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Jackson Rathbone, 'Breaking Dawn' Star, Flashes Spy Powers in New 'Aim High' Clip

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If you aren't watching the new interactive web series 'Aim High,' then you should correct that immediately. And if you're a 'Twilight' fanatic not watching, then you should really correct that immediately. The McG-produced series stars Jackson Rathbone, of 'Twilight' fame, as a high school student who's actually one of the country's 64 highly trained teenage operatives. Translation: he's a super-spy! Though his power doesn't yet extend to winning the heart of Amanda Miles (Aimee Teegarden), the most popular girl in school. Four episodes of 'Aim High' have already debuted on Cambio, and in preparation for the fifth (online Tuesday, Nov. 15), Moviefone has an exclusive clip of the show just for you. Check it out ahead.



That's Rathbone, Teegarden, as well as Clancy Brown ('The Shawshank Redemption') and Matthew Moy (TV's '2 Broke Girls'). Head over to Cambio for more about 'Aim High.'

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'Breaking Dawn': Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner Cast the '80s Version of 'Twilight' (VIDEO)

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'Breaking Dawn' may be the teen movie of the past decade, but what if it were the teen movie of two decades earlier? What if Stephenie Meyer's young-adult sensation had been written and adapted for the big-screen during the 1980s, the era of MTV, Ronald Reagan and New Coke? That's the very question Moviefone asked Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and the rest of the 'Breaking Dawn' cast -- plus director Bill Condon -- during a recent interview, and the results may surprise you. (Or, maybe not, assuming you always thought Taylor Lautner was like a young Ralph Macchio.) Watch the video above.

Check back to Moviefone next week for wall-to-wall 'Breaking Dawn' coverage, including exclusive video interviews with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Launter.

Interviews conducted by Sharon Knolle

RELATED: What 'Twilight' prop should go in the Smithsonian? The 'Breaking Dawn' cast makes their picks
RELATED: 'Twilight' premiere photos through the years

[Photo: Summit Entertainment]

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'Breaking Dawn' Premiere Preview: Photos of Past 'Twilight' Red Carpets (PHOTOS)

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Twi-hards: this is your week! On Thursday night at midnight, you and millions of other fans across the country will crowd movie theaters for the release of 'Breaking Dawn, Part I.' How to pass the time between now and then? With Moviefone's help, of course! Your friendly editors have a bevy of features lined up during 'Twilight' Week, including a live-stream of tonight's 'Breaking Dawn' premiere in Los Angeles, as well as exclusive video interviews with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, where they'll -- among other things -- do impressions of each other. So, yeah: awesome. First up, though, is this trip down memory lane to look back at past 'Twilight' premieres. Remember how young K-Stew, RPattz and Tay-tay looked in 2008? If not, check out the pics ahead.

RELATED: Rob, Kristen and Taylor Cast the '80s version of 'Twilight'
RELATED: Behind the Scenes of 'Breaking Dawn, Part I'

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[Photo: Getty Images]



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'Breaking Dawn': Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner Pick 'Twilight' Props for the Smithsonian (VIDEO)

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The 'Twilight Saga' has been a seminal experience for Generation Y, so it goes to reason that the films themselves deserve a place in the Smithsonian for all Millennials to see. After all, the Smithsonian's stated vision is to shape "the future by preserving our heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world." Here in 2011, our heritage is 'Twilight'! What from the saga should find itself within the walls of one of the world's most famous museums? Moviefone asked that very question to Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and the rest of the 'Breaking Dawn' cast. Watch above, and imagine a world where your favorite 'Twilight' paraphernalia would actually wind up in a museum. (Fans can dream, no?)

Check back to Moviefone throughout the week for more on 'Breaking Dawn,' including a live-stream of tonight's premiere in Los Angeles, as well as exclusive video interviews with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

Interviews conducted by Sharon Knolle

RELATED: 'Breaking Dawn' stars cast the '80s version of 'Twilight'
RELATED: 'Twilight' premiere photos through the years



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Ashley Greene, 'Twilight' Star, on Bella and Edward's Marriage: It's Not Abusive

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A lot has been said regarding the 'Breaking Dawn, Part I' birth scene and whether or not it will be appropriate for young kids to see. However, a topic that hasn't gotten as much play is the relationship between Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella (Kristen Stewart) after they're married -- in particular, the way Edward handles Bella's impending pregnancy and whether or not it can be construed as abuse. According to actress Ashley Greene, who plays Bella's friend, Alice, the relationship is more complicated than that.

In an interview with Movieline, Greene, who is involved in a campaign against dating abuse, gave her thoughts on the post-marriage time between Edward and Bella.

I think that it's a bit different because she's the one choosing to allow what's happening to continue happening. I think Edward is the one who's saying, 'We need to make this stop to protect you,' and he really cares about her well-being more than she does, and that's how it should be. I think it sends a very good message, and if it were the opposite I would completely not condone it because I think it is very important that girls know that they're important and that they deserve to be treated with respect. Luckily, Edward is in no way, shape or form abusing her. I think he would kill himself before he would let anything happen to her, and she's the stubborn one going, 'I want to keep this child.' And he can't quite understand because I think until you are in that place you don't know how it feels to have a child inside you. It was I think a really difficult place for both Edward and Bella to be in.

Greene goes on to discuss her character's relationship with Bella as well as the film's anticipated birth scene. You can read the entire interview over on Movieline. Make sure to stick with Moviefone throughout the week with full coverage of 'Breaking Dawn, Part I.'

[via Movieline]

[Photo: Summit]

RELATED: 'Breaking Dawn' stars cast the '80s version of 'Twilight'

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'Breaking Dawn' Premiere Live Stream (VIDEO)

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If you aren't able to make it to Monday night's Los Angeles premiere of 'Breaking Dawn, Part 1' in person, you're in luck. Moviefone is streaming the festivities from the Nokia Theater thanks to our friends at Entertainment Tonight and The Insider. So, while you may not be able to see Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner up close and personal, you can at least make it feel you're there.

Make sure to come back to Moviefone for photos of the premiere, which we'll be posting after the event.

UPDATE: The premiere is now over, but you can watch it from the beginning below.

RELATED: 'Breaking Dawn' stars cast '80s version of 'Twilight'
RELATED: 'Breaking Dawn' stars pick favorite props for the Smithsonian



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[Photo: Getty]



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Bill Condon, 'Breaking Dawn' Director: There Were No 'Twilight' Reshoots

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'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1' caused even more of a media circus than usual while filming. With wedding, sexy honeymoon and half-breed baby for Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, the two-part finale to the 'Twilight' series is what fans have been anxiously awaiting for years. But what about those pesky rumors that the first couple of human-vampire angst got a little too R-rated while consummating their on-screen marriage for PG-13 audiences?

It was reported that there were reshoots of certain honeymoon scenes (with the paparazzi shots to back it up), with the couple getting romantic for the cameras in the Caribbean several days after the film had reportedly wrapped. But when Moviefone caught up with 'Breaking Dawn' director Bill Condon at the 'Twilight' premiere in Los Angeles on Monday night, he was singing another tune entirely. Apparently, those weren't reshoots at all.

"We didn't reshoot it!" he said when questioned about the supposed extra scenes. "No, not at all! We never re-shot it. I just cut a few frames. [...] No reshoots!"

Asked about his comments that Kristen Stewart was "very into" the 'Breaking Dawn' sex scenes, Condon was similarly emphatic. "That was Rob -- that's wasn't me. He's allowed to be that rude about her," he said before laughing. "It was not me ... OK, I take it back!"

'Breaking Dawn Part 1' is out in theaters on Friday. You can find out more about Condon and 'Breaking Dawn' by reading Moviefone's recent interview with the director here.

[Photo: Getty]

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'Twilight' Marathon: Franchise Newbie Liveblogs 'Twilight' [LIVE UPDATES]

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For better or worse (but probably better?), I have never seen a 'Twilight' movie before right now. Today, I am watching the first three films in lead-up to Wednesday night's New York preview screening of 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1,' and liveblogging the experience right here. I'll be checking the comments if you have any words of explanation or encouragement and will do my best respond to you in the post -- that is if I'm not too caught up in this love story for the ages. OK, let's start this thing with ... 'Twilight.'

12:09 p.m. OK! 'New Moon' time. Let's jump over there.

12:06 p.m. These end credits are awful. Honestly, this is the worst part of the movie.

12:05 p.m. I have now seen 'Twilight.'

12:01 p.m. I have so many questions. I'm so confused.

11:59 a.m. In 'New Moon,' do we actually get to see Jacob's haircut? If so, I look forward to that.

11:57 a.m. I've never -- in any movie, ever -- seen someone stammer the word "no" more than bedridden Bella just did.

@Steffi Two Bits: I don't know what any of that means!

11:52 a.m. Suck the venom out? Honestly, in any situation, does this work?

11:51 a.m. "Bella needs you." I just watched 45 straight seconds of Robert Pattinson's "I'm conflicted" face.

11:49 a.m. When Bella read the "How to Injure a Vampire" handbook, at what point did she read, "Mace"?

11:46 a.m. I have to watch three more 'Twilight' movies today.

11:45 a.m. And what vampire would travel to Phoenix to find her? "Eh, I'm sure there's no sun there. It will be fine."

11:44 a.m. Bella is apparently in Phoenix right now? I've been to Phoenix many times. Phoenix has never looked this blue.

11:42 a.m. I mean, everything that Bella does in this movie makes absolutely no sense. People realize this, right?

@rose: I know! Uniforms!

11:39 a.m. Bella just asked, "Like watch baseball on the flat screen?" to the Mustachioed Jimmy Fallon. Seriously! What is going on with the baseball?!

11:37 a.m. It wasn't until this baseball scene that I really started thinking, "What is going on here?" I mean, REALLY, who just plays a pickup game of baseball? Do you know how hard that is? And how many people you need to play the game properly? And the bad guys ruin it by threatening to play? I mean, come on Edward, you needed the extra players.

@Mr.Strawberry: Oh, God, you may be right.

11:33 a.m. I'm not sure that this movie is very good.

11:31 a.m. "Since when do vampires play baseball?" Bella, I think vampires are the ONLY people who still get together to just randomly play a baseball game.

11:30 a.m. Now Bella is going to play baseball with her new vampire friends. I had zero idea this movie had this much to do with baseball. Why didn't anyone tell me this?

11:29 a.m. Does this mean Luke Perry is a vampire?

11:28 a.m. Do all vampires have great hair like that?

11:25 a.m. I love this not-at-all-related subplot involving Bella's mom and something about baseball. I would watch a movie about that.

