Focus World has released the brand new U.S. theatrical trailer & poster for MAPS TO THE STARS, directed by David Cronenberg & starring Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska with John Cusack and Robert Pattinson.
Cronenberg is equally known for not flinching from any subject, and for making films that are as challenging and substantial as they are suspenseful and visually compelling. Early in his career, he made a series of vivid, fantastical thrillers including Scanners, Videodrome, The Fly, Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch, eXistenZ and Spider. More recently, his filmmaking has become even more expansive with the high-style crime thrillers A History of Violence and Eastern Promises, the psychological, sex- infused historical drama about Freud and Jung, A Dangerous Method, and his adaptation of Cosmopolis which takes place almost entirely in a billionaire’s limousine on one fateful trip through the city.
For Cronenberg, MAPS TO THE STARS was another chance to switch gears entirely – into what he calls “a family drama, just not the usual kind of family drama.”
Meet the Weiss family, who are making their way in Hollywood rife with money, fame, envy, and relentless hauntings. Stafford Weiss (John Cusack) is a famed TV self-help therapist with an A-list celebrity clientele. Meanwhile, Cristina Weiss (Olivia Williams) has her work cut out managing the career of their disaffected child-star son, Benjie (Evan Bird), a fresh graduate of rehab at age 13.
Yet unbeknownst to them, another member of the Weiss family has arrived in town – mysteriously scarred and tormented Agatha (Mia Wasikowska), just released from a psych ward and ready to start again. She soon works her way into a friendship with a limo driver (Robert Pattinson) and becomes personal assistant to unraveling actress Havana Segrand (Julianne Moore), who is beset by the ghost of her legendary mother, Clarice (Sarah Gadon). But Agatha is on a quest for redemption – and even in this realm of the artificial, and the unearthly, she’s determined to find it, no matter what it takes.
“It’s a story that is really of the moment and it also ferociously examines the moment we are living in, culturally, pop-culturally, technologically and in every way,” says the director. Cronenberg’s map of modern Los Angeles – and perhaps of contemporary culture itself — is lined with psychic pitfalls and shadows but also lit up by human vibrancy. “The city in the film is a deadly beauty,” he concludes. “It’s like a Venus fly trap, where each of these characters is swallowed up by their obsessions with success, celebrity and money.”
Focus World will release MAPS TO THE STARS in the US in Theaters, On Demand and iTunes on February 27, 2015.
Photos: (c) 2014 Starmaps Productions Inc. / Integral Film GmbH
Here’s a look at the trailer for David Cronenberg’s MAPS TO THE STARS featuring Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska and Robert Pattinson.
The film will screen in September at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In May 2014 at the Cannes Film Festival, Moore won Best Actress while Cronenberg was nominated for the Palme d’Or.
The Weiss family are an archetypical Hollywood dynasty – Dr Stafford Weiss (John Cusack) is a psychotherapist whose self-help books have made him a fortune. His wife Cristina (Olivia Williams) is the overbearing mom-ager of their thirteen-year old son, Benjie (Evan Bird), a prodigious child star fresh out of drug rehab and their estranged daughter Agatha (Mia Wasikowska) has recently been released from a psychiatric hospital. Agatha is now back in Hollywood making friends with a wannabe actor/writer limo driver named Jerome (Robert Pattinson) and with a new job as PA to one of Stafford’s clients – the neurotic and tempestuous actress Havana Segrand (Julianne Moore), whose dream of reprising her dead mother’s starring role from the 1960s is beginning to haunt her.
Exploring the demons of our celebrity-obsessed society, MAPS TO THE STARS is written by Bruce Wagner and also stars Sarah Gadon and Carrie Fisher.
MAPS TO THE STARS will be released in cinemas across the UK & Ireland on September 26.
THEROVER, David Michôd‘s highly anticipated follow-up to ANIMAL KINGDOM, is set in a world 10 years following the collapse of society. Recently, WAMG sat down with David Michôd, Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson in a small press conference to talk about the film. Check it out below!
