The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part I means the beginning of the end of the teenage saga of vampires and werewolves, and Team Edward and Team Jacob. At this point, you have been bitten by author Stephenie Meyer's world of youthful angst or are long past caring.
One reason you might care about this film is that it is directed by Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters, Chicago, Dreamgirls), who has, for better or worse, added some gravitas to the franchise. I would think mostly for the better, finding the first three films in the series lifeless. Condon pumps a little blood into the characters, and even if they don't come across as quite human — even the human ones — they are more interesting.
There is a more disquieting, gothic feel to the story — as if the director reimagined it via Frankenstein, part of the theme of his Gods and Monsters — with some dark humor thrown in.
Breaking Dawn — Part I brings us (finally) the wedding of nice-girl human Bella (Kristen Stewart) and nice-guy vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) after their long romance. Despite her desire, she's a bit apprehensive. After all, he does have fangs, and she has a vision of a large wedding cake covered in bloody corpses. Werewolf Jacob (Taylor Lautner), by the way, is off pouting, having lost out on her affections.
As it turns out, Bella's worries aren't unwarranted. After some bruising sex on her wedding night, the heretofore chaste Bella quickly becomes pregnant. Who knew that could happen?
The film then moves toward its uneasy end, setting up what could become a real bloodbath in Part II. (Having not read the book, I'll wait to be surprised.)
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part I retails for $30.99 or $33.99 Blu-ray.
