Entertaining and well directed

Rating: 5/10 (19 November 2011)

This movie appears to be the victim of the "hate Twilight mob", which is a similar mob to the anti-X-Factor bunch (to which I belong) who will do and saying anything as long as it throws a negative view over it. The current IMDb of 4.0 (dated 19/11/11) is laughable and once again makes you question the credibility of the IMDb rating system. Anyway...
I can understand why the Twihards like this but to be honest I thought the films leading up to this one were quite poor. Not very well made at all. OK to watch but not great examples of films as they should be. I have just watched Breaking Dawn Part 1 and I am happy to say that it is so much better. I am not a Twihard but I found this film well made, entertaining, enjoyable, pleasant on the eye and imaginative. OK OK, I don't want to exaggerate it, it is not Oscar material (apart from Bella's makeup), but it is a good film. I have rated it at 7.0 because I honestly believe that is what it truly deserves.
Yes the story is nonsense, but come on, it is about vampires and werewolves. What do you honestly expect? But the director has done a very good job of translating the book to film (in my wires opinion).
So let me break down my thoughts on it as I remember them....
The film starts very fast. Slightly too fast. But I suppose there is a lot to cram in and before you know it we are into the wedding scene. The wedding is a good mixture of looking good, humour and drama. This flows into the honeymoon section where we were shown some lovely scenes. The romantic section was done very well and with taste. I personally thought the balance was just right here. Not too loaded with skin or uncomfortable holds etc..
The honeymoon scene is where the main storyline is created. Everyone must know what happens here but I will not mention it. But the way it was introduced was good and the pace was just about right. This sections effectively puts Bella's makeup artist on the Oscar nominee list. Her gradual transformation is incredible. I assume it is all just makeup and lights...I couldn't see any clunky CGI. If it was CGI then they will no doubt get awards too. But the closing scenes with Bella have you seeing her in an amazing transformed state that simply makes the scenes what they are. Very impressed.
The werewolves are considered the Marmite with this series of films. You either love or loathe the CGI. I have always accepted the CGI and bought into it and this film was no different. What I found better was the better direction and introduction of better mood music. The section on the log beach should have been stupid but I found it very powerful. More credit to the director.
So what stood out that I didn't like? The lack of continuity in the whiteness of the faces kept grabbing my attention. Very minor though. The thing that I really didn't like was the CGI on the baby's face. It just appeared to be a little clumsy and obvious. But this was only for a nano-second so I may be judging harshly. But it could have been better.
Rather than waffle on, I hate long reviews, I will sum it up. The film starts fast. The story represents the book very well. The direction is good and the makeup is excellent. The build up to the climax is well balanced and the film went very fast (despite its long running time). The way this film ends is spot on and does leave you wanting to know what happens next. I enjoy watching good films and I know what is rubbish when I see it. But I can safely recommend this film to you with the only caveat of "remember what you are going to see" before you rush in and judge it harshly. I recall all the rubbish that has been pumped out this year and this is not part of that. This film entertains..as simple as that!
ps: Don't leave when the scene closes at the end...there is more after the credits!!! So many walked out thinking it was finished...Doh!!!
Hope you enjoy the film folks :)