human character who experiences a myriad of emotions such as vulnerability, nervousness, etc. Blending a relatable teenage girl with an enhanced romantic situation is perfectly suitable for wish-fulfillment films targeted towards younger audiences.
In simpler terms, Melissa Rosenberg’s screenplay (based on Meyer’s novel and potentially retaining its issues) seems to underplay a crucial character, Bella Swan. Once she becomes pregnant, she is mostly shown lying sickly on a couch. Throughout the first three Twilight movies, we saw events primarily from Bella’s perspective. Being a human among supernatural elements gave her an intriguing underdog appeal. However, by focusing more on Jacob and Edward in this new adaptation and minimizing Bella’s role, the narrative loses its dramatic drive. The human aspect of the story is diminished, and even the fantasy aspects seem to fade away with the introduction of the pregnancy plotline.
It doesn’t help that Bella’s entire plotline revolving around keep a fetus that could kill her reeks of pro-life garbage. Of course this is the kind of woman-fronted movie Hollywood would put into thousands of screens. Motion pictures about women of color as activists, flawed human beings, or any other more interesting roles languish in obscurity or never get made at all. Ladies can’t dominate the screen unless they reinforce the status quo that women only exist to breed children, even if they sacrifice themselves in the process. It’s disturbing conservatism masquerading as the faintest “girlboss” progressivism.
As a parent who has raised teenage daughters, I must admit that the Twilight series initially appealed to me as a harmless source of entertainment for my girls. However, upon further reflection and observation, I have come to believe that Breaking Dawn – Part One actually serves as a wish-fulfillment fantasy not only for teens but also for parents like myself.
A certain type of maternal comfort clashes with Twilight’s theme of a teenager’s fantasy world. It’s understandable that movies featuring two supernatural heartthrobs vying for the affection of a teenage girl stand-in would find an audience. But is it plausible that the same audience would delight in watching a character, who is almost dying and significant only due to her reproductive organs? The unsettling undertones from previous Twilight films resurface in Breaking Dawn – Part One, resulting in a rather harsh and unenjoyable narrative.
Criticizing the focus of Bella’s storyline in “Breaking Dawn – Part One” solely on her fetus is not only backward, it’s also unimaginative storytelling. It seems like most female characters in films get sidelined with such roles! Instead, let’s give Bella some exciting adventures that match the bizarre elements of the “Twilight” universe!
As a gamer, I can’t help but feel underwhelmed by Jacob’s character in the Twilight Saga. Robert Pattinson delivers his lines with an intensity that borders on brooding monotony, making Jacob seem less interesting than he should be. Kristen Stewart pours her heart into every line as Bella, yet it feels like she’s drowning in angst. Taylor Lautner, however, is a different story. His performance lacks the depth and boldness that would make me want to keep watching him. It’s almost as if he’s stuck on repeat, without any spark or charm to captivate the audience. Moreover, some of his dialogue deliveries are laughably similar to how adult film star Steve Rambo delivers certain phrases. I can’t help but wonder if it would have been better for the Twilight Saga to leave Lautner where they found him – on that street corner. Unfortunately, they didn’t.
In the first half of Breaking Dawn, the focus shifts heavily towards male characters, such as Alice (Ashley Greene) and Jessica (Anna Kendrick), who previously added depth and humor, take a backseat. This shift, however, feels disappointing for the series, especially since the main character, Jacob, is largely one-dimensional in terms of anger. The story’s direction seems to deviate unnecessarily, as it centers around Jacob when the script should be focusing on more complex aspects. Additionally, much of the runtime is filled with turmoil that revolves around Sam, a character who was only introduced in the last two installments and lacks the impact needed to serve as Breaking Dawn – Part One’s primary antagonist.
In simpler terms, Director Bill Condon exaggerates the issue by concluding the Sam/Jacob narrative with a poorly constructed and dimly lit battle scene featuring digital vampires and computer-generated werewolves in the movie “Breaking Dawn – Part One”. This scene falls short not only as a romantic drama or fantasy, but also fails to engage viewers compared to the DC Extended Universe films, as it presents an unexciting conflict involving a dull CG villain.
