"Breaking Dawn" The Movie: Just How Much of Alice's Story Would You Like To See?

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Permalink Reply by Rene on January 7, 2011 at 10:05am

Good Morning Doc

I guess I am probably one of your newer members and I never posted before today.  I hope I caught all parts of the question but I will answer in summary.

I am a book Alice fan.  I think she is fun, energetic and responsible for much of the sparks that keeps the story from being somewhat dark through and through.  I think she is the unsong hero for Bella and Edward's relationship from start to the end.   Okay, she does get a little bit of credit at the end. 

I am a fan of the acting of Ashley Greene as Alice.  She plays her very well when allowed.  I rate actors by rather or not you can sell me on your ability to cause me to forget your name and only see the character you are portraying and she has done that every time. I thought she looked like fun in the arrival scene to the cafeteria; but fom the moment she bounced into the kitchen to meet Bella, in Twilight?  I have loved her performances.   

So I am very biased when it comes to Alice and a bit resetnful as to how they either edited most of her parts or changed them so she was not as spunky.  I would love to see every bit of Alice they can find room to add. I had made up my mind that I would not waste another dime on Twilight films as I found the last two - awful.  However, should I learn Alice was given her due?  Meaning full role as portrayed in the books?  I would actually consider sitting through god-awful Stewart to see Ashley Greene.

I would also love for SM to write Alice's story.  I think it would sell greater than Bree!  IMHO

Permalink Reply by yael lotan on January 8, 2011 at 8:26am

Hi Joe,

I think so too' Im new too and this is my first coment!!!! I love Alice she is so nice and I realy realy love her!!! somtimes I do something and I can say hey thet thing is something thet Alice would do!!! (of cours I say thet on other figurs too but also about her)

im sorry if I misspell somthing I usually donwt write in english... XD

Permalink Reply by Rene on January 8, 2011 at 10:29am

yael,

Your spelling does not matter.  I mispell all the time!   I understand you perfectly.  I am glad we agree!  Friends of Alice are good people!  ;-)

Permalink Reply by Lauralynn on January 8, 2011 at 3:03pm

Joe, I don't blame you one not liking the first two movies.  Most of the book fans agree that the first two, Twilight and The Twilight Saga: New Moon, sucked big time!  Not that I know anything about the industry, but personally I think I could have done a better job of directing.  Now Twilight: Eclipse was very good, compared to the first two.  It stayed true to the book's story line, the acting was three notches higher, and the action and tech levels were great.  This last book/ two movies should be the best of the series.  That is if they get a great director again that can bring the characters to life and they stay true to the book.  That is the key to making a great movie from a book.

Permalink Reply by Rene on January 8, 2011 at 4:40pm

Lauralynn,

I am glad that you enjoyed it, really. I found the photography for Eclipse was very well done. Lighting was pretty good. The screen writing was incongruent and direction was mixed. There are scenes where the direction lacked comprehension of the characters traits. The screenwriting as has been the case for all of them falls short and Stewart still has not figured out who Bella is. From what I read, Summit told Meyer that they would not follow the book's version for NM and E and so she knew she would have to grin and bare a lot, but it seemingly became too much for even her! So, I will go back to what I hope should matter to all and that is Meyer.

Meyer was said to be very concerned about several scenes and made constant requests for changes. I have read statements from her that confirms this. I recall after the Eclipse trailer release for MTV, she saw the clip and demanded changes and they did cut it back though not enough for her liking. That was the motorcycle scene when she rides off with Jacob. Bella's tone and actions really had her angry. She said Bella would have never behaved or talked to Edward like that. It was one of several complaints about character behaviors (often scenes with Stewart). She complained about the argument between Edward and Jacob in Charlies's front yard? Meyer said, first of all Edward does not yell and he would not pull or push on Jacob because if he did, Jacob would have NO ARM! Then there was the issue of the tent which was so much to her disliking that she flew in and forced Rob to fly back to set for fixes because it was so poorly done. ( not of Rob’s making, though). She said she just could not let it stand. I could go on and on but I hope you get the point. These things are just a few examples that I read about, but (and I am repeating myself) the most telling sign of her displeasure for me is that she became a producer. This requires putting up the money for the film and by doing so, you get voice in what can and can not happen. Meyer did this for BD and it says to me that she has had her fill of bad filming of her work. Yes, that is just my opinion of it but that is all we are all giving here if I am not mistaken.

