Although I knew that the end of the Twilight saga was nigh, I was sort of in denial about it. I'd really enjoyed the previous films, although this bookworm hadn't yet read the books, and it's been fun for the past few years in November to have a big, exciting film release to look forward to. However, this November is the last one I can look forward to a Twilight release because the final installment has been released, and that is of course Breaking Dawn Part 2. After the brilliance that was its predecessor Breaking Dawn Part 1, I couldn't help but think this film had a heck of a lot to live up to, but also because it would be ending the series, and I didn't want it to finish on a bum note. So, it was with trepidation that I took my seat on Friday 16th November waiting for a Twilight film to start for the final time.... and just 115 minutes later, it was all over. All I can say is.... Wow. Just to warn you... if you haven't seen Breaking Dawn Part 1, this review might contain spoilers. However, I'm sure you've seen plenty about it so I hope there won't anything ground-breaking in here.

This movie picks up just after where the last movie leaves off, so you do really need to have seen that to fully understand what is happening here. Edward has now changed Bella into a vampire, and they are proud parents to their baby daughter Renesmee, who is half human, half vampire. Bella is coming to terms with her new lifestyle - immortality, super speed and strength, and her taste for blood which is particularly high in newborns. However, she's also got to face up to her dad as well without revealing her new state to him. Problems begin for the newly-wed Cullens when a cousin of Edward's, called Irina, spots the Cullen clan playing happily with a rapidly growing Renesmee and makes the assumption she's an immortal child, something against the law for vampires. She decides she must report them to the Volturi, and leader Aro makes the decision to visit the Cullen in order to kill them, saving only those whose gifts the Volturi can utilise. Will Edward, Bella and the Cullens be able to stop Aro from slaughtering them and their fellow vampires, and prove that Renesmee isn't the immortal child they believe her to be?

What I really enjoyed about this film was just watching the cast completely become their roles. After 5 films, they are all completely comfortable playing their alter-egos, especially Kristen Stewart who seems more "Bella" than ever to me, and Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner who are fantastic as Edward and werewolf Jacob. There is no wooden acting here at all, in fact, it's at its peak for the whole series, and I especially want to commend Peter Facinelli and Elizabeth Reaser who play the elder Cullens Carlisle and Esme, Facinelli in particular was excellent to watch, and was one of my favourite characters of the whole film, even though he wasn't in a huge amount of scenes! Kristen Stewart was excellent as the newborn Vampire, and she portrayed a brand new range of emotions for Bella in here, and she's quite a changed person from the human Bella. Stewart's relationship with Pattinson on-screen was clear for all to see, and they work so naturally together, they are the perfect Bella and Edward. Lautner has a much smaller role in this film than in the previous ones, but he certainly has a great screen presence when he's on-screen, and was in a couple of funny scenes with both Bella and Charlie Swan, Bella's father, they had the cinema laughing out loud!

As usual, the other vampires in the Cullen family are seen throughout the film, and each feature quite prominently due to the storyline of the movie. All again settle well into their roles, and I especially warmed to Nikki Reed who played Rosalie, and Kellan Lutz who was Emmett. There were a lot more vampires featured in this film from all over the world, and while I couldn't really pick any as stand-out performances, the new actors all fitted in well into their roles, and were believable as vampires. My last mention must go the genius that is Michael Sheen, who played Volturi leader Aro. Sheen brings a real creepiness to Aro, making him seem completely hateable, yet entirely mesmerising on screen too. You cannot help but hate him, and full credit to Sheen for that! Dakota Fanning again reprises her role of Aro's sidekick Jane, a vampire with extraordinary powers. She just seems evil through and through, and I enjoyed the things that happen around this character in the film. Finally, young actress Mackenzie Foy takes on the coveted role of Renesmee, and is a very talented young actress. She has looks that make her believable as Edward and Bella's daughter, and does well amongst the big name stars in this movie.

As we've come to expect with the Twilight movies, the special effects in this film are outstanding. Without wanting to spoil too much, there is an amazing scene towards the end of the film that is simply breath-taking and shocking at the same time. I think everyone in the cinema was shocked as things happened, and we were quite audible in our shock too because things were quite visible on screen and seemed so realistic, it was quite shocking. The use of special effects for Bella's super speed and strength were well done, her speed running through a forest was particularly convincing and I thought it was very well done and seamless to view. Even just the smallest touches seemed fantastic, and all combined together to create a brilliant film that was visually excellent. The scenery shots of Forks and its surrounding areas were beautiful as usual, and the films opening sequence is lovely to watch, and the musical accompaniment works well with this quiet introduction into the film. I have to say the final montage with Christina Perri's 'A Thousand Years' and the cast from across all 5 films showing was brilliant, quite emotional and beautifully done - the way to round off these films.

I was a little worried that Breaking Dawn: Part 2 was going to be a bit of an anti-climax, especially because I hadn't read the books and didn't know what to expect, but I needn't have worried. Immediately afterwards, I confess that I did feel a little underwhelmed by the film, simply because I couldn't quite believe it was over and that it all ended how it did. However, with hindsight, it couldn't have ended any other way, and now I'm pleased with how it all went. The story of the film was absolutely brilliant, I was hooked from start to finish, and I enjoyed how it started more slowly and built up to this massive climax that was just amazing to sit and watch, especially in a cinema atmosphere. I can't wait for this to come out on DVD so I can watch it again, because I really do think it is one of those films you can enjoy over and over. With a brilliant cast who completely become their roles, magnificent special effects, and a soundtracks that seamlessly blends into the film, Breaking Dawn Part 2 is simply the best movie in a much loved movie series, and is a fantastic ending that will surely leave fans on a high. I'm sad that it's all over, but I enjoyed every minute of this film, it's a must-see for fans of Twilight. Ultimately, it's a love story, and for every hopeless romantic out there, you can't fail to be moved by the love of Bella and Edward Cullen... a love story for our time.

Directed by Bill Condon.
Written by Stephenie Meyer (book) and Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay)
Certificate: 12A
Running Time: 15

Main Cast:
Kristen Stewart ... Bella Swan
Robert Pattinson ... Edward Cullen
Taylor Lautner ... Jacob Black
Peter Facinelli ... Dr. Carlisle Cullen
Elizabeth Reaser ... Esme Cullen
Ashley Greene ... Alice Cullen
Jackson Rathbone ... Jasper Hale
Kellan Lutz ... Emmett Cullen
Nikki Reed ... Rosalie Hale
Billy Burke ... Charlie Swan
Chaske Spencer ... Sam Uley
Mackenzie Foy ... Renesmee
Maggie Grace ... Irina
Jamie Campbell Bower ... Caius
Christopher Heyerdahl ... Marcus
Michael Sheen ... Aro
Dakota Fanning ... Jane

Thank you for reading.