Top 10 Love Triangles According to Me

In honor of my new book Letting Go I decided to list the top 10 love triangles in movies and TV shows according to me. Letting Go is the sequel to my first book Hold on Tight. In it Emma is trying to decide between the golden boy Court and the bad boy Nash. A love triangle always makes a love story more interesting. Who wouldn't want two amazing people wanting them? Here are my top ten favorite love triangles. See if your favorite made the list.

#10
Felicity

                                             (Noel)                                                     (Ben)

Before there was Team Edward and Team Jacob there was Team Noel and Team Ben. Felicity ended season 1 without telling the viewers who she picked to spend her summer with. People went crazy with their opinions. I was totally a Team Noel girl. To this day I wish she would have picked Noel. Sure Ben was hot, but he was a total jerk, and only seemed to want Felicity when she didn't want him.

#9

Friday Night Lights

                                         (Jason Street)                                              (Tim Riggins)

I'm not sure this was a love triangle and not more of Lyla cheating on newly crippled boyfriend Jason Street with his best friend Tim Riggins. I know that cheating on your boyfriend is bad no matter what the circumstances are, but this was Tim Riggins she was doing it with. I'm sorry but I will always chose number 33 (Tim's football jersey number) anytime. In the end Lyla didn't stay with either one.

#8

Gilmore Girls

                                         (Dean)                                                          (Jess)

Yes, even a wholesome show like Gilmore Girls had a love triangle. Actually it had a few but my favorite was the one between Dean and Jess. Rory was happily dating the hard working Dean, and then along comes the bad boy Jess and turns Rory's world upside down. I was a big Dean supporter. He was not only a hard worker and completely romantic, he was also hot. But at the end Rory picked Jess. Can we all say big mistake. By the time Gilmore Girls ended neither Dean or Jess were in her life.

#7

My Best Friend's Wedding

                                           (Jules)                                                      (Kimmy)

This is the only love triangle that's between two women on my list. My Best Friend's Wedding is one of those movies I wish I could change the ending to. I did not want Michael to pick Kimmy. She reminded me of all the girls I couldn't stand in high school and got everything they wanted. I wanted him to pick his best friend Jules . Besides they had more chemistry on screen anyway.

#6

Dawson's Creek

                                          (Dawson)                                                     (Pacey)

This is actually the show that inspired my book Hold on Tight. Joey was in love with Dawson and hated Pacey, but then in season 3 everything changed and Joey actually began to fall in love with Pacey. As a viewer I was already in love with Pacey, and never understood what she saw in dull Dawson. Joey's relationship with Pacey only lasted for one season but the beautiful writers had her end up with him in the series finale. Thanks to Netflix I have been watching this show all over again. 

#5

Pretty in Pink

                                          (Blane)                                                     (Duckie)

This is the first love triangle that ever played with my heart. Blane was so hot, while Duckie was so cute. When I was a kid I love that Molly Ringwald's character picked Blane, but as I got older I began to realize I so more prefer Duckie. He liked Molly no matter who she was and didn't let anyone determine who he should take to the prom. I recently learned that in the original script she was supposed to pick Duckie, but the beta audience did not like that choice. I will forever be a Duckie girl.

#4

The Notebook

                               (Noah)                                                                (Lon)

Okay in the Notebook everyone wants for Allie to pick Noah over Lon, but I have to admit a small part of me felt bad for Lon. He would be a good catch if the other guy was not Ryan Gosling. No matter who the other guy is my heart 100% belongs to Ryan Gosling, now please don't tell my husband.

#3

Sweet Home Alabama

                                              (Jake)                                                 (Andrew)

My idea of not making one guy better than the other in my book Hold on Tight actually came from this movie. I love that both guys are a great choice and neither one becomes a jerk so the audience will chose one over the other. I do however think that Reece picked the perfect guy. He's hot, sexy, with a very cute southern accent. Who could ask for anything more?

