Breaking Dawn Part 1 is the Darren Aronofsky homage that nobody was expecting. Let’s face it, the first two films in the Twilight series were an extended staring contest taking up minutes that we’ll never get back. The polyamorous relationship between Bella, Edward and Jacob is a bit difficult to grasp. Maybe it’s time Jacob moved on and found a nice she-wolf. The film is filled with product placements but these can be forgiven when the breathtaking landscape shots that they paid for come on screen. Idyllic visions of snow-capped hills, sunsets and islands in Brazil provide the backdrop for the tormented lovers. The setting for the nuptials themselves is impressive, sure to result in many copycat weddings.
The portrayal of Bella post-marriage is like a horror story. One moment she’s s blushing bride-to-be, but as soon at the honeymoon arrives she becomes emaciated, heavily pregnant and severely ill. One viewer remarked afterwards that it was a film more suited to a ‘male audience’ as the horror element was, she felt, rather excessive.
There are moments where the lines become cringe-worthy. One which stands out in particular is Edward admission of his dark past – he used to hunt murderers. So did Horatio Caine, big deal. It wouldn’t have killed Stephanie Meyer to give him some genuinely darker traits. As bloody thirsty vampires go, he’s very bland. The film begins with the marriage of Edward and Bella. She dreams of a lust-filled honeymoon in Brazil. Unprotected sex with a vampire is, perhaps, as inadvisable as unprotected sex with anyone else. Despite warnings from Jacob to this effect, Bella is still determined to get hers.
Breaking Dawn Part 1 is an unconventional tale with very conservative values. The resulting pregnancy spins a pro-life message with more than a few echoes of Black Swan. The hoards of teen girls which will go and see this film will come out vowing celibacy. No matter how beautiful Robert Pattinson may be, he’ll be gone back to his coffin in the morning and you’ll be left holding the demon-child. A graphic, silly and beautifully shot film. [Watch the trailer]
Gillian Middleton
