Early last November, Lionsgate Entertainment released the final chapter of the “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part Two.” Based off of Stephanie Meyer’s bestselling books, the “Twilight Saga” has been a popular fad for many teenage girls and their mothers alike for the past few years. Fans of all ages, mostly women, had camped out for days to be first in line for the premiere of the series’ epic conclusion. The movie’s success reflects this popularity, drawing in over 340.9 million dollars globally in its opening week.
“Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part Two” can easily be considered a risk. With its steamy love scenes and a massive plot twist that include an entire battle which wasn’t in the book, the movie certainly isn’t what most viewers were expecting. Unfortunately, not all risks are good. While some “Twi-Hards” are weeping over the finale to their beloved saga, many moviegoers are thankful for its conclusion. Although seemingly popular, the “Twilight” movies have always had a plethora of criticism around them. Like almost any film that emulates a novel, most of the original “Twilight” fans were disappointed with the way many of the films turned out. Alyssa LaMedica, a junior here at JCHS, stated “I think that the books are way better than the movies.”
Additionally, there has been a deep seated controversy over the casting of the films. The stars of the movie, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattison, not only have had numerous relationship problems on screen and off, but are often mocked for their inability to display more than two emotions. Taylor Lautner, another actor in the popular movies and also the celebrity crush of numerous teens across the country, is also widely disparaged for the extensive time he spends shirtless in the film; some have even gone as far as to say that it’s cover-up for his lack of acting ability. Moreover, the poor quality of special effects on both the werewolves and the newborn baby Renesmee have been called to attention by many dissenters.
Yet, the movie’s success is irrefutable, considering its lofty standing as the number one film worldwide for multiple weeks in a row and substantial profit. Bad special effects and poor casting aside, it obviously has a considerable appeal. Freshman Erica Blanco, a fan of the saga, commented, “I thought it was one of the best out of all of them.”
Whether one considers the ending to be bittersweet and sad or a small victory, the movie is set to be released on DVD in either late February or early March.
