The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (2011)

I read the Twilight books. Okay, wait I listened to the audiobooks... I tried reading them and that was torture.  However the audiobooks where a lot of fun and I enjoyed them (except for my new found hate for the word 'riley', because that is the only adjective that Stephenie Meyer knows).

I really enoyed Twilight as well as New Moon, I even did my honours thesis study on New Moon.  Eclipse, well... Let's just say there is no light during an eclipse.

So now you've got the backstory, which I think was needed.  I was excited to go see Breaking Dawn seeing as it was also the book where something actually happens! However I was not that excited that I simply HAVE to go see the midnight screening of it, so one of our friends asked Heinrich if he wanted to go with her and I felt it was okay, we'll just go watch it again at another time.  Two days before the midnight premier, she phoned me, saying she had an extra ticket and asked if I want to go? So I decided, ag why not! So there I was going to the midnight premier of Breaking Dawn.

It does have a very thin storyline, but other than that you can't fault the movie.  What the director did in this movie is what I think was missing in Eclipse: every scene, every shot was used as a chance to convey some additional message.  I may be looking at the movie from too much of a technical aspect, but I can't help it.  The brilliant lighting, the use of colours in the imagery was breath taking.  Even from the first shot, right up until the end.

I want to say there is a specific favourite part or a part that really stands out for me, but that wouldn't be fair, I will say that the one scene I didn't expect and I was really fantastic is the nightmare wedding Bella has. Absolutely stunning!

All round it was just a general improvement from the other films, the actors were makeuped better, everyone looked more beautiful, the acting was great, the editing, the camera work as well.  Every shot felt like it was properly planned and that no other way would have worked as well as the ones that were used.  What was strange was the change of music, it was more upbeat and lively in comparison with the other films, however I still think that it was appropriate, because the tone of the last book is also much different from the tone in the first three. And the special effects, especially the way Bella looks was SO good, I kept on wondering how they did it.

My only bad point is that the credit sequence is cheesy and very 80s.  I can see why they thought it would be appropriate with the dramatic change in colour, but it simply did not work for me, and I'm a strong believer that the titles and credits should fit with the theme and style of a movie.  It's the difference between excellently planned finishing touches and unplanned laziness.

And I also blame the titles for making me miss part of the movie. I found out from one of my co-workers that after all the credits there is another part of the film.  If it wasn't for the horrid titles, I would have stayed to watch them all, but not to worry.  I've been wanting to go see the film again, so when I do, I'll stay through the titles (maybe play with my iPhone until the bad part is done) and see that last bit! So if you haven't seen Breaking Dawn, even if you are not a fan, go and see it. It is part of the filmic culture and you need to see it, even if you still don't like it at the end, but I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Harry Potter still rules though!