A Twilight Film That Actually Shows Some Promise, But Still Isn't Very Good: Our Review of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part Two" (2012)

Directed By: Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) 

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Michael Sheen

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence including disturbing images, some sensuality and partial nudity

Run Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes

Synopsis: Bella (Stewart) has just been turned into a vampire by her husband, Edward (Pattinson), following the complicated birth of their daughter, Renesmee. While enjoying the vampire life and marriage at first, a threat to their family rises after the Volturi are mistakenly told Bella and Edward's daughter is an illegal vampire child. Knowing a showdown is looming, the Cullen clan scours the globe trying to recruit as many friends as they can to back up their claim that Renesmee is no threat to the Volturi...but will it be enough to avoid a death sentence?

REVIEW

Andrew: Hello readers! Last night Sarah and I braved the throngs of teenage girls and caught a showing of the fifth and final entry in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part Two. Sarah, this is more your cup of tea, so why don’t you quickly break this one down for us?

Sarah: Well as you said this is the fifth movie in the series, having split the fourth and final book in the series into two films (as the trend seems to be nowadays). So picking up right where the last film left off, we see Kristen Stewart’s Bella as a vampire now as she is discovering her new strengths and abilities. The past four movies we’ve really seen Bella as a bumbling, clumsy teenager who is super-awkward and now we see her come into her own, like this was what she was always meant to be.

Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella also have a newborn daughter, Renesmee, who is alive and well but is growing at an alarming rate and because no one has ever had experience dealing with a half-human, half-vampire hybrid no one knows if she’ll keep growing this fast, if she’ll age too quickly, will grow old and die in a short period of time, etc. And maybe more importantly the Volturi, the vampire police, are informed of Renesmee’s existence and are lead to believe she’s an Immortal Child, which is a child that has been bitten and turned, which is illegal. That’s not the case with Renesmee, so the Cullen clan goes around the world trying to scrounge up “witnesses” to testify to the Volturi that she isn’t an Immortal Child. That’s about the first three-quarters of the film.

Our Preview of This Week's New Releases (for Friday, November 16th)

Andrew: Hello readers! Our weekly preview is back after a one-week hiatus, and while it's not going to be a particularly long preview, there are definitely some talking points here for us to touch on. Sarah, there are only two wide releases for this weekend - the final installment of the hugely popular Twilight series, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, and Steven Spielberg’s Abraham Lincoln biopic, Lincoln. We'll also briefly touch on a smaller film we've been waiting for that has finally hit our neck of the woods, The Sessions, starring John Hawkes and Helen Hunt.

So let's start this off with the new Twilight movie, shall we? Sarah, can you summarize what the last film is about? Where does it pick up from where the last one left off?

Sarah: Well in the first part of Breaking Dawn, we finally get to see Kristen Stewart’s Bella and Robert Pattinson’s Edward tie the knot and the final breakdown of Taylor Lautner’s Jacob as he realizes that that Bella will never be his. While Bella and Edward are on their honeymoon, she makes the grave discovery that she is somehow pregnant...and apparently a couple of months along. This is what happens when you get are impregnated by a vampire, people!. The rest of the story follows Bella on her very painful pregnancy as the baby grows at an accelerated rate and basically sucks the life out of her. The Cullens quickly realize that the only way she is ever going to survive the birth is if she is turned to a vampire at the right moment. The movie ends with Jacob imprinting on the Edward/Bella baby and Bella opening her blood red eyes. 

I have to say I am excited to see this one; a little bit because I am ready for it to be over, a little bit because I want to see some vampires kicking butt. I am hoping to see Michael Sheen more in this one, because he plays such a good vampire as the head of the vampire police, the Volturi. It is one of the most anticipated movies of the holiday season, so I will be interested to see if it lives up to the hype.

Lips Red as Rose, A Queen Black as Night: Our Review of "Snow White and the Huntsman" (2012)

Directed By: Rupert Sanders

Starring: Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and brief sensuality

Synopsis: A revisionist take on the classic story of Snow White, the evil Queen Ravenna (Theron) must consume Snow White's (Stewart) heart so as to remain the fairest in the land. But Snow White manages to escape before her execution, so Ravenna hires The Huntsman (Hemsworth) to track her down in the Dark Forest.