11:23 a.m. I really wish Bella would settle down with this Mike fellow. He seems nice. Is there any chance of that happening?

11:22 a.m. Yep, I will need every single ounce of all of this.



11:20 a.m. Spider monkey?

11:16 a.m. If I'm Bella, at this point at dinner I'm thinking, "OK, I'm the new girl. I wonder if every new student gets hazed with this elaborate 'Edward is a vampire' trick."

@bobbi: Exactly!

11:13 a.m. To be fair: I made that last statement before Edward compared human blood to tofu.

11:10 a.m. After more than an hour into this, I will admit: Robert Pattinson is a handsome man.

11:08 a.m. I feel like Edward was just showing off during most of that scene. "Oh, look at me, I burn..."

From Katey Rich in the comments: "They make bumper stickers that say 'Warning: I Drive like a Cullen.' So apparently cars and/or parking lots really are a vampire thing."

11:04 a.m. Or, "you're beautiful."

11:04 a.m. I have to agree with Edward here: once he started burning in the sun, my first thought wasn't "diamonds."

11:03 a.m. I don't quite understand why Edward went into dick mode once he told Bella -- or made Bella tell him -- his secret.

10:57 a.m. Edward drives the opposite car of what I always pictured a vampire would drive. Then again, I've never put too much thought into the subject.

@RewindStopPlay: Please don't tell me these things.

10:53 a.m. Is that a vampire thing that I'm not aware of. Parking lot rescues?

10:52 a.m. I will say this about Edward, after he rescued Bella in, yet again, another parking lot: He is an exceptional driver.

10:48 a.m. Even after cleaning the DVD, Anna Kendrick is still, for some reason, in this movie.

10:47 a.m. Something I never thought I would do in my life: desperately clean a DVD of Twilight so that I could get to the next scene uninterrupted.

10:42 a.m. I finally figured out who Lautner reminds me of: Ron Slater from 'Dazed and Confused'.

10:39 a.m. Well, other than Sandy Hook, NJ.

10:39 a.m. This is the most depressing beach that I've ever seen.

10:38 a.m. Honestly, if I'm Bella, I would be A LOT more suspicious of Edward's "kick the apple off my foot trick" than I would the whole minivan incident.

@Shadow Writer: Have you ever heard Ford's 'Blade Runner' voiceover? The one he purposely tanked and it was later removed from the movie?

10:34 a.m. My favorite scene so far is the one in which Bella confronts Edward about the parking lot and how she didn't tell anyone and he responds, "Go ahead, no one would believe you." He should have added, "Well, except for those 30 witnesses since we were in a crowded school parking lot, but other than them -- no one will believe you."

10:31 a.m. I can't get it out of my head that the guy playing Bella's dad is Jimmy Fallon with a fake mustache.

10:28 a.m. The most remarkable thing about Edward saving Bella in the parking lot is that I've never in my life seen one of those minivans travel that fast.

10:26 a.m. Oh, God, am I starting to care about the plot of this movie?

10:26 a.m. So, Wikipedia just told me that Edward is 108 years old. Why is he in high school school? I'm sure this is explained, but wouldn't that be boring?

10:23 a.m. Honestly, so far, the worst part about this is Kristen Stewart's voiceover -- which I can only guess she learned to do at the "Harrison Ford 'Blade Runner' School of How to Phone in a Voiceover."

@Shadow Writer: Not quite yet.

10:18 a.m. Who is the creepy guy who once played Santa? By default, he is my favorite character so far in 'Twilight.'

10:17 a.m. And there's the actor that I know best as Jacob from 'Water for Elephants.' I love that he gets a cool guitar riff as he enters the lunch room. I want that from now on when I enter the office.

10:14 a.m. I had always heard that Anna Kendrick was in these movies, but I had always chosen not to believe that. But, yet, there she is.

10:12 a.m. The word "Chillax" was just used.

10:11 a.m. Why is Taylor Lautner wearing one of Cher's wigs? I'm being serious. Please answer this!

10:10 a.m. "The best thing about Charlie is that he doesn't hover." Is that a power?

10:06 a.m. The movie starts! There's a deer. And it's fast. Is that 'Twilight'? Is this a movie about deer? I'm OK, with that, actually.

10:04 a.m. Apparently 'Push' came out in 2009. I haven't seen that either. Why can't I liveblog 'Push'?

10:02 a.m. I just had to sit through a trailer for a Chris Evans movie called "push.' Looks promising!

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[Photo: Summit Entertainment]




Robert Pattinson's Baby Picture, and More 'Twilight' Stars Before They Were Famous (PHOTOS)

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Moviefone is about to make your day, Twi-hards. (No, we don't have bootleg copies of 'Breaking Dawn, Part I,' so stop asking.) Introducing 'Twilight' stars' baby photos! The good folks at Snakkle.com have put together a squee-worthy gallery of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene and whole lot more of your 'Twilight' faves before they were famous. With the exception of the Jackson Rathbone coconut-bikini photo, most of these pics aren't that embarrassing, and will likely elicit a few "awws" from the 'Twilight' faithful. Ahead, find two favorite images (three words: Pattinson, age 4) and head on over to Snakkle to see the entire collection.

You can check out all the 'Twilight' stars as full-grown adults when 'Breaking Dawn, Part I' opens at midnight on Thursday -- that is, if you bought tickets a month ago.





[via Snakkle]

[Top Photo: Mirrorpix, Summit]

[Bottom Photo: Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library, Summit]

RELATED: 'Twilight' stars reveal what they're excited for fans to see in 'Breaking Dawn'

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'Twilight' Marathon: Franchise Newbie Liveblogs 'New Moon' [LIVE UPDATES]

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For better or worse (but probably better?), I had never seen a 'Twilight' movie before just two hours ago when I watched the first film in the series. With that over, it's time to move on to 'New Moon,' as I continue my quest to liveblog all three 'Twilight' films before tonight's New York preview screening of 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.' If you have any words of explanation or encouragement, leave them in the comments and I'll do my best respond to you in the post -- that is if I'm not too caught up in Taylor Lautner's newfound pectoral muscles. So! Let's continue with ... 'New Moon.'



2:39 p.m. Good Lord, that finally ended. OK, let's finish this up over on this post. Who's with me?!

2:34 p.m. (Only four and a half hours in before my first 'Star Wars' reference. A new record.)

2:34 p.m. Quick poll. More awkward marriage proposal: Edward to Bella or Anakin Skywalker to Padme?

2:31 p.m. I wish Edward could turn into a human size bat. I would enjoy watching bat-Edward and dog-Jacob fight.

2:30 p.m. When Edward and Jacob stand next to each other, it's not so much that Edward looks pale, it's more that Jacob (oh, I'm sorry, "Jake") looks like he has splashed gold paint all over his chest.

2:28 p.m. I like how Bella explains to Edward that she'll wait until after graduation to become a vampire. That's sensible.

2:25 p.m. Why is she back in her bed? How did that happen so quickly? And she's grounded. That will teach her.

2:22 p.m. I love this scene of Alice envisioning Bella and Edward in the woods together. How did they film that? "OK, you two. Quiet on set. Now ... frolic."

2:20 p.m. I starting to think that this movie is very, very long.

2:18 p.m. "Michael, you were so good in 'The Damned United.' Would you like to be in 'Tron: Legacy'?" "Yes, I would."

2:17 p.m. How does Michael Sheen choose his movies? "Michael, you were so good in 'The Queen.' Would you like to be in 'New Moon'?" "Yes. Yes I would."

2:15 p.m. I have two more of these movies to watch today. Shit.

2:13 p.m. At least Edward puts on a robe from time to time. For this reason alone: Team Edward.

2:10 p.m. I have ZERO idea what's going on right now.

2:06 p.m. OK, apparently that's Italy. It's still a gorgeous view.

2:05 p.m. Honest question: Does this movie end? Ever?

2:04 p.m. I have to admit, Edward has a gorgeous view. I have no idea why he'd be so upset.

2:03 p.m. Hey, Edward is in Rio de Janeiro. Italy.

2:00 p.m. Alice Cullen's visions are worthless. "I saw a vision of you and you jumped off of a cliff!" Great. You know what else could have told me that? A timely email.

1:56 p.m. And some quaaludes.

1:55 p.m. I'm not joking when I ask this: Will someone bring me some food?

1:52 p.m. What I love about Bella's premonition about being saved by Jacob in the ocean is that she even knew that he'd get a hair cut.

1:50 p.m. For everything that I've had to sit through so far, having this appear on my television screen may have made it all worth it.



1:46 p.m. OK, so, this battle in the woods: Am I supposed to be anxious or forlorn? What I'm seeing makes me anxious, but the song playing in the background makes me want to quit my job and sell hookahs. I'm so confused.

1:40 p.m. "So, you're a werewolf." "Yeah, last time I checked." Werewolf sarcasm!

1:38 p.m. A lot of werewolves do porn, I've noticed.

1:37 p.m. From now on, for the rest of my life, I'm just assuming that every shirtless male is a werewolf.

1:35 p.m. Michael Vick went to jail for what I'm watching right now. I feel dirty, somehow.

1:34 p.m. If I've learned anything from 'Twilght' and 'True Blood,' it's that werewolves are much more sane people than vampires.

1:32 p.m. If I ever meet Taylor Lautner, I'm going to buy him a shirt.

1:30 p.m. Put it this way: If I were forced to pick one of those wolves as a pet, I would choose Jacob.

1:28 p.m. I have to admit: Jacob is by far the cutest of the angry wolves.

1:27 p.m. I'm starting to think that this movie might not be very good.

1:26 p.m. Vampires can appear as holograms?

From Angelica Julia in the comments: "One of the reasons that quote is funny is because he kind of sounds like a chipmunk when he says it."

@Pr J: Come to think of it, where is Edward? Maybe he isn't coming back!

1:22 p.m. "Jacob, you got a haircut? And a tattoo? And a new dickish personality?"

1:20 p.m. Bella's dad is going fishing. Here is a picture of Bella's dad.



1:18 p.m. "Want me to put you in a hospital?" Yes! That was great for so many reasons.

1:15 p.m. I have to say, this Mike fellow is by far the most sane person in these movies.

1:13 p.m. "Oh, you're bleeding. Let me remove my shirt. My pecs can absorb the blood."

1:12 p.m. OK, I have to admit, I just laughed out loud at the sight of Taylor Lautner slowly riding his motorcycle up to the injured Bella, then dramatically throwing it on the ground.

