"THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN — PART 1" — ★★1/2 — Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Nikki Reed, Billy Burke, Sarah Clarke,Kellan Lutz, Anna Kendrick; PG-13 (Sexual situations, partial nudity, violence, a bloody birth, adult themes); in general release
Literally seconds into the new Twilight movie "Breaking Dawn — Part 1," we find Jacob bursting through his front door and ripping his shirt off — a required feature — as he makes a wolfish transformation for an anguished romp through the woods.
Why the drama? The invitation has just arrived announcing the wedding of Bella and Edward.
Jacob isn't the only one who is less than thrilled by the upcoming nuptials. Bella's dad, Charlie, isn't either. Most in the wolf pack are concerned, and even some of our friendly local vampires are burdened with doubts. Most distressing is Bella herself displaying obvious angst laced with distressing nightmares.
Well, the big day comes and it's every young girl's dream, a gorgeous bride in a stunning dress greeting her handsome — yet pale — groom standing in a spectacular outdoor setting carpeted by mosses replete with dangling blossoms everywhere and framed by stately tall pines. (I wonder how many paternal wallets will be drained trying to replicate this scene.)
Of course, it would be nice if the father-of-the-bride, not to mention the bride herself, were smiling. Oh well, it gets better when, at the very last moment, Jacob shows up, making Bella's special day complete.
So far, so good … I suppose.
Now, we get into the delicate, if not downright strange part. Jacob is informed that Bella is going off on her honeymoon without being "turned." In other words, she'll still be human when her marriage is consummated with a vampire. Our wolfish hero fears this will kill Bella.
Edward, as he pilots his new wife to an isolated island (a gift from Carlisle Cullen), also displays concern about the night to come. But Bella assures him everything will be OK, and a romantic, very sensual interlude follows, leaving Bella with distressing bruises, their honeymoon suite torn up and superstitious housekeepers very distraught. The blushing bride assures her new husband she's fine. But fearing his vampire strength, Edward refuses to jeopardize her safety again.
Cut to scenes of the newlyweds playing chess and frolicking in waterfalls and pools — but, alas no repeat of the wedding night. Finally, Bella has had it and employs all of her charms, resulting in what was thought to be the impossible — a pregnancy.
Now, things get really strange.
With "something" growing rapidly within her, Bella is whisked back home to be under the watchful eye of her quasi father-in-law, Dr. Carlisle Cullen. Is it a child? Is it a demon? Whatever it is, our heroine is determined to deliver even though it is killing her.
"Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1" is the most graphic of the series, and while some restraint is employed — if for no other reason to retain the PG-13 rating — this film is very sensual, not to mention bloody. From Bella slurping up tasty plasma, benefiting both mother and child, to a startling, impromptu emergency C-section, the final scenes are rich with blood. It's a hard PG-13.
I'm certainly not in the target audience for this film, but even the die-hard fans were laughing at intense moments not designed for humor. There is maturity evidenced in the performances, but what we have in "Breaking Dawn" is simply a gothic, melodramatic soap-opera.
"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1" is rated PG-13 for sexual situations, partial nudity, violence, a bloody birth, adult themes; running time: 117 minutes.
Doug Wright is host of the KSL Movie Show on Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon on KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM and 1160 AM.