#2

Hart of Dixie

                                              (George)                                                 (Wade)

This recently has become my favorite show. I swear I can watch a marathon of this show almost everyday. I think it has to do with Wilson Bethel, who plays Wade. In this show Zoe Hart is in a love triangle with the respectable lawyer George and the bad boy Wade. Can you guess who I'm rooting for? As of now Zoe has chosen Wade (YAY!!!) But this show is only it's second season and anything can change. I'm hoping she stays with Wade.

#1

The Twilight Saga

                            (Edward)                                                             (Jacob)

Team Edward or Team Jacob has become the question in the last couple of years. It doesn't matter who Bella picked what matters is who you pick. I'm personally Team Edward because I do not like hairy guys. The truth is they are both hot, but I like my men with a beating heart and don't grow claws when they get angry. Bella picks Edward, I pick anyone else that won't cause me to die for them.

These were my top ten love triangles which one is your favorite?

~Maria

Writer Wednesday With Maria

**The following is a post from Jen's website**

Welcome to the first installment of Writer Wednesday! Each week I hope to introduce you to a new indie author and ask them 10 questions to get to know them.

First up is my friend Maria Monteiro, who just released her second book called Letting Go. I first met Maria on Twitter back in April when we were both releasing our first books. I commented to her that I have a tattoo the same as the title of her book (Hold on Tight) and we hit it off right away. We even have a (somewhat neglected) blog together. In addition to being a concert junkie and kind hearted, Maria can write a mean romantic triangle.

Tell us about your new release, Letting Go.

Letting Go is the squeal to Hold on Tight. At the end of Hold on Tight, Emma is still left confused about who she wants to be with. She’s starting to get feelings for Court again while still holding on to her feelings for Nash. In Letting Go, Emma decides who she wants to be with, but there is a secret she has to tell and issues with her parents she has to deal with. The second book is not only about choosing a guy, it’s also about dealing with curve balls life throws at you.

What's your favorite scene in this book?

It’s a scene she has with her mom in her parents' room. I have a very close relationship with my mother, so anytime I wrote about Emma’s relationship with her mother, I got a little emotional.

Were any aspects of the story brought on by either personal experience or inspiration?

Yes. There is a scene in which Emma goes to the Bowery Ballroom to see her one of her favorite bands and the lead singer makes eye contact with her. That actually happened to me and I reacted the same way Emma does in the book. I also love ice cream just as much as Emma does. I seriously could eat it all day long.

When did you first realize you wanted to become an author?

In the fourth grade, when I wrote my first story. I remember thinking wow, this fun to be able to control people like this. In a weird way I felt like I was playing God with my characters. Little did I know, sometimes they control me. I know that sounds crazy, but I’m sure authors out there know what I’m talking about. 

What are some of your personal favorite books?

My all time favorite book is Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve read it. I wish John After was a real person and I could find him.

What music do you listen to while writing?

While I was writing Hold on Tight and Letting Go I listened to O.A.R, Lifehouse, Parachute and Yellowcard. For the book I’m writing now, I’ve been listening a lot to Dave Matthews, Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters, American Bang and of course O.A.R.

What's the most satisfying thing about writing?

That feeling you get when your manuscript is done. It’s amazing when you have accomplished something you started. It’s a moment of great pride. It’s a beautiful feeling.

Hardest thing?

Having to promote your work. I’m not good at it at all. I wish I knew the secret to it, but I don’t. It’s also hard to say goodbye to the characters you worked with for so long. You find yourself missing them, even though they drove you crazy towards the end. 

What is your current work in progress?

Right now I am working on an adult romantic comedy titled Facing Home. It’s about a girl who has to move back home after being away at college because she cannot find a job. She has to deal with everything she left behind including her ex-boyfriend who is about to marry one of her best friends. I’m having a lot of fun writing it.

If you could choose to shake the hand of any person, who would that be?

