brilliant

Rating: 10/10 (17 November 2011)

When I read Breaking Dawn for the first time I loved it. It was shocking and chaotic and I couldn't believe the author could take it in such a bizarrely perverse direction. But in no way did I think any of the novel's real gruesomeness would make it to the screen in the squeaky clean series. Well i'm happy to say that I was so off my game and happily so. Breaking Dawn pt. one is everything you have been hoping for in these adaptations. The characters are fully drawn finally with solid performances to match. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are at their best and Taylor Lautner is finally really good. The film is directed wonderfully by Oscar winner Bill Condon of Dreamgirls and Of Gods and Monsters. The film is always engaging, interesting, funny, clever and even a little terrifying. How this film escaped without an R rating I just don't know the sex scenes are pretty impressive but is nothing compared to the grotesque birthing sequence only briefly outlined in the book but much more effective here. The film is powered by potent melodrama as usual but it's much more effective this time around creating an atmosphere of utter suspense. Now there will no doubt be haters as usual, and maybe even more so because this is such a bizarrely perverse and darkly wonderful film. But it is without a doubt the best of the series and one of the best films I've ever seen. I'd also like to say that Kristen Stewart be commended for her utter dedication to the role. She looks sickly and completely immerses herself in it. It's quite striking with a film too match. Brilliant!