'Twilight': What does the 'Breaking Dawn' backlash bode for the movie?

The word is out on "Breaking Dawn," the final book in Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" saga. And it’s not all good.

Of the 1,237 reviews on Amazon.com this morning, 364 give it one star, and another 145 give it just two. That suggests about 42% of "Twilight's" audience was ultimately disappointed in the series ender, which gave Bella and Edward –- spoilers ahead –- their happy ending.

The majority of Amazon users labeled the following one-star critique from a reviewer named Eventide as "helpful." (It’s listed first on the book’s page):

I loved the first three books. I have always been a fan of Bella and Edward, but I liked how Meyer introduced the Jacob/Bella dynamic to show the complexity of relationships, and that love means SACRIFICE and making a CHOICE…Now I don’t know what message the author wanted to say or what she was thinking.

The second and third most "helpful" reviews also give the book one star. The latter, written by Sonja Scheffer "scrapprincess," went so far as to say:

It did not feel like Stephenie Meyer was writing the story…I honestly would have stopped reading this book except I was curious to see how much more bizarre it could get.

Here on the Los Angeles Times' Entertainment News & Buzz blog, where the comments are about 50-50 good and bad, Dawn wrote: "This was a horrible ending to a wonderful series. As I do every Monday, I took the garbage out and returned my book!" Marrisa followed up: "It really was like a crappy movie ending."

How this fan backlash might affect the upcoming movie, due out Dec. 12, is anyone’s guess. The reception at last month's Comic-Con was insane, and “Breaking Dawn” sold a big 1.3 million copies on Saturday alone, according to USA Today. The first three books also have already sold 7.5 million copies in the United States alone.

But even "Twilight" devotees are taking issue. The predominant thinking seems to be that the love story triangle of Bella, Edward and Jacob is wrapped up too early, the succeeding plotline –- about the child of Edward and Bella -– isn’t satisfying, and everything is tied up a little too neatly. (Even Bella’s lonely father is paired with a lady friend in a throwaway line near the end). 

In one of the Twilight Lexicon discussions forums -- the biggest of the "Twilight" fan sites and one endorsed by Meyer herself -- more than a third of the comments are lukewarm. A fifth are flat-out negative. "I felt like I was reading a poorly written fan-fiction," commenter takemybreathaway wrote.

Another, identified as Raccontareunabellastoria was even more dramatically affected: "My world has imploded. I'm probably being dramatic, but really. I invested my heart and soul into these books. I feel tremendously betrayed."

Thoughts? Will you still see the movie? (For the record, I'm still going to see the movie.)

-- Denise Martin

Photo: Summit Entertainment

Comments

[Nicole]

I liked it, but all of my friends who have read the book so far have hated it passionately. I was expecting the marriage/sex/vampire baby, and I was glad to have my hopes for the way I thought things would work out rewarded. But once Bella turned into a vampire, it was all down hill. The end was WAY too easy. I strongly got the feeling that Meyer has some issues with conflict, and I agree that the ending needed conflict.

But I'm still going to see the movie at midnight with my friends even though we have finals around the same time.

[Lauren]

The world needs more happy endings, and less people who whine about them. Now that I know the series ends happily, I actually feel more like reading it.

[FLH]

It's not that the B/E/J storyline ended too early - it's more that the characters didn't seem 'themselves'. No seemingly real connection between B/E, no Cullen love. It truly was like fanfic, but really horrible fanfic.

I'm all for a happy ending, by the way. It's just this one fell flat.

[Kate]

I loved it! I think that it couldn't of ended better.

[BEC]

As excited as I was to see this move I will now be waiting for the DVD. I really enjoyed Twilight and the movie version looks just as good but I am afraid that by going to this movie it would only encourage the studio to continue the series. I really do not want to see Breaking Dawn the movie.

[gabby]

really? the love triangle is what's upsetting people? i mean... to me it was always edward and bella. bella and jacob's relationship was just a small side sotry, a way to pass the time, so to speak, while edward was gone. jacob never loved bella the way edward did. at least she didn't pull a j.k. rowling and end it with edward and jacob together.

[April]

I was disappointed in Breaking Dawn, but that has no effect on how excited I am to see the Twilight movie. I love that book, and I am (for the most part) happy with the cast choices, so I think it will be great. I'd probably even see the Breaking Dawn movie(s) if it comes to that, though I most likely won't reread the book as often as I will reread the others in the series.

[malomar]

I think Gabby has a valid point.