Okay, quick story before I tell you. Three years ago I was walking around feeling dead inside. I wasn’t writing or doing anything creative. I felt so blah with no motivation. One day my husband came home and said let's do something this weekend. I said okay what? He told me about a concert near us with a band I had never heard of. I love concerts, so I agreed to go. I didn’t know anything about this band and their name made me think they were a boy band. I went without knowing anything about them (I wasn’t in the mood to Google them). Little did I know they were about to change my whole life. I don’t know what it was about their music, but it woke me up creatively again. They made me feel like I had a purpose. Since then they have become my favorite band, I have all their albums, not a day goes by that I don’t listen to at least one of their songs and I go see them in concert every chance I get. For that reason I would love to shake the hands of Marc Roberge, Chris Culos, Richard On, Beng Gershman and Jerry DePizzo the guys from O.A.R (Of A Revolution) and thank them for saving my life.

Ways to follow Maria: Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, her website

Where to find her books: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBook and Kobo

Maria Monteiro was born in Chile and moved to America when she was only three years old. She was raised in Sleepy Hollow New York, but no, she's never run into the Headless Horseman. She got her BA in English and her Masters in Literacy. She became a preschool teacher, and though it’s been fun, it has never been her dream to teach. She has always wanted to write.

Movie Review: Warm Bodies

Cast:

R: Nicholas Hoult

Julie: Teresa Palmer

General Grigio: John Malkovich

M: Rob Corddry

Runtime: 1 h 37 min

Rating: PG-13

Plot: After a zombie becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world.

In My Opinion: I was fortunate enough to catch an advanced screening of this film that is being released February 1st. True to the book it's based on, Warm Bodies had a little bit of everything: comedy, heart-warming moments, action and romance. In Author Isaac Marion's zombie apocalypse, the dead are able to function and retain a little piece of their former selves, although they only see flashes of their old lives. Still, they can open doors and operate record players. With a little effort, they're even able to say a few words at a time. I've heard people say that they're completely turned off by this concept, but since a zombie apocalypse has never actually happened, we don't know what it would really be like. We can only pretend through the magic of writing and cinema.

The hero in our story simply goes by 'R' as he can't remember his name. He wants to connect with someone. He collects things he finds, like snow globes and vinyl records. He wants to feel human again. When out on a "hunting expedition" for food, 'R' becomes smitten with a pretty blonde girl and decides to bring her back to their hive at an abandoned airport (right after he eats a part of her boyfriend's brain and is able to glimpse into some of the couple's past experiences). The whole story is focused on this couple getting to know each other and trying to understand what is happening when 'R' begins changing for the better. This is as far as I want to go with the plot as I don't want to ruin it for others who haven't read the book and want to see the movie (but you really should read the book if you haven't).

While you may find it hard to grasp the concept that a girl could fall in love with a zombie, I remind you how so many of us were quick to believe that a girl could fall in love with a creepy vampire who seems completely repelled by her and watches her sleep at night. 'R' is nothing but sweet to Julie from the very beginning (except maybe for the part where he smeared his zombie blood on her face, but that was only to keep her from smelling like fresh meat), and becomes more and more "human like" as the story progresses. Dare I say, this was a much better love story than Twilight.

Overall, I was not disappointed with how the story came to life on the big screen. Sure there were major parts cut out (like the marriage of 'R' to a random zombie girl and their adopted children) and the ending was altered somewhat, but the most important things, like the heart and soul of the story, were well preserved. The Boneys (creepy corpses who have deteriorated to nearly a skeletal remain and show no sign of human nature) were as terrifying as I had pictured them, the best friend to 'R' ('M') was the hilarious side kick the readers of the book had come to expect, and 'R' was every bit as likable as our narrator and guide through this unusual experience.

It's Rating Time

The Story: 5 out of 5 stars: As I said, this movie has it all.

The Acting: 5 out of 5 stars: This is one of those films where you forget you're watching actors and get caught up in the story.

