It’s impressive how much J.J. Abrams and the folks at Bad Robot manage to pack into the new teaser trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness without revealing, well, the actual plot of the summer 2013 sequel. Space action! Benedict Cumberbatch ! That darned hands-on-glass scene that just screams ” I have been and always shall be your friend !” Watch the action-packed teaser below and let’s get to piecing together the puzzle. The teaser is big on setting up an ambiguous adversarial relationship between Kirk (Chris Pine) and Cumberbatch, but Captain Pike’s voice over seems more telling of the themes Star Trek Into Darkness will hit: Kirk’s bravado, and the danger it poses to his crew. Despite the out of context flashes of intriguing set pieces — Star Wars ian spaceship action, that leap off a cliff, that other leap off a building, and what appears to be the Enterprise crash-landing in water — the hands moment ends the tease with a clear nod to Wrath of Khan , although we can’t tell who’s on what side of the glass. Still, something tells me there are more clues hidden in this teaser than we might think, like this brief shot of Noel Clarke’s as-yet unidentified character. As seen in the first nine minutes of the film , Clarke plays a man whose ailing daughter Cumberbatch approaches at a London hospital and offers to save. Here we see him in a possibly-Starfleet uniform as he appears to drop a thumble full of something into a glass of water — perhaps fulfilling his end of his deal with the Cumber-Devil? What intriguing bits and clues do you see in the teaser? Chime in below. Star Trek Into Darkness hits theaters May 17, 2013. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Bieber fever has arrived in Buffalo. Tickets go on sale Friday morning for Justin Bieber’s concert this summer. http://www.youtube.com/v/Nm75idWzlJE?version=3&f=videos&app=youtube_gdata See original here: Buffalo buzzes over Bieber tickets
While you ponder on that, check out the commercial for Cola Chicken Chips below. PepsiCo, which owns both Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay launched a bold new flavor of potato chips for Chinese consumers this summer. Pepsi Chicken marries the tastes of cola and chicken-flavored potato chips for a flavor described by Ad Age as “similar to barbecue with a sugary aftertaste.” According to Ad Age, the flavor combination makes sense in China, where chicken wings cooked in soy sauce and cola is a comfort
Films starring Guy Pearce, Nicole Kidman , Alexander Skarsgard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Ashton Kutcher , Demi Moore and Naomi Watts are some of the highlights from world premieres that make up the 2013 Sundance Film Festival ‘s Premieres section. Organizers revealed its selections Monday, which includes Gordon-Levitt’s feature directorial debut, Don Jon’s Addiction . The eighteen titles include the latest from veteran filmmakers Richard Linklater , Michael Polish, Zal Batmanglij, Michael Winterbottom, Jane Campion, Park Chan-wook and David Gordon Green. [ Related: Check out Sundance’s Midnight and Spotlight Premieres , Also U.S. and World Competition as well as Next lineups ] The event also announced 11 non-fiction features that will screen in its Documentary Premieres section, including new work from Oscar winners Alex Gibney and Barbara Kopple in addition to the directorial debut from Foo Fighters frontman, David Grohl ( Sound City ). In all, Sundance will include 115 feature-length films, with 101 screening as World Premieres. “We are pleased to see a number of returning filmmakers in our Premieres and Documentary Premieres sections, indicating that there is sustainability, longevity and personal reward to careers in independent film,” said Sundance Film Festival Director John Cooper in a statement. “The films announced today build on each filmmaker’s personal artistic legacy and contribute to the ever-growing and inspiring achievements of the independent film community.” The 2013 Sundance Film Festival, January 17-27 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. [ Related Interview: Sundance Director John Cooper Says ‘Fearlessness’ Distinguishes The Festival’s 2013 Slate ] Sundance Film Festival 2013 Premiere and Documentary Premiere with descriptions provided by the festival. PREMIERES A showcase of world premieres of some of the most highly anticipated dramatic films of the coming year. Presented by Entertainment Weekly. A.C.O.D. / U.S.A. (Director: Stuart Zicherman, Screenwriters: Ben Karlin, Stuart