“It’s oddly jarring in this part that the visual quality seems significantly lower compared to its predecessor. This becomes apparent right from the beginning when Bella tries on shoes with Alice. The lighting in this scene, quite frankly, is wrong. While the actors and settings are familiar, everyone appears unnaturally glossy. The lighting is much brighter, which might suggest an upcoming joyous occasion like a wedding. Yet, this overly bright style persists even as the story’s tone darkens. Interestingly, this isn’t due to a shift from filming on set to digital between Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. Both parts of the finale were filmed using 35mm, just like its predecessors. The increasing impact of digital cinematography is not responsible for this inconsistency.”
In a change of approach, Condon and his team opted for Arricam and Arriflex cameras for Breaking Dawn – Part One, whereas Eclipse used Panavision cameras. This switch in camera types is the reason behind the noticeably different aesthetic of the film. However, certain aspects of the cinematography left me puzzled, such as why characters like Alice appeared to be green-screened into practical backgrounds in some scenes. The cinematography in Breaking Dawn seems to emphasize wide gaps between characters and their surroundings, which can sometimes be quite distracting. Instead of Eclipse’s excessive use of cramped close-ups, this franchise appears to have traded that visual style for another potentially confusing element!
Doing some research, one possible reason for these visual problems could be Breaking Dawn – Part One’s heavy emphasis on pronounced digital elements like CG accentuations to make Bella look pregnant. Digital trickery was also used to drastically alter lighting sources and erase Stewart’s wrist-cast during the big wedding sequences. Maybe the rest of the movie experienced more digital touch-ups compared to New Moon and Eclipse? That way those CG elements didn’t stand out as much? Whatever the reason, Breaking Dawn – Part One looks a little less tangible than its predecessors. It’s another way the penultimate Twilight movie is a step down from its predecessor.
In “Breaking Dawn – Part One,” while the overall film may not have been a hit, there are several aspects worth appreciating. For instance, this installment heavily relies on popular songs, which serve as entertaining reminders that we’re watching a distinctly 2011 production. Artists like Bruno Mars, Christina Perri, and Angus & Julia Stone can be found in the soundtrack, and Condon’s direction frequently allows these tunes to take center stage during emotional scenes. Although composer Carter Burwell’s orchestral pieces lack standout moments, his score remains a pleasant element of the narrative.
For me, one of the most entertaining parts of Breaking Dawn – Part One was a montage during the big wedding of various people in Bella and Edward’s wedding giving speeches to the happy couple. Father of the bride Charlie (Billy Burke) dryly emphasizes how he could ruin Edward’s life while Jessica amusingly mourns that Edward didn’t notice her in some top-notch comedic line deliveries from Anna Kendrick, among other testimonies. Even this set piece is undermined by Condon’s unwillingness to let the camera linger solely on the speakers. Constantly cutting to reaction shots from the crowd undercuts the comedic momentum of this sequence. Just cut from one speaker to the next, do not let the viewer’s gaze leave this awkwardness! Still, it’s an amusing enough scene even with its overcompensating editing.
Additionally, I appreciated the unique design of the visuals during the initial part of the closing credits. They alternated between black, white, and red backdrops for text, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a film with edgier, rebellious tones. The contrast with the previous movie made these bold vibes stand out even more to me.
Despite various creative challenges, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part One raked in a substantial amount at the box office. In the U.S. alone, this film earned $281.2 million. This figure underscores the consistent earnings of the Twilight movies at the box office. Interestingly, all four Twilight sequels grossed between $281-300 million. The films didn’t appeal to every age group or background, but die-hard fans were unwavering in their support. It’s remarkable to note that few modern franchises can boast such consistent box office earnings. For instance, the final two Hunger Games movies made significantly less than their predecessors, and even the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars saga have produced financial disappointments like The Marvels and Solo: A Star Wars Story.
After surpassing three installments, “The Twilight Saga” was no longer the newcomer in the movie scene. As it’s common for film series, especially those that reach this milestone quickly, its peak popularity from November 2008 to June 2010 had waned. However, four months later, in November 2011, “The Hunger Games” would be released, with Katniss Everdeen taking the young adult movie throne from Edward and Bella. Despite this shift, “Breaking Dawn – Part One” didn’t disappoint at the box office, even though its North American earnings were similar to those of “New Moon” and “Eclipse.” If a film as subpar as “Breaking Dawn – Part One” couldn’t dampen interest in the franchise, then “Twilight,” much like childhood innocence, was destined to continue…at least for one more movie.
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2024-08-13 19:15