With The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part II finally in theaters, it’s time to get to spoiler-talkin’ — did Bill Condon & Co. blow minds with the Big Crazy Twist in their big-screen adaptation? How much sexy time do newborn vampires have? Is imprinting totally not creepy when the power of Taylor Lautner’s abs is compelling you?
Spoilers, obviously!
Five films and a few billion dollars into Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight franchise, the Breaking Dawn crew have put together arguably the best film in the series. Whether you’re a Twi-hard or staunchly unconverted to the sparkly cause, sound off below on all the over-the-top vampire theatrics of the franchise finale, starting with these nine key moments, scenes, and changes from the book:
The Battle Sequence
Let’s shove the elephant in the room out of the way first: How about that battle scene?
The X-Men-style mutant power stand-off that closes Meyer’s novel series was always going to be the film’s biggest technical challenge, with invisible vampire powers surging across the battlefield left and right. Harder still, in the books the battle was anti-climactic, a non-starter that never actually takes place on the page. I repeat: Nobody dies. No heads roll. Literally nothing happens.
Enter screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg and Meyer’s big cinematic fix. We now see what Alice sees, the future possibility of a Cullen-Volturi massacre that ends with Aro’s death, not to mention the certain doom of many beloved Twilight characters. The fake-out ending allows for the best action of the franchise, not to mention a key element seldom seen throughout the faithful films to date — surprise.
Bella’s Fierceness
Critics, feminists, and non-fans of the books have long complained about Bella’s passivity, with good reason; for the majority of the series she’s fragile, self-doubting, and almost always in need of protection by the men in her life.
Where Breaking Dawn is most satisfying, then, is in Bella’s emotional and physical transformation. She’s strong. She can arm-wrestle and eat mountain lions. She has a temper. She has an appetite for blood, and for sex. After four years of watching Bella mope around Forks, she finally grows a pair — and while that is a reversal of the average-girl fantasy that made Twilight popular to begin with, and despite the fact that her superpower is a maternal and protective “shielding” talent instead of something more, y’know, awesome, it’s so much better to see Bella Swan strong than not.
Jacob’s Abs
They’re real, and they’re fabulous. They’re also, hilariously enough, integral to the scene at hand: Jacob strips down in front of Charlie to morph into wolfy form in order to keep the Cullens from leaving town. The exchange between Taylor Lautner and Billy Burke also injects a much-needed dose of levity to the franchise, which brings me to…
The Humor
Finally, the Twilight franchise has a sense of humor. That sidelong glance between Edward and Jacob before Bella learns her bestie has eyes for her new baby; the way newborn Bella hungrily grabs her man, ready to do it for forever now that she no longer has to worry about getting pregnant and being crushed to death/being eaten in the heat of the moment. And while we’re on the subject…
Bella and Edward Canoodling
Never did I imagine Bill Condon would sneak so much naughtiness into a Twilight film. So many make-outs. So much sex talk. That delicious-looking butter-colored orgasm! And, sweetest of all, that parting shot in the meadow, where it all began for Bella and Edward so many years ago.
New Castmembers
Two words: Lee Pace. LEE PACE!
Best. Dakota Fanning Moment. Ever.
Jane throws a beautiful blonde Immortal Child into a bonfire like it’s a teddy bear, and that look on her face is priceless. When Dakota Fanning wins her lifetime achievement Oscar some day, I want this scene in the highlight reel.
We Need To Talk About Michael Sheen
THAT GIGGLE.
THOSE GIANT BLOOD-RED SAUCER EYES.
Best scenery chewing of the franchise. I live for Michael Sheen’s weirdo Aro cackle.
The Fond Farewell
Non-fans already have no idea what the hell’s going on in Breaking Dawn, with its wolves who fall in love with magical CGI babies and all the mutant powers and vampire marriage sex, so Condon threw in a few special things for the fans who made this one of the biggest franchises in film history. Extra points for folding those familiar musical motifs and themes from every Twilight movie to date into the score, and for tastefully working both Rachelle Lefevre and Bryce Dallas Howard into the “Hey, a round of applause for everyone who’s ever been in a Twilight movie!” montage.
What did you think of Breaking Dawn, and the changes from page to screen? Anyone else down for a Twilight prequel starring Lee Pace as Garrett doing... just about anything?
READ MORE ON THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART II:
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