Monday, November 19, 2012

TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN PART 2

 
Summit Entertainment

Breaking Dawn Part 2 by Georgia

      "OH YEAH! TEAM JACOB!" Is an example of what I did not scream as soon as Taylor Lautner, AKA Jacob Black, went on screen. However, my mom did yell "eight minutes!" when Taylor Lautner took his shirt off, about eight minutes into the film. We also laughed a lot. But this isn't a feel-good family movie--this is the FINALE of the beloved (and hated) film series: Twilight. 
      I admit it: I did read the books as the series was coming off its pedestal (to be replaced by the Hunger Games) and I sort of understand why people (teenage girls/moms) like it (*cough cough romance.*) Sure, there's romance. Edwards a vampire. But the writing...*twitching in agony* and the CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT....
     But I'm not here to talk about the books, which Stephanie Meyer is making millions off of. I'm going to discuss the highly-publicized movie with "a twist ending,"  as advertised in the trailer. How can they possibly create a "twist ending" if you've read the books??? I ranted repeatedly to my mother. If they changed the ending even a little bit, a bunch of vicious Twihards would murder everyone who had anything to do with the movie. Well, I won't tell you the twist ending, but there's nothing to fear, Twihards. There's the magical vampire sex you guys have been waiting for; Jacob's creepy protective-pedophile love over Renesmee. Oh yeah there's Renesmee, too--Bella's fast growing human/vampire daughter. The best, least inappropriate, sort of sweet scenes are the ones with Bella and Renesmee. She's definitely got the maternal thing down.
    Yes...the movie still has a cheesy special effects, lines, and acting, but who cares, right? Let's give Mrs. Meyers another billion so she can have a house in Italy, and Billy Joe Armstrong needs his fence painted, apparently, because he wrote AND SUNG one of the songs in the credits! And I totally called it in the credits! I said: "Mom! That Billy Joe Armstrong! That's Greenday!" Mom: "No! It can't be!" FIVE MINUTES OF CREDITS LATER...Me: "It is! Ha! I called it!" Listen to it, I beg of you: (Greenday's Twilight Song
      In the end, see this movie if you want a good laugh or if you actually enjoy these movies or if you have nothing else to see.

Breaking Dawn Part 2 by Amy 

During a film, I am always the shusher.  If you break out your cellphone to check an email or a text during my few minutes of total abandonment of all responsibility other than watching a movie, you will hear me ask you, politely, to please turn off your phone as it's distracting.

At Breaking Dawn Part 2, which my darling Georgia dragged me to see, I became the "shushed."

I did not come to the film with an open mind.  I came to it with a closed mind, an annoyed mind that so many had found the poorly written Twilight books compelling reading, and, in complete disclosure, a jealous mind--why can't millions of people like my own book, huh???  I know, I don't have a weird love triangle, or vampires, or wolves.

I am not a fan of vampire movies.  The last one I saw was Interview with a Vampire and that had Tom Cruise (before he was abducted in to Scientology) and Brad Pitt (before he grew facial hair).

But here is what I found interesting about this final installment--Bella, at last, does things besides look mopey and wait for her two boy toys to save the day.  She is rather kick-ass in all her newborn vampire strength, though I could have done without the "I must feed off the blood of any animal I can find" scenes.

From a parental standpoint, I questioned the PG-13 rating.  As Georgia mentions above, there are several scenes of vampire sex.  Bella & Edward are having lots of it.  They can't get enough of it.  Am I just getting to be an old fart longing for the PG movies of John Hughes with their long, drawn out kisses and smoldering sexuality?

When we got to the epic battle scenes between the Cullen clan and all the cute wolves against the Volturi, I admit I was gripped.  It was great film-making.  Tension-filled.  Both Georgia and I were freaking out.  

And then came the much touted "twist ending" which should have been called "The twist ending that they chicken out of at the last minute which results in the most over-used trite ending."

When I expressed my outraged opinion about the ending-within-an ending vocally in the theater, I got shushed.  I marred the viewing experience for some middle-aged Twihard.

And for that, I'm sorry.

But I'm sorrier still that I caved to my teenager and spent $16 to see the damn thing.  



16 comments:

  1. Fabulous! You guys are the perfect movie critique team. And Greenday in Twilight? For real? I thought it was bad enough Muse got sucked in…

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    1. I know right! i was so SO shocked when I found out Muse had a Twilight song....

      Georgia

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  2. Wow! Very interesting review -- I love the two different points of view! I was wondering about the twist ending Georgia, it seems there isn't one after all. And I know how you feel Amy, I've been shushed myself a few times!

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  3. Never heard the term Twihard before! Heh.

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    1. WHAT??? You've been living under a rock!!!! (But a very nice one, without Twilight.)

      Georgia

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  4. Great blog, you two! I think I'll save my money for Lincoln. :) Do you take turns picking the movie?

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    1. No. I convince her most of the time. Especially after "The Bourne Legacy" scarred me for life.

      Georgia

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  5. This is wonderful! I love that you guys do this blog together! Tomorrow night I'm going with my 26 year-old daughter and her friends to watch this movie, not because I can't wait to see it (nor have I read the books) but because I'm happy they still invite me. :) My daughter invited me to the first one, so it's tradition that we go together. Thanks for the two viewpoints! I can tell great writing runs in the family!

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    1. Ellen,
      Have a great time! It was a lot of fun to watch it with Georgia. I hope she's still wants to go to the movies w/me when she's 26 :)

      Amy

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  6. I love that Ellen Marie and her daughter are going to see this series of movies together. That's my problem...no daughter. It's obvious I have a lot to learn. My sons and I were stuck in Star Wars...how OMG, so outdated is that?

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    1. Brenda,
      I was a huge fan of the original Star Wars series and have just been re-watching the first three films with my youngest, who is 5 and LOVES them. She loves Princess movies & star wars movies. Great combo :)

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  7. This is my favorite movie review ever. I love both of your opinions. Confession: I read and enjoyed all of the books. I've seen and enjoyed all of the movies (except this final installment.) My inner teenager loves it.

    Great review!

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    1. Erika,
      You and millions of other folks LOVED the series so I'm clearly in the tiny minority. :) I get the inner teenager thing. I think it's why I love Taylor Swift so much--she captures that adolescent first love angst so well.

      Thanks for dropping by!
      Amy

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  8. My daughter used to be a Twihard, but now not-so-much. We did attend the first movie at midnight, on a school night, though! That was when she'd just read all the books—twice!

    I love the two perspectives on the same movie. I'm sure my daughter will see it, and I'll probably wait until I can do so in my living room!

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!!

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    1. I think this is definitely a wait for the DVD. And a glass of wine while watching will probably improve the viewing experience for the grown ups :)!

      Amy

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