REVIEW

Andrew: Hello readers! This afternoon Sarah and I saw the only big release that came out this weekend, Snow White and the Huntsman, starring Kristen Stewart (Twilight), Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Charlize Theron (Young Adult).

We spoke about this film in our weekly preview a few days ago, and again, it was really the only film we talked about. We were both pretty excited for this film, so now that we’ve seen it Sarah, what are your thoughts on Snow White and the Huntsman?

Sarah: It was awesome. It was exactly what I wanted it to be. It was dark, it was intense, it had elements of magic, it was a great reimagining of the classic Snow White fairytale. It is a FAR cry from the Disney princess movie. Snow White is powerful and strong in this one, she’s not just another Disney princess.

Honestly I loved it. Charlize Theron as Ravenna is amazing! I mean, I’m gonna throw this out now but I’m thinking maybe an Oscar nod for this role. We’ll see, but she was pretty amazing.

What did you think about it?

Charlize Theron's portrayal of Queen Ravenna is the highlight of Snow White and the Huntsman

A: I’m just a little bit below your enthusiasm for it. I liked it a lot but I didn’t love it. There are times I felt it was a little slow, but overall I loved the atmosphere of it, the look of it, the settings, the darkness, the costumes. The actors all fit in pretty well, particularly Theron and Hemsworth, and the dwarves. I feel like the dwarves were a little underused. They came in a little too late for my liking.

S: I would agree with you on that.

A: But overall I liked it. And I did NOT have a problem with that fact that it felt like a completely different movie at the end. It really started off as a fantastical movie, got dark, moved back towards a fantastical movie, but there were action pieces throughout that I really liked and then it finally ended with the big battle. I feel like it all built up to that finale rather well.

I will say, and I want your thoughts on it, the transformation that Snow White makes – I know a lot of critics I’ve been reading have said how silly or stupid it seems that “Oh, Snow White escapes and she knows how to ride a horse and use a sword?” Others think there are lapses in logic I guess. I didn’t have a problem with it, did you?

S: I will say that when she hops on the horse as she escapes I was like, “Wait a minute, hasn’t she been locked in a tower since she was a little girl?” But you have to think that before she was locked away she was a princess and that was something she would’ve been taught to do.

There’s a little bit of disbelief in those parts but I got past it. I have to give Kristen Stewart props! I was a little nervous at first that she was going to be Bella Swan playing Snow White, but she did a better job than I thought she would! She showed more strength than she ever has as Bella, and I think it’s a shame she’ll be compared to Bella for the rest of her career, but I think she did a great job.

Kristen Stewart does a better job playing a strong Snow White than she even did as Bella Swan

I also like the twist with the Huntsman taking a center role, and with the prince being a little more rough-and-tumble instead of just being Prince Charming. I really liked that change.

What did you think about this film’s interpretation of the poisoned apple?

A: I liked it! It was actually until we saw the apple that I knew what was going on, but I liked the interpretation. It fit in with the rest of the movie.

S: In the original, let’s be honest, Snow White seems a bit stupid to accept an apple from a strange old woman. But in this interpretation it’s very believable.

A: Exactly. So I did like that.

Now, you mentioned Theron and Stewart, but what did you think of Hemsworth’s performance?

S: I’m a little torn on Hemsworth. I thought he did well. I think he himself did well as this broken man that’s kind of been thrown into this task of protecting Snow White. I don’t think they used him to his full potential. He’s the third main character, but I felt at times that they tried to nudge him out of the picture. Especially when Snow White’s childhood friend William comes back into the picture. I understand why they do that but I think they nudge the Huntsman out a bit and he really just becomes a protector. I was a little unhappy with how they ended his character arc. I don’t feel they developed his character enough. What do you think?

