The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Nicki Reed
Director: Bill Condon
Rating: 1/5
It was back in 2008 when Twilight hit the big screen for the first time and the world went Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner crazy.
This week sees the release of the final as the curtain comes down on this rather underwhelming franchise - and sadly it goes out with a whimper rather than a bang.
The problem with Breaking Dawn is it is a novel where very little happens - despite the beefiness of the book - and so to see it split into two movies was a bit of a surprise.
And sadly, much like Breaking Dawn - Part 1, the movie only really livens up with about thirty minutes to go - by then you couldn’t give a hoot what happens to who or why.
Edward and Bella have faced tough times in the past but this time around they face their biggest challenge as they have to protect their daughter from the clutches of the Volturi.
Sadly Bill Condon doesn’t appear to have steered this movie into any direction it’s just a jumbled mess that bounces from scene to scene without any real structure - the story makes sense but it just lacks drive and conviction.
As for the acting there is very little of it apart from a load of posing, posturing and speeches about standing up for what is right.
It’s fair to say that Bella has never been a very interesting character but there is perhaps a little bit more about her this time around.
Edward has lost his mysteriousness - however he was never as intriguing as the character Stephenie Meyer created in the book - while Jacob has been turned into nothing more than a babysitter for Renesmee.
We are introduced to a whole host of new characters and while that is fantastic we learn very little about them over then any abilities that they may have - the booth has a wealth of back-story about all of them and it would have been nice to see a little bit more.
As if all that isn’t bad enough the CGI is absolutely awful and that is a real disappointment given the amount of money that has been spent on this film.
Bella running through the forest at the beginning of the film is the perfect example as it looks more like a test shot than something you would find in the final film.
Also instead of using a actual baby for Renesmee at the beginning of the film it looks like they have merged features of Edward and Bella to make a fake and freaky looking child - seriously it looks awful.
The showdown at the end of the film is perhaps the most exciting moment in the whole film but the reveal that not is as it seems is a major disappointing - this plot device is one of my major pet hates as it is just incredibly lazy storytelling.
However in these sequences there are some nice moments from Michael Sheen as Aro as he shows off the slightly more eccentric side to his behaviour - his crazed laugh is a bit of a highlight.
No doubt all of the Twi-hards will find it all truly exciting and terribly romantic but for everyone else Breaking Dawn - Part 2 is nothing more than a waste of time and money.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 sadly brings this franchise to a rather weak end I am glad to see the back of these films and these characters.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw