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Here's a look at the movies I saw this week, including the new "Twilight" movie and Disney's gift to us for Thanksgiving, the return of the Muppets!

Breaking Dawn

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner

Synopsis: At this point in time it seems undeniable that the “Twilight” franchise holds a special appeal for a dedicated core fan base. And that appeal has little to do with traditional filmmaking metrics. The romance between Bella and Edward, and the triangle that include Jacob are what kept people talking about the books, and that’s what keeps people coming back to see how the drama will play out on the screen. With “Breaking Dawn, Part 1” not much happens in terms of plot structure, but a great deal transpires in the arenas that fans seem to care about most. The film picks up on the eve of the wedding between Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson). Both are nervous and preparing for the big day. Alice (Ashley Greene), Edward’s sister, is playing wedding coordinator and Bella’s parents — Charlie (Billy Burke) and Renee (Sarah Clarke) — are getting ready to see their little girl walk down the aisle. The film then transitions to the wedding — offering a chance to bring together all the characters in the “Twilight” universe, or almost all of them, for a big party. Jacob (Taylor Lautner) is a little late to the party, but finally arrives for some subtext-laden conversations with Bella that turn into arguments. The film then transitions to the fan-anticipated honeymoon sequence, followed by a return to the sleepy town of forks for the most odd pregnancy in the history of film. All of it builds to a boil as Bella prepares to deliver and her life hangs in the balance. Those that have read the books will be familiar with the plot developments of the film and all the “interesting” things that occur. If you haven’t read the book, you’ll likely be unprepared for certain elements. This film, as has been noted by cast and crew, rode the fine line between R and PG-13 because of the honeymoon and birthing sequences. Both are a bit awkward to watch, but were done as tastefully as possible to remain faithful to the original story. Bill Condon (“Dreamgirls”) took over as director for this final installment which, much like the final book in the “Harry Potter” franchise, was split into two parts. This first half of the final installment leaves off at a cliffhanger, though not a totally unforeseeable one. The final film, due to be released in mid-November 2012, will wrap up the story of Bella, Jacob, and Edward, as well as all their vampire and werewolf friends. It’s hard to deny that the filmmaking techniques have changed as this series has progressed. When “Twilight” was being made, it was done with a modest budget as the studio didn’t know what to expect. As each film has brought in truckloads of cash, the budgets for the films have increased. This has allowed for enhanced special effects and better cinematic elements. Given that, it would be easy to assume the filmmaking has improved. I’m not sure that it has. Condon does a nice job with what he has to work with, and the tracking shots of the more exotic locations class the film up a bit, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better techniques. In fact, some of the special effect sequences — especially a sequence that features Jacob as a wolf breaking away from his wolf pack — left something to be desired. It’s also hard to totally rate the performances. The three leads appear to be more comfortable in their characters, but the paces of the story and the dialogue — much of it remaining faithful to the original stories — limits the creative range. All three are passable, as is the rest of the cast and the film itself. “Twilight” is a series that has legions of devoted fans of the books. Were these standalone films, it might be hard to understand the appeal. But as part of a larger fan base, the films accomplish what they set out to do. For those who are passionate fans of the books and the story, the film will be a treat. For casual fans, it will remain something of a curiosity. Where you fall in that spectrum, with “Twilight,” seems to have a lot to do with your demographic group, and clearly I’m not a part of that target demographic. I appreciate the films for what they are, and “Breaking Dawn, Part 1” accomplishes what it needs to accomplish to drive the story forward. Now we’ll just have to wait until next year to see how it ends.

Rating: PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, sexuality/partial nudity and some thematic elements.

Verdict: Two stars out of four.

The Muppets

Starring: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and Fozzie Bear

Synopsis: It has been far too long since The Muppets were part of the culture. They haven't been on TV or in films in a long time, but that doesn't mean they've been forgotten. I have to admit that I can't totally approach this rationally. I love the Muppets. They were a cool part of my childhood and I couldn't be more excited to see them back. That excitement was increased by the involvement of Segel. Segel is a talented comedian and a Muppet fan. This was evident to anyone who watched "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," and the Muppet-esque show he put on in that film. He brought the same energy and passion to a more family-friendly format with "The Muppets." All the familiar characters are there. It was great to see Kermit and the gang back performing, and the new Muppet addition of Walter worked well with the story too. The film was well-written, well-acted, and well-put together. I was entertained and found myself laughing quite a bit. Plus, it is a refreshing throwback. In this age of digital media, the Muppets feel like a welcome piece of a bygone era. And it's a welcome resurgence. There is talk, based on how this movie fares, of a new Muppets show. One can only hope that audiences turn out in droves to show that, though the Muppets have been gone a while, they're far from forgotten.

Rating: PG for for some mild rude humor.

Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Released this Week:

"Hugo" and "Arthur Christmas"