The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

(Before you read ahead do know - this review is from a once die-hard fan turned neutral....ME!)

A two-part finale seems to be the new get go for Hollywood movie to whisk extra money out of fan-favorite young adult franchises – and an arguable way to give lengthier final book installments a bit more room to wrap everything up. While audiences were initially skeptical of the idea when it was introduced with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part 2, the success of the final two Potter films (both commercially and critically) seemingly justified the extra trip to the theater. But does Breaking Dawn Part 1 fit the standard.....definitely a big NO (and thats coming from a person who loved the concept behind the story....aka ME).

At least half of the film is dominated by one melodramatic scene after another – in place of either interesting character interactions or exciting action – essentially laying ground for the (presumably) more stimulating Part 2. The first half of Breaking Dawn is a mishmash of moments that fail to build tension or further develop any of the fan-favorite characters. The basic plot follows the marriage of the ever sparkly Edward Cullen and Bella Swan as they prepare for their nuptials. The wedding is a grand and joyous affair but not everyone is happy; queue in Jacob. As the wedding bells fall silent, the newlyweds unexpectedly threaten the tenuous alliance between Cullens and Jacob’s Werewolf clan – causing former friends, as well as reluctant allies, to choose sides.

Simply put, the events in Breaking Dawn – Part 1 are underwhelming. While die-hard fans may find the extended honeymoon sequence cathartic – since the films and books have often been criticized for being too “tame” when it comes to sexuality – all of the lustful looks and “passionate” make-out sessions entirely derail any momentum and charm the film had coming out of the opening act. While in previous movies, the fan favourite seemed well balanced with a bit of humor and seriousness here and there but at the end it was a mis-mash of scenes, now here the die hard fans would argue that the film-makers just wanted to stay true to the books....all good....but it is also up to the creative crew to take a big book and make it sing in two or most yet two and a half hours, where it fails. 

Instead for a more competent film experience, Breaking Dawn: Part 1 is simply pandering to the existing fan-base (aka teenage girls) with almost nothing of value to anyone who isn’t already in love with the characters. Where most competent directors would have found out a way to make the material interesting for both fan and non-fan bases but they did not and chose to go with smothering the fan-girls with what they want, i.e., more Edward and Bella action and a little bit of Jacob without his shirt and simply glossed over some of the interesting characters with only glances here and there.

The film looks cheap with bland CGI werewolves and vampire effects – and for a series that is raking in plenty of money with each release, it’s surprising to see such flat visuals at this point. Similarly, despite a stable of up-and-coming actors that includes Stewart, Pattinson and Lautner, as well as critical darlings like Anna Kendrick and Michael Sheen, none of the actors are given any room to deliver a stand-out performance. It’s unfortunate, because despite all the anti-Twilight detractors out there, the franchise leads have shown that they’re capable of offering strong performances when a director attempts to get something more interesting out of them (Stewart in Welcome to the Rileys and Pattinson in Water for Elephants). In that sense, it’s disappointing to see that capable performers and intriguing premises haven’t matured the Twilight series from film to film.

Die-hard fans of the book and movie series will no doubt enjoy watching the film – though, it’s still hard to imagine that they won’t, deep down, find a few of the book’s more decisive moments to be overly cheesy, or even downright laughable. Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is not a competent piece of filmmaking and stands as potentially the worst installment in the series to be made out of the most controversial book of the series. 

Hopefully, given the much more intriguing plot points saved for Part 2, the final installment will end the series on a high note.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

Water for Elephants (book)

At first I wasn't really psyched about reading the book but thought that I probably should give it a try since the movie came......it actually proves a little help to read both the book and watch the movie 'cause it helps to form an opinion while writing the review. And I definitely loved it. Now I'm ready to watch the movie. Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen is definitely a pleasant and an interesting read for the summer.