In David Michôd’s new film THE ROVER the rule of the law has disintegrated and life is cheap. The film follows hardened loner Eric (Pearce) as he travels the desolate towns and roads of the outback. When a gang of thieves steals his car they leave behind a wounded Rey (Pattinson) in their wake. Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing that still matters to him. Michod also wrote the film based on a story he conceived with Joel Edgerton.
This looked very hot. Tell me about being on location and how did you deal with the heat.
Guy Pearce : It was great being out on location. It was great. The heat, obviously, is one of the big things we were experiencing in the story anyways. So it was grueling and it was hot, but it was mixed with those incredible locations. So it was all part of the experience. It’s kind of amazing being out there.
And for Robert?
Robert Pattinson : I genuinely couldn’t have answered it better. [Laughs]
Guy Pearce : I will be answering all questions on behalf of Robert.
For the director, I was just curious, you had some of the songs in Thai or was it Mandarin. Why choose Asian music?
David Michôd : It was Cambodian. I wanted the world of the movie, set as it is a few decades in the future after a particularly catastrophic economic collapse, to feel like Australia had a major geo-political type shift. Where Australia had been reduced to a kind of resource-less, third-world country. I wanted the world of The Rover to feel like Australia was experiencing a new gold rush. People were coming from all corners of the world to work in and around mines. Given where Australia is on the map, we are kind of right there on the middle of Southeast Asia, almost, that there would have been a lot of people from that part of the world who would’ve come out.
So much of this film is in this precise balance of mood and atmosphere. How do you keep track of this while you’re shooting? Is it something you, as actors, pay attention to or is this something that comes about in the editing room?
David Michôd : I feel like I have a reasonable grip on what I want to achieve while I’m shooting. I have a feeling there are certain places where I will want things to linger – where I will want to milk transitions or just generally leave space for what I know my beautiful collaborators in the world of post production will bring to the process. I don’t know what the experience is like for you guys.
Guy Pearce : A couple of things. One, I’ve worked with David before. But that aside, I’d seen David’s work as well, as I know Rob had. Obviously, I’ve seen Animal Kingdom, but I’ve seen David’s shorts as well. Not to suggest he has a tone that he sets and it’s gonna be the same on every movie, but in looking at the script and seeing those films, talking with David before we start. It really feels we get a sense of it. One of the things I really respond to is the tone of a movie –whether it’s a comedy or whatever it happens to be. Not that I do many comedies. I think it’s one of those things you really feel through your skin. In a sense that enables you to understand the rhythm that you’re kinda gonna work in and the rhythm of the character, etc. It’s the kind of stuff you are aware of to a certain degree even if you don’t necessarily talk about it everyday.
Rob, how do you see this relationship you have with Guy’s character in the movie? How does it relate to your own life experience?
Robert Pattinson : I think loyalty is probably the most important trait in a friendship. I was really lucky to have pretty great friends growing up. I think I’ve had all my friends for at least ten years. It’s definitely very important. I’m not really sure how to answer the question. It’s a definitely relates in The Rover. Rey’s loyalty is so easily swayed. By the time he gets back to his real brother at the end of the movie, I kept thinking how to play it when he first sees him again. It’s almost like he’s forgotten who he is – what that relationship was. That’s why he’s so conflicted at the end.
Rob, your character is referred to as a ‘halfwit’ in the film, but he does get around, surviving pretty well. How did you prepare for your role?
Robert Pattinson : I’m not entirely sure he can really get around by himself particularly well. As soon as he’s on his own for one second – that one moment he’s sitting under that tree – he has absolutely no idea what to do. It’s just a fluke that he sees the car there. I think if his brother’s car didn’t end up being there, he’d just sit under that tree and die [laughs].
You did save him though…
Robert Pattinson : Yeah.
David Michôd : I think he can only respond out of instinct.
Robert Pattinson : In a lot of ways, he’s basically been kidnapped by this guy. It’s not like he’s done anything for him. He could easily get another car. How did I prepare for it? I dunno. I just kind of – the script. A lot of what I wanted to do in this movie was, when I first read the script, it was quite instinctive.
Rob, I think that I’ve seen most of your films, but I don’t recall one where you’ve actually used a gun. I’m wondering how familiar were you with firearms, and did you have to learn it? Was it awkward for you? The same question for you, Guy.