1:10 p.m. A lesson for your kids: Dirt bike riding, the only thing more dangerous than dating a vampire.

1:06 p.m. Mustachioed Jimmy Fallon just caught Bella screaming in bed again. Nothing a quick Jacksonville reference won't fix!

1:05 p.m. Bella calls Jacob "Jake." Why isn't it "Team Jake." That's a solid name. Hell, I'd be on "Team Jake."

@bobbi: Wait, that didn't start a long tome ago?

1:01 p.m. I swear, long-haired Taylor Lautner looks just like the lead singer of Crash Test Dummies in this movie.



12:55 p.m. "Oh, yeah, Vulture, you won't link to my piece? How does Jacksonville sound?"

12:54 p.m. I'm going to start threatening people with the notion of "going to Jacksonville." It seems to work well in this movie.

12:53 p.m. I loved Mustachioed Jimmy Fallon's reaction to Bella screaming, "Well, I suppose I should get off this couch ... and sigh."

12:50 p.m. Who is this naked man that delivered Bella from the woods? And why does no one even ask, "Hey, wait, why are you nude?"

12:48 p.m. Well, he's gone. The series is over. Hey, that wasn't too bad.

12:47 p.m. "Is this about my soul? Take it." Vampires can do that? I'm so confused.

12:46 p.m. "This is the last time you'll ever see me." Something tells me that this isn't 100 percent true.

@Dymndiz Yes. Why would I make that up? If I were making up a school, I would say, 'The Prestigious School of 24K Gold," or something.

12:42 p.m. Again! Not a joke! Anna Kendrick is really in these movies. I mean, there she is. Right in front of me. What are you doing here? In the future, you will be in a movie with George Clooney.

12:40 p.m. Here's what's awesome: In 90 minutes I will be halfway through the amount of 'Twilight' movies that I'm going to be watching today.

12:38 p.m. "You're not going to want me when I look like a grandma." Bella, always seeing the big picture and thinking 60 years ahead.

@Sherri A: I'm assuming that it is not me. I haven't been there in seven years. Then again, after watching these movies, if this is what the rest of the country is like, I'm never leaving New York City again.

12:35 p.m. What is the limit on "injuries that require medical attention" before a person decides that a relationship just isn't worth it any longer?

12:32 p.m. Two days ago, Erin McCarthy from Popular Mechanics sent me this photo. Yes, I get it now.



12:29 p.m. Edward just told a story in which a guy got his head ripped off. At what point does Bella say, "OK, dude, one creepy story too many?"

12:25 p.m. We were this pale, though.

12:25 p.m. I wish that this was the high school that I attended. Blue Springs, Missouri, residents did not look quite this good.

12:23 p.m. Jacob laughs when Bella tells him that anabolic steroids are bad for him. It's funny because it's true.

12:22 p.m. Here's what's great: Edward even gets a more intense guitar riff for his entrance in the sequel. I guarantee Pattinson had this written into his contract.

12:20 p.m. Mustachioed Jimmy Fallon, as Bella's dad, is back. I'm pleased.

12:19 p.m. Bella is reading 'Romeo and Juliet'! So many parallels!

12:18 p.m. "Hey, Kristen, remember that really monotone voiceover you did for the first movie? Yeah, do that again. For continuity's sake."

12:15 p.m. Well, if nothing else, Summit Entertainment has a MUCH better logo that ran before 'New Moon' started.

12:10 p.m. OK, and we're back! I just watched Twilight over here. Now it's time for New Moon, which nobody seems to like. Great.

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[Photo: Summit Entertainment]


'Twilight' Marathon: Franchise Newbie Liveblogs 'Eclipse' [LIVE UPDATES]

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For better or worse (definitely better), I had never seen a 'Twilight' movie before I watched 'Twilight' and 'New Moon' earlier today. With that over, it's time to conclude my quest to watch all three 'Twilight' films before the Wednesday night New York preview screening of 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1' with 'Eclipse.' I'm liveblogging the entire experience, and I'll check the comments if you have any words of explanation or encouragement. I'll do my best respond to you in the post -- that is, if I haven't yet thrown myself off of my fire escape. OK, let's finish this with ... 'Eclipse.'

4:54 p.m. Also, one last time:



4:52 p.m. I do want to thank everyone who put up with this nonsense today and, especially, everyone who participated in the comments and on Twitter. It helped! More than you can ever know! I'll have a post tomorrow about 'Breaking Dawn.' (Wow, I really do have to go see that now. This isn't a dream.)

Also a special thanks to Sandra Lang, who lent me her DVDs. You can have them all back immediately.

4:50 p.m. I can't believe I have to go watch another one of these. I just want to drink booze.

4:48 p.m. Credits!

4:46 p.m. Who are these people who just sit alone together in a field of flowers? Anytime I've been in a setting like this, I'm surrounded by bees within two minutes.

4:42 p.m. Even "at death's door Jacob" is ripped.

4:40 p.m. This movie is so long. Why is this so long?

4:36 p.m. Look, call me old fashioned, but I ask a lady first if it's OK to rip her shirt in order to tend to her self-inflicted wound that was used as a diversion to save my life.

4:31 p.m. I'm starting to think that I could have just seen 'Breaking Dawn' tonight without seeing these three movies and I would have had the same exact experience.

4:30 p.m. Do human limbs really just fall off like that? Like cabbage? Is that a vampire thing?

4:26 p.m. Do you think it was insulting to Jacob when Bella said, "Jacob! Stay!", considering that he wasn't even in dog form when she said that?

4:25 p.m. Jacob: "I'm done. I'm so done." I have something in common with Jacob Black.

4:23 p.m. No matter how many insults Jacob throws at Edward in this tent, it's impossible to take a threat from a shirtless man seriously unless he's on meth.

4:21 p.m. "Don't worry, Bella, my pecs will keep your neck warm." This is actually what's happening right now.

4:20 p.m. I started this at 10 a.m. It's almost dark out. And I have to leave my apartment and watch another one after this. (So, kids, you say you want to live the glamorous life of a writer?)

4:18 p.m. I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. I might start right now.

@Shadow Writer: I am now more machine than man, twisted and evil.

4:13 p.m. I have no doubt that this is the same person.



4:11 p.m. I have now watched this guy propose three separate times.

4:10 p.m. My god, Edward is such an ass. Sure, I've put you in the hospital a few times, but I will not have sex with you before we are married. Tool.

4:05 p.m. Why is everyone so infatuated with Bella? I mean, at least Sookie has fairy blood. The only one that makes any sense is her dad, mustachioed Jimmy Fallon.



4:01 p.m. Yep: Six straight hours of Twilight!

3:59 p.m. Why is Jacob wearing jorts? Are jorts immune from tearing when he becomes a dog?

3:58 p.m. I can't tell if I like the first one the best because it's the best movie, or if it's because I had not yet lost my mind.

3:57 p.m. I'm starting to think that this movie isn't very good.

3:55 p.m. I wish Jasper would stop talking and instead use his powers to roll the credits.

3:54 p.m. I wish my name were "Jasper."

3:51 p.m. Team Joshua, by the way.

3:51 p.m. Watching two vampires fight, even in training, just seems senseless. It's like watching Joshua play Global Thermonuclear War in 'Wargames.'

3:48 p.m. When Jackson Rathbone was offered a role in 'The Last Airbender,' do you think at the time he saw that as a vertical career move?

3:45 p.m. I loved Jacob's graduation present. Next time I give someone a present, it will be a necklace with a silhouette of myself attached.

3:40 p.m. I have noticed over the course of these movies that if there are more than three non-supernatural males hanging out together, they all are out to rape. Even in the 1930s.

3:34 p.m. My favorite thing about not having a child yet at this point in my life: That any child that I may or may not have has avoided this nonsense.

3:32 p.m. Honest question: Who likes these movies? Not one person in the comments or on Twitter has told me, "You know, I think you'll like them if you give them a chance."

3:30 p.m. I love that MISSING flyer of Riley Biers. When Bella asks, "Do you think they'll give up?" I really thought she was going to ask, "Do you think they will use a better picture at some point? You know, one that doesn't look like it was made with a circa 1987 Xerox machine? Because a better picture could help them find him."

3:27 p.m. I would love to know who the Cullen's use as an interior designer.

3:24 p.m. Speaking of Victoria, how does that conversation go with Rachelle Lefevre:

"Hey, I'm ready to play Victoria again. I'm happy that she has a bigger part this time."

"Um, yeah, do you know Bryce Dallas Howard?"

"From 'Spider-Man 3'?"

"Yes, well, we're going to give her your role for no reason whatsoever."

3:19 p.m. I just experienced my first frightened moment watching these movies. I really thought Victoria was going to rip off Jimmy Fallon's mustache.

3:15 p.m. I think I'm miserable.

3:14 p.m. Jacob's last name is Black. Jacob is wearing a black tee-shirt. He has an all-black motorcycle. You know what that means? He's going to be really hot when the sun comes out.

3:09 p.m. It's the first day of school and Edward and Jacob have to share a guitar riff.

3:08 p.m. I mean, one of them just got thrown into a tree just like one of the Imperial Scouts!

3:07 p.m. OK, this high-speed chase through the woods? This is a ripoff of the Speeder Bike chase in 'Return of the Jedi,' right?

3:05 p.m. Is 'Eclipse' the one where Katniss Everdeen is introduced?

3:02 p.m. Yep, Anna Kendrick is really in these movies. There's she is again. I mean, I'm looking right at her, yet I don't believe it. I'll never believe it, no matter how much evidence is presented.

3:00 p.m. I have now officially been doing nothing but watching Twilight for five straight hours.

2:57 p.m. Hey, Bella's dad is back. And he still has a mustache. Here is picture of Bella's dad.



2:55 p.m. I know I already used my 'Star Wars' reference allotment for the day, but this scene looks just like that goofy scene on Naboo in 'Attack of the Clones.'

2:53 p.m. See that picture right above these words? I'm watching that scene right now.

2:52 p.m. "Hey, Kristen, remember that really monotone voiceover you did for the first movie? And then the second movie? Yeah, do that again. For continuity's sake."

2:51 p.m. Honestly, there has to be someone who teaches screaming, right?

2:50 p.m. You know what this movie could use? More people screaming poorly.

2:47 p.m. I'll be honest here: I really don't want to watch this movie.

2:40 p.m. OK! Two down. New Moon finished up over here. Is Eclipse better? Please?

