Breaking Dawn Part 2

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 1:49pm

It's Sunday and no one has started a thread on this yet?!

I just saw it this morning and think it can be divided into three sections. The first third was Stewart experimenting with her new Vampire abilities. This could have been boring, but Stewart's facial expressions were priceless, and she is good and a campfest at the same time.

The middle section was so boring, good god! They just didn't need to make this into two movies. Nothing much happens in the second half of the book, but they went with a page by page adaptation anyway. The end of the book (and series) was so anti-climatic too that you wondered if they would go out with a thud instead of a bang.

SPOILER***********************************
The final third was incredible. One of the best fake outs of any movie I've EVER seen. When the battle started I was like, damn they are really gonna mix things up. I wonder if anyone will die, unlike in the book? And then Carlisle died and Jasper and Seth! It was crazy and my audience was going nuts. And then when the Volturi started going down (especially Jane) I was cheering and clapping with everyone else. And then, when Alice pulled her hand away and said, "That's your future," she wisely paused for applause and sighs of relief. It was so awesome.

The only slight misstep was not having Edward die in the future sequence. Maybe they didn't think audiences would be able to handle it, but that would have been the best.

END SPOILERS**************

So in the end it was all worth it for the incredible final sequence. Lautner probably won't have much of a career after this, but Pattinson and Stewart might.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 2:35pm

I saw it on Friday, but my sense of pride would not allow me to start a thread about it. I read all the books when I was convalescing from a surgery a few years ago, and I enjoyed them in a "I hate this this is so terrible kind of way," until I got to the last book, which was just so balls to the wall crazy that it made slogging through the first three worth it. I mean, the name Renesmee alone is worth the price of admission.

I agree this could have just been one movie, especially since Part 1 felt draggy as hell to me. If there was one more scene of someone staring out pensively while the soundtrack played on and on, I thought I would scream! You can shave an hour from the first movie at least and probably as much for the second and have a reasonable film. I still can't believe they cut out the part from the book in the first movie where Bella is going to go off and pretend to go to college for a semester and waste her parents money as she gets ready to just abandon any relationship with them for good. Bella, especially book Bella, is one of the worst human beings ever!

I think Bill Condon does a good job of getting decent performances out of weak actors (see Dreamgirls) even when his overarching view tends to leave a little be desired (see Dreamgirls). I thought Stewart did her best work of the series in the last two movies, and I'm sure that's due in large part to him.

Spoilerish stuff -

Putting that little girl's face on the baby (and then the young woman at the end) was just hilarious to me.

They should have done more with J Jenks in the movie or just cut his character.

During the fight at the end, when Carlisle lost his head I was impressed with the turn they took, but by the time Jasper and the wolves went down I figured it couldn't be real. To your point about Edward "dying," I wonder if that would have tipped their hand? You can buy Carlisle dying, but Edward? Never.

Unspoilerish Stuff

Those endless credits with everyone ever in the series? Redonk.

I appreciated all the hot vampires coming in to fight. Lee Pace looked great. I forgot about how hot I thought Joe Anderson was in Across the Universe until I saw him in this. I liked that one old angry one, too. Stefan, I think?

[dave1606]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 2:59pm

I saw it today. Let's face it, these books were never great literature, and the films certainly weren't masterpieces. This is one is mixed, though sometimes it was one of the better ones.

The second act is really a slog. I am so glad I didn't see this at midnight because I would have been asleep.

The fight sequence was brilliant. I totally agree about Stewart. She finally broke out of her shell appropriately. It was so nice to see her abandon whiny Bella.

Overall Eclipse is still the best film adaptation for me, but in turn was also my favorite of the books.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 5:49pm

Ha! Eclipse is the one that I found interminably boring.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 7:07pm

I loved reading the Twilight books. They were often hilariously bad, used the same five adjectives to describe EVERYTHING and Bella could be the most of annoying of protagonists. Still, they provided a nice escape from reality and mostly entertained. (I agree with dave that Eclipse is the best book!)

Renesmee was so silly in the books I was certain she was going to be super campy in the movies. I mean a young girl laughing and smiling who ran around touching faces and projecting images? I thought they handled her well in the film though. They didn't even really deal with what he ability was in the movie. Every other page in Breaking Dawn dealt with one of her visions and the movie just ignored them.

J Jenks really could have been cut, and if the films had been combined I'm sure he would have been. Remember all those chapters in the book where Bella went to the projects trying to figure out who Jenks was? That whole storyline was a waste in the long run though.

I can't wait to see On the Road in December. For some reason I want Stewart to have post-Twilight success ha.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 7:17pm

She was pretty good in The Runaways. People like to hate on her, but I have no real issues with her.