Robert Pattinson : Um, I’ve done a couple of gun things. I’m quite anti-gun, especially to idiots like me. I didn’t really do any… I was actually supposed to do another film, playing a soldier where I did some stuff with guns before, but yeah… I’m not particularly familiar. I don’t think I did any particular training either. I think Ray’s supposed to be pretty rubbish, but he ends up being incredibly accurate [laughs] the one time he uses it!
Did they give you a gun coach?
Robert Pattinson : Yeah, there was an amorer, Scott…
How did it feel? Did you get a sense of ‘Oh, I get it now!’?
Robert Pattinson : I didn’t like it at all. I don’t like the feeling of it. I mean, obviously you get a little thrill… a little power trip of it. I especially felt silly holding a gun. Especially while shooting targets. You just have this, sort of, bang-making machine. [Laughs] After a while it just looses it’s luster.
Guy Pearce : For me, I’ve done tons of movies with guns. I’ve shot a lot of people [laughs] and I think I’ve been shot a few times. I, too, have a real issue with guns. I find they should just be banished off the face of the Earth. They’re awful things. I feel really comfortable with them now, as a prop, because I’ve done so many things with guns. And they’re fascinating! As Rob said, there’s incredible thrill, and power that you feel as soon as you have one in your hands because of the understanding of what you are capable of doing with this thing is, sort of, off the charts. It’s ridiculous, and it’s enticing, and it’s awful all at the same time. It just astounds me that so many people own guns in the world.
Does that information help to move your character forward?
Guy Pearce : Um, it’s different because my character is going through a different journey then what I’m going through with my gun experiences on film sets. Obviously, the underlying thing for me about guns on film sets is that I’m not actually going to kill anyone. I’m never actually going to. It’s not for real. That piece of information about the power that you feel as soon as you, sort of, have it in your hand… that might be something that informs, sort of, every character to a degree. Strangely, with this character, in this movie – he’s cut off emotionally from a lot of things. I mean, I kill eight people in the film. There is a certain level of difficulty and regret that he feels when he does it, but at the same time there’s an ability to just, kind of, kill another one. If he has to. It’s kind of a horrendous line that he treads, I think.
So, are you a big Keri Hilson fan? Where did that moment come from?
Robert Pattinson : David is. [Laughs]
David Michôd : I’m a big Keri Hilson fan.
Robert Pattinson : I didn’t realize how massive a song it was. I though David just found it. Yeah. I kind of like that song.
Guy Pearce : Not as much as you love her. [Laughs]
David Michôd : I wanted there to be a moment in the movie that – at that particular juncture in the film – for there to be a moment that reminds the audience that Rob’s character was just a kid who in different circumstances would probably just be listening to music, and thinking about girls, and playing with his hair in the mirror.
Robert Pattinson : That’s what I thought, for a performance… having that moment in another movie, be like ‘Ah. Really thinking deeply about my next move!’ [Laughs] It sort of looks like that from a distance. Just…
Guy Pearce : … singing along! [Laughs] About to kill someone… just singing a song. [Laughs]
The scene felt sad, too. It has a sense… a sad feeling to it because of where you are in the film, and knowing where you’re going next.
David Michôd : That’s exactly right. That’s what I meant at that point, at that particular juncture of the movie – for that to be a reminder that Rob was just a kid, for that moment, to sit, and stew, and then for him to get out of that car and step over to Guy at the campfire and say something really, kind of, sad and tragic.
Robert Pattinson : I also think that he was kind of excited about telling him his decision…
Guy Pearce : It’s interesting that his decision -whether that decision was made during that song – the stating of that decision comes out of having just sung that song [laughs] or having just been a kid, as you say.
David Michôd : So, it’s a little bit funny.
For Rob, this film certainly fits within the group of artistically adventurous films you’ve made outside of the TWILIGHT franchise. I’m curious, is thistle realm that you hope to work in going forward? Do you want to keep switching it up? What do you hope the fans who follow you from TWILIGHT into films like this are getting out of this?
