The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1: movie review

Even fans may be let down by the newest 'Twilight' installment.

And you thought maybe you were going to get the whole “Twilight” finale in one big package? “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” is here to tell you otherwise. For those of us who are not “Twilight” fanatics, or even fans, or could not care somewhat less than less, the arrival of “Part 1” is not cause for trumpets blaring. But I would imagine that even those who line up for this film will be somewhat let down, if only because it’s clear that most of the juicy stuff will arrive in Part 2 – which won’t be released until next November.

"Part 1" has Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) marrying pasty-faced vampire hunk Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and forgoing abstinence. Result: A fetal vampire takes up residence in her womb. This greatly displeases Bella’s second-string hearthrob, the wolfish Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). For the most part, director Bill Condon and his screenwriter, Melissa Rosenberg, working off the Stephenie Meyer mega-bestseller, skimp on the vampires versus wolves smackdowns in favor of a kinder, gentler luridness. “Part 1” is going for a “Rosemary’s Baby” vibe but without much wit or imagination. Once Bella gets pregnant, Condon keeps serving
up shots of blood, or something red at any rate, coursing violently through her innards. I guess he was also going for a “Fantastic Voyage” vibe. Grade: C- (Rated PG-13 for for disturbing images, violence, sexuality/partial nudity and some thematic elements.)