Here is the summary for the book:


Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell. Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

Water for Elephants is told in the first person but from two different perspectives--Jacob Jankowski at 23 years of age and again, at 93 years old. Gruen seamlessly weaves the chapters between past and present. Jacob at 23 is finishing up his last semester at Cornell Veterinary School when a family tragedy causes him to flee. He finds himself on a train for the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth in 1931. Needing a vet, the circus hires young Jacob to tend to their menagerie. Jacob at 93 resides in a nursing home where he laments the curses of old age, the passing of his wife, and the waning affection of his family. The arrival of a visiting circus triggers a flashback to his youthful circus experiences. 


The story is related in the somber tones of the Depression, the hardscrabble and often unscrupulous business of a traveling circus and the heartless despots who make their fortunes on the backs of men who must do anything to survive. Star performer Marlena, an equestrian, is sensitive to the needs of her horses, although her mercurial husband, August, the trainer, is obsessively jealous and given to unspeakable cruelties. Uncle Al, Benzini Brothers circus owner-by-default, is a ruthless businessman who cares little for man or beast, engaged in a quest for fame to rival the great Ringling Brothers. 

With his advanced training in veterinary medicine, Jacob does his best to protect the animals from their harsh existence, especially Rosie, an elephant purchased to replace Marlena's lead horse. Jacob and Rosie share an affinity for one another, the huge creature at times almost human. Because of his growing affection for Marlena, Jacob suffers August's increasing affronts, caught in a cycle of inevitable violence, certain of a reckoning.

1931 is a hard time for almost all Americans, and the circus workers are as hard hit as any. Most are one step away from being homeless and jobless. Conditions on the circus train are harsh for most. Many workers go weeks without being paid, and they tend to disappear during the night when times are tough (management has them thrown off the train). The menagerie is often times treated better than the workers. But the circus does provide three meals a day and a place to sleep--even it if might mean a horse blanket on a train bed floor. Jacob discovers very quickly that he's just about the only advocate the animals have and he must battle a ruthless owner (Uncle Al) and a crazy equestrian director (August).

Any circus has more than their fair share of interesting characters, and Gruen's circus is no exception. In addition to Uncle Al and August, there is Walter (the midget clown), Marlena (an equestrian with whom Jacob falls in love), and Grady and Camel (workers). One of the most sympathetic characters in Water for Elephants is Rosie, the elephant--who shares more "human" characteristics and feelings than some of the circus bosses. The tender-hearted Jacob quickly grows to manhood as he is forced to protect both animals and coworkers from abuse and worse.

In chapters that move flawlessly back and forth in time, from the rowdy circus atmosphere to the antiseptic corridors of the assisted living home, the world is viewed through Jacob's perspective, as he rages helplessly against the decrepitude of old age and the secrets of the past. In prose both poignant and infinitely tender, Jacob dwells in both worlds, revealing the wounds of the past and the sorrows of the present.

In one touching scene, Jacob awaits a family member to escort him to the circus, yearning for the Big Top with every fiber of his being, craving the familiar sights and smells of that pivotal summer of `31, the roustabouts, the kinkers, the rubes, the animals. The denouement is devastating, as inescapable as the indifferent world that turns a blind eye to the vagrants of the 30's. Yet Jacob's spirit retains the essence of his kind nature and a respect for others, a man who will not be broken by circumstances. All is redeemed in a coup d'grace that will leave the reader strangely satisfied and richer for having met this raggedy tribe of miscreants and lost souls.

The most interesting aspect of the book is all the circus lore that Gruen has so carefully researched. She has all the right vocabulary: grifters, roustabouts, workers, cooch tent, rubes, First of May, what the band plays when there's trouble, Jamaican ginger paralysis, life on a circus train, set-up and take-down, being run out of town by the "revenooers" or the cops, and losing all your hooch. There is one glorious passage about Marlena and Rosie, the bull elephant, that truly evokes the magic a circus can create. It is easy to see Marlena's and Rosie's pink sequins under the Big Top and to imagine their perfect choreography as they perform unbelievable stunts. The crowd loves it--and so will the reader. The ending is absolutely ludicrous and really quite lovely.

Water for Elephants (book)

Move over RPATTZ, for the prince of YA movies!!

Should RPATTZ be worried?

