BREAKING DAWN PART 1

US, 2011, 117 minutes, Colour.
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Sarah Clarke, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Nikki Reed, Maggie Grace, Michael Sheen.
Directed by Bill Condon.

Bella declares ‘undying love’ for Edward. She would have to, wouldn’t she? After all, that is the fate of vampires even if they are nice like Edward and the Cullen familyand have inserted themselves quietly into each of their contemporary worlds. But, we do have an initial confession of a secret by Edward when he was sowing his wild fangs in the 1930s (and going to see such films as Bride of Frankenstein, which could serve as something of an image of Bella and her marriage).

The fourth film in the Twilight Saga needs no help from reviewers (and certainly not from so many negative reviews from those who feel themselves above such stories for its niche teenage audience – and their mothers, perhaps). It got its money back in the first few days of its American release.

The undying love, wedding preparation, wedding, reception (and a visit from Jacob who is initially upset with the wedding because of his love for Bella), honeymoon in Brazil, take up the first half of the film – all rather lavish to entertain the fans. Bella’s mother and father turn up and, though she has a frightening nightmare about the ceremony, Bella is happy in marrying Edward.

Complications come with her pregnancy, life threatening, which has the Cullen family anxious, Edward anguishing and trying to help his wife. Again, Jacob arrives, this time to defend Bella because his werewolf family is hostile to the Cullens and attack them. A chance to move from the quiet romanticism of the wedding to some snarling, howling and brawling.

Not knowing the story, I was more than a bit surprised to discover what happens to Bella with the birth of her baby – and then guessed what was really happening, via some special effects of her interior, blood stream and heart, which is the final shock image of Part I so that we will be eager to see Part 2 – what undying love really means.

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have become Bella and Edward incarnate and everyone seems to be pleased to see them again. And Taylor Lautner is Jacob (shirt off in the first minute or so but then looking very respectable).

Those tempted to rush for the exit as soon as there is any hint of a credit will miss a preview of the sequel which gives a different tone to what we have seen in this film. Michael Sheen as the dastardly vampire leader of earlier films makes a campy violent appearance, setting up some melodrama for the finale as dawn finally breaks.

There have been different directors for each of the films so far. This time it is writer Bill Condon whose previous films include the interesting Gods and Monsters and Kinsey as well as the musical Dreamgirls.

1. Audience expectations from the series, characters, plot, the wedding, pregnancy and birth?

2. The title, the progress from Twilight through New Moon, Eclipse to Dawn? The musical score – the lyrics?

3. The long wedding sequence, leading to the honeymoon, to the pregnancy, to the birth, Bella’s death?

4. The intercutting of the vampire-werewolf clashes and battles?

5. The forests, the vampires, the homes, ordinary?

6. The contrasts with the werewolves, the forests, the huts?

7. Edward and Bella, their past, audience hopes, Jacob and his friendship with the two? The wedding prospects?

8. The invitations, the reintroduction of the characters, Bella’s parents, Jacob and his angry reaction to the invitation?

9. The preparations for the wedding, Bella’s hair, makeup, her parents’ arrival, the dress? Edward and his support?

10. Bella’s nightmare of the wedding, the deaths?

11. Edward, the background of his secret, the Bride of Frankenstein, his killing the murderers? The transition to his happiness for the wedding? The reception, the speeches, dancing? The visit of Jacob, the discussions with him, his moods, departure?

12. Brazil, the beauty of the tropics, the night swimming, the sexual encounter, the concerns of Edward for Bella?

13. Bella’s pregnancy, the different reactions, the dangers for her health, the concern?

14. Jacob, at the wedding, with the group of werewolves, with his father, the hostilities?

15. Jacob, Seth and the others, cut off from the group? Jacob’s character, his misleading the werewolves? Protecting Bella?

16. The birth, its difficulties, the caesarean? Bella dying?

17. Jacob, his reaction, his attack on Edward? Yet protecting Bella, fighting the wolves, his change of heart at seeing the baby?

18. Edward, his desperation? Rosalie and the other women, minding the baby? Edward’s biting Bella, hopes for reviving her? The special effects for her bloodstream, the heart?

19. The build-up in Bella’s death, the sudden awakening? Her eyes? Vampire forever?

20. The final credits, the introduction of the vampire court, the prelude for part 2?