Those books! Those books! Oh man, there was just a goldmine of stuff to mock on every page. This, however, is my favorite passage in the entire series. It's from Breaking Dawn, during a part where Jacob is doing the narrating (and wasn't it so nice after three and half books to finally get out of Bella's head for a while?)


"Did you know that 'I told you so' has a brother, Jacob?" she asked, cutting me off. "His name is 'Shut the hell up.'"

"Good one."

She grinned at me. Her skin streched tight over the bones. "I can't take credit-- I got it off a rerun of The Simpsons."

"Missed that one."

"It was funny."

We didn't talk for a minute.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 7:28pm

LOL! That passage! The funny thing about switching the narrator to Jacob was that Meyer didn't change her writing style at all! We didn't have to put up with Bella's constant insecurities or swooning over how perfect Edward looked, but Jacob's voice was exactly the same.

There is a review on amazon of one of the books were the reviewer lists frequently used word/phrase counts from all the books and it's pretty funny. Chagrin, marble skin, bit my lip, topaz eyes, beautiful, perfect, dazzle and holy cow. Over and over and over and over!

Of course 50 Shades of Grey had another set of overused words that drove me bonkers too.

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 7:28pm

THE RUNAWAYS is a terrific movie! Stewart gives a solid performance, but Fanning steals the show. I feel a little dirty every time I listen to "Cherry Bomb".

I read the first book and saw the first movie but every thing is so bad. And not good bad, to me. Just bad bad.

I'll stick to my Harry Potter.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 7:34pm

The first book and film are the most boring, but there's lots of good bad in there! Lautner is the very definition of good bad. If you haven't seen his action movie Abduction it is 100% worth watching. It's so unintentionally funny and ridiculous.

Here's a bit of dialogue from Abduction:

[they kiss]
Karen: W-w-wow.
Nathan: What?
Karen: That's better than middle school.
[they kiss again]
Nathan: That's 'cause I know what I'm doing now.
[they kiss and embrace]
Karen: Ha... and no braces either.
[she giggles; they kiss; the train lurches; she giggles again; they kiss; he removes his jacket; they kiss more passionately; he lifts her up for her to straddle him as he sits; they kiss some more]
Karen: Ah... We should get some food.
Nathan: [breathy] Yeah... I'm starving.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 7:35pm

Breaking Dawn really makes it worth it, though -

SPOILERS

EDWARD USES HIS FANGS TO OPEN HER UP TO GET THE BABY OUT

BELLA MAKES UP THE NAME THE RENESMEE FOR THE BABY

WHEN THE BABY IS BORN, JACOB "IMPRINTS" ON HER

AFTER BEING THE MOST BORING HUMAN EVER, BELLA BECOMES THE BEST VAMPIRE EVER




Updated On: 11/18/12 at 07:35 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 8:13pm

This thread actually makes me wanna see the movies (I don't think I could handle the books though).

Stewart is good in On the Road (it's easy to find for download since it's been released on DVD in Europe), but as her character is done in the movie, it's a thankless role, so it won't win her any new fans (unless they're just impressed by an actress doing nudity).

[strummergirl]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 8:24pm

K-Stew was also fine in Adventureland and way back in Panic Room. I don't think any of the cast expected the movie to take off like it did never mind become a franchise. Keep in mind Summit was a small production company of little note before they made bank. I am pretty sure they had little competition when they purchased the rights as opposed to Harry Potter and The Hinger Games. I find Stewart's awkwardness sort of endearing. She's in a thankless role and has to be this sypher for little girls and middle-aged women when human Bella is awful? I wish she can get her career back on track. She was pretty sexy in On the Road.

Updated On: 11/18/12 at 08:24 PM

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 11/18/12 at 8:28pm

I like her enough in Snow White but when you're acting against Charlize, unless you're Christina Ricci, there isn't any competition. I'm surprised Charlize's awesomeness didn't completely implode Kristin.

I haven't heard of On the Road.

ETA: I didn't know they were filming an adaptation but the cast sounds amazing! It'll be fun watching Amy Adams and Kirsten Dunst in another movie. Updated On: 11/18/12 at 08:28 PM

[bobs3]

Posted: 11/19/12 at 3:02am

Liked it but didn't love it.

