The last film of the Twilight Saga is finally upon us. After six years and four films, ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2′ hits theaters today, promising to answer many of the questions that have been left hanging since the conclusion of ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1′ in November 2011.
The biggest issue fans have had since the end of ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 1′ is whether or not Robert Pattinson would return to voice acting as Edward Cullen. While some fans have hoped that he would decline the offer to appear in an upcoming ‘Sully Sullenberger’-type documentary, many more have been bitterly disappointed that he would reprise his role as the vampire king.
Well, it turns out that ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2′ is going to answer many of those questions. In this exclusive clip from the film, we get to see Edward – who is now a grandfather – singing one of the film’s iconic songs, ‘Somewhere Out There’. The song was originally performed for the series premiere of ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ in March 2009. Watch below.
Does Edward Have a Wolf Within?
One of the most interesting things about ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2′ is that it appears to answer many of the questions that have been left unanswered since the end of ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 1′. For example, we know that the Volturi were defeated in ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 1′, but would they return for a confrontation with the Cullens in the second half of the trilogy?
Also, given that ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 1′ ends with an apocalyptic battle between humans and vampires, would the Cullen clan be in hiding for the rest of their existence? Or would they take on a new role as grandparents and participate in society as usual?
How Did ‘The Twilight Saga’ Impact Popular Culture?
To put it mildly, the ‘The Twilight Saga’ was a cultural phenomenon. The saga’s six-year odyssey – which began with ‘The Twilight’ and continued with ‘Eclipse’ and ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 1′ – was tracked by Variety, who ranked the top 50 moments in pop culture from June 2012 to May 2018.
The list is a fascinating document of the zeitgeist during the height of the ‘Twilight’ craze. It features appearances from stars such as Mandy Moore and Megan Fox, as well as comedians like Jenny Slate and Dave Chappelle.
The top of the list is dominated by ‘Twilight’ and the films’ many iconic scenes and songs. However, other notable entries include Kanye West performing his hit song ‘Bound 2′ in the style of a skit from the HBO series ‘Saturday Night Live,’ and President Barack Obama singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the then-Prince Harry in a White House ceremony in April 2017.
We’ll likely never know how much impact the ‘Twilight Saga’ had on popular culture. But we can be sure that it had an impact, and not just on young female moviegoers.
The Film’s Many Plot Twists
Over the years, the storyline of ‘The Twilight Saga’ has been a source of intrigue for fans and a subject of fierce debate among film critics. But that’s not even the half of it. Just when you think you’ve figured out the film’s twists, there’s something new to surprise you.
The film adaptation of ‘The Twilight Saga’ was originally supposed to be a straight-forward sequel to ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 1′, with the heroine Victoria returning to save her children from an immortal monster. But in 2007, before production had even wrapped on the film, Variety reported that the director, Jon Turteltaub, had already begun to develop a third act to the story. And that’s exactly what he did.
As it turns out, the third act is incredibly convoluted and full of plot twists. While the first two films in the series are mostly set in Forks, Washington, ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2′ explores the entire Northern Lights region, from Finland to Canada to Russia. The film also introduces us to new characters and explores new dynamics among the established characters. It is the most ambitious project that Turteltaub has ever tackled, and it shows.
Many fans had argued that the climax to ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 1′ was too abrupt and felt like a cheat. But in ‘Part 2′, Turteltaub delivers a satisfying pay-off to those who’ve followed the series all the way to the end. Here’s to hoping that he and the filmmakers behind ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2′ did not suffer from storyboard burnout and that they had additional material that they could’ve used in the final cut of the film.
The Film’s Music Stands Out
One of the things that made the ‘Twilight Saga’ so great was its impressive soundtrack, which was curated by veteran musician and producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange. Lange, who has worked with George Harrison, Elton John, and Dolly Parton, among others, put together a collection of classic and contemporary songs that complimented the film and its setting perfectly.
While the films of the ‘Twilight Saga’ were mostly shot in California, the soundtrack was recorded predominantly in Nashville, Tennessee. So it’s no surprise that the songs on the soundtrack hold a special place in the hearts of ‘Twilight’ fans. And it’s even more exciting to hear that several of the songs were performed by the artists who recorded them. Here’s to hoping that Robert Pattinson’s decision to return to the role of Edward Cullen for one final performance will not go unnoticed by fans who’ve been waiting so long for a grand finale.
Robert Pattinson’s Final Performance
For those who’ve been following the saga from the beginning, today’s premiere of ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2′ will not come as a great surprise. After all, last year we were treated to a teaser trailer that confirmed what many of us suspected all along: that Edward would not only be appearing in the sequel, but would also be doing so in what appears to be his final performance as the beloved vampire king. While the announcement was somewhat anticlimactic, the fact that Robert Pattinson is returning for one more stand-alone film before finally hanging up his crown is a major relief to ‘Twilight’ fans.
The irony of all these exciting developments is that even before the end of ‘Part 1′, ‘Breaking Dawn’ had already started to wind down. Like many epic sagas before it, ‘The Twilight Saga’ had devolved into a period of prolonged set-up. For the last two years, the franchise has been building to this very moment. And while we’ll never get to experience the complete saga, at least we get to see one last dance with the one we love.
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‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2’: Everything You Need to Know
Now that you’re familiar with ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2′, it’s time to put everything together and figure out the most logical order in which to watch the film. From the very beginning, make sure you’ve got your popcorn and soda ready, because this is going to be one hell of a ride. Let’s dive in.
The first thing you’ll probably notice is that the pacing is a little slower than in the previous installment. While the previous installment was able to maintain a pretty steady stream of action, the second part of ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2′ moves at a more leisurely pace, allowing the viewers to take everything in. This is most definitely intentional, as the filmmakers have crafted a narrative that requires the audience to take a few days, or at least a couple of hours, to fully process what’s unfolding. So buckle up – this one’s a doozy.
The Film Is Set In 2024
In order to put it mildly, the timeline of the story is extremely condensed. It takes place almost immediately after the events of ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 1′, with the franchise quickly jumping ahead to 2024. In this year, there are only two significant events that we know of: the arrival of a deadly virus that turns the infected into zombie-like creatures, and the rise of a terrifying new breed of vampire.