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[Photo: Summit Entertainment]


Bella's Parents' Murderous Pasts! The 'Twilight'-'24' Connection

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At Bella and Edward's wedding in 'Breaking Dawn Part 1,' Bella's dad, Charlie Swan (Billy Burke), makes a somewhat-threatening toast, where he mentions he's very good at hunting people down -- if necessary. Edward, heed those words! Long before Burke played Kristen Stewart's loving dad and small-town sheriff in the 'Twilight' franchise, he was on the other side of the law as a brutal wife-murderer in '24.' As for Bella's doting mom, Renee (Sarah Clarke)? She was only Jack Bauer's most deadly nemesis.

For those who don't remember: Clarke played Nina Myers, a one-time counter-terrorism agent with whom Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) unwisely had an affair. In the biggest Season 1 shocker (spoiler alert, if you're still waiting to watch a ten-year-old television show), Nina murdered his wife. Later, she became a ruthless mercenary, who found herself in a cell facing an interrogation from Bauer in Season 2. (For a little more context, here's an intro to Season 2 of '24.') Check out her evil smirk as she attempts to negotiate a pardon in exchange for stopping a bomb set to devastate all of Los Angeles in the scene below.



As for Burke, he played Gary Matheson, an abusive husband who kills his wife, then tries to kill the only witness, his babysitter, Kim Bauer (Elisha Cuthbert). Since '24' required Kim to be in constant but completely separate peril from her dad Jack, her flight to safety took her to the desert where she was menaced by a wild cougar (an uncontested series low point) and a lonely survivalist (a pre-'Entourage' Kevin Dillon). It ended with her having to shoot Gary at the urging of her dad, who somehow had time to give her the life-saving advice between getting tortured and stopping World War III.

There's an ultra-brief glimpse of Billy Burke at 20 seconds in, and Kim pulling the trigger in this preview of the Season 2 finale:



Quite a difference from the Swans of Forks, Wash.

'Breaking Dawn Part 1' is in theaters on Friday.

[Photos: WireImage, Getty]

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'Breaking Dawn': Would Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner Love 'Twilight' If They Weren't in the Movies? (VIDEO)

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For 'Twilight' stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, 'Breaking Dawn Part 1' is the beginning of the end of their onscreen affiliation with the worldwide phenomenon. So, if the trio weren't actually involved in the feature film adaptations of Stephenie Meyer's best-selling books, would they be fans? "I am a judgmental and cynical person who would just mindlessly hate it, without ever having seen anything," said one of the stars. Can you guess which?

No need to furrow your brow for too long: that answer awaits in the video above, as well as the best Robert Pattinson impression you'll ever see ... courtesy of Kristen Stewart. Twi-hards, this is your favorite video of the week. Enjoy!

RELATED: 'Breaking Dawn' stars cast '80s version of 'Twilight'
RELATED: What 'Twilight' props belong in the Smithsonian?

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5 Best Quotes from New York Times Film Critic Manohla Dargis' Positive 'Breaking Dawn' Review

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The 'Twilight' franchise has long been a critical punching bag, but is that about to change with the release of 'Breaking Dawn Part 1'? Probably not -- at least judging by the current 21 percent Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes -- but that doesn't mean there won't be some vocal dissenters. Take venerable New York Times critic Manohla Dargis, who gives what amounts to a rave review of 'Breaking Dawn,' while infusing it with some of the best critical one-liners of the year. Ahead, the five best quotes.

1. "Dawn isn't the only thing that gets broken in 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part I,' the latest and best of the movies about a girl, her vampire and their impossible, ridiculously appealing - yes, I surrendered - love story. Marked by a canny mix of violence and chastity, the franchise has always had plenty of broken heads to go along with its pure thoughts, but here it also features a marital bed reduced to kindling after a rough night."

2. "Poor [Jacob] never stood a chance; vampires aren't just hot (and sometimes scorching, as on the HBO show 'True Blood'), they have, in recent years, also become the favorite go-to romantic male lead, the last, possibly sole defense against the nice-guy tide embodied by the Apatowesque freaks and geeks and their bromantic brethren."

3. "[Bill] Condon handles the little bit of action in 'Breaking Dawn' capably, but it's his work with (and sometimes around) the actors and his ability to translate ideas visually that lifts this movie above the rest. [...] Crucially and as important, Mr. Condon, whose earlier films include 'Dreamgirls' and 'Gods and Monsters,' can also offer up, and without a suggestion of filmmaker embarrassment, the sight of Mr. Lautner ripping off his shirt."

4. "[T]he unavoidable truth [is] that [Taylor] Lautner, whose pumped physique and flat affect bring to mind one of those friendly pizza delivery boys in a pornographic movie, remains a dish best served with as few words and clothes as possible."

5. "Mostly, [Condon] brings Bella toward her happily-ever-after by giving this movie over to her, her dreams and her desires, as in a cosmic montage sequence worthy of 'The Tree of Life,' but, you know, shorter. Edward may finally change Bella, but it's Mr. Condon who resurrects her."

If you had 'Breaking Dawn' and 'The Tree of Life' appearing in the same sentence at any point this year, congratulations! Read Manohla Dargis' entire review over at the New York Times.

[Photo: Summit Entertainment]

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'Breaking Dawn' Wedding Invite: Get the Details on the Designer

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Forget just being the movie event of the year, 'Breaking Dawn' may also feature the wedding of the century. (Apologies, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.) To announce the blessed nuptials of Bella and Edward, the perfect invitation was needed -- and that's why director Bill Condon went to New York designers Connor Fine Engraver and Stationary.

"We were contacted because Bill was looking for an invitation that felt like Tiffany's, but was cooler," said Connor co-founder Justin Felder to The Hollywood Reporter. "From the get-go, the film team wanted classic but not over the top -- just timeless and suited to the two characters. We provided dozens of samples and eventually they came back to us with the design that they felt most captured the tone of the wedding."

That wedding scene takes up nearly 20 minutes of 'Breaking Dawn,' and brings back many of your favorite cast members from the first 'Twilight.' You can find out more about Connor Fine Engraver and Stationary at their website. In addition to Bella and Edward, January Jones and Blake Lively are among the high-priced stationary store's clientele.

[via THR]

[Photo: Summit Entertainment]



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'Twilight' Marathon Epilogue: 'Breaking Dawn'

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Before Wednesday, I had never seen a 'Twilight' movie. Then I watched four of them. Four! For three of these movies -- 'Twilight,' 'New Moon' and 'Eclipse' -- I liveblogged the entire experience. For the fourth, 'Breaking Dawn – Part 1,' I had to travel from my apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan to the Upper West Side of Manhattan to watch the film in a movie theater. Obviously, in a theater setting I couldn't "liveblog," but I did keep a running diary of the entire event. So, here's how that went.

5:15 p.m. 'Jungleland' by Bruce Springsteen, a song I love, just started playing on my iPod -- only now the song plays as a montage of 'Twilight' scenes run through my head. This is disturbing. Also, I'm afraid that everyone else on this bus knows that I'm thinking about 'Twilight.'

5:30 p.m. I am halfway across town and I just realized that I don't have my wallet. Awesome.

5:32 p.m. I may have just stolen my first cab from another human being. To be fair, I hailed the cab, so maybe this guy was trying to steal it from me? Regardless, as I'm writing this, this man is intensely staring at me through the window. I don't think explaining to him that I'm late for a screening of a 'Twilight' movie will help.

5:34 p.m. I am being yelled at by a New York City cab driver who is not keen on the idea of waiting for me as I run into my apartment to get my wallet before taking me to the 'Breaking Dawn' screening. And he has a point. He accuses me of being a "kid looking for trouble." I am in my 30s.

6:15 p.m. Honestly, this is the most intense security that I've ever seen for a press screening. A security guard just tried to confiscate my laptop. He finally let me go with a warning, "I better not see you using it during the movie." Yes, that's right, I'm just going to bypass the smaller amount of light that emits from my phone and skip right to a computer. I hope no one minds.

6:50 p.m. Matt Patches from Hollywood.com just yelled "Go pee!" at me from across the theater. To be fair, this is an inside joke that is not at all what you would think, but every other person in the theater who heard that just thought that Matt Patches from Hollywood.com ordered me to urinate.

6:51 p.m. An angry man in front of me is accusing a woman of stealing his coat. That is until the man realized that he was in the wrong row. Tensions are running high at 'Breaking Dawn'!

7:05 p.m. And my fourth 'Twilight' movie of the day has started. And there's a smattering of applause from audience members. I'm going to pretend that the applause is for me.

7:06 p.m. "Hey, Kristen, remember that really monotone voiceover you did for the first movie? And then the second movie? And the third movie, too? Yeah, do that again. For continuity's sake."

7:07 p.m. And our first shirtless Jacob sighting has already happened.

7:08 p.m. I know that vampires aren't supposed to age. And I know the first 'Twilight' movie came out only three years ago. But Edward looks like he's aged about ten years since I first saw him at 10:00 a.m. this morning.

7:10 p.m. You know, on a giant screen, Bella's dad still looks like Jimmy Fallon with a mustache.



7:25 p.m. Yep, there's Anna Kendrick again. I still can't get over the fact that she's in these movies. I still refuse to believe this.

7:30 p.m. OK, I just heard laughter from the entire audience as the wedding speeches are made. And not the "it's so bad I'm going to laugh" type of laughter -- this is a legitimately funny scene. Of course, Anna Kendrick and Jimmy Fallon with a Mustache are involved.

7:38 p.m. Jacob just said, "Well, 'Kind' is my middle name." The way that sentence was delivered, I'm honestly not sure if that's sarcasm or not. I think there's a 60 percent chance that his full name actually is Jacob Kind Black.

7:39 p.m. My friend who is with me, a huge 'Twilight' fan, is making a bathroom run. Apparently she's taking Matt Patches' advice.

7:48 p.m. My friend is still not back from the restroom.

7:49 p.m. I'm not sure what is longer: My friend's urine stream or Bella and Edward's Honeymoon.

7:50 p.m. I will admit, Edward has excellent penmanship.

7:54 p.m. I'm not kidding, in less than 90 seconds, Bella has had morning sickness, realized she missed her period, noticed that she had a baby bump and then felt kicking.

7:57 p.m. I'm starting to think that this isn't a very good movie.

8:10 p.m. There it is: the biggest unintentional laugh of the evening! And the award for delivering the line goes to ... surprise winner, Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli).

8:20 p.m. Edward preferred search engine of choice is Yahoo. To be fair, Edward is 110 years old.

8:30 p.m. I must admit, when you put blood into a Styrofoam cup with a straw, it does make it look somewhat appetizing. Also, I may have just watched one too many 'Twilight' movies today.

