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June 11, 2010

Breaking Dawn as two-part movie -- a bad decision

breaking dawn movie

It's official: "Breaking Dawn," the final installment of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series will be adapted for the big screen -- but as TWO movies, not one. The first part of Breaking Dawn is scheduled for release on November 18, 2011, says distributor Summit Entertainment, according to Reuters. There is no release date for part two.

The decision has been hinted at, as studio execs noted the complexity of the 756-page book. I think that's bull. Maybe the two-parter is a financial decision -- a way to parse out the Twilight saga for more millions of dollars (as if Meyer and the others connected to the franchise needed that). But certainly if the Harry Potter books can be adapted, if Doctor Zhivago and Les Miserables can be adapted, so can Breaking Dawn.

I know that die-hard fans will want every word, every phrase of Meyer's prose included in the movie -- just witness the vitriol that followed the adaptation of Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief." But that limits an adaptation to a simple formula: take book, add handsome actors and special effects. I'd rather challenge the director to develop a fresh, compelling interpretaton of the book. Give us more creative spark, not just the same thing in a different package. If fans want the comprehensive story, they always can re-read the book.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:30 AM | | Comments (29)
        

Comments

Seriously!?!? I am so happy they split it. I was worried they would try to cram it all into one movie, which IMO is not possible. There is a clear seperation in the book to make it into two very full length movies. Screw an adaptation. The movies were never created for the general public. They were created because they would make money via Twilight Fans. If they wanted to make money off of non-twilight fans, they would not have relied so much on the fans already knowing the story to make the movies make sense. Clearly they cut so much out of New Moon that a non-twilight book reader, would not have understood the relationships developed off the screen to make enough sense of story to feel complete and be well liked. This is why it got such horrible reviews from non-readers. I, as a grown adult twilight fan have purchased my Twilight Movie Experience tickets and will be sitting in the theatre watching Twilight followed by New Moon, preceding the Midnight Release of Eclipse. Bring it on Summit! We are ready!

This story could on make sense on the big screen in 2 movies...honestly, did the journalist that wrote this article read the book. Summit is making these films for us, the Twilight Nation and not for critics...thank heavens. The books are perfection and the team at Summitt are doing their very best to bring them to life... thank you Summit and thank you to all of the cast who agreed to do it in 2 films.

Siobhan, I confess that the only Twilight book I read was the first. But I still think a movie director should not be a slave to the book. I'd rather keep my own vision of the book -- and get an alternative interpretation on the big screen.

i am so glad they decided to break the last book into two movies. I re read the book right before it comes out in theatre and I can't help but see the so many parts that are left out. the final book is so important. i am glad but I hope they will release the second one not too far after

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I really think that they should put both parts of the book in 1 movie. But I really want it to be in 3-d. also i really am a freak over the whole series every rime someone talk about it im all over and I reall y want to meey Stephenie Meyer one day and soon. Because I reall admire her and her creative thoughts.

I am glad they split it into two parts, but I hate that I will have to wait longer to see the ending. However, I wished they'd do it the way Titanic was done. (2 disc). I felt like Twilight and New Moon was aweful compared to reading the book. I think they rushed scenes and didn't relate to the book enough. Like scene's missing and important details that they didn't put in the movie. But this is my opinion. Other's may disagree.

I'm glad that it's being split into 2 movies. And hopefully they capture more of the essence of the book this time around. Why bother doing a movie based on the book when you're going to change things? Why not just make a whole different movie?

Okay, I am very pleased that the book will be in two movies because there really is two different story lines in Breaking Dawn. The conception and birth of their daughter and of course when the Volturi is going to attack them. My only question is what will they name the second movie..or the first. Will the first be called Breaking Dawn and the second one something else?

Yoiu have got to be kidding, right? I have read both Harry Potter and Twilight series. Harry Potter movies left much to be desired; they were very good, but having read the books, they left a good deal of info and characters on the sidelines. I am glad the last book was made into two movies. Same goes for Breaking Dawn, with one movie, much of the storyline would be lost in one movie and would be very disappointing, especially to those of us who have read the book.

I'm glad that they are splitting it into two movies. I just wish that they didn't come out six months apart. Is that big of a gap really neccesary? I think there just trying to milk the franchise for all that it's worth. They would actually make more money if they had less of a gap between the movies.

Honestly two movies? They could get it all in, in one movie IMO. There is a lot of detail in the book but the plot is pretty simple overall and could be over in two hours. It's all about MONEY....

I couldn't be more excited about this book being in 2 parts. There r so many diffent events that take place in the this final book. Those things can only be captured in more than one movie, then maybe this movie can really get the justice it deserves from the critics. Thanks Stephanie

I think it should be two parts because you cant always get the good parts in to one movie and i think that if people want to spend there money then why not make a good movie a better one by putting it in two parts and getting the movie perfect.I think that stephanie put alot of thought in to the books and book for is the most amazing book i ever read.It has aot of details and you can put all the that in to a 2 hour movie.

Wow..-_- Of course they have to copy Harry Potter. Sparkling vampires, A wolf with abs. And a girl trying to pick one person. SO excited-NOT. Harry Potter the boy who lived, set out to fight the person who killed his parents along with many twists. That sounds exciting . Btw, I don't think I can respond to comments so don't hate but this is my opinion. Just stfu Twilight fans if you wanna hate on my comment, cause you gotta deal with people like me(:

okaii i think that cutting it in half was a good idea so that they could put more details nd not skip too much from the book wat i think that is really gay is the date it comes out i mean come on they made eclipse in a few months nd this one that is half the freakin movie is gonna take more than a year wats up with that not kool

Stupid idea. The book could easily be made into1 film.