Robert Pattinson : I mean, I don’t really have any particular preconceived plan. Even each of the TWILIGHT movies – I kind of approached them all as individual movies. I never really saw it as ‘Oh, going back to work on…’ I don’t know. You can’t really predict what an audience is going to like, or want, or even if they’re going to follow you to anything. I think if you try to make challenging stuff, and you put your heart into it – hopefully at least one other person is going to like it. [Laughs]
David Michôd : I will.
We’re from THE ROVER fan blog, and from ROBsessed. We loved the movie David. I just wanted to say that. We thought it was fantastic.
David Michôd : Thanks!
Our first question is for Guy, and for Rob. The movie has a lot of silent moments, but they are pretty impactful with the tone, and the emotion of the movie. I wanted to know what you were thinking when you were playing those silent moments. There wasn’t a lot of dialogue when you [Rob] were being sutured up, or staring at Eric sleeping, and Guy, all of the scenes where your eyes do the expressing. I didn’t know if you had any backstory as actors to help you with those silent moments since they had such a heavy impact.
Guy Pearce : Well, I think if there’s any backstory – that’s not necessarily what you’re thinking about. That’s just stuff that you know, that works for your character, that gets you in a place of confidence to get you to go and play the character. It’s interesting as an actor, because you’re half thinking about what your character should be thinking about, and you’re half thinking about the technical stuff, I suppose – I do, anyway – about camera position, and which way is gong to evoke more of the emotion. If you’re head’s more down, or across… technical stuff. I like not to think about that stuff too much, but sometimes you can’t help it. Whether or not you’re thinking about that, or whether you’re just conscious of that on some level. It changes all the time, but I think, particularly with a movie like this – it’s so subtle, but heavily laden with deeply rooted emotional stuff – you’re just trying to be in that stuff. You’re just trying to sit in that emotional place, because that’s what’s going to translate the most honestly, I suppose.
Robert Pattinson : I remember the first moment looking at you when you’re asleep in the chair. I suddenly remembered – I kept trying to play being stuck between two channels all the time. I remembered, because I was supposed to be waking up and, sort of, looking at him, and I remember talking to you about it and going ‘No. He has to start in the middle of the room…’
Guy Pearce : … already awake…
Robert Pattinson : Yeah, and just kind of – you’re starting in the middle, and you never really – it doesn’t get past the middle. I think that is something in a lot of those moments – trying to not think about not thinking about anything at all. [Laughs]
David Michôd : … being stuck between two channels…
Was there any particle scene that was challenging for you?
David Michôd : Um, I mean… I find all scenes challenging on that level. Every one of the scenes were important to me. Maybe if there is a big stunt, or something that is complicated and expensive to execute, then yeah. I feel the pressure of…
Guy Pearce : … getting it right…
David Michôd : Yeah! I feel the pressure of getting it right, and fear the consequences of not. Beyond that, every scene is really important to me. I don’t go into any scene feeling like ‘This is the big one, and I have to nail it!’. I go into every scene with adrenaline coursing though me, fearful of getting it wrong, and also excited about what will happen when we start rolling the camera. When you set up a scene, it’s really interesting. I don’t know if this is the experience you guys have, but for me it’s the same every time… when you walk on a new set, you block through the scene, and the first block through is always terrible. Everything just feels so wooden and slow, and clumsy. Then, I know that I have about half-an-hour with my actors to get it into the shape it needs to be, and that it will be in for the rest of the slot. That process is exile rating, because it always happens. You always get it to the good place. There is always a moment after that first block through where I find myself going ‘Ah. Ok. What am I going to do now? How am I going to fix this?’, but it always happens. There’s something about it, something about that adrenaline – that electricity on set that make it come alive really quickly.
Rob, this is the second post-apocalyptic, futuristic movie you’ve made along with ‘Cosmopolis’ – why are you drawn to such projects? And what is your view of the future? Are you pessimistic or optimistic?