8:32 p.m. My friend is still not back. Do I go look for her? Her coat is still here.

8:33 p.m. I think the infamous birth scene is starting.

8:35 p.m. Good Lord. (Honestly, this is a picture of what I wrote down in my notes as this scene was happening.)



8:36 p.m. I just can't ...

8:36 p.m. Make it stop!

8:37 p.m. The cracking noises are by far the worst part of this.

8:38 p.m. And there's the obligatory "stab a needle into the heart" scene.

8:40 p.m. My friend never returned from the restroom. I have no idea where she is, but I am too numb to move after what I just witnessed.

8:45 p.m. The film is now going through a montage of Bella's life. Which means the film is going through a montage of my entire day.

9:01 p.m. My friend finally returns. She sat on the aisle because she didn't want to climb over people to get back to her seat. I have no idea who the worse person here is: Her, for not telling me and causing me concern, or me, for being concerned and doing absolutely nothing about it.

9:03 p.m. I will never understand these movies. I admit to my 'Twilight' loving friend that I enjoyed this one the most of the four, but she hated it. Yet she's seeing it again on Thursday night at midnight. Because that makes perfect sense. I give up.

9:10 p.m. Beer.

9:22 p.m. Another beer.

9:38 p.m. The guy next to me at the bar just asked me what I do for a living. I swear, he followed up on that question with, "So, I've got two young daughters, have you ever seen 'Twilight'?" Christ.

9:40 p.m. Yep, I do think I need one more beer.

[Photo: Summit Entertainment]



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Bella and Edward's 'Breaking Dawn' Mishap, and Other Movie Honeymoons Gone Awry

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ZOMG, Bella and Edward are getting married! Their love has overcome all obstacles, and these two crazy kids (OK, one crazy kid and one sparkly old guy in a crazy kid's body) are finally gonna make the ultimate commitment in 'Breaking Dawn, Part 1.' To be followed, of course, by an extra-romantic super-sparkly honeymoon. Or not.



Yes, as everyone who's read the books knows, it's not exactly smooth sailing for Bella and Edward as they head off on their romantic retreat to the private island of Esme. Their starry-eyed honeymoon comes to an abrupt halt when Bella realizes there's a little monster kicking inside of her belly. That's right -- a little half-human, half-vampire bundle of joy. Since it's not your average fetus, Bella's pregnancy accelerates at a rapid rate, effectively serving as a major buzzkill for their honeymoon as Edward frets about the effects on Bella's body. They have to say goodbye to exotic Esme early and rush back to scenic Forks.

Bummer, huh? But theirs isn't the first movie honeymoon to go awry. In fact, movie honeymoons rarely go smoothly. Remember when Charlton Heston got totally sidetracked by work on his honeymoon in 'Touch of Evil'? It completely ruined their romantic getaway, and even put his lovely new bride (Janet Leigh) in danger!

Bella and Edward's preempted honeymoon got us thinking about other movie honeymoons that don't go as planned.

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'Breaking Dawn' Post-Credits Bonus Scene: Teased in Trailer?

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As fans well know, 'Breaking Dawn, Part 1' ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but don't bolt for the exits when the credits start: There's a bonus scene that teases a major conflict in 'Part 2,' as Peter Facinelli (Carlisle Cullen) tweeted earlier today. What's the scene in question? Hint: you've actually seen a chunk of it in the trailer. MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

Still here?

If the theatrical version of 'Breaking Dawn' is the same as the one screened for the press, the extra scene features the return of the Volturi, with Michael Sheen (as Aro) saying ominously, "They have something I want." That line is in the current trailer (below at the 3:06 mark), as is a glimpse of secretary Bianca (Ali Faulkner) being dragged away by mean-looking minions after bringing an unwelcome message.



Interestingly, a different scene of a different girl delivering a message to the Volturi was featured in the wedding invite montage in the first 'Breaking Dawn' trailer (as in the image below). So a brunette in a red dress delivered the wedding invitation without invoking the Volturi wrath, but poor Bianca gets it when informing them about baby Renesmee? Rough crowd! 'Breaking Dawn, Part 1' is currently in theaters. 'Part 2' comes out in (gasp!) a year.



[Photos: Summit]



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Is 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 1' Appropriate For Your Teen?

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'Breaking Dawn - Part 1'
is undoubtedly the teen targeted phenomenon of the holiday season, but as anyone familiar with the series knows, the first half of Stephenie Meyer's final book focuses on some rather mature themes that may not be appropriate for younger teens -- and certainly not tweens. How hypocritical, you must be thinking, considering the first three installments feature a heavy dose of supernatural violence, suicidal thoughts and relationship drama. But in 'Breaking Dawn,' Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward's (Robert Pattinson) teen marriage leads to an unplanned, dangerous pregnancy, and one of the most horrific birth scenes ever put on film -- way too intense for most pre-teens to understand or see. Here are five issues to consider closely before you decide to take your under-15 kid to the movie. (Spoilers ahead)

1. Sex: While the first three movies in the supernatural romance saga depict adolescent lust -- and restraint -- in Bella and Edward's steamy-but-sexless relationship, 'Breaking Dawn' opens with the couple's wedding, which of course leads to the much-anticipated wedding night. On the plus side, the love scenes are tastefully shot, but the honeymoon sequence is extensive, and like all honeymoons, sex (of the bed-breaking variety) is constantly on the characters' minds. Bella is visibly bruised the morning after their first time, and later she all but begs Edward to have sex again.

2. Teen pregnancy: If the teen marriage doesn't concern you, the teen pregnancy might. Bella is only 18 when she and Edward (who's technically in his 100s) marry, and she immediately gets pregnant on their honeymoon. Since they don't think pregnancy is even possible, the newlyweds don't use birth control, and when Bella realizes she's expecting, Edward decides "the thing" needs to come out, but Bella has other ideas about the growing human-vampire hybrid.

3. Abortion debate: The bulk of the movie is one long pro-life debate. Sure, Bella says it's her body, her choice (terms usually used in the pro-choice movement), but her decision is pro-life to the extreme, because the baby can and will kill her. On the one hand, Bella is willing to protect her and Edward's unborn baby, even if it means giving up her life; on the other, poor Edward (and Jacob and everyone else except for Rosalie) wants the emaciated, dying Bella to terminate her pregnancy and save herself. Ultimately both mother and child survive, but there's so much "fetus" vs "baby," life begins at conception talk that it's bound to confuse some younger viewers.

Watch the trailer for 'Breaking Dawn - Part 1'

4. Parental abandonment: One of the saddest subplots in the movie is that Bella has to lie to her father time and time again after she gets married. She claims it's for his own good, so he won't worry, but all the deception does is upset and alienate him. In the book, Bella is willing to forego a relationship with her parents in order to marry Edward and transform into a vampire. It's not that overt in the movie, but she does lie and tell him not to attempt to see her. It's certainly a confusing message for tweens and young teens -- that it's OK to abandon your family for the man you love.

5. Bloody birth scene: Have you seen 'Rosemary's Baby' or 'The Fly' remake? The birth scene in 'Breaking Dawn' makes those look tame by comparison. In director Bill Condon's defense, he was just being faithful to his source material, but really, the birth is bloody disgusting. Without Carlisle Cullen to deliver the baby, Edward has to result to extreme, vampiric methods to perform an emergency C-section ... with his teeth. There's so much blood it drives one of the other vampires into a bloodlust frenzy, and a nearly dead Bella is shown covered in blood, bites and bruises for a very long time. It's enough to make the faint of heart queasy.

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What Did You Think of 'Breaking Dawn'?

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With $30.25 million in midnight ticket sales, 'Breaking Dawn Part 1' is a certified smash hit already -- and it's only Friday. The first installment of the epic 'Twilight Saga' finale earned more from its midnight screenings than all but 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,' which had the advantage of not only being the final final film, but also showing in 3D. (How long before Summit Entertainment entertains the idea of making 'Breaking Dawn Part 2' three dimensions?) With receipts like that, one thing is clear: you've probably seen 'Breaking Dawn Part 1' already -- or will see it over the weekend. So, let's discuss!

Consider this your catch-all for 'Breaking Dawn' reviews, questions, comments, geeking-out or whatever you want. If you saw the film and loved it, let us know! If you didn't love it, let us know why! The floor is yours for the entire weekend.

For more on Moviefone's week of 'Breaking Dawn' coverage, head here.

[Photo: Summit Entertainment]

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How 'Twilight' Author Stephenie Meyer Slimmed Down

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'Twilight' author Stephenie Meyer was noticeably slimmer when she showed up at the handprint and footprint ceremony for stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner earlier this month. How did she shed the pounds? "Honestly, watching what she eats, and exercise," screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg told the LA Times at the 'Breaking Dawn, Part 1' premiere. "Diet and exercise. And she looks fantastic." She said Meyer (pictured at left in 2008 and at right at the Nov. 14 premiere) "had lost some weight when we filmed the wedding scene together. But then I saw her at the 'Breaking Dawn' junket and just thought, 'Holy smoke.'"

Meyer, who created the world's most famous "vegetarian vampires" in the Cullen clan, famously ordered a veggie burger in the franchise's first film.

[via LA Times]

[Photos: Getty]



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Best Movie Art Ever (This Week): 'The Twilight Saga' Floods the Internet

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This is news to us, but apparently there's this thing called 'Twilight'; it's a series of books (from some author that we've never heard of named Stephenie Meyer) about Bella Swan, a teenage girl caught in a love triangle with these two mysterious guys. But get this, one of the guys Jacob Black is actually a werewolf, and the other, Edward Cullen, is a vampire. Totally crazy, right? Well these 'Twilight' books must be pretty popular because they made a whole bunch of movies based on them and they've all made lots of money. We're talking hundreds of millions of dollars!

We're not sure how but these movies must have really flown under the radar. And apparently there's another one of these 'Twilight' movies out this weekend called 'Breaking Dawn.' We hopped on the Internet to learn more about it, but we were flooded with all kinds of crazy, creative art inspired by the whole thing.

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Want More? Check These Out:
'Nightmare Before Christmas' Arts & Crafts

'Fantasia' Anniversary Art

Our sister site, ComicsAlliance, makes a habit of spotlighting particular artists and/or specific bodies of work, but there's just so much great work to see that they've initiated Best Art Ever (This Week), a weekly depository for just some of the virtually countless pieces of especially compelling artwork that they come across in their travels across the digital media landscape.

Some of it's new, some of it's old, some of it's created by working professionals, some of it's created by talented fans, and some of it's endearingly stupid. And all of it's awesome.