Don't really want to mention it but I have too so I can make a comparison.

Harry Potter 7, it works perfectly for 2 films. The whole book is one continuous plot. Cut anything big from it(and almost every chapter has something big in it that contributes to the plot of the series as a whole) then the story fails. This is why it works, cause its actually needed.

Where in Breaking dawn, its not as most of the book is filled with pointless subplots(if you can call them that). Not too mention the 2nd part would just be Bella training for something that doesn't end up happening. Its stupid.

Bottom line they shouldn't do one movie. The acting is going to be worse and the actors look funnier each movie. All for a buck!

Two movies? Really? The last book was the least readable of all of them. It was anti-climactic and after Bella turned into a vampire it was feeble and tedious. Most of the second half of Breaking Dawn read like filler. The second part of this movie will surely trivial and pointless if they don't add a real climax.

I think it is fine that they want to split the movie, because they will get more of the movie correct. However, I hope that they release them a few months apart. Because I would really hate waiting a year just for the other part. I think that would be a really bad decision on their part. Hopefully they will finish both parts all at once.

Bella has a baby then is a vampire then they meet in a field and talk for a few minutes. The end. See? That wasn't so hard. I think somebody could have put that into one movie?

hey i dont think that this is a good decision...... well i think they're just making it like harry potter makers did...... i mean making two parts of hp deathly hallows is sensible but making two parts of breaking dawn is senseless, pointless, whatever u can say........ they r just copying from harry potter..... i thought that twilight muvis r a bit diff but "oh my god i only liked the 1st part....i liked the other parts but we feel no difference in new mun or eclipse... & now that they're making two parts of breaking dawn i am thinking that the situation will get worse".......!!

I think the people who are convinced that splitting it in half is a good idea are the ones who are just thinking about the length and detail of the book rather than its actual plots. I just recently re-read that book, it was the only one out of the whole series I actually sort of liked, and I honestly don't think there's enough actual story in it to fill up two movies unless they're adding things to it. It's more likely that they're doing it for a profit than because they seriously can't fit in everything. But whatever.

Honestly, I read it, and it sucked. I understand why they decided to split it into 2 movies-- after all, it IS 700-something pages long-- but I disagree with decision. Yes, Bella and Edward get married, they have sex, she gives birth, they "fight" the Volturi. That takes up about 300 pages. Some people fail to recognize that in the rest of the book, NOTHING HAPPENS. You just get angst from people, stuff that's okay to read, but boring to watch.

To be quite honest i dont understand any reason to split a movie into two parts these days its all about making money.. just because a movie is long doesnt mean it has to be split in half, look at scarface and godfather (asides from godffather having three parts each part was played all at once in the movies) its called INTERMISSIONS but nowadays no one feels like sitting through that long a movie cause heaven forbid it be good anymore. i just got done watching part 2 of harry potter and to be honest they shouldnt of had to split it in two it was only 2 hours longer then the first part not including credits and previews one simple intermission and the movie coulda all come out at once. its all money money money. heres money from the part 1 movie, now heres money from the dvd's and movies of part one so you can watch it just before spening more money on part 2 thats ALL it is. make it one movie but make it longer then the average movie

Yes i think its a good idea to split the moveis in two. Yes they left alot out in the movies so far but that is why this is a brilliant idea. They dont want to leave out as much as the did and putting the book in one movies they would end up doing the same thing. They have alot to mention so every moment of the book is vital to the movie. Also if it bugs you so much then DONT GO SEE THE MOVIE

i dont agree that the breaking dawn movie should be different from the book. forget those people who wnna say we can jst re-read the book. no, putting it in movie form puts our thoughts on screen.

I have read not just all the harry potter books but all of the twilight series as well. While I agree it could all fit into one movie with intermission it is still summits choice to do 2 seperate movies... this is about money! The way book four is set up there would be no problem with filling three and a half to four hours with a twenty minute gap. I wish they did this with more movies based from books. However if there's no fighting at all in the second of the two movies my boyfriend will flip. He hates twilight and sits through it only cause I ask him to. I have a feeling when everythings over he's going to shout (again) "Edward just eat her already!" Which will be moot due to vampirism... still would make a more climactic ending though. I'm ready for some more action myself.

Honestly, I think the decision to make it two movies is BULL. I have read all of Twilight. Don't ask me why; it was a bad decision on my part. Regardless, I have read all of it, and yes, it is long, but think about what actually happens in the book, not just the length of it! Sure, there are a lot of words, but nothing really happens! I could summarize the entire book: graduation, marriage, sex, baby, no fight, the end. In between there's a whole bunch of teenage angst left and right.

I understand Harry Potter having to be two movies; the seventh book was long and FULL OF ACTION. It's impossible to summarize the entire novel without adding nearly every single chapter in there, because all of the information and everything that happens is needed for the advancement of the overall PLOT. Breaking Dawn, if it does have a plot, can be shown in an hour-long movie.

Summit's obviously only splitting BD to wring money out of Twihards so they can see an extra two hours of sparkly vampire, giant dog, and weepy girl. It's about the MONEY, not the FRANCHISE. Really, I don't understand WHY it's being split; BD reads like a filler.

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About the blogger
Dave Rosenthal came to The Baltimore Sun as a business reporter in 1987 and now is the Maryland Editor. He reads a wide range of books (but never as many as he'd like), usually alternating between non-fiction and fiction. Some all-time favorites: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole; Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery; and anything by Calvin Trillin or John McPhee. He belongs to a book club with a Jewish theme.
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