Some seem, including Meyer to believe that the length of a book has much to do with the ability to make a great movie or maintain the characters. If I may point (again) to Harry Potter? Each of those books are just as long or longer and the directors and screenwriters have never lost the integrity of the story. They respected (granted JK made it a part of the contract) the story as written.

If you buy that these movies could not be made as written you are a candidate for a con man to sell you swamp land. What Summit was basically saying was we want the rights to do whatever we please and without you (Meyer) having a say. These are not complicated stories and common sense should tell you if they can add nonexistent scenes, they can eliminate them and present the story as written. Does that means everything goes in? No, but enough that the story stays true. Should Bella's character ever be seen yelling at Edward? Sure, if you can support it in the books! Granted I have horrible recall, but I do not recall scenes in Eclipse when Bella is nasty toward Edward. From the opening scene, of Eclipse (first time I ever appreciated the meadow scene in all the films) Rob is true to Edward’s core traits while Stewart’s character is unyielding. His kisses are overwhelming for her in the books yet on screen she holds her own never showing a sign of wavering. These are the small things that I pick up on that changes the character. Book Bella is very gentle and obsessed with Edward. She is forgiving and gives in to Edward at almost every turn. I see no signs of that in Eclipse as it was not seen in the other films. These are basic character traits and to change them is to create a new character and simply name her Bella. That is what has happened here. Book Bella is not demanding, but understanding. She does not yell, or snap at those she care about, but reasons and constantly tries to explain things from the human perspective. She is patient kind and like it or not, clumsy and weak. When you change these things, you no longer have Bella. So yelling at Edward as I recall or resisting his advances or jumping on Alice about the party is NOT Bella. So I can not agree that Eclipse was any better than the others.

 

Having said all that, l can say all that and still be very happy that you enjoyed it!

Permalink Reply by maria j on January 7, 2011 at 10:53am

As much as possible....But I am not thrilled to see much from Jacob's point of view though.

Permalink Reply by Lauralynn on January 7, 2011 at 11:36am

I for one would love to know ALL of Alice's story from beginning to the present.  But then I want to know everyones story in detail from beginning to present, and then I hope she she continues on with them.  It's too bad that Bree was killed.  She would have made a great addition to the Cullen Clan.  I'm sure that there are others out there that Carlisle and Esme can adopt into the family.  Now that Edward and Bella have a home of their own, I can see the others wanting their own as well, but still close to the family home.  That will leave an empty nest and Carlisle will want to fill it to make Esme happy.  Such wonderful possibilities.

Permalink Reply by Jasper Whitlock Hale on January 7, 2011 at 1:46pm

Most of her story should be explored like Rose and Jasper. Even if her life before she was turned isn't very clear, We could see how she lived before she met Jazz and the Cullens.

Permalink Reply by Lauralynn on January 7, 2011 at 2:49pm

Well, we do learn a little about Alice in the first book Twilight from James of all people.  If you recall as he's taunting Bella in the Ballet studio he tells her of another human girl that he found locked in an insane asylum that he had desired years ago but one of his enemies turned her before he had a chance to get her.  That girl turned out to be Alice.

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Rose Swan on January 7, 2011 at 7:23pm

they should show all of alice's story who doesn't love alice?!!

Permalink Reply by manuel castro on January 7, 2011 at 9:39pm

Well it would be wonderful if all of it but that would be extending the movie a bit. In order to understand Alice better the one part that I would like to see is when and why her parents put her in the place where she was discovered by the old vampire. Also to see when did she noticed that  she sees vision. But for the Breaking Dawn I think the best way to show it is, when the old vampire meets her and turns her into a vampire for her protection from James to where she waits for jasper and later meets the Cullen. I guess for a film to add another character's story it would lengthen the movie alot. So just to see when and why she was turn is great enough.

Permalink Reply by Carol Wyatt on January 8, 2011 at 6:51pm

WOW! I guess I better go back and read the first book again!!!! I totally must have missed that part! Thanks for sharing that!

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