Check out ComicsAlliance's Best Art Ever (This Week).



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Star Talk: If 'Twilight' Were an 80's Movie, Who Would You Cast?

Robert Rodriguez on Taylor Lautner, Former 'Sharkboy': 'This Kid Was Just From Another Planet'

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Three years before Taylor Lautner was cast as a young Jacob Black in the first 'Twilight' movie, director Robert Rodriguez plucked him from relative obscurity to star as the titular young superhero in his 2005 family film 'The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D.' It was Lautner's first shot at a leading role, but Rodriguez says he always knew it would not be the disciplined young actor's last. Considering Rodriguez is also responsible for giving stars like Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo and Salma Hayek big breaks, the filmmaker knows how to scout talent.

"He was the first Sharkboy we ever saw," Rodriguez told Moviefone, referring to the casting sessions he and his son/co-writer Racer sat in on to find the right young actor. "I turned the camera to my son after he left the room and asked, 'Do you think he's Sharkboy?' and he said 'Yes,' and we hadn't even seen any other actors. He was so convinced"

Rodriguez added that although they went ahead and screened other boys, it was "just undeniable" that Lautner, then 12, was the one.

"This kid was just from another planet. He was just so good, so physical, standing on one hand," he recalled, referring to Lautner's well-known martial-arts skills. "He was as close as we could get to a real kid who could be a sharkboy. We didn't have to do anything, just point the camera at him and let him run."

It was so obvious, Rodriguez said, he just knew Lautner would find success in Hollywood.

"If you had told me that day, 'Oh by the way in five or ten years this kid is going to be a huge star,' I would totally believe it."

In fact, Lautner, now 19, was so disciplined during the three-month shoot in Rodriguez' Austin, Texas-based studio, that Rodriguez has since made it a rule (for his family movies) to always hire at least one kid with an extensive martial-arts background.

"They are the leaders of the group, keep the other kids in line, and have so much discipline and focus they become good role models for the rest of the young cast," Rodriguez said. "He was so professional, even as a kid. He had the focus of an adult."

Unlike some of the emo young actors who play tortured souls, Lautner has none of that starving actor insecurity about acting.

"A lot of what gets you through Hollywood is confidence and overcoming fears, and Taylor has that, and he is just able to do everything."

Sounds like Lautner should collaborate with the director who gave him his breakout role for one of Rodriguez more "grown-up" films.

'The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D' is now available on Blu-Ray DVD.

[Photo: AP]

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'Breaking Dawn' Box Office: $72 Million on Friday, Third Biggest Single Day Ever

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Vampire babies for everyone! Buoyed by a franchise record $30.25 million in midnight ticket sales, 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1' earned an estimated $72 million on Friday, good for the third biggest single-day gross ever. Only 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2' ($91 million) and 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' ($72.7 million) were bigger. For the three-day weekend, 'Breaking Dawn Part 1' could gross over $140 million, which would be the fifth biggest opening weekend ever behind 'Potter,' 'The Dark Knight,' 'Spider-man 3' and 'New Moon.' As if that weren't enough hysterical money, 'Breaking Dawn' has already taken in $66 million overseas.

Check back to Moviefone on Sunday for your full compliment of weekend receipts.

[via Deadline]

[Photo: Summit]

RELATED: What did you think of 'Breaking Dawn'?

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Weekend Box Office: 'Breaking Dawn' Breaks Big, While 'Happy Feet Two' Stumbles

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'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1'

Okay, we all knew that 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1' was going to be huge; the only real suspense was: would it be record-breaking huge? (Early answer: Apparently not.) The bigger shockers were the failure of 'Happy Feet Two' to open anywhere near the heights of its smash predecessor, and the stunning success (for a glum indie Oscar hopeful playing on a handful of screens) of George Clooney's 'The Descendants.'

'Breaking Dawn' did break the franchise's own record for its opening midnight screening, which earned $30.25 million in the wee hours of Friday morning (edging out the $30 million benchmark set by 'Eclipse'). And its total take Friday of $72 million was the third largest single-day gross ever, behind the franchise's own 'New Moon' ($72.7 million) and 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 ($91 million).

Still, numbers like that should have resulted in a weekend total of about $148 million. Instead, distributor Summit is estimating an opening at $139.5 million. That's short of the $142.8 million franchise record set two installments ago by 'New Moon.' It's possible that word-of-mouth on this one isn't as strong as expected. (At this writing, Moviefone's own informal survey finds 'Breaking Dawn' viewers either exuberantly enthusiastic or bitterly disappointed, with raves outnumbering pans about 2-to-1.) It's also possible that some parents and kids took the PG-13 rating seriously and stayed away, given that this installment is much more frank, disturbing, and gory than the first three movies when it comes to topics of sex, pregnancy, and childbirth.

Now, $139.5 million is hardly a disappointment, especially when added to overseas grosses for a worldwide debut totaling $283.5 million. Nonetheless, with several big holiday movies opening in the next couple of weeks, 'Breaking Dawn' isn't positioned as well as it could be for the sharp dropoff likely to come over the Thanksgiving holiday.

By the way, Taylor Lautner's thriller 'Abduction' has earned an estimated $27.6 million to date, grossing about as much over nine weeks as 'Breaking Dawn' did by the time Lautner first took his shirt off during Friday's first screening.

'Happy Feet Two'

No one expected the dancing penguins of 'Happy Feet Two' to be any kind of competition for first place, but many pundits did expect it to compete favorably with the original, which debuted at $41.5 million five years ago. After all, this one had much of the same cast, similarly striking Antarctic visuals, and 3D surcharges going for it. On the minus side, five years is a long time between sequels for a family movie; many kids who adored the flightless fowl back then have graduated to the relatively chaste vampires and werewolves of 'Twilight.' Also, the penguin craze has cooled since 'March of the Penguins' and 'Happy Feet' ruled the box office. Reviews weren't as strong this time out. Finally, the sequel faced stiff competition not just from 'Breaking Dawn,' but also from fellow family toon 'Puss in Boots,' still holding its own after four weeks in theaters. As a result, 'Happy Feet Two' had to settle for a second-place debut estimated at $22.0 million, about half the opening take that the original enjoyed.

Last week's winner, 'Immortals,' faced a steep drop, as action epics tend to do on their second weekends. It lost 62 percent of last week's business and took third place with an estimated $12.3 million. (You wouldn't think the macho 'Immortals' and the estrogen-heavy 'Breaking Dawn' would be competing for the same audience, but the guys who dragged their dates to see the gruesome Greek epic last week probably returned the favor this week for the similarly bloody birth of Bella's baby.) In 10 days, 'Immortals' has grossed $53.0 million.

Adam Sandler movies also typically lose half their business the second week; so it was with 'Jack and Jill,' which declined 52 percent dropped to fourth place on estimated earnings of $12.0 million. In two weeks, the comedy has taken in $41.0 million.

In its fourth week, 'Puss in Boots' came in fifth with an estimated $10.7 million, down 57 percent from last weekend. In four weeks, the 'Shrek' spinoff has earned $122.3 million.

'The Descendants'

Clooney's 'The Descendants' managed to crack the top 10 even though it's a heavy-themed grown-up movie playing on just 29 screens. It earned an estimated $1.2 million over the weekend, which means an enormous $42,150 per venue. Add that to its earnings since its solid early opening on Wednesday, and you have a total take of $1.3 million.

'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1' - Trailer No. 2

The full top 10:
1. 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1,' $139.5 million (4,061 screens), new release
2. 'Happy Feet Two,' $22.0 million (3,606), new release
3. 'Immortals,' $12.3 million (3,120), $53.0 million total
4. 'Jack and Jill,' $12.0 million (3,438), $41.0 million
5. 'Puss in Boots,' $10.7 million (3,415), $122.3 million
6. 'Tower Heist,' $7.0 million (2.942), $53.4 million
7. 'J. Edgar,' $5.9 million (1,947), $20.7 million
8. 'A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas,' $2.9 million (1,808), $28.3 million
9. 'In Time,' $1.7 million (1,367), $33.4 million
10. 'The Descendants,' $1.2 million (29), $1.3 million

[Photos: Summit, Warner Bros., Fox Searchlight]



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The Highest Paid Young Actors in Movies

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How much will Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner, the three young stars of 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn' earn for their work on the two-part series finale? Hard to say; in addition to their salaries of $25 million apiece, they're also entitled to 7.5 percent of the gross, which could raise their fees by tens of millions more. ('Breaking Dawn Part 1' has already earned $283.5 million worldwide since opening on Friday.) It doesn't seem like they'll be able to keep earning such lofty paychecks after 'Twilight,' but for now, they're among the highest paid young actors in Hollywood. In that, they join the now-grown 'Harry Potter' cast, Miley Cyrus and several other rising stars who have earned enough to afford a Lamborghini before being old enough to drive one. Check out the gallery below for the scoop on the top-earning young adults in the movie business.

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'Breaking Dawn' DUI: Girl Blames Arrest on Boyfriend Who Wouldn't Take Her to See 'Twilight'

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An 18-year-old 'Twilight' fan whose boyfriend refused to take her to see 'Breaking Dawn' as he had promised ended up driving her car into a ditch in Aurora, Illinois. (Also home to one Wayne Campbell). Olivia Ornelas was determined to get to the movie anyway, and didn't let the lack of a front tire and being "extremely intoxicated" stop her. What did stop her was a ditch, where police officers found her early Saturday morning according to a police report obtained by the Smoking Gun. Ornelas blamed it all on her boyfriend for bailing on their movie date. So these movies do drive you to drink.


Ornelas was released after posting $300 bail. She was "extremely upset with her boyfriend because she did not see the movie 'Twilight' like they were suppose [sic] to," the report reads.

While the 'Twilight' movies do advocate abstinence, they apparently also needed to include a "don't drink and drive" message. We did get at one least driving safety tip from these movies: Parking lots are super dangerous. (See the instructive video, below).




[via THR]

[Photo from 'New Moon': Summit Entertainment]

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'Breaking Dawn': Bella's Wedding Dress For Sale (Well, a Copy Anyway)

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If you loved Bella's wedding dress in 'Breaking Dawn Part 1' and want to wear it on your big walk down the aisle, you're in luck: The official licensed replica of the gown by designer Carolina Herrera is now available. You'll have to shell out $799, but as far as wedding dresses go, that's still on the somewhat reasonable side. The copy of the '30s-style movie dress was created by Alfred Angelo and features lace-covered long sleeves, a cut-out back with lace appliqué trim, fabric-covered buttons down the back, and a long train. And if you're not as petite as Kirsten Stewart, fear not: The replica comes in sizes 0 to 30.



