Awesome and refreshing spin on the "saga"...

Rating: 10/10 (21 November 2011)

*Spoilers* I really am amazed to see so many negative reviews about the "Breaking Dawn-Part 1" movie.
With the exception of catching a scene here and there of the previous three movies, I never paid too much attention to Twilight. I thought they were G-rated, tween attempts at exploring *anything* vampire. Um, no, that doesn't work. Then, about two months ago (give or take a few days...), I saw the "Breaking Dawn - Part 1" trailer and I was hooked. Never before had I shown any interest in the story until then. I promptly watched Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse - all of which I TOLERATED - in an attempt to gear up for this new installment.
In total contrast, I didn't feel as though I had to 'tolerate' anything. At 26-years-old, I didn't feel ashamed to be sitting in the theater and watching a Twilight movie. I've seen so many people go on and on and on about the movie's lack of action, and how slow it was. I simply MUST ask...do you guys have ADHD or something? I'm no long time Twilight fan, again, but clearly the movie centers around a LOVE STORY. One of my main issues with the other films in the "saga", was its lack of focus on the two of them. Everything was fluff, corny lines, glares into each others' eyes, poetic over-the-top acting, and constant brushes with death & danger. It was downright corn ball action.
In 'Breaking Dawn - Part 1', their love was real. Their actions were real. Putting more attention on Bella and Edward as individuals is what made the movie so cool, not slow. I saw actual, GOOD acting this go around. It was literally like watching a bunch of the characters finally grow up. From Bella's jitters before FINALLY sleeping with the man she's loved for two years, to her reflecting and remembering the love making the morning after, to the oh so incredibly cool wolf scene (they all congregate at the lumber place and speak to one another telepathically), to Edward literally witnessing the woman he loves waste away behind this pregnancy, to the actual emotionally charged birth scene, and the cinematography of the flashbacks...the movie was shot in a totally different way than the three prior films were. I really can appreciate that. Not to mention, the wedding dress and final scene in the movie were highlights all on their own for me.
Anyone going to this movie expecting to see an Underworld or Blade is going to be sadly disappointed. But if you're interested in seeing where all of the cheesy banter and lines, eye gazes, and love & sex talk lead good ol' Bella and Edward, watch this movie. You will NOT be disappointed.