The Action: 5 out of 5 stars: While this movie doesn't center around an action theme, there was still a good share of chase scenes involving creepy, deteriorating skeletons (a/k/a the "Boneys").

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: If you're a fan of zombies, a fan of Isaac Marion's book, a hopeless romantics, or if you just like a good laugh and can appreciate a really moving story, this is a must see.

~Jen

Enter to Win a Free Paperback Copy of Hold on Tight & Letting Go by Maria E. Monteiro

In celebration of my new YA romance book Letting Go coming out December 21st, I am giving away 4 autographed copies of Hold on Tight and Letting Go. The winner will receive both books. Click below to enter:

Goodreads: Letting Go giveaway.

~Maria

Movie Review: Playing for Keeps

Cast:

Gerard Butler: George

Jessica Biel: Stacie

Dennis Quaid: Carl

Uma Thurman: Patti

Catherine Zeta-Jones: Denise

Noah Lomax: Lewis

Runtime: 1hr 46 mins

Rating: PG-13

Plot: A former soccer star has fallen on hard times. He moves to Virginia to be close to his estranged son and ex-wife. He becomes the soccer coach for his son's team, where all the soccer moms go crazy for him. He would love to work things out with his girlfriend, but she is engaged to be married to a more *mature* man. George is basically trying to fix his life he seems to have ruined.

In My Opinion: I love me some Gerard Butler, which is the only reason I wanted to see this movie. I thought how bad can it be with a cast like this. I knew it was going to be predictable, it's hard to find a romantic comedy that is not, but I'm a still a fan of them. You can call me a hopeless romantic. This movie did not disappoint in the romance department, but it did in the comedy department. Yes there were a couple of cute lines, but nothing that made me laugh out loud. I found myself at times wishing I had a remote control to see if there was anything better on. Although this movie had some touching moments, I couldn't stand all the desperate mothers throwing themselves at George. It was supposed to be funny, but it failed. The one thing which saved this movie was the acting. Gerard is amazing and I even liked Jessica Biel's performance, which is strange because I usually don't like her acting skills.

IT'S RATING TIME

The Story: 3.5 out of 5 stars: Although it has been done before it was a very touching story.

The Acting: 5 out of 5 stars: The acting is the best part of this movie, even the secondary characters do an amazing job.

The Love Interest: 5 out of 5 stars: Hello, it's Gerard Butler. You can't help but love him in this movie.

Overall Rating: 2.9 out of 5 stars

Bottom line: It's a cute movie, but not one you need to see in the theatre. I say wait for the DVD.

~Maria

Walking Dead Mid-Season 3 Finale

AS ALWAYS, MY RECAPS CONTAIN SPOILERS!

Mid-season finale? Are you kidding me AMC? (Okay we all knew it was coming, but it still sucks.)

There was a lot going on in this episode and I'm guessing if you're reading this blog, you've already watched this it. For that reason, I'm just going to touch on some of the note-worthy things that happened.

To start, prison redneck dude hitting on Herschel's 17-year-old daughter gave new meaning to the word perv and I'm pretty sure every fan of the show got a chuckle out of his confession that he thought short hair = lesbian. What an idiot. Speaking of idiots, what exactly were Rick and the guys thinking by leaving a cripple old man, two teens, a newborn and Carol all alone? I guess they're lucky the writers of the show decided to make a man out of Carl as he had their backs. Am I the only one who caught on to how quickly Ricky Jr. was ready to shoot yet another mother? That kid definitely has mommy issues. Thought it was ironic how that new lady was all, "Come over here boy so I can spank your little ass" and Carl was all smirking because he knew that lady couldn't touch him behind bars. So typical of young kids today.

