In the wake of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2’s premiere, we asked readers to weigh in on their opinions of the much-maligned final instalment of Stephenie Meyer’s vampire sagas. While many admitted that they were still upset about Edward Cullen’s affair, the overwhelming majority criticised the way the film handled the subject matter.
“They had the opportunity to do something different and unique but they just threw that away,” said one angry reader. “Even if you disagree with Edward’s decisions and find them immature, the blame goes to the screenwriters and directors who made him this way and didn’t show any moral backbone.”
“What they did to Edward in that interview was just despicable,” said another. “I feel bad for whatever character he was playing in the last one – the man he became was way worse than the character he started out as. He should have stuck to being a teenager and left the grown-up aspects to his girlfriend.”
However, while fans were quick to share their disgust for what Edward became, there were a number of positive mentions too.
“I blame Twilight for making me interested in reading,” said one satisfied reader. “I liked the series, it introduced me to a lot of things, and I think that if it hadn’t been for Twilight, I might never have gotten into reading.”
“I loved the way Bella changed throughout the series, from being too scared to walk home alone at night to becoming a strong, independent woman who believed in true love and didn’t give up on it,” said another.
Despite the mixed reviews for Twilight as a whole – and the fact that critics have labelled it a ‘bomb’ prior to its premiere – Summit Entertainment and Twilighters everywhere should feel congratulated. The series helped to pioneer the YA dystopian romance and its success encouraged other studios to follow suit, with prominent examples including The CW’s hugely popular show The 100 and Netflix’s Riverdale.
What do you think about Twilight? Were you a fan of the first two films or the series as a whole? Let us know in the comments below!
This Year’s Most Anticipated Movies And Shows Based On Books
This year’s most anticipated movies and shows based on books are already causing waves in the world of fiction. Some of the titles set for release in the next few years include:
Suicide Squad
Based on the Vertigo Comics series of the same name, Suicide Squad is one of this year’s most anticipated films. The story follows a group of villains who are forced to work together to save the world. The film stars Jim Caviezel, Adam Driver, Joel Kinnaman, Will Smith, and Kim Basinger.
It’s fair to say that the cast is one of the weakest points of the movie. The actors are good, but the characters they play are pretty one-dimensional. On the plus side, the special effects are excellent and the script is very entertaining. The movie also boasts a pretty big ensemble which, in these days of cinematic overload, is always a good thing.
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker
Although Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi was undoubtedly the best film in the series, it wasn’t the only one. In 2019, we’ll be getting yet another installment in the Star Wars saga. Titled simply Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, the film will conclude the story begun in 2015’s The Force Awakens. The main characters in that story, Rey and Kylo Ren, will take centre stage in this one. Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac will reprise their roles as Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron, while Jerome Howard will play Kylo Ren. This newest addition to the Star Wars saga will no doubt be epic in scale, but it will also be extremely difficult to follow. If you’ve never seen the series, now might be the right time to dive in.
Black Widow
The Marvel Cinematic Universe now has its own version of the CIA in the form of the KGB in the upcoming Black Widow. The film will see Scarlett Johansson reprise her role as the enigmatic Black Widow (herself a character based on a real-life female assassin), this time set in the modern day and starring Natasha Romanoff’s story. The picture is set for release on April 30th and will see the former Olympic gold medallist fight both the government and corporate forces as she embarks on a quest for justice. Expect lots of shootings, explosions, and at least one penguin.
Ender’s Game
Based on the book of the same name by Orson Scott Card, the film adaptation of Ender’s Game stars Harrison Ford as the legendary figure known as “the General”, alongside TV and film veterans Barbara Hershey and Bruce Boxleitner. The story follows a young boy who is selected to be part of a military experiment to determine whether children are capable of leadership. If you’ve never heard of the book or its author, you should probably know what’s coming next. If you have, you might want to get yourself some Netflix vouchers…the movie is set for release on December 11th.
Mary Poppins Returns
The follow-up to Disney’s 2015 hit film will see Emily Blunt return as Mary Poppins. The film will be set 15 years after the events of the first movie and will see Mary Poppins, now a widowed and grumpy old woman, taking on a young girl whose father has just died. Emilia Clarke, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Ben Whishaw will also star in the upcoming film, which is due for release on May 14th, 2019.
Avengers: Endgame
After the colossal hit of Avengers: Infinity War, it’s fair to say that the world of superheroes is more popular than ever. Endgame will conclude the story begun in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War as its title suggests. The latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe will again see the ensemble team up to take on a host of cosmic threats, this time led by the powerful Thanos (Josh Brolin). As previously reported, the movie will also see the return of Ironman, who has been missing since the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War. Endgame will be released on April 23rd, 2019, so make sure you’re there in a couple of weeks to see the grand finale!
Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is one of the most popular and respected shows in television history. Its huge following attracted the interest of numerous film studios, who have now united to bring the series to the big screen. The film will retain the acclaimed visual style of the show and will see the undead terror that is the Walking Dead cast in a zombie movie. Starring Andrew Stewart-Jones, the film is set for release on April 30th, 2019.
This year is looking to continue the success of last year with even more top titles on the way. Whether you’re a film buff or just want to spend some quality time with your loved ones, there’s plenty to look forward to in the coming year.