Head over to Alfred Angelo's site for more looks at the wedding dress.

[via Us]

[Photos: Summit, Alfred Angelo]



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'Breaking Dawn' Birth Scene Reportedly Causing Seizures

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Warning! 'Breaking Dawn, Part 1' can not only cause severe swooning, but seizures! That's no joke for audience members who have found themselves passing out during the intense birth scene. The flashing of red, black and white during the climactic scene is apparently triggering seizures in those with photosensitive epilepsy. Brandon Gephart in Roseville, Calif. was "convulsing, snorting, [and] trying to breathe," his girlfriend Kelly Bauman told ABCNews. Gephart blacked out, then came to on the theater floor. He was taken out by paramedics and the rest of the screening was canceled. He's not the only one: A man in Salt Lake City (who didn't give his name for fear of being fired from his job) told his local ABC channel, "I think I blacked out. According to [my wife], I was shaking and mumbling different noises."

Dr. Michael G. Chez, medical director of pediatric neurology and epilepsy for Sutter Sacramento, told CBS 13 in Sacramento, "It's like a light switch going off, because it hits your brain all at once. The trouble with theaters, it's dark, the lights flashing in there is more like a strobe light.

Readers commenting on the ABCNews site also report other seizure incidents, although one wiseacre noted, "I don't think it's the lights. I think it's the script."

[via ABCNews]

[Photo: Summit]



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Weekend Box Office: 'Breaking Dawn' Still Rules, But 'Muppets' Win Family Movie Melee

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'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1'

It's a new holiday pageant: a Thanksgiving feast where the Indians are werewolves and the white settlers don't even eat. During a weekend with three highly touted new family films, the family that a plurality of moviegoers chose to visit was the undead Cullen clan of 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1.' In its second weekend, the vampire romance easily held onto the top spot at the box office, while 'The Muppets' won the three-way battle for family film supremacy.

According to studio estimates, 'Breaking Dawn' earned another $62.3 million over the five-day holiday, or $42.0 million from Friday to Sunday. That's a sharp decline of 70 percent from last week's debut, but it's still on a par with the performance of earlier installment 'New Moon.' The film is playing in more venues than any other (4,066 screens) and is doing a smashing $10,330 per screen over the three-day weekend. In 10 days, it's earned $221.3 million.

'The Muppets'

Debuting in second place, 'The Muppets' made off with an estimated $29.5 million over the three-day weekend. Most pundits had expected a weekend haul above $30 million, given the multi-generational appeal of the fuzzy felt folks and the year-long parade of hype for the feature. Still, 'The Muppets' has earned a total of $42.0 million since Wednesday's debut, which is more in five days than every previous Muppet film except the first one earned throughout its entire theatrical run. (Of course, that's not adjusting for inflation; the $65.2 million take from 1979's 'The Muppet Movie' would amount to $210.1 million at today's ticket prices.) Besides positive reviews and strong word-of-mouth, 'The Muppets' also earned $8.576 per screen for the weekend, so the movie seems popular enough that it'll show some legs, even if the filmed-from-the-waist-up characters seldom do.

Including the two family films already playing, there are five movies in wide release vying for that same market; given that, it's no wonder that 'Happy Feet Two' slid 37 percent this weekend to an estimated $13.4 million. The penguin sequel, which opened weakly last weekend, has the weakest reviews of any of the current family releases. Still, it managed to finish in third place this weekend and has earned $43.8 million to date.

'Arthur Christmas'
Opening at No. 4, 'Arthur Christmas' faced a few tough breaks. Besides competing with all the other family movies, it also had to open in 3,376 venues while fighting against four other wide-release movies for 3D screens. So while pundits expected it to open between $14 and $19 million, 'Arthur' settled for a three-day opening estimated at $12.7 million, for a total of $17.0 million over the five-day holiday. Sony issued a statement saying it expected the film to hold up well over the next few weeks because it's the only seasonal-themed family movie in the bunch, but a per-screen average of $3,762 (nearly identical to 'Happy Feet Two''s $3,711, after 10 days) doesn't bode well.

'Hugo'

Conversely, 'Hugo' opened much better than its modest expectations. While critics adored Martin Scorsese's first stab at kiddie fare, some observers thought that a movie that's largely an homage to silent-film pioneer Georges Méliès might play above kids' heads. Predictions for the movie, which opened on just 1,277 screens, were in the $8 to $10 million range for the weekend. Yet the film earned an estimated $11.4 million from Friday to Sunday, for a five-day total of $15.4 million and a fifth-place finish. Its per-screen average of $8,888 is even higher than that of 'The Muppets,' meaning 'Hugo' could ride out the holiday season if it expands to a wider release.

On the indie front, three new movies did very well in limited release. 'My Week with Marilyn,' featuring Michelle Williams' much-buzzed-about performance as Marilyn Monroe, earned $1.8 million on 244 screens, with a respectable $7,266 per-screen average that suggests the movie will hold up well through awards season. Opening on just four screens each were silent-film tribute 'The Artist' and David Cronenberg's psychosexual period drama 'A Dangerous Method.' 'Artist' pulled in $210,414 (a whopping $52,604 per screen), while 'Method' did nearly as well with $181,852 ($45,463 per screen). Watch for these to become awards-season standouts at the box office as well.

'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1' - Trailer No. 2

The full top 10:
1. 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1,' $42.0 million (4,066 screens), $221.3 million total
2. 'The Muppets,' $29.5 million (3,440), $42.0 million
3. 'Happy Feet Two,' $13.4 million (3,606), $43.8 million
4. 'Arthur Christmas,' $12.7 million (3,376), $17.0 million
5. 'Hugo,' $11.4 million (1,277) $15.4 million
6. 'Jack and Jill,' $10.3 million (3,029), $57.4 million
7. 'Immortals,' $8.8 million (2,677), $68.6 million
8. 'Puss in Boots,' $7.5 million (3,005), $135.4 million
9. 'Tower Heist,' $7.3 million (2.474), $65.4 million
10. 'The Descendants,' $7.2 million (433), $10.7 million

[Photos: Disney ('The Muppets'), Paramount ('Hugo')]



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Michelle Trachtenberg on How She Might Have Been Bella in 'Twilight'

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Michelle Trachtenberg as Bella Swan? Unthinkable to most 'Twilight' fans, but the 'Gossip Girl' actress revealed Wednesday night to Us Weekly that she nearly landed the role that went to Kristen Stewart. "There was definitely interest here and there because there's only so few pale girls in Hollywood," she said. (What, Taylor Momsen wasn't available?) But Trachtenberg said she's "already done the vampire thing," referring to her years on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' as tag-along little sister Dawn.

At the LOLA opening in New York, Trachtenberg said she had an in with Catherine Hardwicke, who directed the first 'Twilighr' film: "I've known Catherine Hardwicke since the movie 'Thirteen." And by the way, "I was actually supposed to star in that, but I was on 'Buffy' at the time."

Trachtenberg, who now plays Georgina on 'Gossip Girl,' said that 'Twilight' passed her by because, "I guess schedules never worked out." She claims not to have any regrets. " [Hypothetical answers mean] you're not living in the moment and you're looking negatively at what you're doing now," she said when asked to speculate on what her life would have been like if she'd become Bella Swan.

And 'Thirteen' turned out to be quite the vampire spawning ground: The 2003 film starred Nikki Reed and Evan Rachel Wood: Reed went on to play vampire Rosalie in the 'Twilight' series, while Wood joined her own vamp franchise as vampire queen Sophie Anne on 'True Blood.'

On 'Buffy,' Dawn got to be BFFs with bad boy vamp Spike (James Marsters) and slay a few bloodsuckers alongside big sis Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar).

[via Us Weekly]

[Photo: Getty]



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Weekend Box Office: 'Breaking Dawn' Bests 'Muppets' for Threepeat Victory

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'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1'

Don't underestimate vampires and werewolves when they go up against various frogs, pigs, and bears. That's this weekend's box office lesson. With no new wide-release movies in theaters, the box office competition was supposed to be a closely fought battle between holdovers ''The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1' and ''The Muppets,' but it didn't end up close at all. 'Breaking Dawn' easily defended its crown for a third straight week at the top, while 'The Muppets' plummeted faster than expected to a distant second place.

After last weekend's repeat victory, 'Breaking Dawn' was expected to follow the path of past years' Thanksgiving blockbusters (including previous 'Twilight' installment 'New Moon' two years ago) and drop about 65 percent this weekend, which would have put it around $14.5 million. But it slipped just 59 percent, for an estimated weekend take of $16.9 million. In 17 days, the supernatural romance sequel has earned $247.3 million in North America and even more overseas, for a worldwide total of $532.3 million.

'The Muppets'

For 'The Muppets,' a 50 percent drop from last weekend's debut would have meant about $14.5 million and a neck-and-neck battle with the 'Twilight' neck-biters. Some pundits were even predicting a Muppet victory this weekend, given the film's enthusiastic reviews and word-of-mouth. Yet the movie fell a full 62 percent, to an estimated $11.2 million, nearly $6 million below 'Breaking Dawn.' Why the steeper than expected drop? It could be that more kids than expected went to see 'Hugo,' which expanded its release by about 50 percent this weekend, or to 'Arthur Christmas,' which is the only seasonal-themed holiday film currently in wide release. Still, 'Muppets' remained the top choice for family viewing, and its take so far comes to $56.5 million over 12 days.

'Hugo's second-week decline was a modest 33 percent, since it added 563 more screens, for a total of 1,840. Its estimated take of $7.6 million was good for a third-place finish. It had a per-screen average of $4,144, the largest of any of the current family films. ('The Muppets' earned $3,256 per venue.) That suggests strong word-of-mouth, which, along with rapturous reviews, should keep the Martin Scorsese 3D adventure afloat through the rest of the holidays. In 12 days, 'Hugo' has earned $25.2 million.

'Arthur Christmas' also held up well, sliding just 39 percent to an estimated $7.4 million. That landed the cartoon in fourth place, though its take is close enough to 'Hugo's that they may find their ranks reversed when final numbers are released on Monday. Its two-week total is slightly ahead of 'Hugo' at $25.3 million.

'Happy Feet Two' has the most tepid reviews and word-of-mouth among current family releases, but it held on to a spot in the top 5 with a take estimated at $6.0 million. That's down 55 percent from last week, not unusual for a cartoon in its third week of release, especially given the heavy competition in the family marketplace. In three weeks, the penguin pic has danced off with $51.8 million.

