REVIEW | Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)

The climax of the movie up to its ending was beautifully orchestrated. Dramatic. Emotional. Intense. And a good ending can redeem the whole movie (or an entire movie franchise?) from its flaws. I cannot think of a better way to end the movie. The cut was perfect. It has almost made me...a fan. Gasp!

Breaking Dawn 1 is the first half of the final Twilight saga novel. Bella and Edward get married (leaving Jacob and Team Jacob heartbroken). They go on a honeymoon in a breathtaking isolated Brazilian island, dangerously consummate their love-- and Bella, still human, gets miraculously pregnant with something that is called either one of the following: fetus, thing, baby, monster, him, half-human, half-vampire. But whatever it's called, it's a huge threat to Bella and the Cullens.

In Breaking Dawn, directed by Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters), the movie essentially has the same feel as the previous ones; the somewhat teen-angst raw treatment, the folk and alternative-rock soundtrack (but better this time), and the vampires still have faces that look like they were covered with flour (but the white stuff do not reach their neck). Robert Pattinson still could not act, and of the three lead stars, Taylor Lautner (Jacob) remains to be the only "normal" actor, capable of speaking through his eyes.

The movie has a lot of visual delights; from the tasteful and elegant wedding production, to Bella's absolutely perfect wedding gown (It's wonderful how they tease you with the small details of her dress before revealing all of its splendid gorgeousness), to the gloomy Forks landscape and its omnipresent grey skies, and the exotic honeymoon destination.

Nothing much happens in the first half of the film, except watching with interest some newlywed couple with a problem with their sex life, Jacob jealous, shots skipping between the Cullens and the wolf pack, but there were some scenes that were kind of boring and a bit dragging. The action only picks up when Bella becomes pregnant, escalating right until its engaging climax, which is chillingly realistic-- the movie's treatment suddenly shifting to an almost horror genre, yet at the same time emotionally gripping.

Breaking Dawn is more dramatic than action-packed, the sparse humor funny, and its an engaging movie in its entirety. And the subtle yet achingly beautiful musical score by Carter Burwell heightens the emotional scenes, almost sweeping you off with the seemingly Shakespearean- and Wuthering Heights-inspired passionate love story of Bella and Edward.

And like they say, "editing is the soul of the cinema," and Breaking Dawn's excellently edited last part, with superb special effects, will make twi-hard fans look forward to the final part of the Twilight movie franchise next year

To the fans, of course you'll watch it. To those who aren't fans but are being dragged by your twi-hard friends, or daughter, or wife, or girlfriend to see the movie? Don't worry, you won't hate it. Do not expect depth and Oscar-worthy performances, but Breaking Dawn has fairly done it's job in giving you temporary escape and entertainment.

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn's worldwide release is on November 18, 2011.

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