Film Review: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
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Review
I am content to express my utter satisfaction at this conclusion. Far from a masterpiece, this final installment of the series still conducts itself with immense respect for its predecessors. Most attributes of the film lie within a stone’s throw of “fine”.
The palette/color grading was fine, not as distinctive or stylish as Twilight or Eclipse. The soundtrack was acceptable; a bit heavy on generic love songs, still an improvement from Breaking Dawn Part 1, but nowhere near the soundtrack of New Moon. The score was fine, not as good as Howard Shore’s work on Eclipse. The narrative was actually engaging, lots of lore and interesting characters. Cinematography was fine, nothing stand-out, some shots felt too “effect-y”, very of its time in the early 10s. Wardrobe was spectacular in this film. Visuals are striking but were not cohesive in a sense of storytelling.
The achievement of this film is to satisfy the viewer with the illusion of having ones cake and eating it, too. Of course, this is in reference to the “epic final battle” existing only as a possible future, conveyed through Alice’s foresight. This twist was delightful and unexpected. I had actually conjecture just prior in the film that it the narrative had worked itself into a corner. A final battle would be spectacular, but would ultimately defy the ongoing work of the main cast to maintain peace; a peaceful existence is, more or less, the theme that the Cullens are intended to broadcast. A flat-out diplomatic resolution, though, would leave us with too powerful a sense of dissatisfaction; we’d still be hungry.
To my surprise, this method of storytelling echoes a grander theme throughout the works; the theme of indecision. Edward or Jacob, eternity or mortality, intimacy or isolation. In a final cadence to recapitulate these ideals, the film walks us through a final “What if?” that, although epic by its very nature, must be discarded in lieu of the safe, the peaceful, and the loved.
(I’m not sure how Jacob’s imprinting fits into this grander scheme; frankly, it just makes me uncomfortable.)
To express yet another moment of bewilderment, I found myself feeling, somehow, emotional at the very end. A Thousand Years is a lovely piece of music, the field of lavender is a splendid visual, and the two lover among them serve as our very own “what if”, a suitable medium for our own hopes of contentment. These two have changed, and ourselves likewise, or so we should hope.
Notes
Nice orchestration.
Dakota Fanning in the opening credits, thank god Jane is in this one.
I miss credits rolling before a film rather than at the end.
No Howard Shore :(
Nice piano.
Cool shot of Bella’s pupil turning.
Funny zoom-in shots.
Weird music, reminds me of Sparkle Horse.
Kristen Stewart looks nice in that blue.
I wonder if they’re immediately going to have vampire sex?
Watching Bella run at mach speed through the woods is very funny.
Why are the zoom shots so funny?
I wonder if the climate-change-induced propagation of Lyme disease affects the deer population and therefore the Cullens?
I wonder how quickly she could climb El Capitan.
Bella vs. cougar is funny.
Is Renesme a full vampire? Or is she a half vamp?
Jacob imprinting on the baby is so fucking weird.
“Jake you really do stinK”
Terrifying CGI baby.
Jacob being an overprotective boyfriend to the baby is so funny.
Kristen Stewart has a distinctive voice, I love how deep it is.
“You nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness monster?!”
Vampire quadruple date?
I love their hobbit cottage.
Current track is yet another generic fucking love song.
I want Alice to decorate for me.
“Vampires don’t sleep” “It’s not intended for sleep” is devious.
Crazy nasty vampire sex.
“You really were holding back before”, Christ.
I want to get a beer with Emmett.
Bella looks nice in a dark wardrobe.
This is a weird plotline for Jacob.
Score is nice.
Jacob stripping in front of Charlie is funny.
Bella’s voice is REALLY deep in this one.
“She wishes she was that awesome” what kind of middle school line is that?
Renesme is fucking scary.
Emmett vs Bella arm wrestle is fantastic. Great track over it, too.
Sparkly Bella; her outfit is really great.
Why does Renesme age so quickly?
Why is Edward so obsessed with Brazil?
Another great outfit for Bella.
Emmett in a turtle neck.
Cool lore that a vampire child tantrum is dangerous.
Jane is such a cool character.
Why is child Renesme scary too?
Plot is interesting so far, at least.
Water bender vampire.
No, avatar vampire.
Amazon vampires.
Edgy American vampire is hilarious.
Interesting that more vampires causes more werewolves.
Bella is a “shield”.
Funny Eastern European vampires.
I don’t fully understand the goals of the Transylvanian vampires. They use the vampire legal system to kidnap vamps with gifts?
“And my axe” scene.
Alec’s powers aren’t as cool as Jane’s.
Shield projecting scene is a bit campy, too Marvel-y.
Sweet scene on the couch w Edward and Bella, if only the music wasn’t so generic.
J. Jenks, Seattle?
That was Charlie’s GF in the other movie.
J. Jenks is a dude?
Interesting turnout with J. Jenks.
Wardrobes are great for everyone in this movie.
Why is Bella still wearing the fake contacts?
Charlie is so charming.
All the vampires around the bonfire is a great moment.
Nice moment between Edward and Carlisle.
Battles in the snow are always epic.
The vampire Garrett is a cool character.
Wall of cloaked vampires is menacing as hell.
Why isn’t Renesme getting out of there?
Big pack o’ wolves.
I hope Carlisle doesn’t die.
Jane’s makeup is a bit amateurish.
I wonder if Alice and Jasper are going to show up at the last minute.
I also hope Emmett doesn’t die.
The head Volturi is properly creepy, nice.
He’s a fucking weirdo.
“Magnifico”
Damn, vampires love burning other vampires.
The Amazon vampires are badass.
“Pain.” gets me every fucking time, I’m dying.
The actor for Renesme seems familiar, was she Lucy in Narnia?
Why are the Volturi instigating a fight?
They just want to fuck up the Cullens, I guess.
I also hope Alice and Jasper don’t die.
I’m pumped for a big vamp fight.
Dammit, Carlisle.
Score is pretty decent.
Jane is such a freaky character.
Does beheading a vampire kill them or do they need to be beheaded and also burned?
Why was Leah’s death so sad?
I hope they can save Jasper by putting his head in a Futurama jar.
Wilhelm scream.
How the fuck did avatar vamp open up the earth all the way to lava?
I was Jane was a bit more menacing instead of just standing around with her mouth open.
I love middle-apart blonde Volturi, he looks like a member of Panic at the Disco.
Decent choreography.
A headlock is a vampire’s greatest fear.
All vampires just have LEGO heads.
I did not expect it all to just be part of Alice’s vision.
Who the fuck are these two?
Back to fucking Brazil.
“Half-immortal” is a cool concept.
Everyone’s hugging.
American Eagle shorts.
“Should I start calling you Dad” from Jacob to Edward is cursed as all Hell.
Jacob + Renesme is so icky.
Cool song.
I’m a sucker for the field of lavender.
A Thousand Years really is a nice piece of music.
This flashback is making me oddly emotional.
That really is a sweet ending, damn.
Just gotta not think about Jacob and Renesme.
I hope Charlie’s happy.
Hell yeah, Green Day.
Still no Muse, though.