It was a sweet moment when Glen and Maggie were reunited until Glen got up and deboned that walker. That was just nasty. But then again, this is the same guy who once smeared intestines on his body and then wore them around his neck. I have to say, I'm really curious to know just how much damage a person could do with a human bone. And for the love of Pete - why does every keep pointing a gun at Merle but not using it? They've shot and killed every other dirt bag who came off as a mild threat to the group. Add the fact that Merle's hand is missing because of their group and he's the biggest threat they've seen in this apocalypse. Daryl wanted to go after his blade-armed brother, yet it didn't take a whole lot of convincing on Rick's part to leave him behind. Then we saw Shane's ghost, which was strange and also a good indicator that Rick won't be done talking to pretend people any time soon. We pretty much know for sure Rick has gone bye-bye.

On Twitter I said that the Governor was almost being sweet with his daughter. That was me being facetious, people. The guy is seriously off his rocker. And it's about time Andrea discovered just what a creeper he is (although how THICK is she that she didn't catch on to the fact earlier that her Loverboy was trying to keep her away from the "terrorists"?). I give her three days tops before she's back in crazy's arms (oh wait, she's already hugging him in the preview). And that fight scene between Michonne and the Governor? One of the best in the history of television.

Finally, we are given the showdown between the Governor and the Dixon brothers. I'm going to be cocky here and say they aren't going to do anything to Daryl, because we saw him running in the previews for the next episode in February. I also think the show knows their fan base would be shaken to its core, as well as the fact that it would probably plummet to a painfully lower number. But that's all wishful thinking more than anything.

To those of you who aren't fans of the The Walking Dead, I give you two months of not having to read my review of it every week. Don't say I never gave you anything. ;)

And to those of you who are big fans of the best show on television, what do you plan to do while the show is on hiatus? Stock up for the impending apocalypse? Catch up with past seasons for a walk down memory lane? Work on the sequel to your first zombie book? Okay, that last one was for me.

~Jen

Movie Review: Skyfall

Cast:

James Bond: Daniel Craig

M: Judy Dench

Silva: Javier Bardem

Gareth Mallory: Ralph Fiennes

Runtime: 143 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Plot: Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

In My Opinion: I'm a life-long fan of Bond movies as my dad is a giant fan (he's the reason I've always been into Star Wars and Indiana Jones type films and can't really stand chick flicks). I took my husband and 10-year-old son to see this and each of us was pleased (have to say it was a proud moment to introduce my son to the world of Bond - he was instantly hooked). The movie opened with a chase scene in full-swing that involves driving dirt bikes over roofs of houses in a foreign city and later running the bike off a bridge to jump on a train. Far fetched, probably. Classic bond, you bet. Later on we're given a visually stunning scene (above) that involves the struggle of Bond and a bad guy in front of a LED display on a building in Shanghai. Javier Bardem was freaking brilliant as the villain in this film - so much that it was creepy and I kept forgetting who the actor was (the cringe-worthy blond hair was part of it). The showdown between Bond and the villain's posse in the end was original and really put and older Bond to the test. This movie had many references to the classic Bond films ("were you expecting an exploding pen?"), and it even played the famous original score when he broke out a classic car. As for my son watching, there were a few scenes I wish I would have covered his eyes, but I guess they can't stay little forever. Fast paced and energized despite an agent fighting the aging process, this film was everything I had hoped it would be.

It's Rating Time

The Story: 5 out of 5 stars: As always, some of the stunts were a little bit out there, but the story was completely engaging and even had the audience laughing at times.

The Acting: 5 out of 5 stars: Seriously, we are talking some of Hollywood's finest in this film. Only a few times did I think OMG they're talking to Voldemort!

The Action: 5 out of 5 stars: Bond's insane stunts never grow old. 

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: If you're a fan of the Bond series, this one is a definite do-not-miss. If you're not into Bond, still go see it. You don't have to know a story to get swept away by this secret agent's charm.

(Full disclosure: I totally swooned through this entire movie. Especially the scenes in which Criag was shirtless.)

