Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, The (2/7/12)

Rated PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, sexuality/partial nudity and some thematic elements.

Starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner

Directed by Bill Condon (Dreamgirls and Kinsey)

This movie isn’t Breaking Dawn…it’s just broken.

In The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson), plus those they love, must deal with the chain of consequences brought on by their wedding, honeymoon, and the birth of their child… which brings an unforeseen and shocking development for Jacob (Taylor Lautner). With more of the romance, passion, intrigue, courage, and action that made Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse international blockbusters, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 begins the conclusion of the universally adored tale of love, boundless friendship, sacrifice, acceptance, and finding your true self. Based on Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling book series, the novels and films constitute a full-blown cultural phenomenon with a dedicated fan base that eagerly awaits each installment.

When we last saw Bella and Edward, they had just gotten engaged—a radical step for a couple with an 87-year age difference (she’s 18, he’s 105). This film picks up at the wedding and the ever present tension between Bella’s desire to be changed into a vampire and Edward’s fear that if Edward grants her wish, she’ll destroy everyone else she loves. The other (and more ridiculous) tension is the love triangle between her, Edward and Jacob. Speaking of Jacob, it only took 15 seconds to see him without his shirt (which elicited an eye roll from me and a swoon from the females who had packed the theater for the midnight showing).

How ridiculous is the tension? Well Jacob, the werewolf, still licking his wounds since Bella choose Edward over him, shows up at the wedding. And since Edward understands that Jacob and Bella share a special connection, he walks away, allowing his wife of less than an hour to slow-dance in the woods with not only his sworn enemy, but a guy who is crazy in love with Bella. So one guy is dumb enough to let his wife dance with her ex and another guy who is too dumb to realize she doesn’t want him…UGH!!!!

So besides being “dumb” there is the heightened sexuality in Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Part I. Being fair, Bella and Edward have waited for their wedding and that should be celebrated. On the other hand, the filmmakers went a little too far letting us know they consummated their marriage. Crawling into bed and turning the lights off would have been enough. I don’t need to see them skinny dipping, breaking the bed and destroying the room…we get it!!
I went to the movie with my wife (who has read all the books) and she was frustrated for other reasons. We understand that the movie is going to be different from the book. But she had a list of things they did differently or missed. And as someone who has not read the books, I wanted to leave the theater feeling like I understood what was happening. But I had to ask my wife a bunch of questions, which lead to more revelations about several things I completely missed…like the whole imprinting thing. Come on Bill Condon, more story and less over exaggerated staring between the actors.

By normal standards, this is a terrible movie. The dialogue is hollow and pacing is extremely sluggish, not to mention that every 15 minutes there is a musical montage involving slow-motion gazes and meaningless activity. Then again the Twilight saga stopped being normal a long time ago, and “Twi-hards” don’t seem to mind. And contrary to popular belief, I’m not a Twi-hard…so I’m saying “Skip It.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is a lot more sex & partial-nudity in this one. In fact the sex scene between Edward and Bella originally caused the film to receive an R rating by the MPAA and had to be edited to receive a PG-13 rating.

On the honeymoon, Bella goes to the beach, where she takes off her robe and goes into the water, there is no nudity, but it is clearly implied. There are several other scenes in which Bella is in lingerie and trying to seduce Edward.

There is also more violence and gore in this one. There is a large fight between werewolves and vampires but with almost no blood. The bloodiest scene involves the birth of the baby. It is very intense and disturbing.

There is minimal language.

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: There are a few scenes when Bella, Edward and others discuss whether they should call her pregnancy a “fetus” or a “baby,” “it” or (as Bella herself insists) “him.” I think an abortion debate was the biggest surprise of the film.

How did you feel when Bella and Edward were talking about “getting rid” of the baby?

Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: Read Psalm 139:13-16

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.

People often talk about “it’s their choice,” after reading that passage, how is that thought flawed?

Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: How we speak truth is often just as important as actually speaking that truth. The Pro-Life movement has often done things that are not God honoring. So how can we communicate what we believe about abortion without alienating those around us?

How can we reach out to hurting people who’ve gone through abortion experiences?

Close in prayer…praying for those women who are contemplating an abortion, those who have had an abortion and for your local crisis pregnancy center.