Robert Pattinson : I don’t really see either of them as post-apocalyptic. I mean, I see both of them as quite hopeful as well. I think ‘Cosmopolis’ was about a guy who didn’t know how to live and has one second of feeling what it’s like to be alive, which is kind of a good thing – it’s more than most people, I think. And ‘The Rover’ I think was always really hopeful. I think it’s really funny – I think the end is sad…and I always just talk about it in terms of my character’s story…[Laughs]
Guy Pearce : No, as you should…
Robert Pattinson : I can’t seem to see it in any kind of wider scope than that at all, but–
David Michôd : It’s sad, but there is hope in sadness, often…
Robert Pattinson : Yes, you’ve made an impact on Eric as well…
David Michôd : It’s a recognition of things that are important, and when that recognition happens too late, that in itself is innately sad, but it’s not hopeless.
Robert Pattinson : And I have a very optimistic view of the world, mainly because I like my life. [Laughs]
Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson prove that it takes more than just heavy dialogue to make a powerful movie in David Michôd’s latest film, THE ROVER.
Ten years after the fall of Australia, Eric (Guy Pearce) sets out to hunt down three gun-toting men after they steal his car. Shortly into his mission he finds Rey (Robert Pattinson), the half-witted brother of one of the car thieves. Pearce forces Ray to come with him, and the two soon realize that they have the same end goal… revenge.
David Michôd takes viewers into a dark, post-apocalyptic world where everyone seems to be out for themselves, struggling to live. We aren’t sure what caused the fall of their civilization, only that most people were there to work in the mines. Michôd doesn’t give a ton of backstory, and the film is paced for a slow reveal, so patience is key. Rather than relying on heavy dialogue, he lets the scenery, and raw emotion of the characters tell a story of two lost individuals trying to survive.
Guy Pearce is always a treat to watch onscreen. This is the second film he has done with Michôd, but this time he takes the lead and shows audiences just how talented he is by bringing his anti-hero character to life without a tremendous amount of dialogue. Pearce is probably one of the most underrated actors of this generation, and if this film doesn’t convince you of his talent, then I don’t know what will!
This film is a big departure from most of Pattinson’s previous films. It seems that he is choosing more artistic, independent films over blockbusters. I’m not sure if this is to break away from his TWILIGHT reputation, but it’s working. Twi-Hards expecting the sparkly, handsome man that they fell in love with as Edward will be sadly disappointed. Instead, they will be greeted by a slow talking, dirty kid who is severely lacking in the IQ department. Having said that, he is phenomenal! Pattinson’s performance surprised me, and left me impressed. He’s making smart film choices, and it shows!
Pearce and Pattinson have an amazing chemistry together, and carry this film in a way that most actors wouldn’t be able to. While neither character is very likable, they somehow manage to make the audience invest in their journey through the incredible Australian landscape. Michôd paints a tonally somber, yet eerily beautiful background for Eric and Rey to exist in.
THE ROVER is both depressing and rewarding. This film is one of the more impressive indie films that i’ve seen this year, and worth the trip to the theater just to watch the chemistry and talent of its leading men.
WAMG is giving away Run-Of-Engagement passes to THE ROVER. The movie stars Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson and Scoot McNairy.
THE ROVER, David Michod’s highly anticipated follow-up to ANIMAL KINGDOM, is set in a world 10 years following the collapse of society. The rule of the law has disintegrated and life is cheap. The film follows hardened loner Eric (Pearce) as he travels the desolate towns and roads of the outback.
When a gang of thieves steals his car they leave behind a wounded Rey (Pattinson) in their wake. Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing that still matters to him.
Michod also wrote the film based on a story he conceived with Joel Edgerton.
From A24 Films, THE ROVER opens nationwide June 20.
THE ROVER passes will be good at the Tivoli Theatre.
FOR A CHANCE TO WIN, ENTER YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS BELOW.
A24 Films has released a new featurette for director David Michod’s THE ROVER. The movie stars Guy Pearce, Robert Pattinson and Scoot McNairy.
An official selection at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, Variety’s Scott Foundas wrote in his review that the film establishes, “Michod as one of the most gifted young directors around” and to look for “a career-redefining performance by Robert Pattinson that reveals untold depths of sensitivity and feeling.”
THE ROVER, David Michod’s highly anticipated follow-up to ANIMAL KINGDOM, is set in a world 10 years following the collapse of society. The rule of the law has disintegrated and life is cheap. The film follows hardened loner Eric (Pearce) as he travels the desolate towns and roads of the outback.
