When Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) receives and invitation to Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen’s (Robert Pattinson) wedding it doesn’t take long for him to rip off his shirt and transform into a wolf on an angry run through the forest. Before the big event Edward decides to divulge more of his past and his first taste for human blood, the blood of murderers. Just eighteen years old, Bella gets wedding jitters for a number of reasons before she walks down the aisle of her beautiful outdoor wedding. Thoughts of the future, death or life as a vampire, a bad dream and a gift from her parents Renee (Sarah Clarke) and Charlie (Billy Burke) all lead up to that special day as she asks her father to not let her fall in which he replies, never.
Everything about the wedding was gorgeous, the guests, the outfits, the wedding dress even the dinner afterwards when some of the guests added a bit of levity as they toasted the happy couple all led up to that perfect and extravagant event. But where was Jacob? What’s a wedding without some family drama? Enter Jacob first with well intentions but later after the conversation with Bella about her human form and the honeymoon things get a bit heated. As a gift from Carlisle (Peter Facinelli) the happy couple honeymoons off to Brazil where they truly enjoy the private luxuries of intimacy. The cinematography in this film is absolutely breath taking throughout but the moonlight swim with Bella and Edward is truly cinematic. Feathers fly, a bed breaks but when the bruises occur Edward decides to step back from the physical contact but apparently not far enough. Now fourteen days since the wedding and Bella is late.
Apparently Bella is pregnant with something and everyone fears for her life. The “thing” is fast growing and strong and no one is sure what it is, not even Alice (Ashley Greene) who has an act for seeing things in the future. When the pack hears of the news they are faced with the task of killing Bella in order to prevent the birth of a creature half human half vampire. But of course Jacob will not have this and will do anything in his power to protect Bella even if it means going against his family, his pack. Not all members of the pack agree with the decision by Sam (Chaske Spencer), so Seth (Booboo Stewart) and his sister Leah (Julia Jones) stand behind Jacob. After the birth of the child and the possible death of Bella the wolves consider their treaty void but the vampires do not.
The child is killing Bella literally breaking her bones as it grows. Thankfully due to a smart remark by Jacob the Cullen family has devised a way to keep her stronger, giving her a chance to survive the birth. She tries to keep life as normal as possible, even picking out names for the baby. The only problem is that in the world of wolves and vampires nothing is exactly normal and when the wolves come to the Cullen home to kill Bella a huge fight breaks out between the two rivals. That is until Jacob stands is ground and utters a few imprinted words, causing the wolves to retreat back into the forest. Albeit in the end of part one all is told and all has come to a complete dramatic and emotional climax. That is until after the credits roll and the Volturi make a statement laying the ground work for the final installment of the Twilight Saga. Remember though that sometimes from death brings life and surely this Saga is about to see a long life at the box office as it decides to silence it’s pulse just like that of “Harry Potter”.
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire story thanks to some phenomenal directing and wonderful writing giving the film a bit of levity but a lot of dialogue more so than action in part one. It looks like though that part two is where the true battles are going to take place as the Volturi get involved trying to claim what they think belongs to them. Accompanied by a magnificent score and soundtrack the story has start to finish brilliant photography laced appropriately with some nice costumes and wonderful dialogue between all the characters. I’d have to say though that part one falls straight into the laps of the female audience but has some nice moments for the guys out to see some battles between wolves and vampires. As for part two it looks like it may fall prey to the males and less so to the female audience. Of course that’s just my perception of what may be yet to come.
Pattinson and Stewart both look better, act better and appear to be matured in their roles giving a very believable experience for the entire audience although Lautner seemed still a bit unpolished at times. Although take his shirt off and you’re sure to hear a major chorus of young girls swoon for his six pack. Burke pops in some scenes from time to time giving a truthful fatherly performance. Facinelli although looking a bit too pasty really holds the Cullen family together as the authority figure. Many of the cast members whether wolves or vampires don’t have a huge amount of screen time since the entire part one centers more of Edward and Bella’s characters. Although when they are present on screen they all give a huge supporting role to this heavy on dialogue, short on action but beautifully photographed beginning to the end must see movie of the year. Written and absolutely enjoyed with three and half paws out of four by Jon Patch.
