As we end Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2, the finale of the love affair between chalk-white vampires, humans, werewolves and hybrid beings, we see leads Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and his newborn vampire-wife Bella (Kristen Stewart) at one of those familiar violet-flowered meadows from the first Twilight Saga film. The grass looks greener, the atmosphere serene with a bookend flashback recounting key scenes of the destined-to-be duo’s first encounter four years ago.

The moment is beautiful, complete with a self-congratulatory whizzing of author Stephenie Meyer’s book’s last few pages that tell us that they lived happily ever after “forever”. So, why do notes of the bittersweet end song, A Thousand Years, performed by Christina Perri, sound distinctly like a looming threat?

I am not one of those dizzied by the vacant-eyed and scrupulously apathetic performance of Stewart, or Pattinson’s young Jimmy Dean-ish charisma. But there’s no denying Twilight’s pop-culture iconism.

This finale of a long-winded, two part-er directed by Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) is a fine closing point — and it features a heck of a vampire/werewolf brawl. Vampire heads fling about like bottle corks on snow-covered ground as delegates from the suspiciously evil-looking Volturi (the Italian vampire order prevalent from the second film) takes it down with the Cullen family and their assortment of unique friends by Breaking Dawn’s climax.

The Volturi, led by the wilily flamboyant Michael Sheen and a passive Dakota Fanning, feel insecure since Bella gave birth at the end of the last film. The child, Renesmee, is a human-vampire hybrid who is growing at an incredible pace (she starts out as a digitally-created baby and becomes a pre-teen in a matter of weeks). And she is believed to be a contravention of vampire law — a half-immortal of unique new abilities — or so the Volturi think.

Jacob (Taylor Lautner), as die-hard fans know, “imprints” on Edward and Bella’s newborn. Their relationship, which may become similar to Edward and Bella’s, may sound sweet in theory. However, the image that plays on the screen is anything but — especially when an ever-present Jacob consistently looks at a 10-something Renesmee with restrained, oogly eyes.

Released by Lionsgate, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2, is rated PG-13. There’s an artsy love scene and a keen supernatural brawl.

Opinion

Merging for what?

Merging for what?

The concern is that if the government is thinking of cutting costs through the merger, we might even lose the functionality levels we currently have.

Editorial

Dubai properties
Updated 16 May, 2024

Dubai properties

It is hoped that any investigation that is conducted will be fair and that no wrongdoing will be excused.
In good faith
16 May, 2024

In good faith

THE ‘P’ in PTI might as well stand for perplexing. After a constant yo-yoing around holding talks, the PTI has...
CTDs’ shortcomings
16 May, 2024

CTDs’ shortcomings

WHILE threats from terrorist groups need to be countered on the battlefield through military means, long-term ...
Reserved seats
Updated 15 May, 2024

Reserved seats

The ECP's decisions and actions clearly need to be reviewed in light of the country’s laws.
Secretive state
15 May, 2024

Secretive state

THERE is a fresh push by the state to stamp out all criticism by using the alibi of protecting national interests....
Plague of rape
15 May, 2024

Plague of rape

FLAWED narratives about women — from being weak and vulnerable to provocative and culpable — have led to...