Everyone is so upset over how the book ended, but nobody can agree on what they wanted to happen. Some wanted her with Jacob, others thought she spent too little time on Edward, people wanted Bella to be changed into a vampire but wanted her to be the same person even though Edward went on and on about how different she would be in all the other books. Some thought there weren't enough details about they honeymoon while others thought it spent too much time talking about their intimacy, others thought the Renesme story was ridiculous because it wasn't realistic enough. Wait, aren't we talking about vampires?
Are we getting a common theme here?

People were just unhappy because it didn't end the way they thought. Boo hoo - she planned it this way from the beginning.

http://www.twilightlexiconforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=22552&sid=c8cc128ad75009592871ed0b4144e7ca

I think people will still see the movie. Look at all the websites of people talking about this. Even if they didn't like it, they are CLEARLY obsessed over, dedicating hours upon hours to threads and comments.

[Sarah]

I thought Breaking Dawn was amazing!! Everthing that I was wanting to happen did, and was pleasantly surprised with a whole lot more. Happy endings shouldn't be thought of as a negative thing. I thouhgt it had a great balance between romance and adventure.

[Helen]

I think a lot of criticisms focus on Edward being very out of character in BD. Where was the character we grew to love. Meyer rushed the book as the grammatical errors point too and she should never have tried to get out two books in one year. Greedy.

I'm going to see the film as I adore Rob Pattinson. From what I've seen he's brought more to the character of Edward than Meyer has even written.

[Caz]

I wouldnt miss Rob Pattinson for the world. I was always only seeing the film to watch his performance so nothing has changed.

[Hol]

The films stand by themselves and dont need to follow Meyer's books. if they go beyond Book 1 I hope the producers realise they dont have to treat Meyer's work with kid gloves. she's come up with a good idea but they can run with Edward and Bella and flesh them out far more in the films. For instance Edward isnt in New Moon that much but I for one wouldnt want to see the film if Rob wasnt in it a heck of a lot. Why watch a boy (Jacob) when you can enjoy the man (Edward).

Maybe the producers need to see this backlash so they come up with something more original for the film of New Moon. I want to see lots of Rob. Focus on Edward when he's away from Bella.

[k]

The only reason to see the movie has been Robert Pattinson all along! Of course I will go see it.

[Ruth]

The book is poorly written - with the two lead characters clearly not themselves. Its as if Meyer forgot who they were. Its of no consequence to me. I hadnt enjoyed the books since the first one and knew BD wouldnt be good. Meyer has got progressively worse.

BUT I cant wait to see the film as Rob Pattinson is the best actor to appear in years. He radiates charisma, sex appeal and talent so I'll be first in line ot see the movie.

I agree that this may now make the producers realise they dont have to respect Meyer's work as much. Dont stick to New Moon too closely - give us Edward's story while he's apart from Bella.

[Jenny]

People are going to see Rob's Edward and Kristen's Bella in the cinema. Its not the book just brought to life. The films can have a life of their own. I also think there will be a fundamental shift in opinion.

As Edward is a shadow of his former self in Breaking Dawn fans will latch onto Rob even more now as the image of Edward as far as they are concerned. It will get him even more fans. He'll be their comfort blanket as the mental image they had of Edward has been ruined by Meyer in the final book.

[Janet]

I'm counting down the days till I can see Rob Pattinson as Edward. Its going to be a huge treat to see his performance.

BD is a failure of a book but I wouldnt expect the producers to follow the books that closely from now on anyway. They should be an aide memoire and nothing more.

[Alison]

A Tornado wouldnt stop me seeing Rob Pattinson in Twilight.

Meyer's over rated but its Pattinson's Edward thats the draw for me. His interpretation is what I'm interested in.

[smeson]

"The predominant thinking seems to be that the love story triangle of Bella, Edward and Jacob is wrapped up too early, the succeeding plotline –- about the child of Edward and Bella -– isn’t satisfying, and everything is tied up a little too neatly."

That is NOT why people are as upset as they are about this book. What's distressing about it is the overtones of pedophilia (Jacob Black, Bella's suitor, "imprints on", meaning develops a passionate romantic love for, Bella's newborn infant daughter); the retrograde anti-feminism (a female protagonist forced into marriage at age 18, who then gets pregnant and throws away all her dreams of college and a future) and the disturbing anti-female message that even if you are dying because of your pregnancy, it's morally wrong to end it. It's very upsetting to see readers, especially teen girl readers, who are intelligent enough to pick up on the racism, sexism, and pedophilia in this book, being dismissed as perfectionist fans who are just too fussy about the ending to their favorite series. I challenge any thinking person to read the scene where an adult male werewolf attends the tea party of his three-year-old "true love", and plays peekaboo with her, knowing all the while that he intends to have sex with her somewhere down the line, and not feel the bile of horrified vomit rising in the back of their throat.