Zicherman) — Carter is a well-adjusted Adult Child of Divorce. So he thinks. When he discovers he was part of a divorce study as a child, it wreaks havoc on his family and forces him to face his chaotic past. Cast: Adam Scott, Richard Jenkins, Catherine O’Hara, Amy Poehler, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clark Duke. Before Midnight / U.S.A. (Director: Richard Linklater, Screenwriters: Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Richard Linklater— We meet Jesse and Celine nine years on in Greece. Almost two decades have passed since their first meeting on that train bound for Vienna. Before the clock strikes midnight, we will again become part of their story. Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Ariane Labed, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick. Big Sur / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael Polish) — Unable to cope with a suddenly demanding public and battling advanced alcoholism, Jack Kerouac seeks respite in three brief sojourns to a cabin in Big Sur, which reveal his mental and physical deterioration. Cast: Jean-Marc Barr, Kate Bosworth, Josh Lucas, Radha Mitchell, Anthony Edwards, Henry Thomas. Breathe In / U.S.A. (Director: Drake Doremus, Screenwriters: Drake Doremus, Ben York Jones) — When a foreign exchange student arrives in a small upstate New York town, she challenges the dynamics of her host family’s relationships and alters their lives forever. Cast: Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones, Amy Ryan, Mackenzie Davis. Don Jon’s Addiction / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Joseph Gordon-Levitt) — In Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s charming directorial debut, a selfish modern-day Don Juan attempts to change his ways. Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, Glenne Headly, Rob Brown. The East / U.S.A. (Director: Zal Batmanglij, Screenwriters: Zal Batmanglij, Brit Marling) — An operative for an elite private intelligence firm goes into deep cover to infiltrate a mysterious anarchist collective attacking major corporations. Bent on apprehending these fugitives, she finds her loyalty tested as her feelings grow for the group’s charismatic leader. Cast: Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgård, Ellen Page, Toby Kebbell, Shiloh Fernandez, Patricia Clarkson. The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete / U.S.A. (Director: George Tillman Jr., Screenwriter: Michael Starrbury) — Separated from their mothers and facing a summer in the Brooklyn projects alone, two boys hide from police and forage for food, with only each other to trust. A story of salvation through friendship and two boys against the world. Cast: Skylan Brooks, Ethan Dizon, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Anthony Mackie, Jeffrey Wright. jOBS / U.S.A. (Director: Joshua Michael Stern, Screenwriter: Matt Whiteley) — The true story of one of the greatest entrepreneurs in American history, jOBS chronicles the defining 30 years of Steve Jobs’ life. jOBS is a candid, inspiring and personal portrait of the one who saw things differently. Cast: Ashton Kutcher, Dermot Mulroney, Josh Gad, Lukas Haas, J.K. Simmons, Matthew Modine. CLOSING NIGHT FILM The Look of Love / United Kingdom (Director: Michael Winterbottom, Screenwriter: Matt Greenhalgh) — The true story of British adult magazine publisher and entrepreneur Paul Raymond. A modern day King Midas story, Raymond became one of the richest men in Britain at the cost of losing those closest to him. Cast: Steve Coogan, Anna Friel, Imogen Poots, Tamsin Egerton. Lovelace / U.S.A. (Directors: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman, Screenwriter: Andy Bellin) — Deep Throat, the first pornographic feature film to be a mainstream success, was an international sensation in 1972 and made its star, Linda Lovelace, a media darling. Years later the “poster girl for the sexual revolution” revealed a darker side to her story. Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Hank Azaria, Adam Brody, James Franco, Sharon Stone. The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman / U.S.A. (Director: Fredrik Bond, Screenwriter: Matt Drake) — Traveling abroad, Charlie Countryman falls for Gabi, a Romanian beauty whose unreachable heart has its origins in Nigel, her violent, charismatic ex. As the darkness of Gabi’s past increasingly envelops him, Charlie resolves to win her heart, or die trying. Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Evan Rachel Wood, Mads Mikkelsen, Rupert Grint, James Buckley, Til Schweiger. Prince Avalanche / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: David Gordon Green) — Two highway road workers spend the summer of 1988 away from their city lives. The isolated landscape becomes a place of misadventure as the men find themselves at odds with each other and the women they left behind. Cast: Paul Rudd, Emile Hirsch. Stoker / U.S.A. (Director: Park Chan-Wook, Screenwriter: Wentworth Miller) — After India’s father dies in an auto accident, her Uncle Charlie comes to live with her and her mother, Evelyn. Soon after his arrival, India suspects that this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives but becomes increasingly infatuated with him. Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode, Dermot Mulroney, Jacki Weaver, Nicole Kidman. Sweetwater / U.S.A. (Directors: Logan Miller, Noah Miller, Screenwriter: Andrew McKenzie) — In the late 1800s, a fanatical religious leader, a renegade Sheriff, and a former prostitute collide in a blood triangle on the rugged plains of the New Mexico Territory. Cast: Ed Harris, January Jones, Jason Isaacs, Eduardo Noriega, Steven Rude, Amy Madigan. Top of the Lake / Australia, New Zealand (Directors: Jane Campion, Garth Davis, Screenwriters: Jane Campion, Gerard Lee) — A 12-year-old girl stands chest deep in a frozen lake. She is five months pregnant, and won’t say who the father is. Then she disappears. So begins a haunting mystery that consumes a community. Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Holly Hunter, Peter Mullan, David Wenham. This six-hour film will screen once during the Festival. Two Mothers / Australia, France (Director: Anne Fontaine, Screenwriter: Christopher Hampton) — This gripping tale of love, lust and the power of friendship charts the unconventional and passionate affairs of two lifelong friends who fall in love with each other’s sons. Cast: Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Xavier Samuel, James Frechevile. Very Good Girls / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Naomi Foner) — In the long, half-naked days of a New York summer, two girls on the brink of becoming women fall for the same guy and find that life isn’t as simple or safe as they had thought. Cast: Dakota Fanning, Elizabeth Olsen, Boyd Holbrook, Demi Moore, Richard Dreyfuss, Ellen Barkin. The Way, Way Back / U.S.A. (Directors and screenwriters: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash) — Duncan, an introverted 14-year-old, comes into his own over the course of a comedic summer when he forms unlikely friendships with the gregarious manager of a rundown water park and the misfits who work there. Cast: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Sam Rockwell, Maya Rudolph, Liam James. DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES Renowned filmmakers and films about huge subjects comprise this section highlighting our ongoing commitment to documentaries. Each is a world premiere. ANITA / U.S.A. (Director: Freida Mock) — Anita Hill, an African-American woman, charges Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas with sexual harassment in explosive Senate hearings in 1991 – bringing sexual politics into the national consciousness and fueling 20 years of international debate on the issues. The Crash Reel / U.S.A. (Director: Lucy Walker) — The jaw-dropping story of one unforgettable athlete, Kevin Pearce; one eye-popping sport, snow boarding; and one explosive issue, traumatic brain injury. An epic rivalry between Kevin and Shaun White culminates in a life-changing crash and a comeback story with a difference. SALT LAKE CITY GALA FILM History of the Eagles / U.S.A. (Director: Alison Ellwood) — Using never-before-seen home movies, archival footage and new interviews with all current and former members of the Eagles, this documentary provides an intimate look into the history of the band and the legacy of their music. Linsanity / U.S.A. (Director: Evan Leong) — Jeremy Lin came from a humble background to make an unbelievable run in the NBA. State high school champion, all-Ivy League at Harvard, undrafted by the NBA and unwanted there: his story started long before he landed on Broadway. Pandora’s Promise / U.S.A. (Director: Robert Stone) — A growing number of environmentalists are renouncing decades of antinuclear orthodoxy and have come to believe that the most feared and controversial technology known to mankind is probably our greatest hope. Running from Crazy / U.S.A. (Director: Barbara Kopple) — Mariel