On the other hand, the trailer for LES MISERABLES had me in tears the whole time. I know where I will be on Christmas Day. Les Miz matinee followed by dinner at Szechuan Kitchen with the relatives.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/19/12 at 9:31am

Spoilerishnessiveness:

I will admit that the book made me laugh out loud on many occasions, not the least of which was that effing name! My main annoyance about the book ending was the build to nothing. "They're coming... THEY'RE COMING... THEY ARE HERE!... Oh, okay. They're leaving." I thought the film really fixed that. As soon as Carlisle had his little moment there, I just assumed they went off-book at that point. I was just thinking, "Hell, it's the final movie. They can do what they want!" I loved it. Then, when it was revealed, I was floored. I didn't see it coming at all. The battle was epic. My expectation bar was set super low, but I was pleasantly surprised.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/19/12 at 2:27pm

I really wish the battle had been real. Having people like Carlisle and Seth (and the million others) die actually would have given the end of the saga some poignancy.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/20/12 at 8:50am

It's a tradition for my two best friends and I to go and see the TWIGLIT movies when I come back to Florida for Thanksgiving, so we saw it last night. I thought it was the best of the series but it was still a God awful mess that made me want to poke my eyes out with the straw I was biting for two hours.

First off, with Bella being dead, it finally gave an excuse to K-Stew's signature lifeless acting. A few times in the film she displayed a little more emotion than usual but I just attribute that to rigor mortis setting in. And can we talk about that baby? I mean....really? REALLY? I don't even have words for how ridonkulous that was.

And can someone PLEASE explain to me what the point of a vampire movie with absolutely no blood is? Even when a dozen people are decapitated and someone's head is torn off at the jaw, not a drop of blood is spilt?! If AMC can show disemboweled bodies and zombie's heads gushing blood and brains, than I'm SURE a PG-13 movie can show a little stream of blood when a head gets ripped off. And what the hell do these "vampires" eat? Seriously. I can't even...

The fight sequence was decent and kept my awake (more than the other hour and change before it) but that Final Destination crap at the end was such a cheat and really pissed me off. It wasn't as bad as Michael Sheen squealing like a little piggy when he saw the girl but that was just a different kind of bad.

And speaking of bad, what was up with that "gift" Bella gave Edward at the end? She gave him a memory of things that he was there for and had memories of already? "Thanks for the gift, you cheap bitch. Maybe for my birthday next year you can make me a vampire". But he chose to spend eternity with her, I guess he gets what he deserves. Hope they enjoy it with their daughter Resume. ("It's french. Duh. I like named her after this time I tried to get a job or something")

Like always, when I see one of these awful movies that will no doubt fade into cinema obscurity along with Taylor Lautner, I need to watch at least 24 straight hours of gore in order to get this dirty feeling off of me.

The only good thing that came out of seeing this craptastic movie last night was that I saw this trailer for WARM BODIES which looks adorable and fantastic -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3ErWNBX9Rc

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/20/12 at 8:55am

Jordan- The gift wasn't the memories. The gift was allowing Edward to finally read her mind. She was the only person whose thoughts he couldn't read and the final moments in the book she figures out how to lift the "shield" that protected her thoughts and he realized that in her inner thoughts she did love him as much as he did her.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/20/12 at 8:57am

Boooooooooooooooooring. And not clear at all if you didn't read the books, I guess.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 11/20/12 at 9:03am

I like her enough in Snow White but when you're acting against Charlize, unless you're Christina Ricci, there isn't any competition.

True. And to be superficial for a moment, in what world is Kristen "fairer" than Charlize?

How was Lee Pace as Garrett or whatever his name is?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/20/12 at 9:07am

He was as good as anyone could be in a TWIGLIT movie.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/20/12 at 9:11am

Ha, yeah it's a boring, but over the course of the four books Meyer devotes PAGES and PAGES to how much Edward wants to read Bella's mind. Bella then would bit her lip and drive Edward crazy. It was like she copy and pasted these paragraphs chapter after chapter. So after all that the finale of books was to let Edward into her mind.

The battle really was the best part of the movie. In the book the confrontation (there's no battle) begins with like 11 pages till the end. Like JerseyGirl said you had been read for like 900 pages about the Volturi coming and the promise of an epic battle, but they show up, see the kid isn't immortal and leave. Edward reads her thoughts. The End.

When the movie strayed from the book with the battle everyone was freaking out because it was the first time in 5 films that the story had veered away from the novels, and in such a huge way. I loved that they figured out how to have their cake and eat it too. It was the one inspired thing any of the films ever did, IMO.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/20/12 at 9:16am

Well can we just talk about HOW POINTLESS the entire film is?! I mean the entire point is that they're coming because they think the kid is an immortal and everyone's freaking out. Now, I'm not a vampire (neither were they really but that's a different topic) but even if I were I might think "Hey, instead of going all over the world to find people to bring back here, why don't we just tell them and show them quickly that she's not this evil kid?" Seems pretty damn simple.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/20/12 at 2:10pm

BUT THE BABY IS CALLED RENESMEE!

[Wynbish]

Posted: 11/20/12 at 2:14pm

RENESMEE! They thought of their mothers' names for their kid's name, which is a completely brand new concept that no one else has done and is amazing and omg I wanna name my girl Bella though fml and Team Edward.

Updated On: 11/20/12 at 02:14 PM