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The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part One (2011)

Director: Bill Condon

Time Out rating

Average user rating

25 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

So, the time has come: vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) can finally take the virtue of human bride Bella (Kristen Stewart). And yes, the first in the final two-parter is all about sex: about the risky wedding night and the subsequent pregnancy that puts Bella’s life in danger, pitting werewolves against vampires in the process.

But before that, something much nicer happens: Bella and Edward smile. A lot. The usually doleful duo marry in an idyllic ceremony in the woods, her stunning dress likely to spawn as many imitators as Kate Middleton’s. Family and friends gather to celebrate and Anna Kendrick gets a chance to make her usual wisecracks (‘Who else gets married at 18?’, muses her cynical character Jessica, convinced the bride is pregnant). This marriage is the moment romantic Twi-hards have been waiting for and they’re well served.

The Brazilian honeymoon’s equally decorative and, of course, features another key moment: the consummation. As they embrace in the sea under the moonlight (naked!) there’s undeniable chemistry between the real-life couple. But the bedroom scenes border on the ridiculous as Edward grips the headboard, breaking the bed with his super-vampire strength. Bella’s insistence that she doesn’t mind the bruises is downright masochistic.

Events from here revolve around the baby that’s crushing Bella from the inside: a dark plotline that leads to much melodrama but also the franchise’s most suspenseful scenes. Even if you know the outcome, it’s gripping stuff and Stewart sure is good at looking life-threateningly ill. There are tender moments between the expectant parents and the character of lovesick Jacob still adds interest, despite Taylor Lautner’s limited range.

Blending serious fantasy-drama themes with soapy dialogue, cartoony-looking vampires and wolves whose thoughts we can hear, this remains a strange hybrid of genres. But as ever, it’s hard to separate the films from the fandom. As a stand-alone movie it’s a mixed bag. But it progresses the story of beloved characters with a reverence for the source material that will doubtlessly please Twi-hards, ushering in a finale that promises to be darker still.

Author: Anna Smith

Time Out London Issue 2152, Nov 17-23 2011

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User reviews of this film

Grow up said...

Posted on May 27 2012 13:28 If you like this film you seriously need to take a look at yourself and grow up.

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Tazer said...

Posted on Dec 28 2011 09:19 Twilight breaking dawn part 1 is the best film I have ever seen the tension, the sudden urges to fall off of the edge of your seat!! IT IS AMAZINGLY TERRIFICALLY ABSOLUTELY GREAT!!!

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amy said...

Posted on Dec 13 2011 10:19 great film going to watch it again today i could watch twilight 100 times a day its my fav film cant wait for part 2!!!!

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John said...

Posted on Dec 07 2011 18:22 The ultimate CHICK FLICK. To be avoided. Spent 3/4 of the film wonderin what it was all about. Go see something else unless you're with a girl.

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Marsellus said...

Posted on Dec 05 2011 12:55 This is an absolutely dire film. The story is not interesting in the slightest. I don't understand how so many people can give this 4 or 5 stars. A boring couple get married, have a honeymoon and then the female gets pregnant and falls ill. The whole plot is covered in the trailer. You really don't need to watch the film if you've seen the trailer. There is no drama or tension in any of the scenes and the the three lead actors do not have a single bit of chemistry at all. Supporting actors (like the great Peter Facinelli) are completely wasted and stand around in the background with nothing to do. I've never seen a film with such a one-dimensional, linear plot - no subplots or scenes for background characters to get involved in at all. What an absolute waste of money (not the ticket price, I mean the film's budget).

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kym said...

Posted on Dec 04 2011 19:45 absolutely fantastic!!! love the books and iv loved the movies although i did find eclipse a bit of a let down , this movie is everything us twihards have been waiting for ,ive seen this movie 21 times and im off to see it again for the 22nd , id recommend this film to all fans of twilight and girls who like a bit of romance , pure escapisim .

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Never mind said...

Posted on Dec 03 2011 13:11 This film looks like wickead don and don chick film by all the comments mentioned actually might watch it today cause its a bad man film cool and its my birthday im 12th aswell is that to young!

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Lisa said...

Posted on Nov 27 2011 09:40 Read the books and loved them ! Couldn't bring myself to watch the films until now! Watched them all in a weekend and then went to see breaking dawn ! I wasn't dissappointed infact I'm going to go and see it again its so encapsulating. They have captured Stephenie Meyers characters really well! A must see but not before you have seen the others!!

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silly but enjoyed it said...

Posted on Nov 24 2011 02:16 Actually quite enjoyed this, despite the ridiculously cheesey dialogue, and Kristen Stewart's one facial expression. Taylor Lautner was fine, and it was Pattinson who made me cringe this time around. I used to think he was pouting because of his fangs, but he didn't seem to have fangs and he was still pouting. The vampires were a bit disappointing, but the wolves were fun. It was a bit silly, but enjoyable.

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baseline said...

Posted on Nov 23 2011 20:45 cant wait to go see twilight tomorrow i will tell you if its good or not

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moema said...

Posted on Nov 23 2011 13:50 very poor film,not much going on, boring,... so sad because I really liked the ones before. If wants for my daughter I would never go.

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nidhikaa said...

Posted on Nov 22 2011 16:22 Saw the first day first show and........Totally loved the movie....

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Non of your buiss waxx said...

Posted on Nov 21 2011 18:55 HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE I AM 12 IS THAT OLD ENOUGH?? XXXXXXXX

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Non of your buiss waxx said...

Posted on Nov 21 2011 18:55 HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE I AM 12 IS THAT OLD ENOUGH?? XXXXXXXX

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kerry j said...

Posted on Nov 21 2011 18:02 all i can say is wow this film is one of the best films i have seen in my life and i am 40 lol its trulry amazing twilight fans and non twilighters should go and see it although it is rude in a few parts of it !!!!!!

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