'Shame'

Elsewhere on the chart, 'The Descendants,' like fellow awards-season hopeful 'Hugo,' expanded its run by about 50 percent (to 574 screens) and was rewarded with a box office boost. It rose from 10th place to 7th and earned another estimated $5.2 million, for a three-week total of $18.1 million. And the much-buzzed-about 'Shame' opened on 10 screens and did very well, earning $36,100 per screen for a total of $361,000, good for a 16th-place debut. That per-screen average suggests stronger-than-usual commercial appeal for this NC-17 movie; if this weekend's numbers can persuade enough additional theater owners to book the film, it has a good chance of breaking the $5 million ceiling that no NC-17-rated film has cracked since 2004. Awards interest for Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan's performances in the sex-addiction drama won't hurt.

As the year winds down, box office is still about 3.2 percent behind where it was at this point in 2010. This year's estimated grosses to date are $9.4 billion, compared to $9.7 billion a year ago.

'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1' - Trailer No. 2

The full top 10:
1. 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1,' $16.9 million (4,046 screens), $247.3 million total
2. 'The Muppets,' $11.2 million (3,440), $56.1 million
3. 'Hugo,' $7.6 million (1,840) $25.2 million
4. 'Arthur Christmas,' $7.4 million (3,376), $25.3million
5. 'Happy Feet Two,' $6.0 million (3,536), $51.8 million
6. 'Jack and Jill,' $5.5 million (3,049), $64.3 million
7. 'The Descendants,' $5.2 million (574), $18.1 million
8. 'Immortals,' $4,4 million (2,627), $75.6 million
9. 'Tower Heist,' $4.1 million (2.404), $70.8 million
10. 'Puss in Boots,' $3.1 million (2,750), $139.5 million

[Photos: Summit ('Breaking Dawn'), Disney ('The Muppets'), Fox Searchlight ('Shame')]



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Most Awkward Sex Scenes of 2011: From 'Breaking Dawn' to 'Shame,' the Top 11 in '11

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This list started life as the "11 Sexiest Movie Scenes of 2011." Unfortunately, there was one problem: Not a lot of people were having happy, fulfilling sex in the movies this year. Almost every time a pair of actors was about to get it on, we got a PG-13 evening instead of an R-rated one -- to quote Emma Stone in 'Crazy, Stupid Love,' right before ... you guessed it, she and Ryan Gosling did not have sex. For those who did actually hit the sheets, terrible, terrible gut-wrenching angst was usually the result. That, or a vampire baby that was sucking the very life out of our heroine. Ahead, the 11 most awkward sex scenes of the year.

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For more on the best of 2011, visit AOL's Best of 2011.

[Photo: Summit]



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The Best Quotes from James Franco's Review of 'Breaking Dawn'

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James Franco
can officially add "movie critic" to his multi-hyphenate job description of "Actor-director-author-painter-performance artist-musician," and he couldn't have picked a better movie to ply his new trade on: 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1.' In his newest article for The Paris Review, the probably-one-time-Oscar-host compares and contrasts the blockbuster vampire soap opera with George Clooney's Oscar-hopeful 'The Descendants.' Franco makes some interesting points regarding both films' use of sex and the way they seem to "devalue motherhood"; it's worth a read if you have the time -- but if you're all interested in right now is Franco's excessively Franco-esque reaction to Taylor Lautner's abs, we've made it easy for you.

After the jump read our favorite lines from James Franco's 'Twilight' review.

1. "A few other forbidden territories are broken in as well. The protagonists finally marry, having waited until the wise old age of eighteen, and since the book and the film dutifully show them being wed, they are then allowed to f--- each others' brains out. For a film that claims to be sexually responsible, the 'Twilight' movies are awfully dependent on teenage sex to attract viewers."

2. "'The Descendants' and 'Breaking Dawn' were released on the same weekend. Undoubtedly one is making a play for an Oscar. Undoubtedly the other will dominate every MTV award category, including best kiss, best dude moment, best male shirtless scene, and whatever else the network that produces 'the Jersey Shore' celebrates."

3. "The actors prance about like pieces of meat, their disturbingly developed bodies on full display; Taylor Lautner's rippling teenage chest is just a little better than the child beauty-pageant stars at the end of Little Miss Sunshine.'"

You can also read Franco's thoughts on 'Restless' and 'My Own Private Idaho' at the Review; hopefully, his increasingly-busy schedule won't get in the way of writing more.

[via The Paris Review]

[Photo: Summit | FilmMagic]

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Holiday Gift Guide for Fanboys & Fangirls

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The holidays are fast approaching, and if you're stumped on what to pick up for friends and relatives, Moviefone is here to help. If there is a 'Harry Potter,' 'Twilight,' or superhero fan on your gift list -- especially a young one -- these items are sure to make them squee with delight this Christmas or Hanukkah. Here are a bunch of gift ideas for the fanboy or fangirl you want to impress.

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'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' Clip: Josh Holloway Does Not Call Anyone Freckles

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Some moderately bad news for 'Lost' fans: Josh Holloway does not call anyone 'Freckles' or 'Jumbrotron' or 'Doc' in 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.' The good news? Holloway does make an appearance in the new blockbuster as -- wait for it -- Agent Hanaway. HANAWAY! How does Holloway's Hanaway factor into the mysteries of 'Ghost Protocol'? No spoilers here, but just make sure you arrive early unless you want to be in the dark for the whole film.

Check out Holloway in action in a new clip from 'Ghost Protocol' below. Out in IMAX now, 'Mission: Impossible 4' hits theaters on Wednesday.



For more on the film, check out Moviefone's interview with Brad Bird.

[Photo: Paramount]

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'Twilight: The Musical': Parody Hits New York Stage

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It's a story that has become Gleek and musical theater folklore: One day a lightening-scarred Darren Criss is starring in a straight-to-YouTube video of 'Harry Potter: The Musical', and the next he's taking over for Daniel Radcliffe in the Broadway production of 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.'

Now it looks like a few vocally-inclined folks are taking a page out of the Criss handbook. For all those thick-skinned Twihards out there -- (crickets) -- a new production, called 'Twilight: The Musical,' which parodies the books and movies that fans know and love, is hitting the stage.

The musical "examines our culture of obsession through the story of teenage outsider Bella Swan who risks everything when she embarks on a star-crossed romance with Vampire Edward Cullen." 'Twilight: The Musical' has no official ties to the Stephenie Meyer books, nor the record-breaking film series.

The cast includes some of Criss's Potter classmates as well as Meghann Fahy ('Next to Normal') as Bella Swan and Jenna Leigh Green ('Wicked') as Rosalie. Who knows? They could very well may end up being the next big thing.

A reading of 'Twilight: The Musical,' will happen on Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. EST at New World Stages in New York City.

[via Playbill.com]

[Photo: Summit Entertainment]



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'Twilight' Star Kellan Lutz to Join 'The Expendables 3'?

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Kellan LutzChris Weeks/Getty


The backbone of "The Expendables" franchise are the action dudes who made it happen back in the day, like Ah-nold and movie mastermind Sylvester Stallone. In every "Expendables," though, there's a new guy to pass the torch to, and this time around, it could be Kellan Lutz.

Lutz, who's best known for playing Emmett Cullen in the "Twilight" franchise, is in "early talks" for a role in the third "Expendables," reports TheWrap. According to the site, he'd play a member of "a younger group of tech-savvy action heroes who initially clash with the older crew, though they eventually team up to save the day."

Who else could join Lutz in going toe-to-toe with the aging action stalwarts? Liam Hemsworth was in "The Expendables 2," but he won't be returning. So far we've heard about talks with the older tier of actors, like Nicolas Cage, Jackie Chan, Wesley Snipes, and Milla Jovovich, but nothing about this younger generation of butt-kickers.

Then there are all those pesky rumors about Mel Gibson. At the moment, he's "not officially involved," but that could change; both Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger had surprise cameos in the first movie and larger roles in the second.

Nothing will stop these "Expendables," so stay tuned for more news on the three-quel.

[via TheWrap]
Expendables 3 - IGN's Dream Cast

'Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn' Supercut Exists, Reveals Director Bill Condon

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Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 2'Summit Entertainment


Director Bill Condon was at the Toronto International Film Festival last week for the world premiere of "The Fifth Estate," his drama about controversial WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. So naturally the Oscar winner received questions about his work on the two-part adaptation of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn."

While it seemed safe to say that the final nail had been hammered into that vampire franchise's coffin, fans of the Kristen Stewart-Robert Pattinson movies will be happy to know that Condon has a few more tricks up his sleeve -- apart from the soon-to-be-released "Twilight" series DVD box set.

"I do have a kind of version of those two movies cut into one movie that is not going to be [in the box set], but I hope one day might emerge," the director told Collider. "I think it would be an interesting experience for those who are really into it. ... [I]t's just one cut. There are obviously adjustments you have to make and rearranging some of the stuff. Just making it into one seamless thing, making it feel more like the original novel."

Condon added that he created the supercut "before we shut down the editing room."

Surely this epic director's cut would get butts in seats if released in theaters, just in time for the winter holidays. Summit, you've been holding out on us!

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, another British leading man with a fervent fanbase,"The Fifth Estate" opens October 18.

[via Collider]
'Twilight' Film Series to Be Released as Multi-Disc Collector's Set

The 'Twilight' Cast: Where Are They Now?

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twilight cast where are they nowSummit

Hard to believe, but there was a time before "The Twilight Saga." Five long years ago, Stephenie Meyer's books were best-sellers, but most people didn't know about her sparkly romantic vampires. "Kellan Lutz" and "Jackson Rathbone" were not household names. And Kristen Stewart was still best known for playing Jodie Foster's asthmatic little girl in "Panic Room."

All that changed five years ago this week, on November 21, 2008, with the debut of "Twilight." The vampire romance made instant A-listers out of Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner. It went on to earn about $400 million worldwide and spawn four similarly huge sequels (total worldwide gross: $3.3 billion). It put independent studio Summit on the map (where it was eventually gobbled up by Lionsgate) and launched a vogue that continues to this day for fantasy movies that appeal to teenage girls (notably, the "Hunger Games" franchise).

With its large supporting cast of vampires, werewolves, and small-town high schoolers, "Twilight" also launched the careers of many young actors, not all of whom flourished. Indeed, even the three leads have had some serious stumbles along the way. Here's what became of the stars and co-stars of "Twilight."

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart Talk Marriage on Weekend Getaway


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