A: I actually disagree with your last statement. I think that they did develop him pretty well. He’s introduced as a drunkard, it’s obvious he doesn’t have anything left to fight for because the queen gets him to find Snow White for her by offering to use her powers to bring his dead wife back. Right off that bat we see what he’s become, we find out why he became that way, and through the course of the movie we see a man who starts to find a purpose in protecting Snow White. We eventually find out how his wife died, which feeds into the story and I felt worked organically, and then I think he has a great scene in the last act that is probably my favorite part of the movie.

Andrew thinks Hemsworth has the best scene in the film, while Sarah thinks he was underused

S: I feel like I wanted more of that story. I understand it wasn’t focused on that and if they do a second one they might…

A: And I’m sure they will. But I see where you’re coming from at the very end of the film, that I’ll give you, but as far as his actual character arc I liked it. I felt he gave a good performance. His accent fluctuates a little bit between his Thor accent and a Scottish accent, but I’m fine with that. He didn’t come off as Australian or American, so it was fine for me.

S: You mentioned this earlier about the dwarves, and I agree, they’re totally underutilized. I understand that it’s not their story, but I think they way they DID the dwarves was amazing. These are normal-sized actors and the way they turned them into the dwarves was genius. I don’t know how they did it. They don’t do it the way Peter Jackson turned John Rhys-Davies into a dwarf in Lord of the Rings, at least I don’t think so. They might have used scale-doubles at some points, but I don’t think so. I’d be very interested to see how they made the dwarves.

And the characters are great. While they’re not based on the traditional Disney dwarves, there are elements of those characters that I liked that they put in there. And there’s a little bit of a twist with the dwarves, I wasn’t expecting some of the things that happens with them. They’re not these bumbling fools, they respect and honor Snow White. It was very cool.

A: Real quick: Strongest part of the movie, weakest part of the movie?

S: Strongest part was Theron’s performance as Queen Ravenna. She was the strongest part acting-wise. She EMBODIED evil, put you do pity her a bit, and I think that ‘s what brought the human element. You hate her and she’s a terrible person but you do feel pity for her.

Weakest part? I’d say on the flip-side of her, it’s Ravenna’s brother. She basically has this little stooge that she sends to do all her biddings, but he’s not very impressive. He’s not very scary. He should have been more like Jaime Lannister from Game of Thrones. He should have been manipulative, and instead I found him almost unnecessary.

A: For my strongest part, I’d also say Theron’s performance. She chewed the scenary and for what her character is supposed to be I liked that.  I loved how she used her eyes. You could see a fire burning there.

Weakest part? Honestly I didn’t feel a purpose or need for William. Because I feel like it could have just been the Huntsman. I know it’s Snow White and you have to have a prince in there, and while I like the take they have on him, they brought him in and made a triangle…and Snow White didn’t really have a connection with him.

S: You’re right, and there should have been. But I’m wondering if that’s more on the actors than on the writing. I think there were scenes where it’s tender between the two of them, but I didn’t believe it. While I do think his character was needed, it was not portrayed correctly. There had to be chemistry. You felt chemistry between Stewwart and Hemsworth, but yeah, not so much between her and William.

A: Ok, so overall final thought on Snow White and the Huntsman?

S: You have to see this one on the big screen.

A: Really?

S: Oh yeah, it’s one of the season’s most anticipated blockbusters (at least for me), so yeah, you gotta see this one. I loved it on the big screen.

A: I’ll agree it looks great on the big screen but I’ll say I don’t think it’s a must-buy for us.

S: I don’t know, this might be an interesting one, it might be one where we differ.

(Out of Five Clapboards)

Photo Courtesies: Filmofilia, Forbes, Beauty High, Collider

Our Preview for This Week's New Releases (for Friday, June 1st)

Andrew: Hello readers! It's time again for the Two Tickets For... weekly preview of new theatrical releases coming out on Friday. Surprisingly though, there's only one big movie being released this weekend and it's the new "re-imagining" of the classic Snow White story, Snow White and the Huntsman, starring Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth.

Sarah, what are your first impressions of Snow White and the Huntsman?

