After the birth of Renesmee, the Cullens gather other vampire clans in order to protect the child from a false allegation that puts the family in front of the Volturi.
Director: Bill Condon
Writers: Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay), Stephenie Meyer (novel)
Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
As I said in my review of Breaking Dawn, The Novel earlier today, I think Bella’s transformation is where the magic happens. And boy, does Kristen Stewart make it happen. Looking back, she has made it happen all along. She had her mishaps in New Moon, but in Eclipse she does something admirable to save her beloved, and in part one of Breaking Dawn, she is the protector. Bella really takes that protector status to a new level in Breaking Dawn part two.
Bella is the protector. She wakes up to this new world, hunts, and then proceeds to protect everything she has. Not just Renesmee, her daughter, Edward, her husband, but her entire family. Her concern with Jacob and his imprinting on her daughter is evident, but after what is just a short moment, she is protecting him too, and the rooted love he has for her daughter. Kristen Stewart makes this transformation flawlessly.
I could have done without Bella’s inner monologue from the book, but it didn’t take away from the film too much.
What really soars about the film, though, is the ending. And the person who shines through this mind-blowing twist, is Ashley Greene. I think she did a fantastic job in setting up the viewer’s mental state to be pleasantly surprised. I don’t think I would have seen this fantastic ending coming even if it tapped me on the shoulder. It was brilliantly executed.
The rest of the actors did very well in keeping with the true nature of these characters. I liked that this film encompassed everyone involved in the novel. Benjamin was one of my favorite side characters when I read the book, and it took me about two seconds to fall in love with him, and the rest of the supporting characters, in the film.
I’ll be impatiently waiting the DVD.
Mark Brassington 