When a gang of thieves steals his car they leave behind a wounded Rey (Pattinson) in their wake. Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing that still matters to him.
Michod also wrote the film based on a story he conceived with Joel Edgerton.
THE ROVER opens in NY/LA June 13, Nationwide June 20.
Benaroya Pictures has announced today that they are now on board to produce and finance director Olivier Assayas’ IDOL’S EYE, with a confirmed cast that includes Robert Pattinson and Robert De Niro.
Charles Gillibert developed and produced the project with CG Cinema, Bluegrass Films’ Scott Stuber, Film 360’s Scott Lambert, Alexandra Milchan and Michael Benaroya, with Ben Sachs executive producing for Benaroya Pictures. The film is scheduled to begin principal photography in October in Chicago and Toronto.
The plot elements are currently under wraps, but it has been described as a sophisticated, heist action/thriller.
International Film Trust, which was co-founded by Benaroya, will be handling foreign sales of the title heading into the summer and the Toronto International Film Festival under the helm of IFT President, Christian De Gallegos. CAA, which arranged financing for the film, will represent domestic rights along with WME.
Assayas had the English-language drama CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA playing in competition in Cannes. The film stars Juliette Binoche, Kristin Stewart and Chloe Grace Moretz and was produced by Gillibert’s GC Cinema.
Founded in 2013, CG Cinema is geared towards the development of directors and focused on international projects including Mia Hansen Love’s film EDEN, and Jonas Cuaron’s DESIERTO. Between 2006 and 2012 while at mk2, Gillibert produced and supervised distribution and sales of more than 20 films, including titles from Walter Salles, Abdellatif Kechiche, Xavier Dolan, Abbas Kiarostami and Gus Van Sant.
Michael Benaroya, known for high-end indie fare, has numerous upcoming projects including the highly-anticipated QUEEN OF THE DESERT directed by Werner Herzog and starring Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Robert Pattinson and Damien Lewis, and YOU SHALL KNOW YOUR OWN VELOCITY starring Daniel Radcliffe, based on the Dave Eggers’ best-selling book, to be directed by Peter Sollett. IFT has sold out all foreign territories on VELOCITY despite a 2015 start date.
Additional projects in various stages of production include CELL, the Stephen King adaptation which is in post-production and stars John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. The company also has CYMBELINE starring Ed Harris, Ethan Hawke and Mila Jovovich in post-production.
Benaroya’s film credits include KILL YOUR DARLINGS, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DaHaan, Ben Foster, Michael C. Hall, Jack Huston, and Elizabeth Olsen, which was released domestically last year by Sony Pictures Classics. Other titles include the romantic mystery THE WORDS starring Bradley Cooper, and LAWLESS, starring Shia LaBeouf. The company’s financial thriller MARGIN CALL was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and won the Best First Feature Award at the 2011 Independent Spirit Awards.
Here’s the first trailer for THE ROVER, the follow up to director David Michôd’s ANIMAL KINGDOM.
The slow-burn thriller stars Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson and is set in the Australian desert in a dangerous and damaged near future. The film was written by Michôd and based on a story conceived by Michôd and Joel Edgerton.
A24 will release the film in the US in the Spring of 2014.
From what we’ve seen of this first teaser, it’s no wonder the film is one of most anticipated films of 2014.
THE ROVER is set in a world ten years following the collapse of the western economic system, where Australia’s mineral resources have drawn the desperados and dangerous to its shores. With society in decline, the rule of law has disintegrated and life is cheap.
The film follows hardened loner Eric (Pearce), who travels the desolate towns and roads of the Australian outback. When a gang of thieves steals his car they leave behind the wounded Rey (Pattinson) in their wake. Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing that matters to him.
THE ROVER was produced by Liz Watts for Porchlight Films and David Linde under his Lava Bear Films banner, along with Michôd. The film also co-stars Scoot McNairy, David Field, Anthony Hayes, Gillian Jones and Susan Prior. Celebrated Argentinean filmmaker Natasha Braier acted as Director of Photography and Michôd also teamed up again with Animal Kingdom Production Designer, Jo Ford.
