In their neverending efforts to cover all things Twilight related, MTV has been asking cast members who they think should helm the final installment (or two), Breaking Dawn. (Because, if Robert Pattinson is to be believed, the movie will film next fall.) Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays the Volturi member Caius, thinks it should be Tim Burton, while Pattinson himself is also playing the guessing game, and wishes for Gus Van Sant. Apparently, RPatt heard that filming would take place in Portland, and Van Sant "shoots everything in Portland."In other words: Everyone has different ideas, which seems to be the big theme of Breaking Dawn.
Do you guys really want it? Sure, after taking this journey, you want to see it through to the end and see the final (and epically long) book make it to the screen. But let's face it -- it's not going to be as you expect. Is your curiosity for anything stronger than your desire for a worthy-to-the-source adaptation?
Hit the jump for the spoilery discussion.
The book just can't make it in its original form. There's too much skin, blood, pages, and anticlimactic action.
In the others, it wasn't too hard to deal with. Bella and Edward did nothing more than kiss, so that part was kosher. The blood and guts -- well, that's slowly increasing, but still reserved to keep it audience-appropriate. And the action ... a family friend friend sub plot was added to the first to give more intrigue. The second has Edward in a big Volturi fight. Eclipse is the only one that has a lot to work with.
But the final installment... There's going to have to be A LOT of particular camera work and dilution of the story to get the honeymoon on screen. I would be quite surprised if elements like Bella's bruised body and Edward's predilection for ripping through bed posts makes it way in. Once that pesky sex stuff gets thrust onto the back-burner, there's a whole second book where Bella lounges, slowly dying from her pregnancy while Jacob runs around and rants through the wolfy mind-meld. Not much happens, but after setting Taylor Lautner up as the next big macho man, it would be silly to ignore it and tick off a mass of fans if his moments were massively cut.
Then Bella gets a cesarean, her baby wants her blood, Edward bites her all over the place to turn her, and Bella gets a shot in the heart a la Pulp Fiction -- not exactly the sort of imagery considered appropriate for the younger folk. But to leave it out takes out the most action-filled and tense moments of the book. After that, you've got Jacob imprinting on a baby who grows into a toddler in the blink of an eye, a long we-must-prepare-to-fight period, and then the ultimate showdown with the Volturi, which is just a lot of talking, some stares, and then everyone saying g'bye and parting before Bella and Edward have sex again.
There's no way a big buzzed-about film -- and the final of a super-successful franchise -- is going out without a good fight, especially if this sucker is broken down into two films. This means massive edits and big changes to make it all come together on the big screen.
Do you want to see it all wrapped up, even if wrapping up the series means seeing a Breaking Dawn vastly different from the book?
1. "elements like Bella's bruised body and Edward's predilection for ripping through bed posts..."
.....Oooh, so you mean that domestic abuse imagery that is supposed to be romantic. Yes, perhaps once it is in a visual form the stupid masses will see that being beaten isn't romantic at all and that Edward is truly deplorable.
"Jacob imprinting on a baby" ....
...and this wonderful gem which is really just mind-rape. Jacob takes away that girl's life choice. She is forced to be with him forever simply because he said so and he forces his way into her mind (past her threshold without her permission) and "imprints" himself on her. Oh, thats nearly as romantic as Edward's abuse.
"Bella and Edward have sex again"...
....which she never seems to enjoy or be conscious during. Such a good role model for girls! I hope my daughter will be a sexual receptical for her man.
"if this sucker is broken down into two films."
....there isn't enough material to sustain two films. How many hours must we watch the wistful gazing and pubescent angst!!
Posted at 5:38PM on Nov 10th 2009 by Mia