Hemingway, granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, strives for a greater understanding of her family history of suicide and mental illness. As tragedies are explored and deeply hidden secrets are revealed, Mariel searches for a way to overcome a similar fate. Sound City / U.S.A. (Director: Dave Grohl) — Through interviews and performances with the legendary musicians and producers who worked at America’s greatest unsung recording studio, Sound City, we explore the human element of music, and the lost art of analog recording in an increasingly digital world. We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks / U.S.A. (Director: Alex Gibney) — In 2010, WikiLeaks and its sources used the power of the Internet to usher in what was for some a new era of transparency and for others the beginnings of an information war. When I Walk / U.S.A., Canada (Director: Jason DaSilva) — At 25, filmmaker and artist Jason DaSilva finds out he has a severe form of multiple sclerosis. This film shares his personal and grueling journey over the next seven years. Along the way, an unlikely miracle changes everything. Which Way is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington / U.S.A. (Director: Sebastian Junger) — Shortly after the release of his documentary Restrepo, photographer Tim Hetherington was killed in Libya. Colleague Sebastian Junger traces Hetherington’s work across the world’s battlefields to reveal how he transcended the boundaries of image-making to become a luminary in his profession. The World According to Dick Cheney / U.S.A. (Directors: R.J. Cutler, Greg Finton) — How did Dick Cheney become the single-most-powerful nonpresidential figure in American history? This multi-layered examination of Cheney’s life, career, key relationships and controversial worldview features exclusive interviews with the former vice president and his closest allies.
The highly anticipated Les Misérables is on track to become this year’s Chicago — a crowd-pleasing, award-winning, budget-busting musical extravaganza that will sharply divide audiences on the respective talents of its singing, emoting, showboating stars. The stakes are raised by the actors having sung their parts live on set — accompanied by a piano, with the orchestra added in post-production — instead of recording the songs in the safety of a studio and lip-synching during their scenes. The debates over who proved a genuine triple-threat and who embarrassed themselves will last for weeks as we barrel into Oscar season, but let’s get the ball rolling now by ranking who we’re expecting to dazzle us — and who’ll disappoint. Spoilers — for a 27-year-old musical and a 150-year-old novel — below. Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean. Ever since he slashed and sneered his way to the big screen in X-Men , we’ve been hearing nonstop about the one-man entertainment machine that is Hugh Jackman. Although he’s been a staple on Broadway for the last decade, Les Miz is Jackman’s biggest opportunity yet to show off those fabled lungs. There’s reason to expect much from the Tony-winning actor; his live performances amply attest to his vocal clarity and range and effortless panache. But there’s always a chance that Jackman might become a victim of high expectations — or drown in the fuddy-duddy cheesiness of his musical theater background . Anne Hathaway as Fantine. Hathaway’s supporting turn as the doomed, consumptive prostitute is the closest thing Les Miz currently has to an Oscar clinch. After a surprisingly foxy performance as Selina Kyle in this summer’s The Dark Knight Rises and a tabloid- and award-friendly 25-lb weight loss — perhaps she got some dieting tips from co-star Christian Bale? — all eyes are on her. The actress’s musical resume is thin, but previews show an emotion-choked rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” that might not work for, say, the radio, divorced from the context — but sounds perfect for an extended death scene. Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert. Like his colleagues Gadget and Clouseau, Inspector Javert is a somewhat ridiculous figure: an uptight dunce who can’t see what’s right in front of him. Crowe seems slightly miscast as the relentless lawman; Javert doesn’t deserve the actor’s heartbreakingly wounded eyes. The tantrum-prone actor has received a lot of ridicule over the years for his soft rock vanity band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts , a band whose name’s so awful it’s got to have broken some record for terribleness. But all of that hardly matters when Crowe’s voice is such a sexy combination of tenderness and gravel you’ll forgive him for stealing Captain Crunch’s uniform. Samantha Barks as Éponine. For a certain generation, there is no other Éponine than Joey Potter . The challenger to our nineties nostalgia is Samantha Barks, a 22-year-old West End veteran who first found fame as third-placer on an American Idol-style singing competition in the U.K. Barks went on to perform the role of Éponine on stage for a year. Her version of “ On My Own ” for the Les Misérables 25th Anniversary concert, already all over the Internet, shows off her tasteful but slightly too pop-influenced take on the lovelorn aria. Barks can outbelt Katie Holmes by a mile and a half, but can our hearts be full of love enough for two Éponines? Eddie Redmayne as Marius Pontmercy. As an oblivious rich kid and a character that appears out of nowhere halfway through the story, Marius is one of the more challenging roles to nail. Add a dopey romance based on love at first sight, and Redmayne seems set up for failure. Fortunately, the trailers and some pre-fame memorabilia suggest that the freckle-faced Brit with the unexpectedly low baritone will more than acquit himself. Amanda Seyfried as Cosette. Of all the characters in the main cast, Cosette is by far the most thankless. She’s a boring beacon of virtue without a single song to call her own. (Even the iconic “Castle on a Cloud” is shared with the grasping Mde. Thénardier.) This makes the casting of Seyfried, who displayed her thin, reedy trill of a voice in Mamma Mia! , the world’s first narrative karaoke video, a decent if unexciting choice. With a cast already so bursting with talent, though, Seyfried’s minor role might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as Monsieur and Madame Thénardier. The closest thing the ultra-serious Les Miz has to comic relief are the black humor exploits of the corrupt Thénardiers, Éponine’s parents and Cosette’s temporary guardians. Baron Cohen and Bonham Carter are undeniably gifted, intelligent, hard-working performers, but their recent film roles — mostly as cartoonish villains who don’t have a chromosome in common with actual human beings — have become increasingly one-note. If the musical Sweeney Todd , in which SBC and HBC co-starred, is any indication, they’ll be just fine for actors without musical training — as well as gratingly and hopelessly stuck in a never-ending Borat joke/Tim Burton movie. More on Les Miserables : Early Reaction: Oscar Race Heats Up As NYC Screening Of ‘Les Miserables’ Prompts Cheers & Tears New ‘Les Miserables’ Trailer: Will Jackman, Crowe, Hathaway Sing Their Way To Oscar? WATCH: Jackman, Hathaway And Seyfried Sing In Extended Making Of Les Miserables Clip Inkoo Kang is a Boston-based film journalist and regular contributor to BoxOffice Magazine whose work has appeared in Pop Matters and Screen Junkies. She reviews stuff she hates, likes, and hate-likes on her blog THINK-O-VISION . Follow Inkoo Kang on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Bradley Cooper’s past comes back to haunt him in The Silver Linings Playbook . Check out what’s playing at the movie theatre that serves as a backdrop for an emotional confrontation between Cooper and co-star Jennifer Lawrence. It’s Midnight Meat Train , a pre-stardom cult curio in Cooper’s career. It’s a nifty visual in-joke — perpetrated by Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell — that may escape those unfamiliar with Cooper’s oeuvre or are too wrapped up in the intense scene to notice. After the jump you’ll find a representative sampling of some you may have missed and things to watch and listen for so you don’t. What’s Playing? Movie marquees and posters have long been handy props for filmmakers to sneak in a visual aside. In Lethal Weapon , a marquee displays the The Lost Boys , (“This summer’s hit”), which director Richard Donner executive produced. The Kiefer Sutherland vampire classic would not be release until four months after Lethal Weapon, however. In Back to the Future Part II , the main attraction in 2015 at Hill Valley’s Holomax theatre is Jaws 19 (“This time, it’s really, really personal”) directed by Max Spielberg, the son of BTTF executive producer Steven. Richard Benjamin paid homage to his wife in Made in America with a theater marquee announcing a Paula Prentiss retrospective. For the “Thriller” music video, John Landis (more on him later) couldn’t resist displaying a poster for his first film, Schlock , at the theatre where Michael Jackson and his date see a horror movie.