[Katie]

The publishers wanted to stop the books at Eclipse but Meyer stupidly wanted to go on for 1 more book. Big mistake. She thinks people want to read a book about Nessie/Jacob - she is so wrong. How creepy would that be.

I'd like Meyer to be kept at arms length with future films. I agree the producers h\ve been too respectful. I hope if they film the second book they only use it as a guide.
I agree I'd rather see Edward's life without Bella than focus on werewolf boy.

Pattinson is awesome as Edward.

[Em]

People are going to go see the film to enjoy Rob Pattinson' performance. I think they need to focus more PR on him to draw in people who dont even know the books.

Meyer's poor final book may stop a few stragglers going as they may feel affronted by the overtones of pedophilia in BD but not enough to hit the attendance figures that much.

I do think its time for the film's producers to sit down and maybe develop a strategy of distancing the films from Meyer. Damage limitation maybe needed. I concur with those that say the fillms from New Moon onwards needs to have a life of their own.

[Jennifer]

I completely agree with the the person who said
"
I challenge any thinking person to read the scene where an adult male werewolf attends the tea party of his three-year-old "true love", and plays peekaboo with her, knowing all the while that he intends to have sex with her somewhere down the line, and not feel the bile of horrified vomit rising in the back of their throat. "

Meyer's lost it big time.

The films need to stop at Eclipse with Edward and Bella getting married. Maybe with the hint that she'll change. New Moon needs to cover Edward's time apart from Bella. Its far more intersting than Bella, Jacob and the boring motorbike scenes which drone on and on.

Maybe as others have said its been a very valuable lesson for the film's producers. Meyer is not infallible and if they follow her books too closely they will be disappointed by the audience figures.

Time to take Meyer off the pedestal.

By the way Pattinson is the hottest man on the planet and I turn into a giggling school girl just thinking about him. Flesh out Edward properly and give him some memorable scenes in future films and I'll be happy. Give him some action scenes. The poor thing is itching to kick some butt if one of his interviews is anything to go by.

[Wendy]

I completely agree with the LA Times review. What particularly bugs me is that Edward hardly gets any opportunity to show any affection. He has zero quality time with his daughter. Bella always was a Mary Sue but in BD she's that x 100. The book limped to its conclusion and suffered from a lack of a real climax.

There's so much to criticise I could write an essay.

However that wont stop me seeing the film. I'm incredibly excited about seeing Twilight but its totally to do with the scenes I;ve seen so far and the wonderful performances from Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. My hopes are with them.

Meyer may have destroyed my 'book' Edward but Rob Pattinson's Edward more than makes up for that.

Can I join the group on here that wants to see the producers be more assetive with the story for the second film. Dont treat Meyer with kid gloves. She really doesnt deserve it.

[Carmen]

Can we just please see Robert Pattinson biting pillows? Preferably in my bed?

Please?

[Shaun]

I actually am enjoying Breaking Dawn. I like that it's totally unrealistic. I like to get away from reality when I read. Anyway, I definitely will see the Twilight movie in December. Twilight is my favorite of the series and I look forward to it in movie form. Robert Pattinson might have something to do with that. Okay, well, a lot.

[Brenda]

I honestly think most Twilight fans are drama whores. I don't know if this has to do with the fact that a large number of the fan base is made up of thirteen to fifteen year-olds. Regardless, I'm not surprised the world almost imploded--it almost always does when something "huge" happens in the Twilight world. Sure, Breaking Dawn wasn't what everyone was expecting. But then again, "everyone" doesn't write the books. Stephenie Meyer does. I feel very lucky to be offered the opportunity to be a part of her world and her vision--no matter what the ending was. I'm not going to sit here and say, "UGH! What was she thinking?! I've lost faith in her!" Because despite it all, she's a terrific writer and storyteller. That's never going to go away. Also, her writing has had too much of an impact on my life to just simply brush it off to the side. It goes without saying that I truly loved the book.

When concerning the movie, I will be there for the midnight release. And even if I hated Breaking Dawn, I would still go watch the movie because the talent and effort invested in it is too great to miss.