Now that is definitely an interesting question. It could mean certainly a lot of things but here we are being more specific. After the hustle & tussle with the resident badass-heartbreaker of the highly acclaimed and mysteriously paranormal THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, Ian Somerhalder for the EW magazine's Sexy Beast poll which was won by Somerhalder. It seems Pattinson has suddenly got himself another adversary in the form of another fellow Brit actor......wait for it.....none other than the number 4/ Daniel/ John/ Kyle/ Bradley/ Freddie and what more, Alex Pettyfer.

Pettyfer is fast becoming a favourite of the audience or to be more specific his female audience. Pettyfer first appeared in the adapted screenplay the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz. After his brief stint in this young adult spy manual (only the first novel because now he is not of the right age to portray for the role), he then play the handsome and lovable British in WILD CHILD, Freddie Kingsley; then appearing as the cocky Bradley in TORMENTED. After than we know him as the superhuman, attractive and brooding Loric alien on I AM NUMBER FOUR and his recent release BEASTLY (book of the same name by Alex Flinn) where he play Kyle Kingston and his alter ego the beast, a new age adaptation of the classic Disney fairy tale 'Beauty & the Beast', besides Vanessa Hudgens, Neil Patrick Harris and Mary-Kate Oleson.

This is not all he has also been offered the lead roles in the Mortal Instruments series as the male protagonist Nephilim (half man & half angel) Jace Wayland/Herondale, in the Hunger Games as the male district 12 tribute, the king and compassionate Peeta Mellark as well as the role of Thomas J Ward in the book adaptation of Joseph Delaney’s The Wardstone Chronicles which is at present known as the Seventh Son. But nothing has been confirmed as of yet as to what he has chosen to portray next.

While RPATTZ is also no less popular, he came into the film industry in Vanity Fair but he garnered acclaim from the Twilight franchise. He has also some pretty grown up roles coming up in Water for Elephant, Bel Ami etc….alongside academy award winners Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz (Water for Elephant), and academy award nominated Uma Thurman (Bel Ami).

While it is true that Robert Pattinson’s popularity sky-rocketed through the Twilight franchise and he is definitely more popular but it can be seen that Alex Pettyfer is soon becoming the prince of YA or young adult genre book adaptation.

Move over RPATTZ, for the prince of YA movies!!

Breaking Dawn Vampire Covens Cast Revealed

Breaking Dawn Vampire Covens Cast Revealed

Has Robert Pattinson Lost His Touch!!!!

Twilight star Robert Pattinson has already risen to stardom and has stolen the heart of women around the world but there is a new vampire on the block named Ian Somerhalder. Somerhalder stars in the new TV series Vampire Diaries and is stealing some of the vampire stardom from Pattinson!

Has Robert Pattinson really lost his edge??? 

Former “Lost” star Ian Somerhalder’s vampire character in “The Vampire Diaries” has beaten “Twilight” ‘s Edward Cullen to be crowned America’s Sexiest Beast.

The actor’s Damon Salvatore finished just ahead of Robert Pattinson’s movie bloodsucker in Entertainment Weekly magazine’s new poll for the sexiest beast.

Bite me, Edward Cullen. Damon Salvatore of “Vampire Diaries”–played to smirking perfection by Ian Somerhalder–has officially been declared the ultimate Sexiest Beast, beating out not only the ‘Twilight’ boys but the “True Blood” vamps, as well, in an extensive online tournament held byEntertainment Weekly following several internet campaigns and nearly 2 million total votes.

Somerhalder had previously tweeted his expectations that Pattinson would win out, saying, “That Pattinson guy will end up kicking my butt, however thanks for taking the time, that’s really cool : )” Following his victory, however, he reported from the “Vampire Diaries” set that all of his co-stars had taken to calling him by his rightful title.

Who is the better or should i say hotter of the two?

Damon, as the winner, is featured on the cover of this week’s Entertainment Weekly (along with several of the runner-ups, Edward included), and has his hotness further validated in a few steamy just-released “Vampire Diaries” Season 2 promotional pics.

Some of the promotional picture for season 2 of THE VAMPIRE DAIRIES  starting this september 9th!

Well I for one have been counting the days (3 more days left)!!!

Has Robert Pattinson Lost His Touch!!!!