Sarah: Tht tit's going to be badass. Seriously, this movie looks awesome for all the reasons except that Kristen Steart is the lead. But I suppose I can overlook it because Charlize Theron is going to bring a whole new meaning of evil with her role as the Queen.

A: Even thought it's a movie about Snow White, I have to agree with you here. I think this film looks pretty sweet. I honestly get pretty jacked up every time I see the trailer because of the dark look it has to it, and the performance that Theron appears to give. In the role of Queen Ravenna, I totally want the actress to chew the scenary and make it menacing. 

S: Speaking of the scenery, I am excited to see the role that The Dark Forest plays. In past movies, this section of the story is glazed over pretty quickly, but in this one they seem to linger on it for a while. I am really excited about this setting.

I am also interested to see what the role of The Huntsman is in this story, because there is still a Prince Charming. That's what I find interesting - there seems to be a little bit of a love interest between Snow and the Huntsman, so where does Prince come into play? So many questions left to be answered!

A: That's a good point Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) plays Prince William, and when you include Hemsworth's Hunstman, that makes three. I really hope that they're not going for any sort of Bella-Edward-Jacob type love triangle, because I don't think that's necessary in this film.

I am looking forward to Hemsworth's performance because the dude has been having a big year, and a huge last two years, ever since he became famous for playing Thor in the Marvel films. I hope he gets a fair share of screentime, because his character is one that isn't focused on a whole lot in other iterations of Snow White.

Question for you Sarah: without looking at IMDb or anything, do you know who plays the dwarves in Snow White and the Huntsman?

S: First, I really hope they don't do the love triangle either. We have all seen how Stewart handles that and I think it is safe to say that she is a one-guy-at-a-time gal.

Second, I can honestly say that I have no idea who the dwarves are going to be played by. But I am excited to see them more as a working/mountain people instead of singing dancing fools.

A: Since you don't know who plays the dwarves, let me inform you and tell me what you think. Among the bigger names, we have:

- Ian McShane (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), Bob Hoskins (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?), Ray Winstone (The Departed), Toby Jones (Captain America: The First Avenger), Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead) and Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes).

Take a look at this photo and tell me that under some of that makeup you don't recognize some relatively big-name actors (click on the photo to enlarge it).
 

For reference, Frost is on the far left, Jones is the shortest and 3rd from the left, McShane is 4th from left, Hoskins if 3rd from the right and Marsan is the 2nd from the right.

 
Personally I'm interested to see how they perform as well, because quite frankly the dwarves have been almost completely absent from the marketing for this film. With guys like McShane and Hoskins involved, they should be getting right on the poster and they're not! It's almost like they're hiding them. I don't get that. Seriously, that's McShane holding the pick-axe in the middle, how awesome does he look?

S: Oh my goodness! I would never have guessed that they were the dwarves! To be honest, I  thought they were actual little people! Goes to show that I should have done my research!

I'm not sure why they haven't been more a part of the marketing as well. While the focus really isn't on them, the story is still called "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves." They are main character in the story and do end up helping Snow White quite a but. It should be interesting to see how their part in the story is changed in this adaptation.

A: Yeah, I had no idea until I saw some other blogger's talking about it on Twitter yesterday. So this is actually quite the big cast outside of the top three stars. We're very much looking forward to this one and will definitely be seeing it on Saturday afternoon.

Ok, Sarah, outside of Snow White there isn't any other wide release coming out this weekend. There are a couple of horror movies coming out in limited release in Piranha 3DD and The Loved Ones (which I'm sure I'll see once they go wide), and the new stoner comedy High School, but because those aren't going to be going wide for a little bit we'll hold off on discussing them.

S: Ha! I saw the trailer for Piranha 3DD yesterday and it looked like such a joke! "Killer" fish and boobs. I mean I guess some people go for that, but come on! Oh well, to each their own I suppose.

Ok readers, we're seeing Snow White and the Huntsman on Saturday with a good friend, so be on the lookout for the review! Until then, thanks for reading! 


Photo Courtesy: Fanpop