As good as it gets

Rating: 9/10 (22 November 2012)

I don't care about the detractors, this is a poignant and grand final chapter in the saga. Of course it isn't the best movie in the series because it's the ending. I still find the first one the best. But for what it seeks to achieve it does it well as anyone could hope for.
Kristen does a good job with the transformation to Vampire. Rob's role is a bit limited in nature so he has only a a few expressions that he can use a gentle smile and concern. Taylor has more to work with but he's about the same. Mackenzie Foy is suitably peculiar looking in her bizarre role.
There are some funny moments with Charlie etc.
The confrontation with the Volturi is well staged and scary because by now the characters mean something to the viewer. The twist took me by surprise as even though I am a fan of the movies, I had never read the books.
A couple of faults: A lot of new characters introduced in too quick a time. The logic of going after the child makes it's own sense even if it is silly.
Some dialog is cheesy especially the final scene but they have to be faithful to the books so I guess there was no choice.
The earlier part is a bit music video like.
The extended farewell to the characters is fitting and felt like that in memoriam segment in the Oscars and Globes.
Overall looking at all 5 movies as a whole, it's a good beautifully filmed movie with a grand climax.