BREAKING DAWN PART 2
US, 2012, 115 minutes, Colour.
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed, Billy Burke, Maggie Grace, Michael Sheen, Dakota Fanning, Cameron Bright, Lee Pace.
Directed by Bill Condon.
Only for those who have followed the series until this last episode. It presupposes knowledge of what has gone before – though it does give an overview at the end and generously shows the faces and names of all who have had featured roles in the five films.
So, there is very little to say. Bella and Edward love each other (lots of that). Bella is adjusting to being a vampire (lots of that as she moves as swiftly as the pack, flies over forests and cliffs, tries to control her desire for blood). Their baby, mortal because half human, is able to communicate by touch (illustrated as Jakob helps as a kind of nanny) and grows quickly to the stage of a seven year old.
And plot developments? The Volturi are still hostile (and looking pasty-faced as ever, especially Michael Sheen as their malevolent leader), discover the secret of the child and prepare for war. In the meantime, members of the Cullen family (who look and act like any other very nice family in America) go abroad to get witnesses who will prove that it is all right to have a half-vampire, half-mortal child. There are some flashbacks to the Volturi condemning a woman who bore such a child – and they massacre her.
So, all is set on a frozen lake for confrontation. Actually, the film has it both ways with a spectacular battle between foes, with the werewolves lending paws and teeth to help. Then, we discover that this is a vision of what might be – and peace is nicely established and a happy ever after, and after, and after, and after… ending.
Only for those who have followed the series until this last episode. It presupposes knowledge of what has gone before – though it does give an overview at the end and generously shows the faces and names of all who have had featured roles in the five films.
So, there is very little to say. Bella and Edward love each other (lots of that). Bella is adjusting to being a vampire (lots of that as she moves as swiftly as the pack, flies over forests and cliffs, tries to control her desire for blood). Their baby, mortal because half human, is able to communicate by touch (illustrated as Jakob helps as a kind of nanny) and grows quickly to the stage of a seven year old.
And plot developments? The Volturi are still hostile (and looking pasty-faced as ever, especially Michael Sheen as their malevolent leader), discover the secret of the child and prepare for war. In the meantime, members of the Cullen family (who look and act like any other very nice family in America) go abroad to get witnesses who will prove that it is all right to have a half-vampire, half-mortal child. There are some flashbacks to the Volturi condemning a woman who bore such a child – and they massacre her.
So, all is set on a frozen lake for confrontation. Actually, the film has it both ways with a spectacular battle between foes, with the werewolves lending paws and teeth to help. Then, we discover that this is a vision of what might be – and peace is nicely established and a happy ever after, and after, and after, and after… ending.
1. The end of the saga? The impact for fans? As a stand-alone film?
2. The popularity of the series, the vampire world, vampire societies, mythologies? The intersection of the real world with the vampire world? Mortality and immortality? Love, family, children? Enmities?
3. The location photography, the forests and the mountain scenery, homes, Voltoro? The iced river as the battleground? The musical score?
4. The title, the visuals, breaking dawn and new life?
5. Audiences and their response to Robert Pattinson as Edward, as a vampire, gentleman, his love for Bella, Kristen Stewart as Bella, forthright and headstrong, love for Edward, marrying him, the birth of the child, her living in the vampire world?
6. The opening, Bella and Edward in love, the child, Jacob and his care for the child, Bella and her adjusting to vampire life, the swiftness of movement, her toughness, fighting the animals, her desire for blood? Her flying, the scene on the cliff?
7. Charlie, Bella preparing to meet her father, the group tutoring her on how to move slowly and act as a human, slouching? Charlie and his disbelief, Jacob telling the truth, the transformation into the werewolf? Charlie’s discussions with Bella, the need to know for information?
8. The Cullen family, their secret life, the parallel to ordinary humans? The birth of the third daughter and its being seen as a crime in the vampire world? Her way of communication? Their fear about the crime being exposed?
9. The scenes in Voltoro, the sinister world of the vampire aristocracy, Aro and his appearance, leadership, sinister and smiling? Jane and the other members of the court? Their control?
10. The flashbacks, the Voltoro and the human child, the massacre? Irina, her seeing what was happening with the Cullens, going to Voltoro, the information, joining Aro against the Cullens?
11. Carlisle, Esme, their leadership in the Cullen family, concern? Jacob and his being part of the extended family? Bella and her becoming more at home, arm-wrestling with Emmett Cullen?
12. The challenge from the Voltori? Going to Egypt, seeking out the vampires, getting them as witnesses, Benjamin and his powers? The daughter and the confrontation with the women, their disbelief, the little girl and her way of communication, their change of heart? The two Scandinavian vampires and their wanting a fight with the Voltori? The warriors from Brazil?
13. The gathering, the vampires and the help from the werewolves? The small group to confront the Voltori?
14. The coming of the Voltori, in great numbers, the frozen lake, the confrontation?
15. The double ending, the violence and the fight? Then the truth that this was Alice giving Aro a vision of what might be? The visuals of the fight, Benjamin and his splitting the earth, the vast caverns, people falling into the crevasses, Edward and his falling? The graphic fights, the beheadings?
16. Aro, his conceding what would happen? Retiring with the Voltori?
17. The happy ending, Bella and her conjuring up the visuals of the memories of her meeting with Edward, the courtship, the love? Hopes for the future?
18. Why the popularity of the novels? The films? The niche female audiences? A fantasy escape from harsh realities?
