fuzzysquee

For the record: I am neither a "Twihard" nor a Twilight hater. I recognize that the books are far from high art but I enjoy them nonetheless.

Perhaps that is why I was disappointed with Breaking Dawn, the novel: even compared to its prequels, it was weakly plotted.

The biggest problem with the book was how it botched the climax. All the tension, all the sense of danger...dissipated prematurely. Knowing this, I went into the theater with especially low expectations.

As it happened, the screenwriters used a simple, but very clever device to fix that flaw while remaining true to the source material. It worked so well that I didn't entirely realize what they'd done until after the sequence. Granted, if you've read the book recently you're likely to catch on quickly. I won't say any more than that.

Other good points:

~Opening Credits: these were honestly beautiful. Lots of soaring over the forests coupled with macro time-lapse photography involving ice and flowers. It was clearly symbolic of certain story elements, plus everything was shone through red and grey scale filters, echoing the books' covers. Perhaps the best part was the orchestral background music.

~A certain scene with Charlie and Jacob: It was every bit as hilarious as I imagined.

~Renesmee: I found her a little creepy in the book, but she seems much more natural in the movie...in as much as the word "natural" applies.

~A certain scene with Bella and Emmett: also nicely played out. Emmett's expressions were perfect.

~Vampire allies: there were some colorful characters here. I wish they'd been around sooner. Lee Pace's performance was especially good.

With all the story's faults, *somehow* this film worked. The person who invited me to see it was also pleasantly surprised. In our post-theater chat, we decided why:

1. The movie makers generally made good decisions.

2. The story is no longer about a girl choosing between her suitors---it's about people protecting their lives they've built from a common threat. For the Twilight series, it was a refreshing change of pace.

Yesterday, a relative of mine switched on the Hallmark Channel to watch this movie. While feel-good films are harmless, I find they're often too heavy-handed, predictable, and sappy. So I braced myself.

There was no need to do so.

Alright, the plot is predictable, but in a comfortingly familiar way. The enjoyment lies not in guessing how the movie will end, but how the characters will reach their destinations. This isn't the sort of film to watch if you want an edgy thriller, after all! There are some cheesy moments (as expected from Hallmark), but the seriousness of the family's situation kept the story from being overly sentimental.

The characters are well played. They're likable and have a good sense of humor. The funny moments do much to keep the movie from taking itself too seriously. While the plot is not entirely believable, that does not stop the film from being enjoyable.

This is a film worth adding to the Christmas season watch list; the classic message of hope in the face of hardship is always relevant and is delivered in a touching, charming manner.