In the final installment of THE TWILIGHT SAGA, Bella has opened her eyes to a whole new world. A vampire world. She is finally immortal, and can spend forever with her beloved Edward… or so she thinks. Although she is finally an immortal, as promised to the Voltouri, their daughter Renesmee is seen as an immortal child, which is forbidden. The Cullen family is now on a race to prove that Renesmee is the child of Bella and Edward, and that she poses no threat to any of the clans… otherwise, the Voltouri will destroy them all.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 proved to be the best film in the series. Although it took a risk, and deviated from the book, I think the film did a great job in wrapping up the immortal love story. The film does have its mix of silly, and even ridiculous flaws, but what do you expect? If we have learned anything from the other four films, it’s not to expect a serious movie.
To read my full review of the film itself click HERE.
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
The audio is crisp and rich. I honestly could not detect a single flaw. Between the soundtrack, the dialogue, and the added background noises, the audio is fantastically immersive and sharp.
Video: Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video resolution: 1080p Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Just like THE TWILIGHT SAGA : BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 (since they were shot together), the film is a beautiful 1080p high-definition transfer. The film is clear and sharp. The beginning scene of Bella up-close looks phenomenal. Her skin looks natural and well-lit, rather than fake and touched up (like most films today). You can really feel a sense of depth when traveling through the wooded scenes with the Cullen clan. I am extremely impressed.
BLU-RAY & DVD SPECIAL FEATURES*
“Forever: Filming Breaking Dawn Part 2” – Seven-part “making of” documentary
Chapter 1: “Rebirth” : A quick look at Bella’s transformation from human to vampire. This segment breaks down the redevelopment of Bella’s character since she is no longer the clumsy, unsure girl that she once was.
Chapter 2: “Renesmee” : This segment is informative, but it still makes me angry. It’s showcases the casting of Mackenzie Foy as Renesmee. This part is endearing and quite enjoyable. The part that irritates me is when the delve into the special effects process that they used to show her character at various ages. They talk a bit about their choice to use special effects, rather than casting actors of various ages to play the part, but I still don’t agree with their decision. I’m not discrediting the talents of the effects artist. I’m sure their job was a huge challenge. Still, Renesmee looks creepy, and incredibly fake. It is my biggest complaint about the film . A real child would have benefitted the story more. Poor Mackenzie Foy was animated the majority of the film. It is a huge distraction to the story.
Chapter 3: “The Cottage” : This segment not only goes into the design of Bella and Edwards new cottage, it also examines the making of the highly anticipated sex scene. So… you might not want to skip this one. Just saying.
Chapter 4: “The Gathering” : An introduction to the new vampires in the film.
Chapter 5: “The Field” : Footage from shooting on the green screen set, and how the cast adapted to being on the closed set.
Chapter 6: “The Battle” : Ahh… the final battle. This focuses on the final decisions of the film.
Chapter 7: “Forever” : A really nice final touch about the film franchise.
“Two Movies at Once” featurette : This featurette gives us a look into the challenges of filming both movies at the same time… as well as some benefits.
“The Forgotten” Green Day music video : This is weird to me. Green Day and Twilight do not go together. I like to imagine my Green Day to still be a bit too “rock & roll” to ever be involved in THE TWILIGHT SAGA. I love sushi and milkshakes… but that doesn’t mean I want to blend the two together!
“Jump to” features : Alas! Twi-Hards can now watch all of Edwards scenes, or Jacobs, without being distracted by scenes that they are not in. Skip to the meat and potatoes of your favorite character, and let the droolfest begin… and without interruption. The only difference is the scenes are shown in a 1.78:1 ratio, rather than the incredible 2.39:1 widescreen aspect. The sound also suffers a bit, dropping to Dolby Digital 2.0.
Audio commentary with director Bill Condon: This is some of the more thorough commentary that I have ever heard. Director Bill Condon talks about everything from the performances of the cast to the technical side of things. This is a must for any true Twi-Hard.
If you are a fan of the series, THE TWILIGHT SAGA : BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 is a must for your collection. The abundance of bonus features, along with the incredible audio, and first-rate visual transfer make this Blu-Ray a must for any Twi-Hard!
