Written by Markus Robinson, Edited by Nicole I. Ashland
Markus Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars
Rated PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, sexuality/partial nudity and some thematic elements
WARNING: “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″, more than any others, is just for Twilight fans! The references to the past movies in the series are so strong, and for those with no background knowledge, so obscure that if you are a novice and are planning on going to see this, there is sure to be confusion and boredom in your future.
Beginning with a wedding that would put Kim Kardashian to shame (well, maybe add to her shame), comes “Part 1″ in the final installment in the Twilight series, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn”. Directed by Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, Chicago), the fourth director in the series, “Breaking Dawn” stars the usual cast of questionable actors, which include Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. The movie itself is filled with an unlimited supply of scenes that will make the female audience swoon, but will undoubtedly leave team Jacob fans uneasy with the direction the film is headed, as Lautner astoundingly only removes his shirt ONE TIME! The story also contains more than a few unintentionally goofy moments; a few in particular that are so ridiculous that many audiences will find their eyes rolling right out of their heads. But if you are one who paid to see this movie, I am assuming that you knew what you were getting into. Or maybe not. While many fans of past films bought tickets to see a conventional teenybopper love story, those who have read the book know that “Breaking Dawn” isn’t all charismatic Goths and bare chested Native Americans like its predecessors. The fact is that “Breaking Dawn” is the most gruesome, bloody and adult themed Twilight film yet.
Side Note: For fans of the traditional vampire movies, when I say that this particular installment is bloodier and more adult themed, make no mistake, it is still also the same hokey narrative love triangle about sparkling vampires and werewolves who can’t act. So, if you are a fan of the original Dracula films, movies like “Interview with a Vampire” or even “True Blood” (and you probably don’t need me to tell you this) then don’t go and see this movie. Even with the extra gore and adult themes, “Breaking Dawn” is just more of the same melodramatic, teen angst type of material.
The storyline, which stays fairly close to the book, tells the story of Bella (Stewart) and Edward (Pattinson) beginning their lives together on their wedding day…Ok, so it’s really not worth giving an in-depth synopsis of the plot of “Breaking Dawn”, when chances are that those who are reading this already know what the storyline entails. So what I will do is hit on a few scenes that will obviously be massive topics of discussion in the pro-vampire chat-rooms. First, I would like to discuss than much anticipated and highly controversial bedroom scene. As everyone knows by know, this film was originally rated R, primarily for the honeymoon scene in question, were (as one would assume) the characters (Bella and Edward) are engaged in multiple accounts of sexual activities. So, obviously with the demographic that this movie is geared towards and American censorship being what it is, these scenes had to be limited, re-shot or cut out completely. And the end result is a noticeably edited but still extremely risqué honeymoon sequence, which left me asking if this twenty minute, nudity driven, sex scene was the PG-13 version, then how hardcore was the unedited version?! The second controversial scene worth discussing is the birthing scene, and readers of the book know what I’m talking about. Does the term “biting placentas” ring a bell? Even with the director attempting to make the actions in this particular scene obscure, it ventures right up to the line of “films” like “Hostel” or “Saw” territory in terms of its visual graphicness. This fairly quick scene alone may be one of the most bloody and slasher inspired scenes of any non-rated R movie ever; it sure does look like a million dollars though. The visuals of this scene as Stewart exhibits all the prenatal glow of a pregnant corpse, is one of the best demonstrations of high quality CGI of any movie this year; besides “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”. In saying all of that, allow me to propose this question of ethics: What would have been the harm of saving some of the integrity of “Breaking Dawn” and keeping it R rated? I guess one could make the argument that if “Breaking Dawn” had kept its R rating it would have resulted in tons of ten and twelve year old girls having to beg their parents to take them to see the movie because they are not old enough to go by themselves. And maybe these parents wouldn’t want their innocent daughters to be subjected to the adult themed nature of a rated R “Breaking Dawn”. Here is my point: Are not these the same parents who allowed said little girls to read the sex-filled final novel to being with? So in reality, what is the harm in keeping the unedited, rated R version that corresponds more accurately to the book?
Final Thought: Maybe the most important aspect of this film is how true it stays to the source material. In fact, “Breaking Dawn” is the one installment in the “saga” that, with the exception of some of the more racy scenes, has a script and a direction that goes hand in hand with Stephenie Meyer’s vision; primarily because this is the first in the series that gives Meyer Executive Producer credits. Meaning, Meyer undoubtedly had more of a direct say on the translation of her own material in this film than any other. So, if you are a fan of the novels, but have been disappointed time and time again by the inaccuracy of the adaptations, then “Breaking Dawn” was made for you Fanpires and Twi-hards (two terms I hope to never have to repeat ever again). But again, if you are not a fan of Twilight, there is no silver bullet that will make this film watchable.
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