~Jen

Cover Reveal of Breaking Waves by Danielle Sibarium

Every so often you read a book and fall deeply in love with the characters especially, the love interest. Heart Waves is that book for me. Ever since I read this book I can't stop thinking about Reece or Tyler. I can't wait to read the sequel to find out what's going to happen between Jenna and Reece, or how Tyler is going to play a part in their relationship. The wait is almost over. (YAY!) Jen and I are excited to bring you the new cover for Breaking Waves due out January 10, 2013.

From the moment they met, Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, but she never dreamed it would happen like this. Jenna is left shattered and broken. When life becomes too painful to deal with and she feels completely alone, there’s only one person to help her pick up the pieces and move on. The one person she doesn’t want to turn to. The one person she promised to stay away from. Tyler. Can Jenna put aside everything she knows about him and let Tyler help heal her broken heart? 

Visit Danielle at www.daniellesibarium.com

For fun Heart Wave teaser please visit the Heart Wave FaceBook page:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/heartwavesbook

Find Heart Waves at Amazon by clicking here and for the Nook by clicking here

Danielle Sibarium

For Always – Now available *Amazon *Nook

www.daniellesibarium.com

Facebook *Twitter *Goodreads

~Maria

Movie Review: Red Dawn

Cast:

Chris Hemsworth: Jed Eckert

Josh Peck: Matt Eckert

Josh Hutcherson: Robert Kitner

Adrianne Palicki: Toni Walsh

Runtime: 1 hr 54 mins

Rating: PG-13

Plot: A town in Washington state gets invaded by North Korea. A group of teenagers band together to save their town and maybe even America from this invasion.

In My Opinion: Being a huge fan of the original I was excited to see the remake. I'm not going to compare this movie with the original one, it wouldn't be fair. This movie did not take long for the action to start, which I found to be a mistake. It didn't give me enough time to connect with the characters. All I knew to this point was the older brother Jed was back from Iraq and was having issues with his younger brother Matt, who just lost the big football game. I also learned their mother is dead and their father is a cop. Oh yeah and, Matt has a beautiful girlfriend and Toni digs Chris. I was excited to see Adrianne Palicki, who plays Toni. All of the Friday Night Lights fans knows her as Tyra Collette. Anyway, not really making a connection with the characters made it hard to feel sad when one of them gets killed. It was like, "Oh they killed so and so, who cares." Now the action in this film was amazing and entertaining. I found myself cheering for the Wolverines (AKA: the good guys). And once I did connect to the characters I began to really care for them and hoped they didn't get killed. I do have one huge complain about the filming, the camera moved around so much I began to feel sick. I hate when films do that. This movie is filled with lots cliche lines, in fact there was a moment I thought Jed (the older brother) was going to say "Yippee-kai-yay mother...." you all know the rest. Anyhow, this movie was entertaining enough to get your mind off the real world for a while.

It's Rating Time

The Story: 4 out of 5 stars: Yes it was done before many years ago, but it's still a good story line if you are willing to suspend your disbelief.

The Acting: 3.5 out of 5 stars: Some of the actors in the smaller roles were a little bit annoying, but the rest of them were pretty good, including Josh Peck from The Drake and Josh show.

The Action: 4.5 out of 5 stars: Who doesn't like things blowing up? 

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: Go see this movie and then after rent the original. They are both good films with great eye candy.

~Maria

Movie Review: Breaking Dawn 2

Cast:

Bella Cullen: Kristen Stewart

Edward Cullen: Robert Pattinson

Jacob Black: Taylor Lautner

Runtime: 1 hr 55 min

Rating: PG-13

Plot: After the birth of Renesmee, the Cullens gather other vampire clans in order to protect the child from a false allegation that puts the family in front of the Volturi.

In My Opinion: WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD! So...I know there are a gazillion Twilight haters out there. If you’re one of those people, then I would suggest you completely avoid this article. Personally, I’m (not even a closeted) fan of the series. I remember when the movie trailer for the first one came out, I decided it was a book I wanted to check out. As a result, I really got swept up into the world of Bella and Edward. Before you go hating on me, I would like to say that I refused to read 50 Shades of Grey, so I think it’s fair that I enjoy this one guilty pleasure. No matter how hard I try to deny it, I’m a total sucker for a romantic story. 