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie appeared on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update to chat with Seth Meyers about Hurricane Sandy relief and more. Chris Christie on Saturday Night Live While he ruffled GOP feathers by praising President Obama’s response to the storm, the outspoken governor’s crisis management earned him well-deserved bipartisan praise. Not that it didn’t come at a cost; Christie told Meyers he’s worn that same wet fleece for three weeks. At least New Jersey residents are patient, he noted … yeah, right. The famously blunt, combative 50-year-old got in some quality zingers at Seth’s expense, but saved his best barbs for “idiots” who ignored his evacuation orders. Christie gave the 2012 Republican National Convention Keynote Speech this summer and will undoubtedly be talked about as a major presidential contender in 2016. Should be go that route, appearances like this will only help his cause.
Taylor Swift and Conor Kennedy are still together, having recently hatched a scheme to make people THINK they split, according to a new report. They only “broke up” to get their families off their case, says a source: “Taylor and Conor are pretending to everyone that they’ve split up, and so far they’ve done a really good job of convincing friends – and even the press – that it’s true.” “They hatched the scheme because the Kennedys were putting pressure on Conor to concentrate on high school and getting into a top college.” The Kennedys were also reportedly worried about Swift and Kennedy eloping , a rumor that spread like wildfire this summer after they first got together. She bought a house next to the Kennedy Cape Cod compound, as well. “Things have become so serious between them so fast that no one in Hyannis Port would be surprised if they eloped,” a source told the N.Y. Post . Now, an alleged insider dishes that they are still together while apart: “Taylor and Conor are still totally in communication. They just want everyone to forget about them. Meanwhile, they’re planning a secret romantic rendezvous.” Sexy! A more public rendezvous will likely happen next month, when Swift attends the RFK Gala on December 3, where she is supposed to be honored. Fake or not, the split was announced by People October 30. The celebrity news magazine claimed Taylor and Conor split up after a whirlwind summer romance. Swift’s schedule was supposedly the catalyst; Kennedy’s friends said she ended it. Since the breakup, the “State of Grace” singer has been promoting her new album Red , which has spent three weeks atop the charts at No. 1. Will she soon turn her attention back to her No. 1 man? Only time will tell. Until then, tell us: Do you think Taylor and Conor are still a thing? Yes! It’s so obvious they are in love! Maybe they’re just on a break … They are never, ever, ever getting back together. View Poll »
Whether you’re a devoted Twihard, an absolute hater or someone who’s still just completely bewildered by Stephenie Meyer ‘s oeuvre, you must give the Twilight saga this — these stories are incredible, unabashed distillations of teenage (or just teenage-at-heart) female fantasy. Male equivalents, like, say, most superhero stories, have come to dominate the mainstream and fill the summer blockbuster schedule to such an extent that the Twilight films are striking simply in how very different they are. And how crazily well they target certain girlish pleasure centers with their themes of eternal romance, playing house with the advantages of unlimited vampiric wealth, and being the one that everyone wants without even trying . The wildest though hardly the best chapter of the series, franchise closer Breaking Dawn — Part 2 will also be basically bulletproof in terms of box office. That leaves the film free to indulge in the giddy insanity that also colored Part 1 , with its bruising, bed-breaking sex, accelerated monstrous pregnancy and Cronenbergian birth sequence. Like its predecessor, Part 2 was directed by Bill Condon . It picks up with Bella ( Kristen Stewart ) freshly vampirized by her husband Edward ( Robert Pattinson ) after the difficult birth of their daughter Renesmee — initially a CG-enhanced infant and, later, Mackenzie Foy — and skips the surreal, semi-metaphorical treatments of sex and fecundity for more movie-friendly but less interesting action. Renesmee, you see, is aging rapidly, moving from baby to adorable little girl at an unusual rate — and when she’s spotted bounding