OVERALL BLU-RAY RATING: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Own THE TWILIGHT SAGA : BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 Blu-Ray today
We all knew that this tale had to finally come to an end, but not even the hardest of Twi-Hards knew that it would end like this!
In the final installment of THE TWILIGHT SAGA, Bella has opened her eyes to a whole new world. A vampire world. She is finally immortal, and can spend forever with her beloved Edward… or so she thinks. Although she is finally an immortal, as promised to the Voltouri, their daughter Renesmee is seen as an immortal child, which is forbidden. The Cullen family is now on a race to prove that Renesmee is the child of Bella and Edward, and that she poses no threat to any of the clans… otherwise, the Voltouri will destroy them all.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 proved to be the best film in the series. Although it took a risk, and deviated from the book, I think the film did a great job in wrapping up the immortal love story. The film does have its mix of silly, and even ridiculous flaws, but what do you expect? If we have learned anything from the other four films, it’s not to expect a serious movie.
SPOILER ALERT! You have been warned.
The film jumps right in, pacing itself rather nicely. I don’t really think they had much of a choice with that, considering BREAKING DAWN – PART 1 spent the entire film focusing on Bella and Edwards sex life, and the pregnancy/birth of Renesmee. In an ideal world, the two films would have given a little more room for us to get to know Renesmee, and build on the relationship between Bella and her daughter. As someone who has read the books, I realized halfway through the film that I felt like I understood their relationship because I had the back story of the books rather than feeling it build throughout the movie. I mean, rather than staging an arm wrestling contest with Emmett, they could have focused more on building Renesmee’s character. Although… good lord! I see why they felt the need to put that scene in.
Kellan Lutz… your arms… I like that… good job…
Let’s talk about the pink elephant in the room, or, should I say the freakishly horrible computer generated child?! Whose idea was that? Who brought that idea to the table? A real child would have benefitted the story more. Poor Mackenzie Foy, who plays Renesmee, was animated the majority of the film. I understand that the character grows fast, but subbing siblings of various ages, or searching for a few children that looked incredibly similar would have been a much better choice. It was distracting from the story. Still, it got down right creepy when they showed a grown up version of Renesmee standing with Jacob.They used computers to take a little girl of 11, who resembles a child of around 7 years old, and place her in a scene as a grown up with Jacob, who has imprinted on her. Obviously, nothing happens in the scene, but the whole thing doesn’t feel right. Despite the horrible CGI, which has never been their strong suit, the film took one risk that really paid off. They deviated from the book and added a fight scene.
Now, I am going to try to speak about this without giving anything away, but I did say spoiler alert above, so take this as your second, and final warning. There is no fight scene in the book. Jane (a member of the Voltouri) goes on the attack, as does Alec (again, Voltouri) , but that it pretty much it. Bella’s shield (which is her special vampire power) protects everyone, but in the movie they have limited it to Edward, and a bit to Alice. I will spare you with the minor details of the stand-off, because at the end of the day, they aren’t very important. What’s important is that they threw in this massive twist, that none of us expected, and it really paid off. It brought the film to a whole new level, and despite Aro having the scariest reaction to meeting a child that I have ever seen (or heard), the fight scene had the entire audience on the edge of their seats. When there is an established fandom, such as with the TWILIGHT books, it’s very easy to upset them when you deviate from the original tale that they have grown to love. There is an attachment to it, a feeling of ownership, of being part of the journey alongside the characters… When you mess with the content, it can cause chaos. Having said that, I did not hear a single complaint from the Twi-Hards in the theater, or in the lobby last night. I only heard rave reviews and excited shock over the added twist. Also, I don’t think the films are serious enough to pull off an ending like the one in the book. The films have a campy subtext that doesn’t seem fitting of a quieter, more refined ending. The chaos is just what the film version needed.
At the end of the day I am happy with the final product. I’d say that the films have really come a long way, but it would be more accurate to give this one the most improved player award. The film tied up any loose ends, and gave the audience the satisfaction of a complete journey. That, along with the included homage to all of the characters (not just those in the last film), really helped end things on a pleasant note.
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 2 is in theaters now.