While it can be argued from many different angles that the story is dumb and the books are not well written (Stephen King has certainly voiced his dislike for Stephenie Meyer’s skills), I think anyone who can make millions of dollars writing about sparkly vampires deserves some respect, and could teach the rest of us a thing or two.

The first movie was a disappointment for me. Robert Pattinson was nothing like the Edward I had pictured and his acting seemed stiff. And Kristen Stewart...ugh. I am not a fan of KStew as a person in general - her awkward and rebellious behaviors make her come off as being ungrateful for her billion dollar salary. I can understand the lack of privacy thing, but aren’t you selling a piece of your soul when you sign up to be famous? Regardless, she eventually grew on me to the point that I couldn’t see anyone else cast as our favorite clumsy-girl turned kick-ass-vampire. Taylor Lautner did well as Jacob. His acting was also a bit cardboard in the beginning, but by the end he certainly had grown into a solid actor. And by solid I mean did you see those abs?

All of this nonsense being said, I was one of those fans who was totally satisfied with the final installment to the five-part saga. Everything was pretty well laid out just as it had been in the book and we were even able to skip through some of the slower moving parts. Edward and Bella’s cottage was every bit as cute as I pictured it, and the scene of them getting it on for the first time as vampires was enough to call for a cold shower. As for Renesmee, I heard ahead of time that they superimposed Mackenzie Foy’s face on the babies and toddlers. Because of this, I think I paid too much attention to how it was done and I can’t decide if it amazed me or just really freaked me out. The on-screen transformation of Renesmee was brilliant, starting from the moment the infant touched her mother’s face and ending with her appearing to be a miniature creation of Robsten.

There were many LOL moments, my favorite being Jacob stripping for Charlie. Other memorable scenes included Bella first hugging Edward, Bella freaking out on Jacob when she first learned of the imprinting, the Cullens explaining to Bella how to act human, Charlie asking Bella if she was going to turn into a dog, Edward being subject to Tanya’s abilities and Jacob asking Edward if he should call him “dad” now.

There weren’t many scenes I didn’t care for, but I think they could have done without Bella discovering the nearby human when hunting (jumping from the cliff was a bit of an overkill) and the Voltouri torturing the vampire who was thought to be an ally of Carlisle’s. Overall, I think they did a great job casting the vampire friends that came from far to testify. Many of those characters were likable from the minute they stepped on screen. I would even be interested in seeing more of these characters one day, especially Garett and Tanya. There was more sexiness radiating from those two actors than Edward and Bella ever could project.

Stephenie Meyer received a lot of heat for the final scene in Breaking Dawn. All those vampires, waiting to fight, and they just talked it out and walked away. But the way the movie decided to tease us with Alice’s vision was brilliant. Like many other fans, I grabbed my (poor) friend’s arm and yelled, “That’s not what happened in the book!” To see Carlisle’s head removed and hear Esme’s scream was just bone-chilling. Sadly, some of Bella’s bravest moments (including jumping on Aro’s shoulders like a monkey and being whipped into the air by Edward), were all part of the “what if” scenario. Still, it gave us a satisfying climatic ending that everyone will be talking about for some time.

IT'S RATING TIME

The Story: 4 out of 5 stars: Although it has it's silly moments, overall it's touching story.

The Acting: 4 out of 5 stars: These guys have improved over the years and the new cast made a great addition to the story.

The Love Interest: 5 out of 5 stars: It's Bella and Edward fighting for their little girl.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom line: So many reviews on the internet are just terrible, and I don't get it. My theory is those are already haters of the series and will not be satisfied no matter how good the ending. If you're a fan of the series, you must see this ending to the epic saga. You won't be disappointed.

~Jen