high in the air the way only a mini half-immortal can, she’s mistaken for a child vampire, the creation of which is against the rules. The sinister Volturi, led by Aro (Michael Sheen, in a performance that goes beyond camp to a higher, gigglier level), prepare to descend on Forks, Washington to dole out punishment, while the Cullens, prompted by one of Alice’s (Ashley Greene) visions, go about gathering allies to their side from covens around the globe. Breaking Dawn — Part 2 ends with a credit sequence for the entire series, including actors who don’t appear in this installment, and watching Anna Kendrick and other actors who played Bella’s classmates flash on screen, it’s hard to think back to when the series was merely a dreamy supernatural high school drama. With its hybrid offspring, soulmate-bonding with babies, international array of bloodsuckers (including Lee Pace as a character I’m choosing to call Revolutionary War Vampire) and an outrageous battle sequence in the snow in which heads are popped off bodies like caps off of beer bottles, this film is very far from the normalcy of Edward and Bella meeting in biology class, or from anything that makes sense. PHOTOS: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson & Co. Premiere ‘Breaking Dawn 2’ At this point in the franchise our central couple is, after much pining and love triangulation, a done deal, and while the two obviously have troubles to deal with, they’re no longer of the impossible-romance variety. Bella and Edward are irrevocably in this together as they prepare to face a threat to their family and their home, which may be why this installment lacks the irresistibly overheated melodramatics of the earlier chapters. With clumsy CGI and awkwardly choreographed fights, these films have never handled action well, but it’s the main focus of the latter half of Breaking Dawn — Part 2 . It’s Jacob ( Taylor Lautner ) — who obligingly doffs his shirt under cheerily contrived circumstances not far into the film — who’s left to carry the torch for difficult love stories by imprinting on and forever hovering around Renesmee, which is actually creepier when she becomes a girl than when he’s mooning over an infant. There’s no way for this development not to read as ridiculous, and the way Lautner chooses “mildly pained” from his limited array of expressions appears to indicate he agrees as he lingers near his potential child bride. Of course, a lot of Breaking Dawn — Part 2 is ridiculous, often knowingly so, with its winking moments of fan service and a gigantic array of characters, many of them signaling their cultural identity with amusing broadness. (The Amazonian vampires were entertaining, but it’s the gothy Romanians who really won me over). The film actually packs in so many new characters and explorations of superpowers (Bella, it turns out, is a “Shield”) that it feels like it’s just trying to avoid having to deal with its protagonists, unsure of what to do with them now that they’re together and married. Aside from a tastefully shot sex scene and one closing affirmation of devotion, the film plays down their relationship now that it’s not plagued with reasons the two can’t be together. And there have been so many. As ludicrous and enjoyably over-the-top as Breaking Dawn — Part 2 can be, it’s not a terribly satisfactory capper to the Twilight franchise because it sets aside the strange undercurrents of desire and danger that defined the series and made it such a hair-tearing conundrum for feminists mystified by the appeal of its passive blank of a heroine. Bella’s an empowered badass in this last installment, wielding newborn strength while showing unusual self-control and learning to use her new abilities — and that’s why things feel off. Bella’s foremost qualities in this series come through in her being protected, being rescued, being adored — she’s a fantasy of finally being recognized as precious after always having been undervalued. And as Bella and Edward ride off into the glittery sunset together to live in their fancy cottage with their walk-in closets and mutant child, it’s nice to see Bella holding her own, but also a curious final twist on the Twilight saga’s darkest appeal — the lure of being the thing that is fought over. READ MORE ON TWILIGHT : The ‘Twilight’ Scream-O-Meter: Notes From The ‘Breaking Dawn 2’ Premiere Taylor Lautner On Jacob And Renesmee’s ‘Breaking Dawn’ May-December Relationship: ‘I Was Worried About It’ Follow Alison Willmore on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
