Twihards, rejoice! In The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2, love for Bella and Edward is not only triumphant–it’s a love story for the ages. The finale in the wildly successful Twilight teen vampire romance saga will satisfy every passionate fan, and yet is broad enough in its appeal that even those who think they aren’t invested in the Bella-Edward story will be drawn in as well. Breaking Dawn, Part 2 is breathtakingly beautiful, with sumptuous cinematography showing off the stark beauty of the Pacific Northwest, especially in the dead of winter. And speaking of stark beauty, Bella (Kristen Stewart) is even more ravishing than ever. She awakens at the beginning of Breaking Dawn, Part 2 as a “newborn” vampire, having been “turned” as she was dying during the birth of her and Edward’s (Robert Pattinson) half-vampire daughter. Vampire Bella flies through the forests barefoot in a royal-blue sheath, no hint of post-baby body weighing her or her new superpowers down. Bella and Edward waste no time making good use of the cozy new cottage in the woods and its enticing bedroom. “Why do we need a bedroom?” Bella asks Edward. “We’re vampires, we don’t sleep.” Edward, adoration in his eyes, quickly shows her the answer. And their daughter? Well, little baby Renesmee starts out as a slightly creepy computer-generated animation creature, but as she grows–very quickly–into girlhood, she’s played with winsome solemnity by young Mackenzie Foy. The girl is “imprinted” at birth to werewolf Jacob (hunky Taylor Lautner, often shirtless), who will from then on be bound to the wolf pack in a deep and special way. Yet Breaking Dawn, Part 2 carries true, operatic-style action as well as the love-triangle drama from earlier films. Because of the birth of the child vampire, the powerful Volturi in Rome are alerted, and, led by Aro (played by Michael Sheen, who appears to be having entirely too much fun), come to the Northwest for a shattering showdown over the fate of the Cullens. The confrontation, as directed by the deft Bill Condon, is intense and creatively choreographed (and fairly violent, given the film’s PG-13 rating), with dark, wild music accompanying the Volturi’s malevolent intentions and our heroes’ fierce devotion to one another. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 demonstrates that love and family can surmount nearly every obstacle. And sometimes love can truly be forever. –A.T. Hurley

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